Unionized employees representing about a third of Lackawanna County's work- force will receive a 2 percent wage increase this year under contract extensions approved Wednesday by the county commissioners.
The interim agreements come as the administration studies the federal Affordable Care Act and the impact it will have on county government when it takes effect in 2014, majority Commissioner Jim Wansacz said.
The county is negotiating long-term contracts with Service Employees International Union Local 668 and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 87 to replace the agreements that expired Dec. 31, he said.
However, administration officials want a fuller understanding of the ramifications of the new health care law before locking the county into something that could unexpectedly cost more down the road, he said. He specifically cited the 40 percent excise tax on "Cadillac" insurance policies that will become effective in 2018.
"We thought before putting the county at any exposure that we understand every issue before negotiating a long-term contract with our unions," Mr. Wansacz said.
He thanked the unions for their cooperation. The SEIU represents 246 mostly clerical, maintenance and 911 center workers, and AFSCME represents 91 Children and Youth Services employees.
The 2 percent increase, retroactive to Jan. 1, amounts to just over $224,000, which was already calculated into the 2013 budget, the commissioners said.
Chief Financial Officer Thomas Durkin said the cost to county taxpayers will actually be somewhat less as 80 percent of the $63,497 total increase for CYS workers will be reimbursed by the state.
In another matter, the commissioners awarded a $284,632 contract to One Point, Scranton, for the furniture contract at the reconstructed PNC Field.
The contract originally came before the commissioners for ratification Feb. 5 but was tabled after Controller Gary DiBileo raised questions about One Point's selection, which was done through a request for proposals instead of competitive bidding.
While Mr. DiBileo said his office's concerns about the furniture contract were satisfactorily addressed, his deputy, Mary Jo Sheridan, told the commissioners the issue is making sure goods and services are being procured in accordance with state law and the county Home Rule Charter.
"For RFPs for purchases that appear to us at least initially as something that should have been bid, we were not involved in those until recently," she said.
Majority Commissioner Corey O'Brien said the administration wants a public, transparent process and has instructed the staff to work with Mr. DiBileo's office.
"This is not a 'gotcha' game. We are all trying to get this done the right way," he said.
The commissioners also:
- Awarded a two-year contract to Starr Uniform Center Inc., Scranton, to provide uniforms to the county sheriff and deputy sheriffs.
- Approved a contract with Dougherty, Murphy & Co., Moscow, to perform audits of the Area Agency on Aging for 2012, 2013 and 2014. The company will be paid $12,750 the first year, $13,100 the second and $13,500 the third.
- Awarded a two-year audit contract for the Department of Human Services/Office of Youth and Family Services to Jones Kohanski, Moosic. It will be paid up to $16,000 for the 2012 audit and up to $16,500 for 2013.
- Approved a three-year subscription to the Westlaw legal research system for the county judiciary, the district attorney, the public defender and county solicitors at a cost of $10,258.65 per month.
- Presented a "Good Works in Lackawanna County" certificate of recognition to Penn State Worthington Scranton for its participation in the 2013 Penn State dance marathon that raised $12.3 million for pediatric cancer research.
- Appointed Sam Ceccacci, Eric J. Esoda, Dr. Paula Mackarey and Elmo Rinaldi to the Workforce Investment Board and reappointed Robert Lynett, Patrick Sandone III and Daniel Santaniello. All will serve two-year terms.
- Appointed Deb Moran Peterson to a three-year term on the Women's Commission.
Acting as the county salary board, the commissioners:
- OK'd the creation of a full-time solicitor position within the Department of Human Services/Office of Youth and Family Services at $35,000 annually. Director William Browning said the position will save about $10,000 a year by replacing part-time solicitors.
- Adjusted the salary of William Abraham, attorney-auto theft in the district attorney's office, from $39,700 to $45,000. The salary is paid with grant funding, not county revenue.
- Increased the salaries of Jerry Stiles, manager of the Lackawanna County Conservation District, from $42,617 to $45,617 and Timothy Matechak, district engineer technician, from $37,997 to $40,997. Chief of staff Maria Elkins said the increases are allocations from the Marcellus Shale fund.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com