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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County has furloughed 54 full-time employees since March 23, the day it closed the courthouse to the general public and introduced scaled-down operations in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Commissioners, when meeting Tuesday, approved the employees' furloughs that were referenced in an operational plan adopted March 20. At that time, the county's human resources office and county department leaders were working on plans for reduced staffing in county offices.
Commissioners also voted Tuesday in favor of five part-time furloughs, involving part-time employees or full-time employees whose hours were reduced.
Commissioners offered no comment during Tuesday's meeting about the employees on the list.
When meeting March 20, commissioners acknowledged that because businesses and agencies were closing over coronavirus concerns, fewer visitors were entering the courthouse, causing workloads to diminish.
They also acknowledged that orders reducing county court schedules were affecting operations as well.
Of the combined 59 employees who were furloughed, most were effective March 23.
Others followed March 24, 25 and 26, and as recently as Monday.
Furloughed county employees have the option, based on the county's plan, of filing for unemployment compensation and redeeming some or all of accumulated benefit time. They are also eligible for continued health care, plus dental and vision insurance, through April 30.
Furloughed employees are also eligible to be recalled to work.
The commissioners conducted Tuesday's meeting in the public meeting room at the courthouse.
Commissioners Bruce Erb, chairman; and Laura Burke, vice chairman; were in attendance. Commissioner Amy Webster and several county staff members participated by telephone.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.