HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 7/5/2012Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
4:00 PM, July 5, 2012,
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller, Neil Schultz, William Bussey
Members Excused: John Bennett
Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Confidential Secretary-Kris
Kavajecz, Clerk of Court-Kay Cederberg, County Clerk-Scott Fibert, Dennis Pocernich, Sheriff
Paul Susienka, Denise Bailey
Called to order at 4:00 by Chairman Rondeau
Minutes: Motion Miller, Schultz to approve minutes of the June 7, 2012 Personnel Committee
meeting. Schultz identified two additional points that were made at the meeting that he felt were
important to include in the minutes: Iron River area businesses were unable to provide materials
for the CTH H repairs following recent storms. Highway Commissioner explained the need for
trained drivers and that training is generally conducted through ride-alongs with existing
employees. Consensus of the committee was to approve with the additions discussed. Motion
Carried.
Eau Claire County Decision related to elected official contributions to WRS and Health
Insurance: Abeles-Allison explained that in June 2011, non-represented employees, including
elected officials began contributing the employee share of WRS contributions. Elected officials
have provided a letter stating their concern with this, explaining that they feel that per the statute,
their compensation is set prior to taking out papers for their elected office, so the compensation
cannot be changed until the end of their terms. The committee reviewed the wording of the
statute. Bayfield County established, by resolution, wages for elected officials. Eau Claire
county elected officials litigated this topic. The Eau Claire Circuit Court found that the county
must pay the retirement and health insurance premiums that were in place prior to the Act 10
implementation. The Eau Claire County resolution establishing elected official wages also
specified retirement and insurance contributions. Bussey suggested the committee review the
prior resolutions in place in both Bayfield and Eau Claire Counties. Options for the Board to
consider: Seek input from Corporation Counsel, wait for WCA recommendation based on Eau
Claire decision, refund employee share of WRS withheld to date and contribute WRS going
forward until end of term. Review of estimated amounts that have and will be withheld through
end of terms. There is no consistency across the state as to how WRS for elected officials is
being handled.
Motion Bussey, Schultz to defer this topic to the next meeting, direct Abeles-Allison to get the 2
prior resolutions from Bayfield and Eau Claire Counties and further input from WCA and
Corporation Counsel prior to the next meeting. Motion Carried.
Fibert exited at 4:30pm
Department Prioritization and Planning Discussion: Abeles-Allison explained the current
practice of using an employment agency for limited term and grant positions. Strategy is to
maintain existing staffing levels whenever possible. Bussey stated he would like a list of all
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county employees. The committee reviewed the summary list of staffing levels by department
that is included in the budget book.
Short Term Disability, Voluntary Policy Discussion: Review of the number of employees in
each level of waiting period for short term disability. Current carrier does not allow new
enrollment or changes to the policy to shorter waiting period without “evidence of insurability”.
Labor-Management Committee is reviewing voluntary plans that may be considered.
Motion Miller, Bussey to support the implementation of an additional short-term disability policy
on a voluntary basis. Motion Carried.
Return to Work Policy: The purpose of the Return to Work Policy is to put the current practice
into a written policy. Discussion whether the policy should be applied to both work and non-
work related injury situations.
Motion Miller, Bussey to adopt the return to work policy. Schultz commented that in his
experience he has not found this a productive policy for non-work related injury situations.
Motion Carried with Schultz opposed.
Reports:
a. Transition Committee Calendar/Update: 5pm, July 18
b. Performance Evaluation System: Being piloted by 3 departments in the near
future. An overview of the system was provided.
c. Wellness Update: Programs ongoing. Wellness highlighted in the current WCA
Magazine.
d. Staffing: 2 highway resignations. 1 position being filled currently. Discussion
regarding staffing in the highway department.
e. Financial Report: Review of reports for wages and benefits paid year to date
through the last payroll in June.
Bailey, Susienka and Cederberg exited at 5:10pm.
Motion Bussey, Schultz to enter into Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c, e, f, i) for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding approval of
Executive Session Minutes of the June 7, 2012 Personnel Committee meeting; discussion and
possible action regarding personnel and personnel related litigation; Reviewing Re-
Classification Requests; and discuss strategy with regard to collective bargaining with WPPA
Local 216. Motion Carried. Entered executive session at 5:10pm.
Motion Schultz, Bussey to return to Open Session. Returned to open session at 6:05 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 pm.