SALISBURY, Md.- The Wicomico County Council voted in favor of sending money from the American Rescue Plan to the salaries and bonuses of correctional officers, 911 specialists and Communication Specialists in the Sheriff's office. County council member Josh Hastings says the goal is to keep employees around- a challenge among the correctional facility.
“We’re down more than twenty six employees in the department of corrections alone and so the way we can try to address this is a fifteen-hundred dollar check to go towards these individuals,” said Hastings.
Hastings says this matter is urgent.
“We lost five people last week alone. So as far as I’m concerned this is dire and we need to address this and address this quickly,” said Hastings.
Joining Hastings was council member Ernest Davis, William McCain and John Cannon. Those opposed were council members Nicole Acle, Larry Dodd and Joe Holloway. Holloway says correction and emergency services are deserving of the funds, but believes others should also be rewarded.
“I understand what the money was used for or why it was being done I support that but we have other people were in just as much jeopardy,” said Holloway. “We have the Wicomico County nursing home. Not only nurses but aides also and people working in that facility. That they said, 'Look we’re on the front lines here',” said Holloway.
Employees who qualify and were hired before July 30 of this year will be paid the bonus on the second pay date after Tuesday.