CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two public employees were awarded by the state government with more than $4,4000 combined for their work that resulted in the state saving funds.
Judy Lupson and LoriJan Woodward suggested work improvements in the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health and Human Resources’ Board of Review, receiving $2,607.18 and $1,831.03 respectively.
Gov. Jim Justice and Delegate Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, announced the awards on Monday, as well as the re-establishment of the West Virginia Employee Suggestion Award Board, which encourages employees to make suggestions about improving work and cutting costs.
“When I ran for office, I said I wanted to make government run more like a business,” Linville said.
“One of the big things that you do in business is you try to talk to people on the ground and figure out if they’ve got a good idea that is going to save you money to be implemented and rewarded for it.”
Lupson, who works in the DEP’s Kanawha City office, suggested streamlining the process for collecting septic tank groundwater protection fees for on-site sewage disposal systems. According to Linville, Lupson’s suggestion saved the state more than $13,000 in its first year.
Woodward, who works for DHHR’s Board of Review in Martinsburg, said her office should implement and utilize videoconferencing equipment for hearings.
As for the board, Linville said the board had not worked for the past five years. He will lead the board going forward.
The board will consist of three members of the executive branch and three members from each legislative chamber: Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch; Department of Administration Secretary Allan McVey; Chief Technology Officer Josh Spencer; Linville, Delegates Terri Sypolt, R-Preston and Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia; and Sens. Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, and Doug Facemire, D-Braxton.
“If you’ve got a get idea, we put a bounty on it,” Linville said. “I want to cut you a check for 20%.”