The debate over Circuit Court staffing continued during last month’s joint Pulaski County Council and Commissioners meeting. Judge Mary Welker once again asked for a part-time staff member to be moved to full-time status.
She noted that with her current staff of three-and-a-half and the fact that jury trials can’t take place with fewer than three staff members, there’s very little room for vacations or other absences. Welker added that she’s concerned the part-time employee might leave if she isn’t moved to full-time status, and training someone else to use the Odyssey court management software would take weeks.
The judge said she had enough money in her budget that she could move around to cover the extra $8,300 for the added hours. But that wouldn’t cover the cost of benefits.
Council Member Kathi Thompson spoke in support of the change, saying it needs to happen. “We have to have a Circuit Court that can operate,” she said. “There is no excuse for not allowing her that one part-time person to become full-time, when she has shown us over and over again how she can pay for it.”
But Council Member Rudy DeSabatine felt that now isn’t a good time, with businesses struggling with the effects of COVID-19 and the county’s net assessed value expected to take a hit. He suggested increasing the use of overtime as an alternative, while Council President Ken Boswell once again raised the idea of moving the current full-time staff from 35 to 40 hours per week.
In the end, the judge’s request to move her part-time employee to full-time status was once again voted down.
