By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County Library board handed out praise and pay raises at its meeting earlier this week.
Both Library Director Michael Penrod and Fiscal Officer Linda Joseph received 3-percent increases as part of an overall $32,814 merit package for staff salaries.
The raise brings Penrod’s salary to $83,338.58. Joseph’s raise brings her hourly rate to $27.51. Joseph works 22.5 hours over three days a week.
Trustee Jane Robb said of Joseph, “I don’t know how you pack a full-time job into 22 hours.”
Board President Brian Paskvan said her work was so good, “I actually look forward to the auditor’s call.”
Trustee Nancy Buchanan told Joseph: “If you need more time, take it.”
Trustees also had high praise for Penrod. “You’re always ahead of the game,” Robb said.
“We know you’re not paid what you deserve,” Paskvan said. “But we look forward to rectifying that at some point in time.”
In approving the merit pool, Paskvan expressed similar sentiments. “We’re still making up for those very difficult times. We’re very careful. We want to give you something to work with to compensate people appropriately.”
“They are a great staff,” Penrod said. “I can honestly say of the 40 people we have here, I would rehire all of them.”
In another financial matter the board approved the health insurance plan for the coming year.
The plan through Paramount will cost the library 8.81 percent more this year. Employees cost will rise to $45 a pay period from $41. This covers almost 22 percent of the $5,380 annual premium.
Ben Otley, of First Insurance, explained what the library’s options were. The library has, under current law, one more year in a transitional plan before it has to offer insurance in full compliance with the Affordable Care Act. Such a plan, Otley said, would cost 49 percent more.
But, he said, some changes in the ACA are expected and there’s a likelihood the library could at least get another transitional year.
“But don’t hold me to that,” he said.
For the future the library could consider joining other entities in seeking insurance in an effort to keep costs down.
