Trending
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County will be hiring an additional second shift custodian in light of a recent decision by a company to cancel a cleaning contract for lack of employees.
The county Salary Board voted Wednesday to create a new custodial position at $14.42 per hour or $29,993 annually, at the request of Jim Pooler, who oversees maintenance of county facilities.
Chief Clerk/County Administrator Nicole Hemminger said during the meeting that Nittany Professional Cleaning terminated its contract with the county for lack of employees to handle the responsibilities.
In October, commissioners voted to sign a contract with the company to handle cleaning tasks at various county office buildings, including the magisterial district judges' offices, the 911 Center, the adult parole satellite office in Altoona, Fort Roberdeau and the coroner's office.
Nittany Professional's contract, totaling $4,111 a month for all facilities, was the lower of two bids presented to the county. The other bid, submitted by Clean Tech, came in at $19,200 per month.
Hemminger, who told the Salary Board that Pooler is depending on current employees to handle tasks the cleaning company was expected to handle, proposed that effort continue while awaiting the hiring of another custodian.
The last time the county had a custodial job opening, Hemminger said, several applications were received.
Commissioner Amy Webster referred to the hiring of another janitor as better financially.
"The cost of an independent contractor is significantly more," she said.
The Salary Board also voted to allow the coroner's office to replace a deputy coroner and to hire five deputy coroners, all who work on an as-needed basis at $80 per eight-hour shift.
Deputy Coroner Ray Benton said the new deputies will be asked to cover shifts when other deputies aren't available.
Commissioner Bruce Erb said the move will help keep the work shifts covered in the coroner's office without adverse effect on the budget.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.