Just so we are all on the same page, attached is a picture of Bridget Christman and the work space she occupies in the Allegany County Courthouse. You’ll note that the elaborate space she occupies is not lined in velvet, chintz or gold. Her post is in a hallway near the DMV. It consists of a folding table and a chair. She basically has no privacy or comfort of any kind.
You’ll note that there is no sign of any attempt to make this area a permanent workplace. Fire and Building codes, I assume, would frown on such a venture. Egress is always an issue especially near fire exits. It’s obvious that this is a temporary situation and will end as soon as the wolf leaves the front door.
Through mainly coincidence and the spirit found in the heart of a bright young girl, she found herself there trying to help her father (County Clerk Rob Christman) and his staff respond to the stressful conditions his DMV has been struggling with thanks to the COVID-19 shut down. The backlog estimate is around 7 to 8 months of work.
Rob has never made a secret of the fact that Bridget is his daughter. Neither while she volunteered to work nor when she became a temporary employee. My understanding is that she never was under his direct supervision. Should she be penalized for being ambitious, for wanting to help, just because her father is the County Clerk?
Her “higher salary”, a little more than the $15.00 minimum wage that the left keeps promoting, was not set by her or her father. It was set through the negotiation process engaged in by the county and its union representatives prior to the onset of the pandemic. The reasoning for the rate was that the pay should be commensurate with the duties and responsibilities that the person assigned would need to perform and be literate in.
Reading a job description listing and actually performing the job are two different worlds. Facing and interacting with the general public – most of which would rather not be there in the first place – requires skill and patience. Not every transaction is simple. Death, divorce and inheritance can cause paperwork snafus of monumental proportions. Few people possess the ability to know every single aspect, rule, regulation or policy after a few days training. Stepping over someone - who is experienced and readily available - to hire, teach and orient a new person – in the middle of a crisis is not a good idea.
The “employer vs. employee” relationship in the Clerk’s Office and DMV means that she is a county employee and is entitled to the benefits all county employees are granted through the negotiation process. They were not negotiated by her or her father. The salary and benefits would be paid regardless of who was hired.
Horror stories regarding waiting periods, people leaving the court house in disgust to explore other options, people angry because their day has been ruined, are more than plentiful. Either the court house grape vine has been a deaf mute on this issue or it is intentionally being ignored.
Yes, government should be run like a business. Thankfully it’s not. If it were it would wind up in bankruptcy court within days of inception. Having a good business head is an asset. In my opinion knowing when, where and how to make exceptions so that government can increase services and reduce taxes – while remaining fair, open and honest – should not only be a policy but a law punishable through the courts as well.
Majority rule is the order of the day. Although I disagree with the decision I will do my best to support and respect it. My hope is that we will always do the right thing regardless of the consequences when we deal with all issues of importance to the taxpayers.
Karl Graves
Wellsville, New York
