Commissioners look at Beard retire-rehire

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners definitely weren’t all on the same page when it came to a retire-rehire proposal for Jim Beard, director of the County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS).

Commissioner Gary Adams said the proposal, which calls for cutting Beard’s hours to 32 per week or less and removing him from the county health insurance plan, would save a minimum of $26,000 a year at a time when the county was facing challenges from Governor John Kasich’s state budget cuts.

“That’s guaranteed,” Adams said of the $26,000 savings. “I’m pretty sure about that number.”

Commissioner Clair Dudgeon said the savings could allow the county to retain another employee if budget cuts come as expected. Dudgeon said early indications were that state budget cuts would be 15 percent, with Adams saying the county is “at the mercy” of the state budget process.

However, Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger said, philosophically, he was opposed to the idea of retire-rehire itself.

“When I was running for commissioner, I heard in very clear and unambiguous terms that people were tired of the whole concept of retire-rehire,” Lichtensteiger said.

“If you want to work and continue to work, do that,” Lichtensteiger added. “If you want to retire, retire and go play golf … whatever it is that you want to do.”

Although he was opposed to the proposal, Lichtensteiger did note that Beard had been an effective administrator and the plan would likely save the county money over hiring a new person.

In addition to the commissioners and Beard, a number of other DJS employees were at the meeting, including two administrators.

Dudgeon said the plan at this point is to review the state budget and then decide what the best plan would be, while also noting that any retire-rehire plan for Beard would only run between 10 and 18 months.

DJS administrator Diane Balyeat asked whether the commissioners have a retire-rehire policy, noting that four people in her department were eligible for such a program and one person on her staff has already requested a retire-rehire agreement.

Dudgeon said the county has no specific policy on retire-rehire, but takes requests on a case-by-case basis.

Both he and Adams noted that any agreement would be subject to the state budget requirements.

“We know that, with the cuts they’re talking about, there’s going to be serious inabilities for the departments to function as they currently are,” Dudgeon noted.

Dudgeon did note that the commissioners were looking at some type of collaboration with other counties, with talks already begun with officials from Allen, Paulding and Putnam counties.

“We’re into a new area with this budget,” Dudgeon said. “The dollars will have to be worked out.”

Dudgeon also noted that he felt an improvement in efficiency would be more helpful than cutting administrative positions, as one person suggested.

No decision will be made for at least 30 days, the commissioners noted, with an opportunity for the public to provide input on the matter during the next few weeks.