The Rowan County Personnel Board has rejected a request to upgrade an administrative secretary position in the Sheriff's Office to administrative assistant.
Sheriff George Wilhelm hired Patrick Carman to replace his secretary, Kathy Hudgins, who resigned June 17 amidst an audit by the State Bureau of Investigation into embezzlement.
Under the county's classification, the position is an Administrative Secretary 5.
Ken Deal, county director of administration, said Wednesday the reclassification occurs when duties change. All county jobs are audited every three years for possible reclassification.
When the Human Resources Department didn't reclassify the position, the Sheriff's Office took the issue to the Personnel Board.
The board, consisting of Rowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Arnold Chamberlain and Vice Chairman Chad Mitchell, voted against changing the title or classification.
The Sheriff's Office has seven full-time secretaries, one full-time secretary in the detention center and six part-time secretaries.
Carman, the new administrative secretary, is a native of Florida.
A graduate of Catawba College with a bachelor of science in business, Carman said he has worked for 35 years in business, primarily in printing.
A resident of Salisbury, Carman said his duties in the Sheriff's Office will include the "the upper end of the business É procedures and policies," adding that he will still be assisting the sheriff.
Carman's salary is $35,665.
Deal said the position will be reviewed at a later date.
Sheriff Wilhelm was not immediately available.
... : Friday, August 22, 2008 4:31 PM
Carman has said "I am not a secretary. I'm an admin assistant. That's why my name is Patrick, not Pat."
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what does he know? : Friday, August 22, 2008 11:50 AM
So Mr. Carmen knows it all to be the upper end of the business? Give me a break, how long has he been on this job? Does he not need to go through training of some sort or certifications to be dealing with money....the money the previous SECRETARY mishandled? Mr. Carmen, get real. You are a SECRETARY live with it. Get off your high horse and treat the other secretaries and staff that have been there longer than you with some respect, or is chivalry dead in your case?? Answer the phone, that's your job.
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Don't post any negative comments about Sheriff : Friday, August 22, 2008 10:48 AM
The Salisbury Post, instead of investigating reports of wrongdoing within the Sheriff's office, will merely hide these stories. Just another example of politics in action.
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: Friday, August 22, 2008 8:48 AM
maybe this new secretary can go in and help the Sheriff's office find lost paperwork, and warrants that that can't be served because they have been misplaced. Bob Martin would never have let this department sink to where it is now. The SBI should come in and do an audit just to see how many criminals continue to walk the streets because the Sheriff's office can't keep up with paperwork. Enough calls to the State Attorney General Roy Cooper may get some results.
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Sexism : Friday, August 22, 2008 5:54 AM
Was the sheriff trying to get the salary and position upgraded because Patrick is a guy? Has he tried to get the other female secretaries salary up and reclassified? Maybe the sheriff thinks that guys should make more money than females. Geez, talk about sexism.
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rediculous : Friday, August 22, 2008 5:16 AM
This is one reason I turned in my badge in Salisbury. After five years of service and perfect yearly evaluations I was only making 23,000 yearly. I should have invested more of my time learning to type and file. I am ashamed of this system we call local government. I voted for you in the past sheriff, but won't in the future. For the one who said "do secretaries make 30,000 a year" check out salisbury employees. There are some secretaries there making 20 plus dollars an hour.
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Fringe benefits : Friday, August 22, 2008 5:08 AM
Once the investigation is over with from the last "sheriff's secretary", we may find out that she made (off with) more "salary" than the sheriff made last year. Hope the sheriff keeps a closer eye on this one.
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secretary : Friday, August 22, 2008 4:38 AM
Excuser me, somebody better be doing some investigating if the secretary is doing one thing concerning, proceedures and policies, other then clerical work. He seems to think he has some kind of legal authority to influence opr control business, policies and proceedures, AS WELL< as assist the sheriff. He either has illusions of self importance, or is already assuming authority that no one elected him to, and there should be some revelation of just what his duties are at the sheriffs office.
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are you kidding me? : Friday, August 22, 2008 4:19 AM
all of you commenting that 30K is a lot of money must live in house that's already paid for, and not have a car payment, health insurance, and day care to pay for. i live very modestly, and 30K would not provide for my family.
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Some are always political? : Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:13 PM
I believe the point here is that this person will be doing more that just 'secretarial' work. I believe due to the proximity of the position the matters they will deal with are highly sensitive, confidential and the person will be doing more than just 'sitting behind a desk and taking dictation'. Therein lies the reason for the request for a position upgrade. Can we just look beyond some political posturing before we start slamming professionals in these blogs.
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One of them : Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:57 PM
Could this be just another way of saying Carmen doesn't want to be known as a secretary?
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Sad : Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:57 PM
Yeah, it is sad when the ladies in the office make more than us on the street.
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Fighting for the wrong salary : Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:50 PM
Sounds like I need to change my sons mind about becoming a police officer or deputy. Why put your life on the line and protect the citizens when you can sit in an office and make more money??? Go figure.
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: Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:16 PM
I have seen the secretary at Landis work. She did my gun permit. She is a very hard working lady. Does she make over $30,000?
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: Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:15 PM
How much do the other secretaries make??? Maybe they should strike for more money!!!
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: Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:14 PM
Upper end of the business?????? Give me a break!!! He is a secretary!!! There seven full-time secretaries at the Sheriff's Office that work hard...are they 'LOWER END???" I know for a fact that the sheriff office could not function without them. Maybe it is time for a new SHERIFF!!
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: Thursday, August 21, 2008 2:30 PM
since when does a secretary of any kind make over $30,000 a year?
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