Essex Co. probation to move to Public Safety Building

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Probation Department is relocating to the Essex County Public Safety Building in Lewis within the next month and a half. The department's current headquarters will be renovated, while staff is away. "Anybody who has been in that probation building [has seen] it's beautiful on the exterior but the interior is in pretty rough shape," County Manager Michael Mascarenas said at the Essex County Board of Supervisors meeting, Jan. 16. These renovations, like changing the carpet and painting the walls, will be completed after the old jail and POD are torn down. Afterward, some staff will return to the building. Probation Director Heather Sheehan said the staff happiness with the move is about 50/50. Essex County voter machines are currently stored at the old jail but will be moved to the Essex County Public Safety Building. The Board of Elections will have an office at the building as well, so staff can perform maintenance on the machines as needed. Department of Social Services Commissioner Angie Allen reported to the board that her department is short 13 full-time employees and three part-time employees. She said the reason for this is the department competes for the same pool of qualified individuals with about five agencies in Essex County. "We're all competing for the same pool, same degree, same age category," Allen said. She said there have been case worker retirements as well as a lack of younger people moving back to the county when they graduate from college. "They're not moving back in here because of housing," Allen said. "So I do think that is also a piece of the pie." Although the pay rate for Essex County social workers has gone up recently, there are other factors that employees are considering. For example, Allen said the department has lost all of its employees who are new mothers to work-from-home positions. "We don't offer that option and I'm not advocating for it, just putting that out there, don't want to stir that pot again, but that is something that we do see," Allen said. "Unfortunately, in our line of work, the accountability piece for a work-from-home perspective is just unfeasible at this time." Minerva Supervisor Stephen McNally asked Allen when she predicts the department will get to a point where it cannot fulfill its mission to the best of its ability. She said the staff is at the boiling point. Everyone, including administrators, has been taking on more cases, putting in more progress notes and making more phone calls. She said the department is hoping the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement (HELP) program, which removes the civil service exam requirements, is approved for some of these positions. "I know a lot of people who aren't good test takers, but they have their hearts in the right place and they have great common sense," she said. "I just want to compliment my staff because they have persevered, they've endured. Even though we've lost a few, we've gained some. We are a great group." Next, Public Health Director Linda Beers asked for a resolution of appreciation for Krissy Leerkes, director for the Office for the Aging, for her dedication and service to the Office for the Aging. "We wanted to just commend Krissy Leerkes, my fellow colleague, on an amazing job that she does," Beers said. "The seniors that are being referred to us for any kind of health issue, she reaches out to them and says, 'Hey, at this time, do you need Meals on Wheels?' 'Do you need somebody to come out?' We really blanket our seniors in care because of her efforts." Leerkes used this opportunity to highlight the work of others. She said the last few years, the pandemic has shown her how important each and every person working for the county is. "Everybody had a value and that has allowed us to work much better as department heads, as departments and as a county as a whole," Leerkes said.

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Essex Co. probation to move to Public Safety Building

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