The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators Tuesday (June 19th), ordered a hearing on a Statement of Charges against a former Tabor Nursing Home Administrator, to be delayed by one-week. 52-year old Mitchell Worcester was set to stand before the Board on October 11th, but his hearing was continued instead, until October 18th at 9-a.m. Worcester faces charges of professional incompetence, negligence, and violation of a regulation, rule or law of the state, in connection with a series of alleged sexual assaults by a resident at the Tabor Manor Care facility, which he oversaw in Tabor from October 2007 through July 2011.

In a Statement of Charges issued on April 12th, 2012, the Board said on Worcester’s watch, a patient at the Tabor Manor repeatedly abused his peers at the facility.  State inspectors confirmed at least five incidents over a 16 week span in 2008 when the patient repeatedly violated others at the facility. The Board also said under Worcester’s administration, the facility lacked adequate policies and procedures to guide staff in the performance of their duties, in several areas including: Completion of Incident Reports; Ensuring proper physician and family notifications regarding residents; Investigating allegations or suspicions of resident abuse, and handling those incidents.

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To view additional information on the case visit: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphPLActions/Archive.aspx On the drop-down menu, select Nursing Home Administrators Board, and click on the link to a pdf file on the IBNHA’s Notice of Hearing and Statement of Charges pertaining to Worcester.

A sleepy driver lost control of her vehicle this (Tuesday) morning in Page County, causing a rollover accident. The Page County Sheriff’s Office say 63-year old Linda Diana Sands, of Clarinda, was traveling north on Highway 71 at around 10:15-a.m., when she fell asleep at the wheel of her SUV. As the 2007 Ford Edge crossed the center line of the road, Sands woke up. When she tried to bring the vehicle back into her lane, she over-corrected, causing the SUV to swerve and enter the ditch, where it rolled two and one-half times, before coming to rest on its top. Sands was transported by Clarinda EMS to the Clarinda Regional Health Center, for treatment of possible, minor injuries.

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, is expected to act on a Resolution authorizing Mayor Dave Jones to sign a three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the City and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234. During their 5:30-p.m. session at City Hall, the Council will also act on approving a Resolution establishing the Pay Plan for non-union employees of the City, for Fiscal Year 2012-2013, which begins July 1st.

City Administrator Doug Harris says the CBA he’s reached with the Union, calls for a 3.5-percent pay increase in FY 2013 and 3% increases in FY 2014 and 2015. The new contract, which requires employees to pay a proportionate share of their medical insurance premiums, and increases the minimum deductible amount, is expected to result in a substantial savings to the City, according to Harris. It does not affect the Police Union contract, which runs through the end of FY 2013. Longevity pay does not increase during the term of the contract. Harris says by negotiating the contract for the City, it also has saved them at least $20,000, which is what the fees for a Labor Attorney would have amounted to, had they handled the agreement.

Harris says the proposed Pay Plan established for non-union City employees, reflects a 3.5% increase in the non-union pay scales, which is the same increase given to union employees, per their contracts. The Health Insurance Plans for Non-Union employees as well as Street and Wastewater Employees (who are represented by  IUOE Local 234) have been modified to do away with the lowest deductible insurance option, and increases employee contributions for their medical insurance premiums.

The City Administrator’s position is not part of the pay plan, and does not receive automatic pay step increases as do other employees, according to Harris. The City Council may grant merit-based step increases based on Harris’ performance evaluation, if it sees fit, and based upon a recommendation by the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee.