HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 10/6/2022Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
2:00 PM, October 6, 2022
Meeting was Held In Person in the County Board Room
Members Present: Fred Strand, Marty Milanowski, Mary Dougherty, Brett Rondeau, Dennis
Pocernich
Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Bob Anderson-Highway Commissioner, Rod Alstead-Teamster Health, Chip
Eckleberg, Dalton Collins, Kim Mattson (remote), Dave Kontny, Martin Skaj, Eric Berge, Jake
Benson, Jeff Spencer, Christy Spencer, Dick Weidinger (retiree), Cheri Deragon (remote), Jaime
Cadotte (remote), Gail Reha (remote)
Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau
Public Comment: Teamsters will be allowed to comment during the agenda item.
Christy Spencer: Concern with losing the HRA. Their family have drained their HRA already
this year.
Minutes of September 29, 2022: It was noted that minutes should be corrected to state that
Mary Dougherty Chaired the meeting. Motion Milanowski, Pocernich to approve minutes of the
September 29, 2022 Personnel Committee meeting as corrected. Motion Carried (5-0)
Flexible Benefits Plan and Design Changes: Abeles-Allison explained that the Teamsters are
the only group with an active HRA and that HRA (current year and roll-over) are available for
use at all times. Other employees with roll-over funds are currently allowed to access up to
$2,000 of those funds each year for eligible dental and vision costs. Consider whether to open
roll-over HRA funds without restriction (use for eligible medical, dental, vision costs).
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to remove caps and open roll-over HRA for all access. Motion
Carried (5-0)
Flexible Benefits Contractor / Administrator Proposals and Recommendation for future:
Recommendation to change flexible benefits vendors from Vantage Flex to Diversified Benefit
Services beginning in 2023.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to accept the proposal of Diversified Benefit Services effective
January 1, 2023. Motion Carried (5-0)
Highway/Maintenance Uniform Policy: Maintenance and Highway Departments have
expressed dissatisfaction with the current uniform service. Proposal was made to implement a
$270 per year clothing allowance on a reimbursement basis to replace the current uniform
service. This is consistent with what is currently offered to Forestry Department staff.
Comment that the uniform service also provides first aide stations as part of the contract.
Anderson shared that billing/invoicing and uniform condition concerns have been ongoing. Each
department would be responsible for setting the clothing expectations. The county does provide
up to 2 sets of coveralls.
The reimbursement would be considered taxable income and subject to WRS.
Motion Milanowski, Strand to approve a $270 per year clothing allowance/reimbursement
system for Maintenance and Highway staff and eliminate the Aramark contract effective January
1, 2023.
The Highway Department will investigate ordering t-shirts in bulk to ensure consistency and
potentially reduce cost due to bulk order. Motion Carried (5-0)
Motion Dougherty, Strand to suspend the rules and allow public comment on the Teamster
Health Agenda Item. Motion Carried (5-0)
Teamster and State Health Insurance Options
Abeles-Allison provided a review of the history of the Teamster Health, Dental and HRA as well
as the State Health Plan. The state health plan premium will increase 2% for 2023. The Teamster
Health plan is estimated at a 2.5% increase. There are several components to the Teamster
Health plan that are not included in the State Health Plan such as disability and
death/dismemberment coverages.
Alstead explained that the Teamster Health Plan is not a high deductible plan. Alstead is
estimating that the Health Plan will likely approve an increase less than 2%, closer to 1.3%. He
also stated that the Teamster Health waives health insurance premiums while off on disability
and it includes a life insurance component.
Alstead pointed out that there would be an additional cost to employees for Life Insurance and
Disability Insurance if the county went with the state health plan, which is already included with
the Teamster Health.
Comments received from Collins and Skaj.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to retain the Teamster Health Plan for 2023.
Kavajecz asked for clarification on the motion, if it includes dental and HRA. Pocernich
withdraws his motion. Committee discussed the dental and HRA components.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to retain the Teamster Health Package including Health, Dental
and HRA as is currently in place. Motion Carried (4-1) Strand opposed.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to enter into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1) (c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation
data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises
responsibility and (e) Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the
investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or
bargaining reasons require a closed session. Discussion and Possible action Regarding: Closed
Session Minutes of September 29, to conduct Teamster Union Negotiations, discuss strategy for
WPPA Union Negotiations, Discus Reclassification of a Social Worker and other Personnel
Issues. Motion Carried (5-0 ). Entered Closed session at 5:08pm. Jake Benson was allowed to
remain in the closed session.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to return to open session. Motion Carried (5-0) Returned to open
session at 6:01pm.
Reports
a) Personnel Financial Report as of September 30, 2022: The total personnel costs as
of the end of September surpassed those spent for the same time period in 2021.
b) HR Reports: Reviewed
Meeting adjourned at 6:08pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz