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Roger Pollin has worked as a custodian at the Potomac Library since 1992. As an adult with autism, the work helps keep him busy and fulfilled, his job coach Justina Nelson said.

Pollin, 50, helps vacuum, take out the trash, clean bathrooms and sort recyclable material.

"Roger's skill level has improved so much because he's been given more responsibility — it actually helps with his self-esteem," said Nelson, who coaches Pollin, 50, and two other custodial workers with developmental disabilities through the Arc of Montgomery County, which supports the disabled. "He's very happy to help the staff."

But a January cut to Montgomery County's custodial contract with the Arc left Pollin and staff at three other county facilities with fewer hours. Instead of working three hours weekday mornings, Pollin works about 30 minutes for two days a week, Nelson said.

That leaves Pollin frustrated because he is not able to perform the daily tasks to which he has become accustomed, Nelson said.

"It affects him on a social level and it affects his self-esteem — he no longer feels like he is needed," Nelson said.

The Arc has had a contract for custodial work at county facilities since the mid-1980s, said Joyce Taylor, the group's executive director. The Arc places workers, many with developmental disabilities, at the Potomac Library, Rockville Library, Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville and a central library materials management facility in Gaithersburg. They also place custodial workers at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds through a separate contract with the county Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, which was not affected by cuts, said Daria Reilly, the Arc's director of vocational and day services.

The Arc holds one of three major custodial contracts with the Department of General Services, said David Dise, the department's director. The other two contract holders are LT Services and Certified Building Service, Dise said. All were cut back as a part of County Executive Isiah Leggett's recommended savings plan for fiscal 2010, Dise said. The Arc — the only group that places the disabled through the contract — was decreased from $112,180 to $78,692, reducing the amount of paid hours for custodial workers.

The cuts are affecting different facilities in different ways, Dise said.

"We have curtailed contracts for janitorial services at all county facilities to varying degrees — in some cases, it's a few hours per week, in other areas, it's as much as a 40 percent cut as a result of the county's budget cuts," Dise said.

Dise said the cleaning of restrooms and other essential areas related to public health wouldn't be compromised, but "we also might vacuum the carpets less, for example, and probably not clean windows," he said.

He added the department is considering cost-saving measures in landscaping services at county facilities for fiscal 2011, which would allow the restoration of some money to the custodial contracts.

For those with developmental disabilities, a loss of work hours has a hefty impact because work is a key gateway to social activities, Taylor said.

"It has a negative psychological impact on people's self worth — self value, self image, all of that's affected," Taylor said. "Just because a person has disabilities doesn't mean that the loss isn't as significant to them, and in some ways it's more significant because they don't have a big social network. You take this one thing away from them, and it's devastating."

Leggett also proposed cutting funding for the Arc's respite home in Potomac, which provides short-term care for the disabled, Taylor said. The Arc is advocating to have staffing funds reinstated for the home to allow it to continue at a different location.

At the Public Safety Training Academy, long-time custodian Bob Bartlett, 53, of Montgomery Village, makes rounds daily making sure the academy is in top shape. Over the years, Bartlett has become a familiar face — often attending events with his friends there after work.

"I go party with them," said Bartlett, who has developmental disabilities and was placed through the Arc. As he works, he proudly carries a bright red cart embossed with his name given to him by a graduating recruit class.

Bartlett used to work from around 7:30 a.m. to around 2 p.m. With reduced responsibilities, he starts at 9 a.m. and is done around 11 a.m., said job coach, Massa Dempster. Arc workers at the PSTA have had trouble adjusting to the new schedule, Dempster said.

But Bartlett maintains a positive outlook. Of his work, he said: "I do it because it's fun. It keeps me happy, it keeps me occupied — it gives me something to do."

A custodial contract with the Arc of Montgomery County, a group that places the developmentally

disabled in jobs, was cut from $112,180 to $78,692 in January. It affected workers at four county facilities.

-At the Potomac Library, three workers and one supervisor were reduced from five days a week to two days a week.

-At the Rockville Library, two supervisors and six workers were reduced from five days a week to three days a week.

-At the Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville, one supervisor position was cut.

-At the county library systems' materials management facility in Gaithersburg, one supervisor and four workers were reduced from five days a week to two days a week.

Source: Montgomery County