With a multi-million dollar yearly budget, it might have seemed odd to some observers Thursday to see the Mercer County commissioners engaged in a somewhat animated discussion over a $200 stipend.

But that's exactly what happened during the commissioners' meeting in Mercer County Courthouse. At issue was whether to pay a temporary assistant court administrator a $200 stipend while she fills in for eight days for a vacation leave of absence.

"I know it might be a small amount of money, but it opens a door," said Commissioner Olivia Lazor. "And should we be filling a state position without asking for some reimbursement from the state?"

At issue was what to pay part-time county employee Joanne Harvey, in addition to her current rate of $11.79 an hour, for filling in for eight days at the end of May for the assistant court administrator's vacation.

In what was the only nonunanimous vote on the agenda, the motion to provide the stipend passed by a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman and Kenneth A. Seamans, as well as court administrator Peter Morin, voted in favor of the motion, while Mrs. Lazor and County Controller Tom Amundsen voted against it.

"Whether it's for a vacation, sick leave or whatever, whoever fills in is deserving of consideration for a stipend," Brenneman contended.

"She deserves to be paid for the job she's doing," added Seamans.

But Mrs. Lazor and Amundsen disagreed.

"I believe this is setting a precedent," Mrs. Lazor said. "I don't have a problem with Ms. Harvey working in the position part time. But if the state is not going to reimburse us, then I have a problem with having a stipend."

Amundsen concurred, adding that stipends have been awarded to employees in the past who were filling for extended sick leaves, but "because this is a vacation I think you're opening a door in every county department for a fill-in to request a stipend in the event they're filling in for vacation time."