The Giles County EMA Maze
Have you ever had one of those times when you just looked at
a thing and said that’s just hard to believe and then you take a closer look
and find it’s not only hard to believe it’s just plain bizarre.
That’s the reaction I had to the idea that a salaried
employee with the county was receiving overtime pay equaled to about half his
salary. That was the hard to believe part, and then I got into the plain bizarre
part.
A few years ago there was a man who, as an unpaid volunteer,
served as the Emergency Management Director. Today the budget for the Emergency
Management Office is over $377,000.00 dollars that includes a Director’s salary
of $42,000.00 a year, an assistant at $29,960.00 and $21,000.00 for overtime.
The overtime is enough for 13.5 hours a week for the full 52 week year. I’m not
sure how the overtime was split but according to the 2012 state audit it was
about half and half which means each person worked an average of almost seven
hours each week or 47 hours but according to the audit there was no time sheets
that reflected any overtime. Also according to the audit those time sheets have
now been corrected to show those overtime hours. I don’t know of any businesses where a person
would be allowed to go back a full year and add 700 hours of undocumented overtime.
According to the audit there was also a federal grant that
is to run from 28 March 2011 to 27 March 2014. This grant was made up of
$89,880.00 from the federal government, $14,980.00 from the state government
and $14,980.00 from the county government for a total of $119,840.00. Within
this amount $46,800.00 was designated for the EMA Director and $39,000.00 for
the Asst. Director to be paid at the rate of $30.00 and $25.00 an hour
respectively. During this fiscal year the
Director received $31,200.00 and the Asst. Director received $26,000.00 not one
hour was documented according to the state audit.
In order to justify these overtime and grant hours in addition
to the regular 40 hour work week it would also require a minimum 14 hours a
week for the overtime and 20.8 hours a week on the federal grant for a minimum
of 74 hours of work each week. This tabulation does include two weeks a year
for vacation time but does not include time for sick leave or holiday time
which equals out.
Now if you consider that the overtime was divided equally
that would mean the Director was paid a total of $83,700.00 and his assistant
received $66,460.00 for the fiscal year 2011-2012.
posted by Allen Barrett | 11:22 AM
57 Comments:
I always thought if you was on salary you didn't get paid for overtime.
Boy have I been jepped, wonder if I could go back and collect overtime?
only if you work for the county.
would this not be considered to be fraud?
Y'all got to understand that Barry Whitt is very hard working at being involved in accidents to which he was never called. He is hard working at home (for Pay) unlike the rest of us. Her is not overseen by any County government Committee only the County Executive.
I don’t understand how he could do all that work, all that overtime and be so disabled and still spend so much time at his shop.
Just because you are on salary does not mean you cannot get overtime. Some companies do have that rule but it is not a set rule. For instance, a teacher does not get overtime, they work many more than 40 hours a week doing homework and other work but the non certified employees must be paid overtime for any work over 40 hours.
if there were no time sheets until after the fact of the claimed overtime how do we as tax payers know we are not being ripped off? I feel this is fraudulent activity and we are getting ripped off!!
See scooter; this is why no one takes you seriously. You print half the story trying to make a county official look bad and sit back with glee when folks believe you and start calling such conduct fraudulent when you know the whole story yet refuse to tell it.
That is why you will never be a county official. Thank God.
Hey tooter @ 12:12 why don't you fill us in on the whole story since you are such the expert and knowledgeable inside man.
Ah tooter, I tend to agree with 12:50. Why don't you share with us the entire story? Could it be that there is no more to the story, or would your innuendo be less effective were you to expound on your version? Amazing how you can be such a joke without being the least bit funny.
Salaried people are not paid overtime, EVER. You work to get the job done which is why a salaried person is on a higher rate of pay. The only people entitled to overtime are those who are paid hourly, then anything over FORTY hours per week must be paid at least time and one half for anything over the FORTY hours. This has nothing to do with what industry you work in. It's Federal law.
1:48-This came from the Wage and Hour Laws quote:
It’s not whether you’re salaried but whether you meet the test for exempt status as defined by federal and state laws. An employee that is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act is not entitled to overtime. An employee that is non-exempt from FLSA is entitled to overtime. The official stance is:
A salaried employee must be paid overtime unless they meet the test for exempt status as defined by federal and state laws, or unless they are specifically exempted from overtime by the provisions of one of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders regulating wages, hours and working conditions.
But... times sheets would definitely be required to prove that they worked overtime.
An aide in the school sytem makes around a $1100 a month, would you call that higher pay. All full time school employees are on salary but all but teachers can be paid overtime, but not with out prior permission and it is usually for extra jobs done like after school work. You need to check Federal law it does not say no overtime EVER!
Sorry guys, but I was a salaried non-exempt employee at a factory in Lewisburg. What that meant was I was paid for 40hrs whether I was there or not. I also received time + 1/2 for all over 40 hrs. Kind of shoots a hole in 1:48's post, now don't it? It's probably best if you stick with what you know, if you can find something that fits that category.
has anyone ever received overtime without any verification? it’s not about if you are eligable for overtime it’s about so much tax money being paid without any documentation, then almost a year later after being allowed to make up a timesheet. fraud comes to mind but this situation is even worse because it has been given offical cover.for the wrong doing.
I agree completely, 9:00. The whole situation stinks of corruption to me, as it should to everyone. I daresay there isn't one manager or CEO who would still have a job if they ran a company like that.
Have any of you even bothered to go to the comptroller's site and read the audit? Or do you sheepishly just accept everything Scooter says?
Get off the couch and google it. Surely you can figure that out.
1:48 I am amazed you do not burn yourself to death cooking dinner.
I've read it, tooter. What part do you say Allen got wrong? Be specific, now, no generalizations. You are far to quick to just throw out innuendos and propaganda.
agree with 10:25 I read the audit and was disgusted, the overtime made me sick but what was done with the three teachers should make every teacher mad as hell. Barrett spoke about this at the meeting about a school director but it was denied by a board member and I didn’t understand the situation then I do now and Barrett was right.
8:05 What are you talking about three teachers, and Barrett being denied (what?) by a school board member? Please enlighten as we sure won't hear it from anywheres else.
As of now I still haven't read 12:12's other half of the story. Don't know what that could be since the blog information came from the county audit. Which by the way doesn't speak well for county officials. Filling out time sheet way after the fact sound like some creative accounting.
Then you should read the other half, dick, before you post an opinion.
5:12 How can you read it when it's not posted. Did he step on you toes J?
When the rat house starts to crumble the rats start running.The rats are pulling out all the stops to try and protect the rat crooks.
This is off subject a bit, but why does WKSR allow pretty boy Pat Ford to be on their talk show but never asks Janet Vanzant? They interviewed Ford about the city's upcoming Council Meetings yesterday. Just wondering if anyone knows why Janet is not ever asked anymore to be interviewed about upcoming Commissioner's meetings. Is Mr. Pretty Boy special????
The mayor has been a morning guest on wksr prior to council meetings for 24 years. Where have you been?
Mrs. Vanzant has been invited to speak on WKSR but refuses to speak or be interviewed on any public media. She does not want to be seen as a fool.
9:57 Did 7:09 answer your question?
Or did 10:41 answer it? Not jealous are you because Ford won?
Pretty Boy Ford??? Must be true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If you call anyone pretty, you must think they are. lol
8:03 9:51 told you where it was (lol...he/she also said you were probably too lazy to get off the couch to read it). Oh well, looks like they were right.
Anyone who hasn't read the audit does not have the right to comment on it at all. It's there for everyone to see, just read it.
Ray Lanier
to 11:37 -- Yes in his eyes he's the best looking thing in town. If you don't believe it just ask him. I have heard when he walks in to a business, and if he encounters a person whom may not know him, he gets a sheepish grin on his face and say "You must not know who I am.....I'm the Mayor". Well, big deal.... You are just a taller Dan Speer.
I thought the one called him pretty boy must of thought he was pretty or why call him pretty.
Maybe instead of telling people who he is he needs top wear a sign: "I beat Vicki Harwell."
Pierre Billard comments about TEMA funding for the Giles County OEM:
What you may not realize is the Federal grant monies administered by TEMA is a reimbursement in kind. Namely TEMA will reimburse ½ of monies paid to County EMA employees for specified projects. So if Mr. Whitt and Jeremy worked 40 hour during a specified week 20 hours would be reimbursed by TEMA (after the fact and directly to the County). TEMA does not make payments to the employees.
So Giles County would gather payroll records for Mr. Whitt and Jeremy, certify that the payroll records are true and accurate, submit said records to TEMA and then TEMA would reimburse ½ of what was paid out. This payment goes to the County General Fund and not to Mr. Whitt and/or Jeremy.
This is not an additive event; rather and reimbursement of funds already expended.
It would be inaccurate to add regular hours worked, plus overtime hours, plus TEMA funded hours. Only regular hours and overtime hours should be added. The TEMA hours should be ½ of the regular hours, assuming that those hours were spent on a TEMA approved project.
You might want to publish a retraction regarding the TEMA funding and the assumption that that funding was additive.
I do not condone paying a salaried Department head overtime; his Deputy ... maybe. But, not Barry Whitt. However, that is a decision to be made by the County Eexcutive and the County Commission if they so decide.
Thank You for your time
Pierre Billard
(931) 638-6300
Pierre, don't waste your time here. Barrett knew all of that and he still posted what he did. That his tail gunner mode of operation.
So are you saying it's ok and reasonable for someone to go back and make up a years worth of undocumented overtime after the fact a year later.
I read the audit and it clearly stated how much money was involved and how it was to be paid out and almost the full amount that was for three years was used in one year.
If the money is re-imbursed why isn't there anything about it in the budget?
Pierre Billard responds to 7:35
I cannot speak for County officials and employees regarding the procedures, training and practices regarding accounting for on-work time. The OEM (EMA Office) reports to the County Executive.
In regards to accounting for time spent on TEMA funded projects; the rules and procedures are very clear. Every EMA employee throughout Tennessee has been to classes and have received documentation reagrding how to account for and report time spent on TEMA projects. There should be no excuse for not knowing how to do this. The Giles County OEM is required to complete and file scheduled reports to TEMA. TEMA then audits those reports and will jump on anyone who has not followed the correct procedures.
I cannot speak for the Giles County EMA employees or their ability to follow State and Federal procedures.
Thank You
Pierre Billard
931-638-6300
Barrett says: "Now if you consider that the overtime was divided equally that would mean the Director was paid a total of $83,700.00 and his assistant received $66,460.00 for the fiscal year 2011-2012."
I've lost track Guys, help me out. Is that lie Number 134 or 135?
guess you can make it any number you want to 6:53 but I notice you haven't proven anything was a lie yet. Why don't you show some proof instead of just blowing air out your pie hole.
Get the audit get the budget and get the rules and get the corrections the county made and show how what was claimed was a lie. I'm not a big fan of Barrett he's a little to harsh for me and too opinionated but so far I have not found him to be dishonest in what he puts on here.
I'm sorry 7:30. I didn't think I needed to cut and paste Pierre's posting for you calling for a retraction by Barrett and pointing out that the money is paid to the county not the employee.
If you still want me to cut and paste (for instance your up arrow is missing on your computer), just let me know.
Waiting for you dumbass to show where it's reflected in the budget that it's paid to the county. It ain't there. You can take your problems with Barrett somewhere else and we'll not miss you focus on the topic and tell us specifically with proof where Barrett is wrong in what he put on this topic. Show the line item where the money is posted to the county general fund then maybe I'll take you more serious until then you just blowing smoke the way you claim Barrett does.
The bottom line on this is it's a damn shame that someone is allowed to play the system and waste taxpayer money this way.
If the money from TEMA is paid back to the county and deposited into the general fund in order for it to be routed back to EMA or county executive budget wouldn't it have to be approved by the whole county comm. to move line items.
A principal at a Limestone County school was fired this week for purchasing without a bid. Was there any consequence to the people in charge here for purchasing without a bid. Did the Finanacial Management office issue a purchase order for the purchase?
no penalty not even a verbal reprimand just oh well we got caught again. yes they issued purchase orders after the fact. ole terry ,i’m a county commissioner what you gonna do about it, harwell handles that.
I am appalled upset & disgusted by these comments about Barry Whitt. It is easy to sit back & judge someone when you dont have a clue what he may have to deal with on a daily basis. Yes there are problems in Pulaski, but it is much, much deeper than this individual. So much easier to remove the speck from someone elses eye than to see the moat that is in your own.
I would be appalled also; however, how can Barry justify asking for and receiving 1 1/2 pay for overtime when he is a Department head and a salaried employee? Yes, Barry is willing (at times) to give. But, he is also very willing to receive
certainly the problems are not just barry whitt but he is a very large part of the problem.
As I read these statements I began to wonder about what Mr Billard said which made perfect sense but then the question was asked about why the money reimbursed from the federal government wasn't reflected as revenue in the budget.
I haven't read the budget, wish it was posted on the internet, but I did read the audit about the money given to the EMA director and how there was no accounting for their hours. I guess the part that confuses me is, and I'm not saying anybody did anything illegal, but making up a time sheet a year latter seems awfully strange and if the money isn't in the budget how could that be. Something is wrong here but I don't know enough about the situation to say what it is other than it just seems wrong.
The answer is they lied to cover up their incompetent sloppiness.
Try filling out your time sheet a year later at your job and see how that works for you. Of course there is a cover-up and we are evidently stupid enough to fall for it.
The only problem I see Whitt faced with is whether to use a rubber mallet or a bronze one on that fender dent. What a joke.
very good point 12:31 but do you think anyone in government is listening or even cares?
No I don't, 7:14, and that's a crying ass shame. It's like if they ignore the problem long enough, it will just go away. Sadly, that seems to work for them.
I'm ready for the Charter to be brought up again; we sorely need a voice in what is taking place.
Business as usual............ Ignore the public, keep the citizens quiet and all the problems will go away. It's the way we do business and the way we will always do business.
hey 8:09 that's the way it's been done for 200 years why change anything now? It's better to keep an incompetent, uneducated, dunces running the show than take a chance on electing different people who might change some things.
That's evidently how over half of the voting citizens see it, unfortunately.
We can only hope the issue will come up again, and the folks will be tired of the status quo by then.
Ray Lanier
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