HomeMy WebLinkAboutPersonnel Committee - Agenda - 9/3/2020
Bayfield County Administrator
117 E 5th Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891
Ph: 715-373-6181 Fx: 715-373-6153
Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator
Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant
Paige Terry, Clerk
BAYFIELD COUNTY
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING
Brett Rondeau, Chair Fred Strand
Tom Snilsberg, Vice Chair Dennis Pocernich Marty Milanowski
Dear County Board Members:
This letter is written to inform you of the Bayfield County Personnel Committee
Meeting scheduled for 4:00pm Thursday, September 3, 2020. This meeting will
be held in the County Board Room, Washburn WI, and is also available to
access remotely. The public will be able to participate in the Meeting via voice
either by using the internet link or phone number below.
(A maximum of 25 members of the public will be allowed in-person.)
Please contact Bayfield County at 715-373-6181 or 715-373-6100 if you have access
questions prior to the meeting. During the meeting if you have connection issues please
email markaa@bayfieldcounty.org.
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Notice is hereby given that a majority of the Bayfield County Board may be present at the meeting to gather
information about a subject over which they have decision-making responsibility. This constitutes a meeting of
the Bayfield County Board pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v.Greendale Village Bd., 173 Wis. 2d 553, 494
N.W.2d 408(1993), and must be noticed as such, although the County Board will not take any formal action at
this meeting.
AGENDA
1. Call to order
2. Public Comment
3. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Approval of Minutes of August 6,
2020
4. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Personnel Policies; Bereavement Leave
Clarification regarding Step-parents
5. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2021 Health Insurance
6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2021/2022 Wellness Program
7. Discussion Regarding 2021 Wages.
8. COVID Workplace Updates; Contingency and School Year Planning
9. The committee may enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin
Statutes:
a. §19.85(1)(c,e) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or
performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the
governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: and
deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public property, vesting of public
funds or conducting other specified business whenever competitive or
bargain reasons require a closed session.
i. Approve Closed Session Minutes of August 6, 2020
ii. WPPA Negotiation Preparations and Negotiations with WPPA Local
216
iii. Considering performance evaluation data.
10. Exchange of initial proposals with WPPA Local 216 for a successor collective
bargaining agreement.
11. Reports
a) Human Resources Report
b) Personnel Financial Report for the month of August 2020
12. Adjourn
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact my
office.
Sincerely,
Mark Abeles-Allison
Mark Abeles-Allison
Bayfield County Administrator
MAA/kak
Enc.
Any person planning to attend a Bayfield County meeting that has a disability requiring special
accommodations should contact 373-6100, 24-hours before the scheduled meeting, so
appropriate arrangements can be made.
cc: Mr. Scott Fibert, Bayfield County Clerk
Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
The Daily Press, via email
Personnel Committee Narrative, September 3, 2020, 4:00pm
This will be an in-person and remote meeting in the County Board room.
Item 4: The current bereavement policy is shown below. The policy covers step
grandchildren and step children, but does not cover step parents. We
recommend modifying the policy to include step-parents, but to remove step
grandchildren.
Item 5: In 2020, Bayfield County began participating in the Wisconsin Retirement
Group Health Insurance program. Bayfield County made a 3-year commitment to
participate. As a new member a 40% surcharge was assessed in year one, 2020.
In 2021 this will reduce to a 20% surcharge. We have been notified by the state
that health insurance rates for 2021 will be shared with us in mid-September. The
state requires that the employee contribute a minimum of 12% of premiums,
leaving the county share at a maximum of 88%. We would recommend
continuation of our current policy in 2021. This provides that the employee
share of premiums is 83% for 2021. Employees have the opportunity to earn up to
a 5% premium reduction wellness incentive, which brings the employer
contribution to 88% and employee contribution to 12%, the minimum allowed.
Item 6: Employees have the opportunity to earn up to a 5% premium reduction
for participation in the wellness program (2.5% employee + 2.5% spouse, or 5%
single). Two options were provided to employees for wellness participation. The
state StayWell program, or a stand-alone County Wellness Program that did not
require an employee to input data into a computerized system. Employees that
complete the StayWell program received a $150 gift card from the state in 2020.
We recommend that both of these incentive programs be offered again for the
2021/2022 years.
Item 7: The 2021 budget proposed budget is being prepared with step increases,
and a 0 % cost of living adjustment. This is being done due to anticipated revenue
shortfalls. A contingency proposal will also be included for a ½% adjustment.
Item 8. Contingency and School Plans to address possible COVID outbreaks are
underway.
Our top goals are to ensure continuation of in person services for the residents
of Bayfield County at the courthouse and to ensure the safety of employees and
the public.
Departments are developing plans in the event that they need to work with
reduced staffing levels or if an outbreak were to occur within their department.
A memo was distributed this past week, followed by an employee meeting,
outlining county guidance for the upcoming school year. Department heads are
meeting with their staffs to determine how many will need to telecommute to
accommodate virtual schooling or daycare issues. Guidance was provided that
telecommuting will be approved for no more than 30 days at a time and that
employees may be asked to return to on-site work at any time if business need
dictates. A second employee meeting will be held next week for those that were
unable to attend this week.
The memo and meeting also reviewed the symptoms that employees should
watch for as well as what they should do in various scenarios.
Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical Leave
Expansion Acts were reviewed to provide employees with a better understanding
of when these acts come into play and how they would apply in various
situations.
At the courthouse we are continuing to follow protocols in accordance with CDC
and Public Health Standards for employees that are participating in events or
travels that have a higher risk of possible exposure and for employees that report
symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Assessments are being done on a case by
case basis based on individual situations. This may mean working in a separate
office away from others, working in the field or working at home.
The ultimate goal of self-isolation / self-quarantine is to continue to have the
courthouse open for business AND work of the county getting done, whether on
site or remotely. A second key goal is to prevent the spread of COVID in our
community.
Item 9: The Personnel Committee will meet with representatives of WPPA Local
216 to begin negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement at 5pm.
The current two-year agreement expires at the end of 2020. An exchange of
initial proposals will take place in open session prior to entering closed session to
begin negotiations. The Board may go into and out of closed session.
Item 10. An HR Report and end of month Personnel Financial report will be
shared at the meeting.
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Personnel Committee Meeting
4:00 PM, August 6, 2020
Meeting was Held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person at the Bayfield
County Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Dennis Pocernich, Tom Snilsberg, Fred Strand, Marty Milanowski, Brett
Rondeau
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director
Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau
Public Comment: Lori Skaj commented that Personnel Committee and County Board minutes on
the county web site need to be brought up to date. She also requested that the wellness program
be waived for Teamster employees and that the premium incentive be awarded. A request was
made to allow all of the Teamster HRA funds for 2020 to be rolled over to employees accounts
rather than 25% of unused funds. Skaj also thanked the committee for allowing the Teamsters to
continue with the Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage through the Teamster Health Fund.
Minutes of the July 2, 2020 Personnel Committee Meeting: Motion Strand, Snilsberg to
approve the minutes of the July 2, 2020 Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried (5-0)
COVID Workplace Updates: Abeles-Allison reported that most all staff are working on-site.
Results of a recent employee survey were reviewed.
o 78.1% stated that the County is providing enough or more than enough safety measures
regarding COVID-19. 21.9% stated that not enough safety measures are in place.
o 54 comments were received with suggestions. Several of these suggestions are being
considered.
o 76.2% stated that an isolation office should be provided, where appropriate. 23.8%
prefer not to offer an isolation office.
o 98% stated that telecommuting should be offered on a limited basis (28.6%) or offered
to everyone (69.5%). 2% stated that no-one should be allowed to telecommute.
o 49.5% stated that they would choose to telecommute, while 29.5% stated that they
would prefer to work on site, 13.3% have no preference and 7.6% stated that
telecommuting is not applicable
o Nearly 43% of respondents indicated that they have school-aged children. The majority
of these will have some form of virtual schooling.
COVID Personnel Policies: All departments have been asked to develop contingency plans if
all or a portion of their staff became ill and were unable to work. Department Heads will be
asked to work individually with employees that have dependents to establish schedules for the
school-year. A percentage of employees may be permitted to telecommute to ensure that offices
may remain open in the event of a COVID outbreak and also to accommodate school/work
balance.
Personnel Polcies:
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to authorize that the Maternity/Paternity policy be extended to
include Regular Part-Time employees on a pro-rated basis. Motion Carried (5-0)
Motion Pocernich, Strand to authorize that employees may access ICI insurance after exhausting
sick leave. Paid leave may not be used to supplement ICI payments. This policy to be effective
September 1, 2020. Motion Carried (5-0)
Health Department On-Call Policy: In Human Services we have an on-call policy. Discussed
extending this to the Health Department beginning on March 19, when our emergency
declaration was made, and ending when we lift our declaration. One public health sanitarian and
one nurse would be eligible for on call scheduling. The topic will be discussed further after the
closed session discussion on a related topic.
Human Resources Report: Report was distributed and reviewed by Kavajecz. Full report
included with the minutes.
Personnel Financial Report: Personnel costs in all Departments are similar or below 2019
levels.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to enter into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes:
a. §19.85(1)(c,e) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance
evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has
jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: and deliberating or negotiating the purchase of
public property, vesting of public funds or conducting other specified business whenever
competitive or bargain reasons require a closed session.
i. Approve Closed Session Minutes of July 2, 2020
ii. WPPA Negotiation Preparations
iii. Employee specific compensation.
Motion Carried. Entered closed session at 5:02pm Abeles-Allison and Kavajecz were allowed to
remain in the meeting.
Motion Strand, Milanowski to return to open session. Motion Carried (5-0) Returned to open
session at 5:29pm.
The committee resumed discussions regarding On-Call Pay for Public Health Nurses and
Sanitarians.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to authorize on-call pay of $1.50 per hour effective March 19, 2020
through December 31, 2020. One nurse shall be on-call all week during non-business hours and
one Environmental Health Sanitarian shall be on-call on weekends. Motion Carried (5-0)
Meeting adjourned at 5:35 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz