HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 9/1/2016Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
4:00 PM, September 1, 2016
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, William Bussey, Rachel Coughtry
Members Excused: Dennis Pocernich, Harold Maki
Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavajecz, Bob St Arnold-
Marsh-McClennan Agency, Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Sara Wartman, Kay Cederberg,
Judge John Anderson, Scott Galetka
Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Rondeau
Public Comment: None
Minutes of the August 4, 2016 Personnel Committee meeting: Motion Bussey, Rondeau to
approve minutes of the August 4, 2016 meeting. Motion carried. 3-0
Future Health Insurance Plan Design Considerations/Options: Abeles-Allison reviewed the
county experience ratio of 126% through July 2016. He reviewed that the county has had a 0%
insurance premium increase over the past 4 years. Anticipating a rate increase in 2017, plan
modifications are being considered to mitigate the premium increase. Bob St Arnold with Marsh
McClennan reviewed items that impact the county’s premium for health insurance. 76% of
employees are over age 40. County offers both HMO and POS plans. The POS plan is more
expensive for both the employer and employee. Prescription drug costs are up about 14% so far
this year. Inpatient hospitalization is up about 25%. Spouses and children are making up about
78% of medical costs. The plan summary document for POS was distributed to committee
members. The plan has $2400 deductible, with county contribution of $2100 HRA, making the
employee share $300. Security Health Plan has negotiated a 22% discount on billable costs
(contracts). One suggestion by the consultant is to consider increasing the drug co-pay.
Question was asked why the county utilizes an HRA instead of HSA. Coughtry suggested that
HSA gives more incentive to make informed decisions on health care and allows the employee to
utilize the funds more flexibly.
St Arnold provided a handout regarding a “Consumerism Card” through Marsh McLennan. The
cost is $10 per month per employee. Those covered can access health care via the telephone for
minor health care issues.
Marsh-McClennan will bring options for plan design and HSA option to the next meeting.
2017 Proposed Permanent Personnel Additions: The committee heard information on
proposed new positions that are included in the draft 2017 budget.
a. Clerk of Court, .5 FTE: Proposal is for reception and front counter work. Bayfield County
is the only area county that does not have a dedicated Probate employee (these duties are
done by the Clerk of Court). The office utilizes a work study student each year for special
projects. Staff are not taking breaks or full lunch periods because of workload. Requesting a
half time person. Cederberg reviewed the number of transactions completed in the office over
the last few years, showing a trend increasing each year.
b. Health Department, .5 FTE: Sara Wartman explained a request to increase the WIC clerical
position by .5FTE. Sara explained how the clerical support is divided between the Ashland
WIC office and the Washburn Health Office. Clerical staffing has been reduced by 1.5 FTE
over the recent years.
c. Human Services, .63 FTE: Elizabeth Skulan and Nikki Revak presented a request for
.63FTE increase. Family Specialist to work with Family Treatment Court participants. The
department predicts that this increase in staff would be cost neutral because it would be offset
by reduced costs for out of home placements.
d. Land Records, 1.0 FTE: Scott Galetka explained that the contracted surveyor, Bob Mick,
will be retiring in 2017. The proposal is to hire a staff surveyor rather than contract the work.
Galetka explained the type of work that the surveyor does and also explained that the current
surveyor volunteers a large number of hours for the work he does for the county. Ashland
County is not interested in sharing their surveyor.
Personnel manual; section review and updates: This item will be discussed at a future
meeting.
Job description title changes: This item will be discussed at a future meeting.
Motion Coughtry, Bussey to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c,e) for the purpose of Approval of closed session minutes of August 4, 2016 and to
conduct other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a
closed session, specifically to discuss strategy with regard to future collective bargaining.
Entered Closed Session at 5:15pm. Motion Carried 3-0
Motion Bussey, Coughtry to return to open session. Returned to Open Session at 5:36pm
Reports:
End of August payroll financial report: YTD costs are $220,000 higher than the previous year.
Highway payroll is significantly higher than this time last year.
Health Insurance Summary, end of July 2016: Reviewed earlier in the meeting.
Current position openings / recent positions filled: PT Jailers, PT Family Specialist. May also be
advertising for PT Deputy Sheriff.
Future Agenda Items: Negotiations at the next meeting.
Meeting Adjourned at 5:45pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz