SALISBURY – Wicomico’s executive says he will present a budget amendment next week to enhance recruitment and retention efforts within the areas of public safety.
Last week, Acting County Executive John Psota came before the Wicomico County Council to announce his administration’s efforts to bolster recruitment and retention within the county’s public safety and emergency services departments.
The announcement came after Psota informed the council of the retirement of Emergency Services Director David Shipley.
“I want to take this opportunity to advise you that Director Shipley and I have worked very closely to address the critical issue of recruiting and retaining 911 specialists,” he told council members. “As I have previously advised this council and the public, the Department of Emergency Services is experiencing major difficulties in attracting and retaining 911 specialists and communications specialists.”
Psota said careers in emergency services were some of the most stressful.
“The next call that you answer, regardless of how long you’ve been on the job, your life and those on the other end of the line could be changed in an instant,” he said. “What the Department of Emergency Services is experiencing is the same that other centers are experiencing across the country. A high turnover rate and the length of constant on-the-job training work together to cause a strain on maintaining staffing levels.”
To that end, Psota said he would present the county council with a proposed budget amend at the next council meeting, scheduled for March 15.
The local wages here don’t keep up with the local costs!
When Perdue laid off a boatload of their better -paid workers (still undercompensated based on skill sets), most had to leave the area – some abandoned their homes…..
The county system of OL Boys sucks !!! The Dentention Center is the WORSE & is Worse than ECI !!!!!