HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 7/17/2013Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
2:00 PM, July 17, 2013
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller (via telephone), Neil Schultz, William Bussey
Members Excused: John Bennett
Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavejecz-Confidential
Secretary, Kenneth Jardine, Dee Kittleson, Kay Cederberg-Clerk of Court
Rondeau called the meeting to order at 2:00pm.
Motion Bussey, Schultz to approve the July 2, 2013 Personnel Committee minutes. Motion
Carried
Wage Study Discussion: Handout was provided with excerpts from pages 6-8 of the draft wage
study, discussion topics regarding the wage study, and current/past meal reimbursement policy.
Committee discussed methodology on various personnel/wage policies once the wage study is
approved. Discussion was based on the assumption that the wage study will be approved at some
point.
The committee discussed how to address recently hired employee wage increases for the 2014
budget. Abeles-Allison explained that the wage study has a 40% wage spread at each wage level
and discussed at what wage level to start new employees. The 100% level indicates that the wage
is paid at the median market wage. Proposal is to start employees at the 80% level, increasing
them by 5% of the hire rate each year for 4 years until they reach 100% of market wage, plus any
cost of living awarded to employees annually.
Example of an existing Clerk I current wage schedule, vs the wage study wage levels at the 80%,
100% and 120% of market wage was reviewed.
Proposal is to hire new employees at 80% of the market wage, increase the hire wage by 5%
each year for 4 years, plus any annual cost of living increase, allowing the employee to meet
100% of the market wage after 4 years. At that point the employee would only be eligible for
annual cost of living adjustments.
The committee discussed how to address wage increases for existing employees that fall below
100% of the market wage. Options could be considered such as a one-time adjustment, or a
multiple year adjustment similar to that of new employees to get the employee to 100% of the
market wage. Budgeting will need to be considered when making these decisions.
Comment was made that the county has been able to attract qualified employees based on the
attractive wage and benefit package offered. This needs to be considered when making wage
schedule decisions.
L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\PERSONNEL COMMITTEE\2013\Personnel Committee Minutes 2013-07-
17.doc
Page 2 of 2
Reclassifications: Discussion on whether there should be levels within positions, such as Clerk I,
II, III and Social Worker I, II, III. Several comments were received both supporting and
opposing multiple levels within positions. Options were considered such as, no levels within
positions, keep multiple levels and reclassification after x number of years, or designate a certain
number of positions at each level and require employees to apply for vacancies as they arise.
IE..a Clerk I would not automatically move to Clerk II or III position, they would need to apply
for any vacancy.
Jardine and Kittleson exited the meeting at 3:00pm due to scheduling conflicts.
Committee discussed how to address employees that are currently at more than 100% of the
market wage. One option is to give a smaller raise to these employees annually until they are
brought to 100% of the Market Wage.
Committee discussed how an employee could exceed 100% of the market wage under the
proposed wage plan. This would be a discussion for future consideration if/when a merit wage
system were considered.
Pages 6-8 of the wage study were discussed. These pages identify the draft Pay Adjustment plan
proposed by WIPFLI in the wage study. The committee discussed whether the County
Administrator or the Personnel Committee and County Board should make wage adjustment
decisions under whatever policy is adopted. Abeles-Allison reviewed changes he suggests to the
draft wording of the Pay Adjustment Plan.
Review of Meal Reimbursement Policy: Review of the previous meal parameters that were not
included in the new personnel policy.
Motion Bussey, Schultz to approve updating the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual to
include the time parameters from the old policy regarding meal reimbursements as presented.
Motion Carried.
Impartial Hearing Officer: Judge Edward Brunner has provided credentials to be retained as
the county’s impartial hearing officer for grievance purposes.
Motion Bussey, Schultz to direct the County Administrator to negotiate an agreement with Judge
Brunner to serve as Impartial Hearing Officer and to present the draft agreement to the
Personnel Committee for approval. Motion Carried.
No need for Closed Session at this time.
Meeting adjourned at 3:15pm.