Officials Reach Compromise on Deputy Clerk Hours

Washington Township government officials reached an agreement Monday night about the hours the deputy clerk will be allowed to work, though councilmen said if the mayor doesn’t put the changes into effect by the next meeting they will introduce an ordinance making the position full time.

The deputy clerk currently works 15 hours per week and councilmen had put enough money in the budget for her to work 25 hours per week. Council President Fred Goetz said requests to have the deputy clerk's hours increased were denied and he believed the only way to get action was through an ordinance making the position full time, at 35 hours per week. At the July 25 council meeting, .

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said Monday that after conducting additional research, she learned that employees hired before May 21, 2010 that work 25 hours per week or more are eligible for medical benefits. Those hired after that date must work at least 35 hours per week for eligibility. Since Diane Grimaldi, who works as the deputy clerk, was hired prior to May 2010, the 25 hour level applies. Sobkowicz said therefore she did not want to increase Grimaldi's hours to that level.

The mayor suggested adding five hours per week to the position, which would total 20 hours per week and keep the issue of benefits off the table.

But others worried that wouldn't be enough to get the work done. Township Clerk Mary Ann Ozment said with 15 hours per week, Grimaldi is only able to complete minutes and doesn't have time to get trained in other areas.

Goetz also pointed out that Grimaldi had indicated, in writing, that she would waive medical benefits. Both Councilman Glenn Beckmeyer and Sobkowicz said they worried after a period of time any employee who waived benefits might want them reinstated.

Councilman Joseph D'Urso suggested a compromise of 23 hours per week, which would keep Grimaldi under the threshold for benefits, but increase the hours to get necessary work done, such as OPRA requests.

Sobkowicz said if Grimaldi works 23 hours per week as deputy clerk, she would have to advertise to hire someone as the secretary for the Planning and Zoning boards. Grimaldi is currently serving as acting secretary for both boards in addition to her role as deputy clerk and the additional hours in that position would raise her to a level where she would be eligible to receive benefits.

Councilmen pushed for the compromise and pressed Sobkowicz to commit to adding the hours. She said she would do it "under duress," adding, "They need to focus on their work in that department."

Sobkowicz also said she would limit blue vouchers, which allow municipal employees to work more than their allotted hours on a temporary basis, to when Ozment is on vacation.

Members of the council agreed to those terms. Goetz asked when the change would be implemented because he said he wanted assurances it would be completed.

"I don't know. When I get to it," Sobkowicz said. "I'm tired of this. This is like blackmail, this ordinance."

Council Vice President Steve Cascio likened the course of events to the debt ceiling debate happening nationally, saying Sobkowicz only offered five extra hours a week at the last minute.

"I'm ready to go with this ordinance because I know it's not going to happen," Cascio said.

Councilman Richard Hrbek suggested they table the ordinance and move forward with the introduction at the next council meeting if Sobkowicz has not implemented the changes. Councilmen voted 4-1 to table the ordinance. Cascio was the dissenting vote.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15.