JOHNSTOWN — The Fulton County Community Services Department has two emergency on-call worker vacancies, and wants to shore up such mental health services for the rest of 2020 with holidays on the horizon.
Department Director Ernest Gagnon recently reported on the personnel situation to the Board of Supervisors’ Human Services Committee at the County Office Building.
“We had a couple [unexpected] resignations from our on-call program,” Gagnon said.
He said the contracted staffers handle emergency crisis calls from area citizens and work with local police agencies.
Gagnon requested through the committee that the county enter into two separate contracts to fill the on-call vacancies. The committee approved the proposed contracts, which will come before the full board Nov. 9 for final approval. There is no cost to the county.
“Going into the holidays, I want to make sure we’re covered,” Gagnon said.
Supervisors voted to enter into a contract with independent contractor Jenna Wilder to provide emergency on call services on nights and weekends, beginning Nov. 15 and running through Dec. 31. A separate contract was approved for independent contractor Maria Salales to work during the same time period.
Both women have experience as Master-prepared social workers.
Gagnon said this move will allow the emergency on-call program to continue to cover all off hours without any lapses in service. He said Wilder and Salales will receive a rate of $75 per hour.
Funding for the positions is already within the Community Services Department budget, and is 100 percent state funded.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
