Covington Twp. auditors seek changes to employee personal day policy

May 15—Covington Twp. auditors are urging supervisors to more closely document employees' use of personal days after discovering former Supervisor Chairman Thomas Yerke was overpaid for three sick days that were included in a lump-sum payment of unused time.

Yerke, who retired in December, collected $6,613 in January for unused time he accumulated in the 20 years he worked in the township's Department of Public Works. The payout included about $680 he was already paid for sick days he used in March 2020, said Bill Wilson, one of the township's three elected auditors.

Wilson and fellow auditors Jeanne DeSandis and Vicki Williams also raised concerns about a lack of documentation to support a $15,381 payout of unused personal days to former secretary/treasurer Kate Tierney, who retired in June after 27 years. Tierney was a salaried employee so she did not punch a clock. The payout was based on records she kept, Wilson said.

Yerke acknowledged he was overpaid because Tierney inadvertently failed to deduct the time when she served as secretary. He said he plans to repay the money and accused the auditors of trying to politicize the issue, noting Williams is running for the Republican nomination for supervisor in the May primary.

"No one is doing anything irregular here," Yerke said.

Williams, Wilson and DeSandis said the payments were authorized under the township's current policy. They're pushing for changes because they want to ensure township funds are properly spent.

"It has nothing to do with the election. It has to do with taxpayers' money," Williams said.

The auditors also recommended the township consider limiting the amount of time employees can carry over.

Supervisor Melissa Kearney said she believes employees should be able to carry over some hours to help protect them if they have a major illness or other life crisis.

"I do like the idea of being able to bank time if something major happens, but we need to put a limit," Kearney said.

Yerke said he understands the concerns, but he also believes the benefit will help attract employees.

"We have to make the job attractive to get quality workers," he said.

Attempts to reach supervisors Joseph Setta, also a candidate on the Republican ballot in Tuesday's primary, John Brostoski and Marshall Peirce were unsuccessful. In a prior interview, Setta said he agrees the personnel policies need to be updated.

Kearney said officials began work to revamp the personnel policy last year, but it got sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic. She said supervisors plan to discuss that issue at their next meeting.

"I'm hopeful we can work on a plan that is fair to everyone," she said.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter.