The Fiscal Year 2010 savings is projected to be $28,205.52.

Commissioner Ben Hendrix voted against the resolution, making the vote 4-1 with Commissioner Billy Parks away on vacation.

After the meeting, Hendrix said it would have been hypocritical for him to support the latest RIF resolution when he opposed the June 9 RIF resolution which laid off 18 effective June 15.

"I just feel we’re already put a lot on the backs of employees now," said Hendrix. "I’ve got to stand by my vote." While he said he did not object to some provisions of Tuesday’s resolution, he had to oppose the entire resolution.

The financial benefit to the county from the June 15 layoffs is $236,661.15, according to figures finalized Monday, and it was that figure plus the $5,608.80 represented by the evening’s restructuring savings which had been proposed to be subtracted from this year’s budget of Sheriff Jud Smith.

The measure to reduce the Sheriff’s budget was removed from the resolution in order for the financial realities of the Sheriff and Jail budget to be studied.

Chairman Yearwood said if Sheriff Smith will be appearing before the commission every month to ask for additional funds, there is little benefit in cutting his budget now. "I didn’t want to make him that much shorter," said Yearwood.

"In the long run, we’ve got to pay the bills," said Commissioner Larry Joe Wilburn, referring to inmate housing, meals and medical bills. He asked about deleting the Sheriff’s section from the resolution.

Other measures were also eliminated from the previous resolution including further reduction in hours.

Commissioner Hendrix inquired when other commissioners were provided the documentation for the resolution. The package was put into the commissioners’ boxes Monday night.

"Fifteen minutes to look over a resolution ain’t very long," said Worley, when asking a question about a change in a previous draft he had reviewed.

Merging of departments brings new names and new job descriptions will be rdeveloped.

The Barrow County Community and County Development Department will encompass the former MIS, Buildings and Grounds, Planning and Zoning and License and Permits. Lyn Clement will head that department, and move up one pay grade, from 29 to 30.

Clement will see his salary increase from $66,237,80 to $69,549.69 as he assumes additional responsibilities and oversight of more employees.

Formerly two separate departments, Fleet Maintenance and Roads and Bridges will be combined as Barrow County Roads and Fleet Department, with Nat Dukes, current head of Roads and Bridges, as director.

Dukes was at Grade 30 and will move to Grade 31. His salary will increase from $66,429.09 to $69,751.40.

Commissioner Worley asked if that much of an increase was warranted if the fleet maintenance work is to be contracted out as has been discussed.

Chairman Yearwood said keeping two mechanics on would assist in using the inventory of $100,000 in fleet materials and equipment on hand.

Another merger will put interim Fire Chief Mark Melvin over the Barrow County Emergency Services Department, which will include Central Communications and Fire and Emergency Services. As Emergency Service Chief Fire/EMS/EMA/911, Melvin will be increased in pay from $61,561.60 to $64,639.68 from Grade 27 as assistant fire chief to Grade 32. The assistant position will be eliminated and 911 Director will become Manager of Central Communications (Pay Grade 23).

Leisure Services will be changing to Barrow County Parks and Recreation with acting director Kurt Cooper, who is athletic coordinator, being named Athletic Director, with a change in pay grade from 16 to 22. His compensation will be elevated from $38,046.17 to $42,696.96.

Cooper said he was grateful the department had the opportunity to restructure and assume the Parks & Recreation name. Also eliminated in the department was the position of Receptionist, Program Coordinator-Community and Maintenance Coordinator, and created were Administrative Assistants for Recreation, Maintenance and Accounting.

After Tuesday night, there will be no more assistant department directors, noted HR Director Norma Jean Brown. The assistant director in her department is being reclassified to Benefits Coordinator Administrator with no pay change.

In Animal Control, the Assistant Director is eliminated with Senior Animal Control Officer created.

The Airport Authority will be without a Director or Assistant Director. An office manager position was created.

The Tuesday action, which will be effective for the most part on June 27, follows the June 15 layoffws. Three others are retiring, including Fleet Director Tommy Parten, effective Sept. 1.

Parten will move into Roads and Bridges June 27 to be allowed "to work out his retirement," said Brown.

The 23 positions found within 11 departments were abolished "due to lack of work and the need for reorganization to improve the economic and efficient provision of County services.
In the combining GIS Department, eliminated are positions of Director, GIS Technician and GIS Analyst with new positions of GIS Manager and GIS Technician created in the Tax Assessor’s Office.

Roads and Bridges lost an Equipment Operator II, and in Planning and Zoning, Director, two Development and Utilities Inspectors and Planner positions are gone, while Buildings and Grounds gives up a Director, Maintenance Technician and Senior Maintenance Technician.