HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 2/5/2015Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
2:00 PM, February 5, 2015
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: John Bennett, Dennis Pocernich, William Bussey, Brett Rondeau, Harold
Maki
Members Excused: None
Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavajecz-Assistant,
Sheriff Paul Susienka, Patricia Olson-Register of Deeds, David Renz, Larry Tutland
Meeting called to order at 2:00pm by Chairman Rondeau
Public Comment: None
Approval of Minutes: Motion Bussey, Bennett to approve minutes of the January 8, 2015
Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried.
Comments from Highway Equipment Operator, David Renz: Dave shared his perspective
regarding items that have negatively impacted morale. Renz opened by thanking the Sheriff’s
Department for making an effort to be present at summer construction projects. The presence
definitely reduces the traffic risks.
• Lost take-home pay of about $400-$500 per month
• Elimination of Longevity Pay
• Lost 2 Floating Holidays, but gained one regular holiday.
• Lost overtime on weekends.
• Asked where the county’s “Good Faith” is when they take away benefits but do not give
pay in lieu of the benefits that are lost.
• Renz stated that 2 employees with the county were given significant pay raises at a time
when other employee benefits were being cut. (County Administrator and Assistant to the
County Administrator).
• Wage study is a failure. Equipment Operators are not paid what the wage study showed
they should be paid.
• Reclassification of an individual in Human Services, however, the pay raise would not
take place until the first of the year. When the employee turned in resignation they were
offered a pay increase to stay.
• Exercise equipment/ fitness center, wellness by phone is not attractive to Highway
Employees and they feel that having to participate in wellness activities to receive a
reduced health insurance premium is blackmail.
• Equipment Operators find it tough to answer their phone on weekends because it is
straight time if they need to use other paid leave time during the week (sick, vacation
etc). They feel they should be compensated at overtime for work on weekends regardless
of whether they use any other type of paid leave time during the week such as sick,
vacation, or comp time.
Renz exited the meeting at this time.
Part-Time Deputy Wages: Sheriff Susienka explained how the “Flex” schedule works within
the Deputy Sheriff ranks. He also provided a historical timeline of how the present scheduling
system evolved to where it is today. The committee reviewed the proposed wages for Part-Time
Deputy Sheriff’s and how the part-time positions would be utilized to reduce the need for “Flex”
shifts.
Motion Bussey, Maki to approve the proposed part-time Deputy Sheriff wage schedule.
Maki asked if there are any current applicants. An advertisement will be put out if this is
approved. Discussion took place on whether it would make more sense to hire an additional full-
time employee. Motion Carried.
Susienka, Tutland and Olson exited the meeting at this time.
Motion Maki, Bennett to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c, e) for Approval of closed session minutes of January 8, 2015, and to consider
compensation, performance evaluation data and reclassification requests of specific employees.
Motion Carried. Entered closed session at 2:35pm.
Motion Bussey, Bennett to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at
3:00 pm.
Reports:
Abeles-Allison reviewed the payroll financial report for 2014. Payroll related expenses in 2014
were about $250,000 higher than the previous year. This is a 2.7% increase over 2013. Standard
wage increase accounted for 1.66% of the increase.
A list of new hires was reviewed. Currently advertising for a Child Protective Services Social
Worker.
Voluntary insurances have been offered through AFLAC and Delta Dental. A number of
employees have signed up for these voluntary insurances.
The committee reviewed the 2014 Health Insurance utilization at this point. 2014 utilization is
currently at 90%, with a few claims yet being processed from 2014.
Meeting adjourned at 3:10pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant to the County Administrator.