Beavercreek vs. Springboro boys
2012 HomeWorld
Hamilton vs. Princeton
Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > March > 18 > Entry
County pay study clash - Furmon’s argument
A discussion on public employee pay raises turned personal today, March 18, with Butler County commissioners trading accusations of who and what was responsible for ballooning pay in recent years.
It erupted when Commissioner Charles Furmon made a motion to reinstate the salaries of two of the county’s highest paid employees —Â Assistant Human Resources Director Laura Campbell at $92,771 and Records Center Director Rhonda Freeze at $85,772.
Furmon said the move last year to cut their pay $13,771 and $15,873, respectively, was done “for no reason, at random, for personal reasons possibly.”
He said he approved the cuts to Campbell and Freeze on the understanding that more cuts in other departments would follow. But he produced a list of 14 other employees whose salaries have shot up between 24 percent and 91 percent between 2002 and 2008 —Â whose salaries weren’t cut.
Here is Furmon’s prepared statements, and background data:
From today’s meeting:
Furmon’s motion died without a second. But Commissioner Donald Dixon said the reason further cuts were stalled is because Furmon is slowing down a salary study.
Dixon said Furmon was looking out for Campbell for his own personal reasons.
“You came into my office and said why don’t you leave her alone,” Dixon said of Campbell. “(You said) She’s a friend of mine and she’s from a little town in Kentucky I’m from and she has no one to take care of her.”
As for the pay raises over the years, “You sit here and say they gave the raises. You gave the raises,” Dixon told Furmon. “Chuck Furmon voted on their salaries and put these people where they are.”
“You’ve been here three years. It’s about time you accept some responsibility in what’s going on here Mr. Dixon,” Furmon countered.
Furmon argued that it was a merit pay system —Â like the one the salary study is supposed to create —Â that led to the increases.
Dixon pointed to Furmon’s list of pay raises as further proof the pay study is needed. He made a motion to move ahead full-speed with the study.
That motion also died without a second, though Commission President Gregory Jolivette said he would look over the data and make a decision at the next commission meeting.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: County Commission
Comments
By The Poor Taxpayer
March 18, 2010 7:32 PM | Link to this
Chuck I voted for you to represent me and ALL county residents, not your employee friend. Come on be a representative of all the people.
By shine on
March 18, 2010 9:43 PM | Link to this
Josh - I find it interesting that Mr. Jewett wants EEOC compliance studied. What else is brewing with this? You need to stay on this particular issue - it may run even deeper than we thought.
By EthicsWatch
March 19, 2010 7:08 AM | Link to this
All I can say is wow! Seeing this recent history of outrageous pay increases, signed off on by ALL 3 Republican Commissioners, should make it very clear what the voters NEED to do in November. Let’s end this corruption now.
By ex
March 20, 2010 6:50 AM | Link to this
I’d also like Mr. Dixon to answer the question as to when he is going to start taking responsability for his time on the commission. The honeymoon is over Don. Quit blaming everyone else. You’re still blaming current issues on staff that’s been gone for years.
By whataboutthis
March 20, 2010 8:34 AM | Link to this
Hey Furman, what about the poor underpaid employees at Adult Probation. They’ve got Officers that sipervise convicted criminals with college degree’s, that the county didn’t pay for, not even making a third of what that “poor KY woman” is making. How about the staff, who don’t make a quarter of what these women are currently making. I’m positive some of these underpaid are decendents from Kentucky. Do they qualify for your extravagant pay raises?
By whataboutthis
March 20, 2010 8:35 AM | Link to this
Hey Furman, what about the poor underpaid employees at Adult Probation. They’ve got Officers that sipervise convicted criminals with college degree’s, that the county didn’t pay for, not even making a third of what that “poor KY woman” is making. How about the staff, who don’t make a quarter of what these women are currently making. I’m positive some of these underpaid are decendents from Kentucky. Do they qualify for your extravagant pay raises?
By Vote Jollivette
March 20, 2010 9:49 PM | Link to this
We need Greg Jollivette back in office. VOTE FOR JOLLIVETTE in MAY. Can anyone really imagine cindy carpenter being a part of the most recent commission meeting ? Of course with her son working for the county maybe she would have been smart enough to just keep quiet. Nope, she isn’t that smart she would have thrown in her meaningless comments because she does know it all, just like Kay Rogers knew it all. carpenter is just as goofy as Kay Rogers was, keep her out of the commissioners office.
By Vote Carpenter
March 20, 2010 10:37 PM | Link to this
VOTE FOR CARPENTER in MAY.Can you really imagine that Greg Jollivette could make a decision on anything. “Oh give me a week to think about it.” Cindy Carpenter will at least make a decision whether it is tough or not. You would think that since they have been discussing this pay study for a while he could have formulated an opinion. Lastly, you must not be too smart yourself because what does her son or Kay Rogers have to do with anything related to this article.
By Thanks Jolly
March 21, 2010 8:59 AM | Link to this
Thank you JOLLIVTTE for doing the business of Butler County taxpayers and not seconding the motion to raise salaries put forth by Furmon. Enough is enough, and thanks for making that decision immediately during the commission meeting. As any intelligent person understands some decisions require immediate action while others deem more consideration.
By bobvarnell
March 22, 2010 8:28 AM | Link to this
Every decision that has occured in the Commissioner’s office, which led to our current fiscal crisis, was supported by Greg Jolivette. He can’t escape this fact. Yes, he is a nice guy. No, he hasn’t been a successful Commissioner.
By to bob:
March 22, 2010 4:30 PM | Link to this
that is absolutely false but I would expect no different if you are from the carpenter camp. most of the decisions were pre jollivette and driven by conklin,furmon & fox !
By Donna Mollaun
March 26, 2010 6:25 AM | Link to this
Once again, it’s all about the buddies of the Republicans as to who gets raises, and who will be laid-off. We need someone from another party to keep an eye on things. The foxes (pun intended) are guarding the hen house and stealing our eggs. Vote Hubble in 2010.
By Paying attention
March 29, 2010 3:48 PM | Link to this
When was Don Dixon elected county prosecutor? He said “I have assistant prosecutors making…”. I guess Don is running everything, we knew he was running the board of elections through his girl friend and the sheriff’s office through his friend Rick, what else?
By Buy valium
April 4, 2010 6:28 PM | Link to this
cases occasions algorithms rich cheryl diego contained fayetteville kettering needed ictprimary
By seo lace
May 2, 2010 10:22 PM | Link to this
I can’t read yoour paage in Firefox 4.4, just fgirud I would tell you about itt?