FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Fayette County Commission convened on Wednesday for its first session for the month of November.
The meeting saw several agenda items discussed, including ongoing financial support from the commission for the Fayette County Family Resource Network.
Commissioner Allison Taylor addressed developments within the FRN which include the recent awarding of grant funds, as well as the anticipated addition of four new employees.
The issue of office space being provided through the commission was addressed, with Taylor pointing out that the already limited space in the courthouse location would likely not be fit to accommodate four additional employees.
Fayette Family Resource Network Director, Diane Callison spoke at the meeting, advising that the FRN had entered into a lease which would enable operations to be transferred from the third floor of the Fayette County Courthouse to a new Main Street location.
Payroll support for the FRN was also discussed at length on Wednesday. Commissioner Taylor brought into question the sustainability of this support in the long-term, particularly given the progressive expansion and development of the FRN program.
“Payroll support was something that we wanted to discuss too. As the program expands, at what point is the FRN is going to make arrangements to administer its own payroll?,” the county official queried during the session.
“It’s unusual that we’re doing that,” she continued. “I understand it’s traditional and it’s been in place…But I think you guys should discuss what that would look like. We’re willing to work with you, I just don’t think that it’s a long term objective. I don’t think that we should continue to provide that in the future.”
Also noted was the existing workload with which the Fayette County Commission staff is already faced, along with the fact that accommodations such as those being issued to the FRN are not necessarily accessible to similar entities throughout the county who may exhibit a similar need.
A motion was ultimately made for the commission to continue to provide payroll support to the FRN for one year while inquiries are made into the potential handling of these services in the future.
The motion was approved, and the issue is set to be revisited in roughly one year’s time at the first session of the Fayette County Commission for November, 2024.