Officials acknowledge stress on Health Department staff

Recognizing the stressful circumstances under which the Putnam County Health Department is operating, county officials on Tuesday made a pair of employee-friendly decisions.

Both the Putnam County Commissioners and Putnam County Council made exceptions to normal practice in granting a pair of requests.

Before the commissioners was the matter of vacation days for a pair of Health Department employees.

With the ongoing response to COVID-19, which has occupied PCHD since last March, two employees were unable to take their normal vacation days, with one of them sitting two days over the number of days that can be carried over, while the other sat at 19 days over.

The request, outlined by PCHD administrator Joni Young, was that the days be carried over into 2021 with no penalty.

The issue met with no resistance from the commissioners, who approved it 3-0.

Likewise, the Health Department received little pushback from the Putnam County Council that evening in requesting overtime payments be made to PCHD employees.

While the normal compensation for extra hours worked in compensatory time — essentially granting 1.5 hours of future time off for each extra hour worked — Young requested that overtime accrued due to COVID be paid out.

The Health Department already has the money in its budget from a $50,000 grant.

The Council gave the request unanimous approval.

Also before the Council was the matter of paying for part-time help at PCHD during the pandemic.

While the issue had been discussed previously, on Tuesday the council formally approved funding the plan with $38,000 from the Rainy Day Fund.

The money will go toward a pair of part-time positions, neither of which is to exceed 29 hours per week.

Meeting for its first regular session of 2021, the Council also took care of the matter of reorganization on Tuesday, reelecting Dave Fuhrman as president for the third straight year, while electing newest member Stephanie Campbell as vice president.

Previous vice president Jill Bridgewater made the motion, which received unanimous approval.

Council members also agreed to their various board appointments for the year, which include: Cemetery Board - Fuhrman, Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Planning Committee - Fuhrman, Community Corrections - Fuhrman, Putnam County Operation Life - Bridgewater and Danny Wallace, Commissioners liaison - Larry Parker, Putnam County Community Foundation - Keith Berry, 911 - Phil Gick, Humane Society - Wallace, West Central Solid Waste - Wallace, Adult Probation - Wallace, Thrive West Central - Gick, Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development - Bridgewater, Planning Commission - Bridgewater and Board of Health - Campbell.

The council also approved Jerry Richard as its appointment to the Roachdale Library Board.