Commissioners: Waiting period an ‘overreach,’ ‘silly’
The Lake County Board of Commissioners blocked a move to create a waiting period before departments can fill vacancies, calling the ordinance “silly” and “an overreach.”
The Board of Commissioners on Wednesday vetoed the hiring ordinance passed by the County Council that would have created a two-week waiting period after someone has vacated a job before it can be filled. The commissioners have previously vetoed similar ordinances.
Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said if the council doesn’t want departments to fill positions, it should eliminate them from the budget.
“Simple,” Repay said.
Council member Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, said the ordinance would require department heads to wait 14 days before filling a position after an employee who is leaving has had all benefits paid out. Strong said the new policy would also be used to test whether the hiring hold nets any savings for the county.
County attorney John Dull said enacting the hiring policy would make it impossible to comply with existing codes.
“If this ordinance is passed through the commissioners, it will take up to three months to fill some roles, which can put the department in a bind,” a letter to the County Council said.
The letter from the commissioners said it is standard for the county to fill a position in 15 to 20 days.
“Due to the time that it will take to complete one job hire, this would not be favorable to the departments,” the letter said.
The council enacted a hiring freeze for 2017 that required the board to approve filling a vacancy, and netted savings from the gap between an employee leaving and a new one being hired. A similar ordinance has been in place in the past.
When the freeze was brought up for the 2018 budget year, the Board of Commissioners vetoed the measure, and the council lacked votes for an override.
Commissioner Kyle Allen, D-Gary, said the council provides a budget, which includes a set number of positions, and department heads are supposed to get permission to fill jobs that are already funded.
“That makes absolutely no sense to me,” Allen said.
Allen said if the council wants the cost savings, it should make changes to the budget. He said if the council thinks positions are unnecessary or salaries are too high, it should cut them.
Commissioner Jerry Tippy, R-Schererville, said to find savings, it’s better to change the budget. Tippy said potential savings from holding vacancies open is not sustainable.
“It’s random cost savings that cannot be predicted,” Tippy said.
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