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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 10/1/2015Minutes of the Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting 4:00 PM, October 1, 2015 Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI Members Present: Brett Rondeau, William Bussey, Dennis Pocernich (phone), John Bennett, Harold Maki Members Excused: Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavajecz-Assistant, Tom Toepfer-Highway Commissioner, Elizabeth Skulan-Director of Human Services, Nikki Revak- DHS Financial Manager, Jeff Lightner, Mike Gustafson, Paul Susienka-Sheriff, Denise Tarasewicz, Representing WPPA: Jeryl Vonderheid, Andy Mika, Mike Kastern, Ed McKillip Public Comment: Jeff Lightner reported that he has not received any correspondence from the committee regarding the concerns he brought to the committees attention at last month’s meeting and again requested a response. Approval of Minutes: Motion Bussey, second by Bennett to approve minutes of the September 3, 2015 Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried. New Positions Proposed in the County Budget: a. 1 FT Highway Mechanic: Toepfer reported that in 2010 the Highway Department staff was reduced by 1 position. The Department is now requesting that the position be replaced. He reported that the department is falling behind on routine maintenance. Department is doing more Town and State roadwork, which also increases the amount of maintenance on vehicles/equipment. State standard is 1 mechanic for 13 pieces of equipment. Current Highway Department staff are each responsible for about 36 pieces of equipment. Equipment Operators assist with general maintenance as they are available. The committee will make a recommendation to the full board regarding the position and if approved, a determination will need to be made whether the position would be effective January 1, 2016 or if existing budget authority exists for a sooner hire. Toepfer and Gustafson exited the meeting. b. 1 FT Deputy Sheriff.: Sheriff Susienka explained that the demands on the department have steadily increased and the department staff has not increased for about 25 years. The department was not awarded the COPS grant that was recently applied for, so funding would need to be provided locally. Sheriff reported that the amount of drug and mental health related cases are on the rise. Law Enforcement standards have recently been increased which have made it more difficult to recruit part-time officers. c. 1.5 FTE Social Worker Aides: Elizabeth Skulan reported the department’s request for 1 Social Worker Aide for Aging Services and .5 Social Worker Aide for Family Services. Social Worker Aides would assist the Social Workers in completing many of the administrative tasks and duties that do not require a Social Work Certification. The Aging Social Worker Aide position is proposed to start in July 2016, and the .5 Family Services Social Worker Aide position starting January 1, 2016. The 2016 budget absorbs the cost for these positions with no additional levy required. The department would work to cover the cost of the positions in the future through program funding. Reclassification Requests, DHS: Two Social Worker positions are being requested for reclassification from SW 1 to SW 2. Motion Bussey, Bennett to approve the two reclassification requests as presented. The consensus of the committee is to approve the reclassification effective January 1 with the wage schedule that is in place at that time. Motion Carried. The committee returned to the topic of new positions. A discussion was held on whether this discussion could take place in closed session. It was determined that the discussion was appropriate for open session. Motion Pocernich, Bennett to recommend to the County Board that the funding for the Highway Department position be authorized in the 2016 budget. Motion Carried. Comment from Bennett that if a position in the Sheriff’s Department is not authorized in 2016, it should be a priority for the 2017 budget. Motion Bussey, Bennett to recommend to the County Board that the 2016 budget authorize the addition of 1.5 FTE Social Worker Aides in the Human Services Department as requested. Motion Carried. Motion Rondeau, Bennett to recommend to the County Board to include funding in the 2016 budget for a new Deputy position in the Sheriff’s department. Discussion took place. Roll Call: Bennett: Yes, Rondeau-Yes, Bussey-yes, Maki-No, Pocernich-Yes. Motion carried (4-1). Motion Bennett, second by Maki to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c, e, f) for the purpose of discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of closed session minutes of September 3, 2015, Negotiation Strategy regarding Union Contracts, Negotiations with WPPA Local 216, and Discussion regarding specific personnel issues. Motion Carried. Entered Closed Session at 5:02pm. Bennett, Maki, Rondeau, Bussey, Abeles-Allison, Kavajecz remained in the closed session Motion Bennett, second by Bussey to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at 7:06pm. Wages & Health Insurance Plan Design for 2016: Abeles-Allison reported that the county is looking at options to keep the health insurance premium increase to zero. Once consideration is an increase in out of pocket maximums. Currently, rates are scheduled to increase 5% for 2016. Bussey commented that an adjustment in out of pocket costs should also be considered in conjunction with the wage increase discussion. Meeting adjourned at 7:09pm. Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant to the County Administrator.