Butler County now can act sooner to replace employees who take indefinite leaves of absence.

Under new contracts for 160 court-related workers that take effect July 1, the county can fill a job after an employee's unpaid leave extends to three months.

Under the terms of the old contracts that expired Nov. 30, a county worker on an unpaid leave for medical or personal reasons could not be replaced for up to a year.

Because Butler County still doesn't have new contracts for 340 union workers, those employees still can't be replaced while on an indefinite leave because they are working under the terms of the previous contract.

However, the replacement provision the county has with the 160 court-related workers is something the county also wants in any new contract with the 340 other union workers.

The new provision could impact a Register of Wills clerk who is on a medical leave.

Carol Tokar, a clerk in the Register's office, began her leave about 12 weeks ago.

Since the contract starts July 1, Tokar has until October before the three months elapses.

Judy Moser, the county Register of Wills, said at Monday's county salary board meeting that Tokar has back problems.

"The back operation was terribly botched," she said. "She's in terrible pain."

To fill the post in the interim, the salary board Wednesday created a temporary clerk post in Moser's office.

"I can't hire anybody until she gets disability," Moser said Monday.

If and when Tokar receives disability, the county can then permanently replace her.

The new post doesn't receive benefits, which cost the county an additional $12,000 to $14,000.

The full-time job pays the same base salary Tokar received: $14.75 an hour.

Although the three-month limit is new, what hasn't changed is the leave still can last up to one year for county employees.

What did change is who qualifies for the one-year leave. Only employees who worked at least five years for the county receive a year.

Employees with one year under their belt are eligible for a six-month leave.

Those with less than a year do not get unpaid leaves.

Lori Altman, county personnel director, said in an interview an employee returning from a leave after the post is filled isn't guaranteed the former job.

However, the person still is employed by the county.

The returning employee must take a vacant post under the same classification. If there are no vacancies, the employee can bump another worker from a job.

Altman said the three-month provision would be most applicable at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where returning nurses or aides would have to fill available shifts and not automatically get the same one they formerly had.