County adopts '98 salaries
By Donna Comella

Most County managers and department heads will see about a 3 percent increase in their paychecks for 1998.

When the Wayne County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, they approved a new longevity payment schedule and salary increases for over 100 employees. Salaries approved are for department heads, managers and managerial support staff not included in collective bargaining agreements.

Four people on the lists will not receive a raise - Sheriff Richard Pisciotti ($56,675), Undersheriff William Pulver ($43,175), Chief Deputy William Shortsleeve ($42,109) and Dr. Joseph Mabon. Mabon is the director of Public Health ($46,350) and part-time director of Mental Health ($23,175).

According to Pisciotti, the decision was made last Friday at a meeting with several members from the county's Personnel and Finance Committees. He said that although they gave him no specific reasons for the pay freeze, he believed it might be because of several incidents over the past few years - the arrest of a sergeant and a deputy, and charges against a corrections officer and a part-time employee.

"We've had our share of department problems, yes," said Pisciotti after Tuesday's meeting. "But I've always been honest and up front with the public...There isn't a department in the county that hasn't had its share of problems, but how many of those do you read about in the papers?"

"There are a lot of county departments and police agencies that keep their problems internal - just ask for a resignation and sweep it under the rug. But I was elected by the people. I am responsible to the people. And I won't hide anything."

When Board Chair Marvin Decker was asked if withholding raises was a way to "reprimand," he replied, "Well, the Highway Department Superintendent didn't get one last year..."

A public hearing must be held on the following salary increases for certain county officers, effective January 1, 1998:

• County Treasurer Thomas Warnick, $48,156
• County Clerk Linda Shaffer, $48,156
• County Coroner David Hannan, $26,780
• Comm. of Social Services Rita Otterbein, $68,842
• County Administrator Dan Kane, $71,000
• County Attorney Mark Alquist, $64,125
• Public Defender Ron Valentine, $60,857
• Fire Coordinator Rick Bond (part-time), $19,521
• Planning Director Sharon Lilla, $44,131
• Dir. of Real Prop. Tax Service Bob Deiner, $45,845
• Personnel Officer Peter Stirpe, $47,969
• Superintendent of Highways James Brady, $52,970

The hearing will be held May 19 at 9:45 a.m. at the County Court House, Lyons. The law that grants the salaries is subject to permissive referendum (citizens may petition for a vote.

Click here to view all the salaries approved Tuesday, or last year's figures.

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