A request made by Carroll Circuit Court Judge Donald Currie at the Nov. 17 county council meeting was tabled because council members decided to seek advice from the Indiana State Board of Accounts before making a decision. The judge’s request was to pay a new hire more than the county salary ordinance permitted.

Currie explained that the court bailiff recently tendered her resignation. Although there had been no advertisement for the position, the judge said he wanted to hire the secretary in the probation office to fill the position because of her qualifications. He then explained that he planned to move her into the court reporter position when it becomes available.

The bailiff position pays less than the secretary position which means the transferred worker will take a pay reduction in the move, which Currie emphasized, will be unacceptable to her. Currie asked to supplement the replacement bailiff’s salary with money from another court fund so she would not be paid less than what she is currently paid in the probation department.

After information was received from the SBOA, a special meeting was held last Wednesday morning to make a decision about the request. Council president Ann Brown read an E-mail that was received from the SBOA about the matter.

“…Deputies and employees should not be paid in excess of the salary ordinance no matter what the combination of funds used to pay this compensation,” it read. “The county as a whole must comply with this salary ordinance…”

Brown said the county salary ordinance would have to be amended for the judge’s request to be granted.

“I would have been in favor of the request except I don’t think we want to start changing our salary ordinance,” Nancy Cripe said.

Council members unanimously denied the request based on the SBOA information. Marion Huffer was not present.

Currie said the current probation secretary will not consider the bailiff job for less pay than she is currently receiving. He suggested the bailiff position be converted to an additional court reporter position which would then fit the salary ordinance and she would receive a salary that would be suitable to her.

Currie was advised that the position change was not proposed for the 2010 budget. It was not approved and could not happen until 2011.