Duplin commissioners still squabbling about hiring freeze
Duplin County Manager Mike Aldridge continues to receive flack from certain commissioners who remain adamant about the hiring freeze that was put in place two years ago.
Aldridge explained to the board in its Jan. 19 meeting that a department head retired and an employee was moved into that position, and there is a need to fill that open slot.
He proposed to the board that is will be in line with audit recommendation, which moved a maintenance worker from Social Services to the central office. The manager argued that even before Emery Brown, who recently retired as maintenance director, left he pointed out that a new maintenance person has not been added to his department in past 30 years.
Aldridge told the board that the county has accumulated many more buildings over that 30-year span and to not fill this slot would be unjustified.
The county manager proposed advertising for a carpenter’s position, because that is what is needed the most. It would pay $24,000 annually.
Commissioner David Fussell was the first to speak. “We are in a recession. We are already spending more than we are taking in. It is time to quit.” Fussell asked the board if the hiring freeze meant nothing to them.
Commissioner Zettie Williams argued that this is not necessarily a new position, because they would be filling the vacant position left by Randy Norwood, who moved up to maintenance director.
Commissioner Fussell said that the county manager could move anyone he wants into that spot.
Aldridge that was not true, because they need to be able to do carpenter work. “You can move someone if they refuse to that position,” said Aldridge.
Commissioner Frances Parks said that while she encourages Aldridge to look within, she is certain he will not find one at the Social Services Department, which makes up more than one-third of the county employees.
Aldridge said that is his point exactly. “If I thought there was someone, I would have approached them before coming to you.
“We need to take care of our buildings,” he said.
“Then you need to get rid of somebody somewhere else,” said Fussell. People are losing jobs on a continual basis in the private and government sector, yet Duplin continues to hire. It is time for this board to suck it up. I ask you this; if we don’t cut what will we do about the tax rate? What do we propose for 2010-11? We can’t raise taxes on our people during a recession.”
The board came to a consensus for the county manager to look deeper within to see if they had someone who had carpentry experience and be willing to work in maintenance.
Aldridge said they could count on him being back because he felt there was no one willing to give up the job they currently have with the county to take this position, because it is not that high of a pay grade. The job in question is estimated to pay $11.50 an hour.
