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Board Exces Take Raises Amid Spike in Recession, Deflect Questions
By: Joe Holden
Updated: March 8, 2012
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County- At the height of some of the highest
unemployment numbers, the result of a financial collapse on Wall Street,
it seems it was time for cushy raises at the offices of the Luzerne /
Schuylkill Counties Workforce Investment Board.
In documents obtained by WBRE-TV over a month-long investigation, salaries rose by as high as 30 percent. Others jumped between seven and 20 percent, the documents show.
Executive Director Lucyann Vierling's salary increased between years 2010 - 2011 from $70,000 to $77,750, according to salary figures provided by a public relations representative of the board's staff members. That's an increase of seven percent.
Other documents provided to Eyewitness News by employees who were terminated when a subcontract was essentially not renewed by the board reflected higher raises and $20-to-$30,000 health and benefits plans.
When repeatedly questioned about the increases on Tuesday evening following an appearance at a county council meeting, Vierling said she didn't understand questions about the raises and said she didn't have the paperwork in front of her. At one point, Vierling interjected that staff members most recently accepted a three-percent cost-of-living adjustment in June.
That three-percent increase would be above the increases for 2010-2011.
Eyewitness News requested last week workforce investment board minutes and budgets for the past two years.
Revelations of the pay increases were only recently learned. It appears some on the workforce investment board were even shielded from the information.
A representative of Carlisle law firm contracted-out for legal services emailed the documents hours before workforce investment board members and staffers were set to appear at a Luzerne County Council meeting. There, Vierling fielded most of the questions about the board's operations, including a subsidiary, PA Career Link.
In a presentation to county council, Vierling showed statistics that hailed successes and achievements of the program she took control of in 2009.
But board members contacted by Eyewitness News said they were unaware of the pay increases. They spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One member praised the work of the board. When asked if he thought the raises were appropriate given the economic recession, he declined to comment.
Former Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla (D-Chairwoman) said county leaders frowned upon word of any salary increases or pay raises. County council replaced the three-member board of commissioners in January.
Vice Chairwoman of Luzerne County Council Linda Houck said members of the workforce investment board did not present all of the information they had asked for, including salaries.
The county council is undertaking a review of all authorities, boards and commissions.
Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties jointly appoint members to the workforce investment board.
In early February, Eyewitness News first learned of the staff pay increases from information sent to the station.
In recent interviews with people who formerly worked for the Luzerne County Workforce Investment Development Agency, they claimed subsidiary agencies of the workforce investment board failed or fell short of assisting displaced members of the workforce.
Each person spoke on the condition of anonymity.
They claim spending on unemployed clients has slacked in recent years.
At Tuesday evening's council meeting, Executive Director Vierling presented figures that showed employment services were meeting or exceeding most of the standards set by the federal government and the Department of Labor.
Afterwards, in a brief interview with Eyewitness News, Vierling fumbled to explain the motives behind her raise and other executive staff raises. She only said information would be provided as had been requested.
David Haupt, a spokesman for the workforce investment board, wrote on Wednesday afternoon in an emailed statement: "When you asked Lucyann Vierling last night about pay increases, you specifically asked about raises approved last year. She correctly said the raises were 3 percent cost-of-living increases, as the figures show. After looking at the charts, I realized you were actually looking for raises from 2010 and those are listed with explanation below."
But Eyewitness News repeatedly asked Vierling about raises for 2010-2011, which figures accurately show to be the years where staff members received, in some cases, double-digit increases.
It wasn't until June, 2011, that the board passed a three-percent cost of living adjustment for staff members.
Haupt wrote, in-part, about the 2010-2011 raises, "a competitive salary review had been conducted and a revamped salary structure had been created based on the competitive market, their enhanced responsibilities and increased work week."
But critics of the raises dispute the middle of a recession was the appropriate time to hike salaries.
In documents obtained by WBRE-TV over a month-long investigation, salaries rose by as high as 30 percent. Others jumped between seven and 20 percent, the documents show.
Executive Director Lucyann Vierling's salary increased between years 2010 - 2011 from $70,000 to $77,750, according to salary figures provided by a public relations representative of the board's staff members. That's an increase of seven percent.
Other documents provided to Eyewitness News by employees who were terminated when a subcontract was essentially not renewed by the board reflected higher raises and $20-to-$30,000 health and benefits plans.
When repeatedly questioned about the increases on Tuesday evening following an appearance at a county council meeting, Vierling said she didn't understand questions about the raises and said she didn't have the paperwork in front of her. At one point, Vierling interjected that staff members most recently accepted a three-percent cost-of-living adjustment in June.
That three-percent increase would be above the increases for 2010-2011.
Eyewitness News requested last week workforce investment board minutes and budgets for the past two years.
Revelations of the pay increases were only recently learned. It appears some on the workforce investment board were even shielded from the information.
A representative of Carlisle law firm contracted-out for legal services emailed the documents hours before workforce investment board members and staffers were set to appear at a Luzerne County Council meeting. There, Vierling fielded most of the questions about the board's operations, including a subsidiary, PA Career Link.
In a presentation to county council, Vierling showed statistics that hailed successes and achievements of the program she took control of in 2009.
But board members contacted by Eyewitness News said they were unaware of the pay increases. They spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One member praised the work of the board. When asked if he thought the raises were appropriate given the economic recession, he declined to comment.
Former Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla (D-Chairwoman) said county leaders frowned upon word of any salary increases or pay raises. County council replaced the three-member board of commissioners in January.
Vice Chairwoman of Luzerne County Council Linda Houck said members of the workforce investment board did not present all of the information they had asked for, including salaries.
The county council is undertaking a review of all authorities, boards and commissions.
Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties jointly appoint members to the workforce investment board.
In early February, Eyewitness News first learned of the staff pay increases from information sent to the station.
In recent interviews with people who formerly worked for the Luzerne County Workforce Investment Development Agency, they claimed subsidiary agencies of the workforce investment board failed or fell short of assisting displaced members of the workforce.
Each person spoke on the condition of anonymity.
They claim spending on unemployed clients has slacked in recent years.
At Tuesday evening's council meeting, Executive Director Vierling presented figures that showed employment services were meeting or exceeding most of the standards set by the federal government and the Department of Labor.
Afterwards, in a brief interview with Eyewitness News, Vierling fumbled to explain the motives behind her raise and other executive staff raises. She only said information would be provided as had been requested.
David Haupt, a spokesman for the workforce investment board, wrote on Wednesday afternoon in an emailed statement: "When you asked Lucyann Vierling last night about pay increases, you specifically asked about raises approved last year. She correctly said the raises were 3 percent cost-of-living increases, as the figures show. After looking at the charts, I realized you were actually looking for raises from 2010 and those are listed with explanation below."
But Eyewitness News repeatedly asked Vierling about raises for 2010-2011, which figures accurately show to be the years where staff members received, in some cases, double-digit increases.
It wasn't until June, 2011, that the board passed a three-percent cost of living adjustment for staff members.
Haupt wrote, in-part, about the 2010-2011 raises, "a competitive salary review had been conducted and a revamped salary structure had been created based on the competitive market, their enhanced responsibilities and increased work week."
But critics of the raises dispute the middle of a recession was the appropriate time to hike salaries.
