The top man with West Virginia
Regional Jail Authority Director Joe
DeLong suggests the civil service system under which the authority now operates
is creating more problems than it’s fixing.
“This Civil Service system is the last,
looming bureaucratic structure that we fall under, ” he said. “It’s really not
doing anything to help our employees, it’s actually holding them back. On top
of that it’s increasing our risk, so while our employees aren’t becoming better
compensated, the taxpayers are paying more because of that risk.”
The risk, according to DeLong involves
forced overtime, additional training, an exhausted and overworked staff which
lends itself toward injuries and workers’ comp expenses, along with high
turnover.
DeLong said other moves made by his
agency on their own have saved millions of dollars and they have been able to
reduce the per diem below the level it was a decade ago.
Ironically, DeLong was a member of the
House of Delegates when the Regional Jail employees were extended Civil Service
protection. He acknowledged his support of House Bill 2253 in 2007. He said the
aim at the time was well-intended, but history has shown it was a bad move. He
said the results of the legislative actions were increased risk, higher costs,
hindered salaries and accelerated turnover.
