HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Minutes - 6/1/2023Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
4:00 PM, June 1, 2023
Meeting was Held In Person in the County Board Room and virtually
Members Present: Fred Strand, Marty Milanowski, Brett Rondeau, Mary Dougherty, Dennis
Pocernich
Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Kim Mattson-Accountant, Dalt Collins, Gail Reha-Bookkeeper
Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau
Public Comment: Dalt Collins-Highway Department Patrolman commented on the discussion
about wages to take place. Recommends considering a 3-4% mid-year increase to remain in line
with the anticipated CPI-U for January 2024.
Minutes of May 4, 2023: Motion Milanowski, Dougherty to approve minutes of the May 4, 2023
Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried (5-0)
Volunteer Policy: Abeles-Allison explained that there are two primary questions related to
volunteers: 1) Liability & Work Comp 2) Background Checks
Finance Manager Position: County Clerk, Administrator and Accountant have meet several
times to discuss this topic. This topic will be discussed again at the next meeting.
Policy Modification Considerations:
A. Meal Reimbursements: Bayfield County’s current meal reimbursement rates are: $8
breakfast, $10 lunch, $16 dinner. Total is $34 per day. Amounts may be combined for
eligible meal periods. These do not apply if conference meals are provided.
A recent survey of counties, with 35 responding, reflects an average meal reimbursement of
$10.16 breakfast, $12.72 lunch, $21.55 dinner or $44 a day. Several counties use the published
GSA (US General Services Administration) rates, which are: $13 breakfast, $15 lunch, $26
dinner, $54 per day. Several counties provide a daily meal rate instead of a per meal rate. The
recommendation is to further evaluate rates and modify the policy later this year to reflect new
rates for the 2024 budget year.
B. Carry-Over Vacation Clarification: The current Carry-Over vacation policy allows an
employee to carry-over 5 DAYS of vacation. The issue is that not all employees work the
same number of hours, or they may work varying shift lengths throughout the week or year.
• A jailer works 12-hour shifts. 5 days would be 60 hours.
• A highway employee works 8-hour days in the winter and 10 hour days in the summer.
• A DHS employee has an alternate work schedule and works two 8-hour days, two 10-
hour days and one 4-hour day. (Many variations of this, including 4-day workweeks).
We would like to propose that vacation carryover be modified to specify a designated number of
carry-over vacation HOURS (ie: 40) rather than DAYS. The employees in the scenario above all
work the same number of hours per year (2080).
Reports
a. Personnel Financial Report as of May 31, 2023: Up about $630,000 over this time last
year.
b. HR Report: Report was included in the packet. Highlights reviewed.
Motion Milanowski, Pocernich to enter into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
§19.85(1) (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: Approve Closed
Session Minutes of April 6, 2023, and May 4, 2023 and Teamsters Wages. Motion Carried.
Entered closed session at 4:36 pm. Kim Mattson was permitted to remain in the closed session.
Motion Milanowski, Dougherty to return to open session. Motion Carried (5-0 ). Returned to
open session at 4:54pm.
July 1, 2023 Wage Adjustments Recommendations to the County Board:
Motion Strand, Dougherty to recommend a 1% wage adjustment on July 1 and 1% adjustment
on September 1, 2023 and to forward the recommendation to the County Board for action.
Motion Carried (5-0)
Meeting adjourned at 4:58pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz