FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2007
Commissioners recognized as 5 Star Employer by ESGR
(L to R) Commissioner Paula Brooks, (Ret.) Colonel, Anthony “Chip” Augello, Executive Director of ESGR, Commissioner Marilyn Brown, Commission Board President Mary Jo Kilroy, (Ret.) Major General David T. Hartley, State Chair of ESGR.
COLUMBUS—Today, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to establish a Franklin County Active Duty Employee Benefit. This resolution allows employees under the appointing authority of the Board of Commissioners who are called to Active Duty in the National Guard or Military Reserves for one year or more to be eligible for a benefit equaling five hundred dollars per child.
“Our brave men and women in uniform are a priority for Franklin County,” said Commission President Mary Jo Kilroy. “ Now, more than ever, we pray for their safe return and remain committed to supporting them and making sure their families have the resources necessary to afford braces for the kids, bring grandma and grandpa to town for the holidays or even purchase a new pair of school shoes.”
The sum of $500 per dependent was established to help ameliorate whatever hardship the family faces, or to provide the resource to make enjoyable opportunities possible. This benefit is for Commissioner Agency employees only. Out of Franklin County’s 1380 employees, 15 are known as members of the National Guard or Reserve who have 12 dependant children. This benefit is in response to the Commissioners request to not only identify what the county is currently doing for active duty employees, but to go above and beyond to minimize the hardships of their families.
“The National Guard and Reserve are an integral part of our nation’s defense forces,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. “We must go above and beyond in helping our Guard and Reserve families while their loved ones are deployed and serving us in harm’s way.”
In addition to the Active Duty Employee Benefit, the Commissioners were presented with an Ohio Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) 5 Star Employer Award. The award honors outstanding employers who have gone beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) for the past year. In May, the Commissioners were awarded with an Ohio Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Chairman’s Above and Beyond Award.
“This is a nice benefit to families,” said Commissioner Marilyn Brown. “We are proud of the work our employees do to serve Franklin County’s families and are humbled by the service our men and women of the National Guard and Reserve provide our country during times of war and peace. It is my hope that this gesture will alleviate a bit of the stress and hardships faced by children of our active duty military personnel.”
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