By Mary Pickels
Tribune-Review
GREENSBURG, Pa. — A deputy warden at the Fayette County jail Wednesday asked the prison board to consider hiring three to four more full-time corrections officers, citing high overtime costs coupled with difficulty in filling certain shifts.
The board took no action on the plan that Barry Croftcheck said could potentially save money in the jail’s operating budget.
“If we can save a dime somewhere, I appreciate somebody putting in the effort,” said Sheriff Gary Brownfield, the prison board chairman.
Croftcheck said some part-time officers have been called to work an available shift dozens of times and have not answered their phones.
“I have one officer I called 119 times. He did not answer his phone at all,” he said.
“I know that the county is looking at the fiscal end of it. ... So far this year (as of April 30), we’ve paid $135,000 in overtime,” Croftcheck said.
Croftcheck noted that the officers’ contract allows four officers to use vacation time in any given week, up from three in the last contract, increasing the need for part-time officers.
“With all of the call-offs and no-shows, last year at this time, we had approximately 9,983 part-time hours, up until April 30. This year, they have only worked 4,983 hours,” he said.
Warden Brian Miller said candidates are informed during the interview process that they could be asked to report to work with as little as one hour’s notice for a day shift and two hours for afternoon or evening shifts.
“The disturbing thing is, to accept or refuse something, to me if they are refusing it, they do have a life. ... But when I look at no answer (to phone calls). ... You can’t say you didn’t get contacted. At least call the prison back and say ‘I can’t work,’ ” Miller said.
Replacing unavailable or uninterested part-timers with full-time officers could save money, Croftcheck indicated.
“I applaud your work here. I think you have a good crop of recruits, potentially, and some of the part-time officers that have been diligent and accepted the calls, they have already been trained,” board member Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky said.
Croftcheck estimated that three to six part-time officers per shift could be replaced by three or four “floating” full-time officers covering those empty slots.
“In other words, what he’s saying is that when he does the schedule ... and leaves the part-timers off, he couldn’t fill that schedule. He’s actually using some part-timers to fill those slots,” Miller said.
The human resources department will have to determine whether and when part-time officers can be terminated, Miller said.
Human resources director Denise Stepanik did not have full-time salary and benefits figures for full-time officers. She said full-time corrections officers earn starting salaries of $18.45 per hour, and part-time officers start at $16.40 per hour.
In other business, the board met in executive session to consider disciplinary action against a full-time male corrections officer. After the session, members voted to terminate the employee, whose name was not disclosed. Board member District Attorney Jack Heneks abstained.