Dougherty County employees in line to get after-Christmas holiday

ALBANY — It will become final with a vote at the commission’s business meeting next week, but barring some unforeseen circumstances, Dougherty County employees will get an extra day of paid vacation during the Christmas season.

County Administrator Richard Crowdis recommended — and the Dougherty County Commission spoke favorably of approving — Friday, Dec. 26, as an extra holiday for employees. County workers already have Dec. 24 and 25 as paid holidays, and Crowdis suggested that since the 26th comes on a Friday this year, the county finance an extra vacation day rather than have employees come back to work on a Friday.

“That’s a great idea. … Did you see the movie ‘A Christmas Carol’?” Commissioner Lamar Hudgins quipped.

Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard also lauded the proposal, saying, “Our employees have stuck with us through thick and thin. It would be nice to reward them.”

Crowdis said that cost of the additional vacation day, plus vacation pay for employees who must work on the holiday, would be $18,530, which would come from a contingency fund that has a balance of more than $78,000.

County Attorney Spencer Lee updated the commission on the latest action concerning the proposed Sabal Trail pipeline project. Lee said Spectra Energy Director of Governmental Affairs Brian Fahrenthold indicated in an email that Sabal Trail had filed a formal application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Friday to build the pipeline.

Fahrenthold also said in the email that Sabal Trail will make a supplemental filing to reflect any re-routes or survey results not addressed in the Friday filing.

Lee also gave commissioners copies of supplemental scoping comments submitted to FERC by the Atlanta-based Greenlaw environmental law firm. The county attorney noted that additional information from Fahrenthold indicated “side taps” would be located along the pipeline in Dougherty and Colquitt counties as potential future customers.

“This is the first time this information has been revealed,” Lee said. “The question of where the proposed taps would be located has been asked a number of times during public meetings, but Spectra has always contended that is proprietary information. Brian Fahrenthold also said seven members of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia will be located within 15 miles of the pipeline.”

The commission was asked to consider changes to its sick leave bank policy. Human Resources Director Alice Goseer-Jenkins said the changes would include an increase from three years to five the length of employment required to take part in the sick leave bank, and usage of the program would be limited to once every 24 months rather than the current 12 months.

Commissioner Harry James expressed concern for employees “at the threshold of being eligible to use the program” discovering that the county had “moved the finish line.”

“They would have to wait the additional time,” Goseer-Jenkins said. “No one would be grandfathered in under this proposal.”

Following the work session, the commission held a brief special called meeting to approve the sale of property at 631 Branch Road. The special meeting was called because sale of the property was completed on Oct. 25, and the sale must be closed within 30 days.