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District to see little savings from retirement incentive [The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.]

By Sarah Hofius Hall, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Dec. 30--A retirement incentive offered by the Scranton School Board could cost more money than it will save.

Directors touted the plan this fall as a way to save money, with the idea that longtime employees who retired would be replaced with employees drawing smaller salaries.

In two instances so far, however, the incoming employee will be making the same salary or almost the same as the person who is retiring.

Scranton Department of Public Works Director Jeff Brazil will start his new position as the district's director of facilities and grounds with a salary of $73,676 -- the same amount William McDonough made at retirement.

Joseph Slack, who is replacing Thomas Gilbride as recycling coordinator and day foreman in the maintenance department, will be making $55,906 -- $2,000 less than the final salary of Mr. Gilbride.

Meanwhile, the retirement incentives for the two employees will cost the district more than $140,000. The retirements of Mr. McDonough, who worked for the district for 37 years, and Mr. Gilbride, a 35-year veteran, are effective today.

Board President Bob Lesh, who said in October that the incentives would save the district money, said on Thursday there will still be cost-savings with the turnovers. Although the employees will be making the same or close to the same salary as their predecessors, Mr. Lesh said he expects them to save money by running their departments more efficiently.

Ten employees -- classified as noncertified central office supervisory personnel and those not covered by a negotiated salary schedule -- were eligible for the incentive, which includes $10,000 a year for seven years. Three employees -- Mr. McDonough, Mr. Gilbride and technology director Kevin Kearney -- decided to retire. Mr. Kearney's retirement is effective April 27. A replacement has not been named.

Along with the $70,000, the employees will receive $110 for each accrued sick day and their per-diem rate for personal days, which could be used to purchase health insurance. The employee needs to have 20 years in the state pension system to be eligible. Incentive package totals will be determined after the retirements are official.

Salary support

Mr. Lesh said Mr. Brazil's organizational skills and management background made him an ideal candidate for the job of overseeing the district's buildings and their upkeep. As the city DPW director, Mr. Brazil made $48,750 in 2011.

"He did a great job over at DPW," Mr. Lesh said. "I'm sure he will do an even better job with us."

Mr. Lesh also cited Mr. Slack's lengthy service to the district, most recently as a building supervisor. Directors said that while the supervisor position will need to be filled, they do not know if someone else will eventually need to be hired for the department.

Neither Mr. Brazil or Mr. Slack's jobs were advertised, and interviews were not conducted, directors have said.

With their experience, Mr. Lesh said they deserved to make the same amount as their predecessors.

"It would have been detrimental for them to not make the same amount," he said.

Mr. McDonough will be staying with the district for a "couple weeks" to help with the transition, Superintendent William King said. Mr. McDonough will be receiving his per diem rate of $282 per day.

Mr. King said Mr. Brazil's salary is justified because of the scope of the position.

"We have tons of buildings that need to be maintained," Mr. King said. "It's a key cabinet position here."

Unaware of salaries

Director Kathleen McGuigan said she is against Mr. Brazil and Mr. Slack making as much as those they are replacing. She said she was unaware of the salaries when she voted for the appointments.

Director Nathan Barrett said Thursday that he was also unaware of the salaries that Mr. Brazil and Mr. Slack would be receiving. But Mr. Barrett, chairman of the computerization committee, said he expected the new technology director to make about $18,000 less than Mr. Kearney.

Mr. Barrett's wife, Megan Barrett, works in the district's technology department and may have an interest in the position.

"We'll see what happens there," Mr. Barrett said. "I don't know if that is going to be the case. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Efforts to reach other current board members who also were on the board in October, including Brian Jeffers, Lyn Ruane and Bob Sheridan, were unsuccessful Thursday.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com

___

(c)2011 The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)

Visit The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.) at thetimes-tribune.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

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