Administration and County Services Committee

Michael Crawford

Robert McLeod, Chairman

Laura Stanek

March 2, 2006

Minutes

Members Present:

Mike Crawford, Laura Stanek and Bob McLeod

Members Absent:

None

Others Present:

Pete Garwood and Jack White

1.       Meeting called to order at 12:30 p.m.

2.       Public Comment

         None.

3.       Resolutions

Livingston County Resolution - Against Allowing Yard Waste in Landfills

Received and reviewed.  No action taken.

Livingston County Resolution – Expansion of the Bottle Bill

Received and reviewed.  No action taken.

Livingston County – 911 Funding Resolution

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek to recommend the Board of Commissioners  approve a resolution similar to the Livingston County resolution seeking changes to how 911 is funded due to changes in technology.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Isabella County Resolution – Encouraging State to Mitigate High Heating Costs

Received and reviewed.  No action taken.

4.       Veterans Affairs

The Committee reviewed the resignation letter from George Perkins as the Veterans Counselor.  The Committee reviewed the advertisement that was placed in the paper for the Veterans Counselor position.

The Committee asked Peter Garwood, Coordinator/Planner to draft a resolution of thanks for Mr. Perkins.

5.       Appointments

Solid Waste and Recycling Council

The Committee reviewed two applications for the vacant seat on the Solid Waste and Recycling Council:  Raelene Reilly and John T. Unger.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to recommend the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners appoint Raelene Reilly to the Solid Waste and Recycling Council.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Commission On Aging

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek to recommend the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners appoint Robert Straw to the Commission on Aging Board.  Motion carried – unanimous.

North Country Community Mental Health

Motion by Laura  Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford that due to an oversight of the original appointment it be recommended that the previous appointment of Louis Scholl be for a term that expires on  March 31, 2007 and the previous appointment of Betsy Brown be for a term that expires on March 31, 2008.  Motion carried – unanimous.

6.       Grievance – Sheriff Department Command Unit – Wage Spread

Sheriff Terry Johnson joined the meeting.  The Committee moved to Room 203-B to hear the grievance by the Command Unit as outlined in Step 3 of the bargaining unit agreement. 

The Committee met with representatives of the Command Bargaining Unit: Louis Basso, Union Steward and Bob Donick, Business Representative.  Mr. Donick outlined the grievance as the Union sees it.  The Command Unit bargaining agreement specifies that the sergeants’ wage be 9% above the road deputies’ wage.  The contract also indicates that if the Consumers Price Index (CPI) goes up over 3% in 2005 the employees of the Command Unit will receive an additional 1% increase in their wage in 2006 (this has been referred to as the CPI kicker).  Mr. Donick maintained that this means there should be a 10% difference between the road deputies and the sergeants.

Mr. Garwood indicated the contract only requires a 9% difference and that the Command Unit had no authority to keep the County from offering the Deputies/ Dispatchers Unit the CPI kicker. 

The Administration Committee members moved back to the Coordinator/Planner Office.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to support the Sheriff's position to deny the grievance on the wage spread filed by the Command Unit.  Motion carried – unanimous.

7.       Kent McNeil Correspondence

Charles Koop, Legal Counsel joined the meeting.

A letter from Kent McNeil regarding the draft Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Stormwater Runoff Control Ordinance was discussed.  The Committee agreed that Charlie Koop, Legal Counsel should write a letter of response to Mr. McNeil.

8.       Sheriff Department

New Deputy

Sheriff Johnson requested the authority to begin the interview process and hire a replacement for a deputy who recently resigned.

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek to request the Board of Commissioners release the funds and authorize the hiring process for a road deputy in the Sheriff Department.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Animal Control

Sheriff Johnson requested authority to fill a part-time (20 hours a week) position at the animal shelter, and to hire a temporary employee to take the place of the full-time Animal Control Officer who will soon be off on leave.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to authorize the release of funds for the Sheriff to hire a part-time irregular (20 hours a week) position for the animal shelter.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to recommend the Board of Commissioners release the funds and allow the Sheriff to hire a temporary full-time Animal Control Officer, while the regular Animal Control Officer is off on leave.  Motion carried – unanimous.

9.       Building Department

Mr. Garwood informed the Committee that Cherie Watrous was the only signature on the posting for the newly created part-time regular clerk/typist position in the Building Department.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to recommend the Board of Commissioners hire Cherie Watrous at the 6 month rate on the pay scale for the recently created part-time regular Clerk/Typist position in the Building Department.  Motion carried – unanimous.

10.     Safe Driver Program Policy

Mr. Garwood informed the Committee there were two instances when employees have popped up, when checking their driver’s license, as problematic in light of the Antrim County Safe Driver Program Policy. 

The contractual individual is not an employee by the definition in the policy.  The Committee directed that the contractual individual should not be used any more often then necessary.

For the other employee, due to the fact that the infraction took place over a year prior to the policy being adopted, the Committee directed the department head to counsel the employee, put the employee on a six month probationary period, and put a counseling memorandum in the employee’s file.

11.     Health Insurance Discussion

Pat Dewey, Dewey Insurance and Donna Ludwig, Blue Cross Blue Shield joined the meeting.

Mr. Dewey provided comparisons between the current Wrap Plan and two Health Savings Account (HSA) plans.  The comparison indicated there would be no benefit (cost savings) for the County to implement an HSA at the County.

Mr. Dewey also presented a chart which indicates the County saved approximately $58,000 last year with the Wrap Program.

12.     Commission on Aging (COA) Part-Time Irregular Employees

Carol Mitchell, COA Director joined the meeting.  Ms. Mitchell requested increases for the part-time irregular employees and presented a chart illustrating the proposed increases.  Ms. Mitchell requested the raises be retroactive to January 1, 2006.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve the wage increases for the seven position (part-time irregular) in the COA.  Motion carried – unanimous.

13.     Grievance – Corrections/Cooks/Clerical Unit

Sheriff Johnson and Louis Basso, Jail Sergeant joined the meeting. The Committee asked questions of the Sheriff and the Jail Sergeant regarding the grievance.  The Committee moved to 203-B to meet with union representatives, Jim School, union steward and Pat Spidell, Business Representative.   Mr. Spidell and Mr. School outlined the union’s position.

The issue is that a fairly new Corrections Officer was called in as the second Corrections Officer for a shift, and the Union feels he was undertrained.  Mr. Spidell acknowledged the issue was not a contract issue, but thought it was a safety issue.  Mr. Spidell was told this particular employee has years of military police training, was at the end of his training period in the jail, and was an Antrim County dispatcher for years.  He acknowledged he was unaware of that. 

Mr. Spidell indicated they were looking for assurances that the Sheriff administration will not put a new officer with very little training and experience in this situation.  The Sheriff was very clear that he would never do that, as such a move could adversely impact the safety of the individual and the safety of the County. Mr. Spidell seemed satisfied.

Mr. School brought up another issue that involved a new Corrections Officer in training.  Mr. School indicated the trainee was sent to the Marquette Prison as a second officer to pick up a prisoner.  The trainee was not yet certified for fire arms and was unarmed.  Sheriff Johnson indicated he was not aware that the employee was unarmed and indicated he will look into the situation.  He also indicated he would not condone sending an officer on such a transport unarmed.

Mr. Garwood indicated the contract included provisions for a Safety Committee and wondered if in the future this issue might be handled by the Committee.  The Sheriff and the Union representative indicated it would be appropriate.

14.     Bellaire Computer Center Contract

The Coordinator/Planner office will contact County Legal Counsel regarding the contract for the Bellaire Computer Center’s Information Technology Services.

Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.