Commissioners Approve Key Salary Increases and Policy Updates for County Employees
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— The Clinton County Commissioners made decisions to adjust salaries and establish policies for the compensation of county employees across various departments during their meeting on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
The commissioners adjourned their regular bi-weekly meeting to open up the salary board meeting, where they considered a $0.50 hourly increase for all full-time non-elected employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement and under the control of the commissioners, treasurer, President Judge, Prothonotary, register and recorder, sheriff, and district attorney. The increase will be effective for the first pay period of 2025.
A policy was approved for promoting existing full-time employees. When an employee is promoted, they will receive the greater of two options: the starting salary for the new position or a five percent raise on their current salary.
Specific salary increases or hourly rates for some part-time positions, like deputy coroners, deputy sheriffs, and court-related staff, were approved.
The commissioners also considered and approved the appointment of a Chief Clerk, Solicitor, and Chief Assessor, effective January 1, 2025. In addition, the board approved the assignment of commissioner representatives to boards and authorities for 2025.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and Council 86 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This document amends the collective bargaining agreement for court-related and court-appointed employees, including changes to vacation, sick, and personal holiday policies. It also includes salary increases for sheriff’s deputies to improve retention efforts and raises their starting salary by $975 annually, effective from the first pay period of 2025. Additionally, the current collective bargaining agreement is extended through December 31, 2025.
Last, the board approved a memorandum of understanding between the county and AFSCME, amending the collective bargaining agreement for corrections officers and maintenance workers at the Clinton County Correctional Facility to include amendments to vacation, sick, and personal holiday policies.
Under “Boards and Authorities”, the commissioners approved the resignation of Mary George Rhone from the Clinton County Housing Authority, effective December 31, 2024, and appointed Tina Deavor to the position for a five-year term, expiring December 31, 2029.
Under “Personnel”, the board approved the promotion of Cheyenne Hand from Clerk I to Clerk II at Magisterial District Court 25-3-03, effective the first pay of January 2025, and also approved the resignation of Gabe Hansen as Agricultural Preservation Administrator for Clinton County effective December 17, 2024.
The next meeting of the Clinton County Commissioners will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. All meetings are held in person in the Piper Building’s 2nd-floor conference room and can also be viewed via live stream by visiting the “Clinton County Government” Facebook page.
