HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 8/3/2017Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
4:30 PM, August 3, 2017
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Dennis Pocernich, Rachel Coughtry, Harold Maki
Members Excused: Bill Bussey
Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavajecz-Assistant,
Elizabeth Skulan-Human Services Director, Sheriff Paul Susienka, Paul Houck-IT Director, Tom
Toepfer-Highway Commissioner
Meeting called to order at 4:30pm by Chairman Rondeau
Public Comment: None received
Approval of Minutes of July 6, 2017: Motion Pocernich, Maki to dispense with the reading
and approve minutes of the July 3, 2017 Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried (4-0 )
Personnel Policies under consideration:
Leave without Pay Donations: Toepfer explained that he had sent a letter to County Board
members requesting that employees be allowed to donate unused leave time to an employee that
is currently on leave without pay. He explained that the Highway Committee reviewed this
request and suggested that the topic be forwarded to the Personnel Committee for consideration
as a county-wide policy rather than for a specific individual. Abeles-Allison reviewed the
various benefits and options available to employees.
Motion Maki, Pocernich to reinstate the Emergency Leave Bank effective immediately.
Discussion. Roll Call: Rachel-No, Brett-No, Pocernich-yes, Maki-Yes. Motion Failed
Motion Coughtry, Pocernich to implement the Emergency Leave Program allowing the donation
of accrued vacation only, requiring that the donating employee retain or use 1 week of vacation
for themself, establishing 3 representatives for the donation selection committee. Emergency
leave will be considered for leaves of 2 weeks or more with the policy effective immediately.
Motion Carried (4-0)
Telecommuting: The proposed policy will be used to retain and attract employees. Input from
department heads has been received. A draft of the policy was included in the meeting packet
and will be discussed further at the next meeting.
End of Employment (Vacation Utilization): Discussion on this proposed policy was held at the
Department Head Meeting. Many negative comments were received on this proposed policy.
Discussion was held regarding whether vacation should be allowed at the end of employment.
No action was taken on this item.
Time off allotments for new employees / Vacation Schedule: Various options were reviewed that
could allow new employees to have available leave time upon hire.
Motion Pocernich, Coughtry to allocate 2 sick days upon hire, plus the standard monthly sick
leave accrual. Motion Carried (3-1 with Maki opposed). Policy is effective for any employees
hired on or after August 3, 2017.
Breast Feeding Policy: Motion Coughtry, Pocernich to adopt the Health Department
Breastfeeding policy as a county-wide policy. Motion Carried (4-0)
Health Insurance Utilization Review: 2016 utilization was 105%, 2017 is 102%, so utilization
is better than last year at this time, however, is still higher than desired.
2018 Staffing Requests and Plans: Abeles-Allison reviewed new position requests for
consideration in the 2018 budget.
• Paul Houck explained the IT Department request for an additional .5 PT employee as help
desk support. He explained the technology advances and implementation increases that have
occurred over the last several years. This would be an entry level position.
• Sheriff Susienka reviewed the Sheriff’s office request for 1.75FTE. The Jail is currently
operating approximately 3500-5000 hours for PT staff each year. Training is very time
consuming and costly with 4 weeks of state training required as well as approximately 8
weeks of training on the job. The proposal is to bring on one additional FT Jailer. The
Sheriff’s office also proposes to increase one of the occasional part-time CCO’s to regular
part-time. The department also proposes to increase the current half time clerk by a few
hours per week.
• Forestry is requesting an additional Forester as a result of the increased workload. Intensive
Forest Inventory program is another reason for the request. The meeting packet contains
statistics and details regarding the request.
• The Land Records Office has 2 workers that are currently staffed through a contract agency.
The department proposes to make these positions permanent county employees rather than
contracted employees.
• The Maintenance Department is requesting an increase to the number of hours currently
allocated for car washing. Suggestion was made that community service inmates could also
be considered for this task.
Motion Coughtry, Pocernich to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1)(c, e) for discussion and possible action regarding:
a. Approval of closed session minutes of July 6, 2017
b. Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c, e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase of public
properties, the investing of public funds, or conduct other specified public business,
whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session: WPPA side letter
Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or
performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body
has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: Performance and wages, Human Services,
Bayfield County Fair. Motion Carried. Skulan and Susienka were invited to remain in the
closed session. Entered closed session at 6:05pm.
Motion Maki, Pocernich to return to open session. Motion Carried (4-0) Returned to
open session at 6:25pm.
Reports:
a. Worker’s Compensation Report: The committee reviewed statistics for trends, claims and
expenses over the past 5 years.
b. Financial Report (Personnel Costs): General Fund payroll expenses are nearly identical to
the previous year. DHS personnel expenses are up about $25,000. Highway Personnel
Expenses up about $8,000.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz