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PLAINS TWP. — In a meeting lasting only a few minutes, the Joint Operating Committee that oversees the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center converted $5,000 annual stipends for two employees to part of their pay.
The move ultimately stems from a security change made about two years ago, Administrative Director Anthony Guariglia said.
The motion did not name those impacted, but it named the titles. The action came by appending the agreement between the board and management, known as the Act 93 Compensation Plan. According to the motion, the change “reflects that the JOC now considers facility security” as part of the responsibilities of both the superintendent of buildings grounds and custodial services and the plant manager/project manager of project renovations.
According to the CTC website, those positions are held by J. Kevin Elmy and Joseph Salvo, respectively.
Guariglia said the center switched from security company physically present during off-hours to cameras turned on only when triggered by motion detectors. That, in turn, required changes in how CTC personnel responded, frequently requiring someone to be available off hours and on weekends. He said for taking on that added responsibility, the two positions were paid $5,000 annual stipends for the last two years. Eliminating the security company saved more than $60,000 annually, he said.
The motion, approved unanimously with JOC member James Susek absent, did not increase the amount being paid, but did convert it from a stipend to part of the salary.
The JOC also acknowledged a $500 donation from the Northeast Pennsylvania Region Antique Automobile Club of America (NEPR-AACA) to the center’s automotive mechanics and automotive body and collision repair program.