ALFRED — York County Commissioners put off their meeting to discuss possibly layoffs until next week, because the board wants to look at all the options, York County Manager Richard Brown said Thursday.
Union presidents and workers are frustrated, though, at the lack of information and participation up to this point.
“It’s very alarming for people,” said Michael Hayes, who works in the York County Sheriff’s Office and is president of the County Patrol Association union.
Hayes sent a letter to the Commissioner’s Office on June 26 and another on July 1, asking that all parties involved meet to discuss possible solutions and provide information to unions, department heads and employees. Hayes said those requests have gone unanswered by the office.
“Management has asked for our assistance in solving this problem, unfortunately, they haven’t provided the information to allow us to do so,” said Rachel Sherman Thursday, an employee in the York County District Attorney’s Office and president of the Maine State Employees Association Local 1297.
Sherman has requested financial information from the county as well as sent a letter in support of Hayes’ request for a meeting ”“ both of which have gone unanswered, she said.
The two unions represent about 70 of the 200 people employed by the county. The positions eligible to be cut come from that pool and the other non-jail employees. About 90 of the county’s employees work at the York County Jail, and are not eligible to be cut due to state mandated minimum staffing levels for corrections officers. The commissioners actually approved hiring five more corrections staff for the jail last week.
The county now must cut $932,000 by the end of the year, according to numbers released last week, to make up for the shortfall. Department heads were asked to submit budget reductions by the end of last week.
“We’re still working on everything,” Brown said Thursday.
Brown said he has no new figures to share and that the commissioners will review all the options on Wednesday at their meeting. County Commissioners Chairwoman Sallie Chandler said the board may have some tough decisions to make, but they do not have the option to reduce the budget through uniform wage cuts or reducing work week hours due to union contracts.
“It’s hard trying to make up a million dollars in five months,” Chandler said.
Hayes and Sherman said their associations want to work with commissioners, though, and have tried to set up a meeting to discuss the options, to no avail.
“Let’s work together to find a long-term solution,” Hayes said. “We would be willing to make concessions to make this work for everyone.”
Hayes said county employees are worried because they heard 35 positions may be cut in the second week of July, which is fast approaching.
“It’s concerning,” Hayes said, “because certain services are on the chopping block.”
The County Commissioners are scheduled to meet July 8 at 4:30 p.m. at the York County courthouse.
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells contributed to this article. Staff Writer Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com.
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