Electing to save overtime found to be illegal
Read pdf version of Memo #08-28 from October 14
Read pdf version of Memo (Revised) #08-28 from October 17
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department officials are under orders to significantly reduce overtime. On Tuesday, a memo from Chief Lawrence Sedgwick Jr. announced the latest money saving effort. It said the department is not letting employees take time off to vote on November 4. According to the memo, “the Department will not be making any special allowances”, and instead encourages employees who are assigned to work a 24-hour shift on Election Day to file an absentee ballot.
Spokesman Mark Brady says the memo was a good faith effort to save money during difficult economic times, but officials soon realized the order ran afoul of Maryland law.
This resulted in a revised memo issued on Friday that reads in part, “After further clarification within the Election Law Article of the Maryland Code Section 10-315, the Department will be making the following special allowances for essential personnel required to maintain emergency services on Election Day”.
The memo from Chief Sedgwick goes on to say all shift work personnel who wish to exercise the right to vote will be granted two hours of “Civil Leave” between 7:00 and 9:00 AM on November 4. Day work crews will have to vote during their own time.
