HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 8/24/2005L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\PERSONNEL COMMITTEE\2005\Personnel Committee Minutes 082405.doc
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Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee
August 24, 2005 8:00 am
Bayfield County Board Room
Washburn, WI
Members Present: Neil Paulson, Brett Rondeau, John Blahnik, David Good
Excused: Dee Kittleson
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, Kris Kavajecz
Meeting was called to order at 8:02am by Chairman Blahnik
Motion Regarding Minutes of the August 4, 2005 Personnel Committee Meeting:
Motion by Rondeau, second by Paulson to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2005 Personnel
Committee meeting as presented. Motion Carried.
The committee may enter in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c,e,g) to discuss employee performance, employment and bargaining issues as
well as consider legal advice with respect to current litigation in which the body is involved:
Motion by Good, second by Rondeau to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c,e,g) to discuss employee performance, employment and bargaining issues as well as
consider legal advice with respect to current litigation in which the body is involved. Roll Call
Vote: Good-yes, Rondeau-yes, Paulson-Yes, Blahnik-Yes All-Yes, Motion Carried. Abeles-
Allison and Kavajecz were invited to attend the executive session.
Motion by Good, Second by Rondeau to return to open session. Roll Call Vote: Good-yes,
Rondeau-Yes, Paulson-Yes, Blahnik-Yes, All yes, Motion Carried
Tom Moran, John Gary, Kathy Wolfram, Michelle Heglund, Jim Mattson, Al Benson-WPPA,
and Mike Furtak joined the meeting at this time.
Blahnik welcomed everyone to the negotiations. Introductions were made around the room.
Abeles-Allison reviewed ground rules for the session including:
2hrs or less unless mutually agreed upon.
Keep negotiations at table.
End of meeting, fact finding specifics assigned.
Tentative agreements in writing
Each group record own records.
Set meeting for next session: Wed, Sept 7, 8:30am
Ground rules were accepted by those in attendance.
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Abeles-Allison distributed an initial proposal. See attached.
Abeles-Allison reported that the Highway Department declined to participate in the negotiations,
but support the HRA as long as the result is a net-zero for the employees.
Clarification that this proposal would be a pilot program for the calendar year 2006.
Brief discussion was held regarding each of the initial proposal items.
Gary Gravesen with WPPA joined the meeting at this time.
The proposal with the greatest dollar savings for employees and the county included raising
deductibles to $1000, $2000, $3000. Estimated savings of $300 family, $232 single +1, $100
single savings per year on this plan. Total estimated savings to employees of $31,500.
Brief discussion regarding what happens with the dollars in the account if an employee on a
family plan were to die. Would the family be entitled to use the funds in the HRA account?
Discussion was held regarding retiree premiums and how they would be impacted by increased
deductibles. Current health insurance premiums were shared with the group.
Mattson commented that a “Meet and Confer” clause should be included.
Gravesen emphasized the power of the concept of the roll-over when considering retirement.
Employees would be more consumer conscious with a roll-over provision.
Mattson stated that he would like to see a provision that if the HRA is included in the 2007
contract negotiations that the HRA accounts from this pilot program be rolled over to the 2007
year.
Employees and the county held respective caucuses and returned to the table.
Jim Mattson provided a response to the initial proposal:
#1 Side letter drafted with details of HRA
#2. If HRA discontinued after 2006, deductibles return to current level of $200, $400. $600.
#3 HRA should be allowed to be used for dental and vision expenses.
#4 Agreed
#5 Requirement that funds in the employees Flexible Spending account be required to be used
only up to the amount of the medical deductible, the remaining amount would not have to be
used before HRA could be used for non medical plan related items.
#6 HRA dollars be paid into the account on or before Feb 1, 2006 or when a new employee is
hired. New employees pro rated based on time of employment.
#7 Rollover of 2007 dollars to 2008.
#8 Terms of #8 expire on 1/1/07. Portability of funds for employees that leave employment.
This statement was prefaced on a roll-over provision.
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#8 Upon death of a single employee with no dependents, HRA funds may be used to pay
medical expenses that occurred prior to the death. Mattson provided handout of the details of this
provision.
#9 Agreed
Add Meet and Confer condition.
The groups caucused respectively and returned to the table.
The county provided a counter proposal:
Suggest that the Sept 7 meeting be postponed to the end of Sept so that actual premium rates can
be used. Fri, Sept 30, 10:00 am was agreed upon.
#1) Side letter will be necessary. Draft to be provided in advance of Sept 30 meeting.
#2 County agrees to return deductible to current level if HRA discontinued.
#3 Medical expenses only allowed under HRA.
#4 Agreed
#5 Flex may be used at employee’s discretion.
#6 County will investigate legalities regarding prorated HRA funding and prorated roll-over
funding.
#7 Item is mute. Discussion is limited to 2006 agreement only. Rollover would be discussed
during 2007 contract negotiations.
#8 Contributions would not be made once employment ends. Portability issues would be
addressed by Cobra during 2006 only for the purpose of this agreement. Portability after 2006
would be discussed during next contract period.
#9 Agreed
Agree to add Meet and Confer clause.
County will pay administrative expenses related to HRAs.
Need to discuss how new employees would be treated with regard to HRA during the first partial
year of employment. Union proposes that full contribution and full roll over be permitted.
Question from WPPA if the county would offer HRA to one bargaining unit and not another.
County would prefer that all units participate.
WPPA asked if the county would consider opening contract negotiations for 2006, 2007, 2008
leaving 2006 status quo. County will consider and discuss at Sept 30 meeting.
The collective bargaining unit representatives left the meeting at this time.
Motion by Good, second by Rondeau to enter Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c,e,g) to discuss employee performance, employment and bargaining issues as well as
consider legal advice with respect to current litigation in which the body is involved.Roll Call
Vote: Good-yes, Rondeau-yes, Paulson-Yes, Blahnik-Yes All-Yes, Motion Carried. Abeles-
Allison and Kavajecz were invited to attend the executive session.
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Motion by Good, Second by Rondeau to return to open session. Roll Call Vote: Good-yes,
Roneau-Yes, Paulson-Yes, Blahnik-Yes, All yes, Motion Carried
Motion by Paulson, second by Rondeau to approve the reclassification of Diane Fizell land Kris
Kavajecz to the Highest Confidential Secretary wage scale, which would be $18.68 per hour
effective January 1, 2006. It was further approved that Diane’s job description be revised to
more accurately depict her duties. Motion Carried.
Blahnik mentioned that a request has been made by a Board member to review Department Head
Wages and consider a reclassification process for Department Heads.
Motion by Paulson, second by Rondeau to adjourn. Motion Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 12:50pm.