Commissioners make policy changes for employees

While rumors claimed a large number of persons retired from the county on Friday after seeing the agenda for Orange County Commissioners Court, only five persons retired, two of which had previously submitted the required paperwork.

The agenda item creating alarm was the discussion and possible action regarding employee benefits such as implementation of sick time policy for exempt employees, sick time buy back policy program, longevity pay, and vacation.

No actions was taken on implementation of sick time policy for exempt employees pending a written formal policy for the court to review. Commissioner Precinct Four Jody Crump asked the court to wait to see a written proposal before voting.

Currently salaried employees can accrue up to 96 hours of sick time but are not allowed to participate in the buy-back program when employment is terminated.

Under the new policy, salaried, exempt employees could accrue up to 1440 hours of sick time but would still be ineligible for the buy back program save the hours accrued during non-exempt status.

County employees are no longer able to accrue more hours for the sick time buy back program.

Commissioner Precinct Two Barry Burton said he wanted to keep the policy the same but freeze the sick hours eligible to ones employees have as of the meeting Tuesday and the buy back would be at the rates as today.

County Attorney Doug Manning said this policy would not affect the collective bargaining.

The maximum number of hours the county will buy back from an employee is 480 hours.

Commissioner Precinct Four Jody Crump voted against the policy.

“I am fundamentally against buy back for sick time,” Crump said. “We should not have to pay for those hours.”

Longevity pay will now be calculated according to ones anniversary date. Previously, an employee could retire on the first on the month while the anniversary was the 28th of the month and receive that month’s longevity pay.

The court took no action on the vacation policy.

Clarification on the policy was requested due to persons retiring on January 1 and currently eligible for payouts for their full weeks of vacation.

A citizen asked the court if the ones who retired Friday would be able to have the retirement rescinded. The court is not allowed to discuss items not on the agenda according to the Texas Open Meetings Act.

The court also voted to move the regular commissioners court meeting to the second Tuesday of the month.

SportsPlus

Bridge City

Female, 15, dies from gunshot wound in Orange

Bridge City

Pet of the Week — Princess looking for furever home

Bridge City

Orange church wrangles in new opportunities with new arena

Bridge City

PHOTO GALLERY — Shangri La’S Sip and Stroll

Bridge City

Early voting begins Monday, also includes local races

Local

Orange Police vehicle involved in crash

Bridge City

UPDATE: DPS releases name of man killed in officer involved shooting

Bridge City

Sean, “The Movie Guy:” Better Late Than Never for “White Bird”

Bridge City

DPS: Suspect pointed weapon at officers before he was shot

Bridge City

Orange police chase ends with shooting, suspect death

Bridge City

Bobcats squeeze out win over Coldspring

Bridge City

Taryn it Up: Doiron, Bees Buzzing to High Standards

Bridge City

Kevin Bacon and brother, Michael, to perform at Lutcher Theater

Bridge City

Meals on Wheels new executive director unveils plan for community

Bridge City

Vidor family “feeling the love” from local business

Bridge City

Burn ban issued for Orange County

Bridge City

Debris in road led to fatal motorcycle crash, gofundme set up to help with expenses

Bridge City

Orange County Sheriff’s Office seeking help in finding missing woman

Bridge City

Cardinals capsize Pirates, 49-20

Bridge City

Vidor man named as worker killed at industrial site

Local

Orangefield Class of ’90 reconnects, reminisces

Little Cypress

Bears claw out victory over Vidor

Local

Introducing Orangefield Homecoming Queen 2024, Natalie Black

Local

Bobcats celebrate homecoming with a 59-0 win over the Hornets