Administration and County Services Committee

 

Michael Crawford

Robert McLeod, Chairman
David Howelman

 

June 5, 2003

Minutes

 

Members Present:

Mike Crawford, Bob McLeod and David Howelman

Members Absent:

None

Others Present:

Pete Garwood and Jack White

 

 

1.       Meeting called to order at 12:05 p.m.

2.       Airport Personnel

 

John Strehl, Airport Manager explained due to a family health issue of one of the employees at the airport, he has had to hire a temporary employee.  Mr. Strehl indicated he had money in the budget to hire an intern during the busiest summer months, but the dollars will run out as there was not enough budgeted to hire an intern during the full-time employees Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.  Mr. Strehl is asking that dollars be shifted from the full-time employee’s line item to the intern line item to make up the difference.  This will be at no additional cost to the County as the airport budget is currently not paying the full-time employee while he is on FMLA leave.

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Board of Commissioners make a transfer of $838.00 from the “employee” line to the “intern” line item.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

The temporary employee/intern will also work some of the full-time employee’s hours when he is on intermittent FMLA leave.

3.       Abstractor Office Personnel (see attachment)

 

Bob McLeod, Chairman explained that the temporary employee that helps out the Abstract Office during their busy time, is not always available when needed.  Theresa Kent, Abstractor has requested to be allowed to hire another individual who she can call when needed.  Approval of the request does not increase the budget, but simply gives Ms. Kent another option to get help when needed.

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Board of Commissioners allow the Abstractor to add one more individual to the list she can call to fill in as a temporary employee in the busy time in the summer.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.       Probate Court Reclassification Request

 

Bill Hefferan, Court Administrator came in to request a reclassification of Sandra Davids the Judicial Secretary/Administrative Assistant to a Court Reporter/Judicial Secretary.

 

Motion by Dave Howelman, supported by Mike Crawford, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve a reclassification of Sandra Davids from Judicial Secretary/Administrative Assistant to a Court Reporter/Judicial Secretary and beginning January 1, 2004 her future increases in pay be linked to 80% of the wage survey of surrounding counties in Region 10 for that position.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

 

It was understood that the stipend Ms. Davids receives for Court Reporter duties will discontinue beginning January 1, 2004 when the reclassification takes affect.

 

 

Mr. Hefferan was informed the wages for 2004 (for employees not represented by a union) would most likely be handled in September.

 

5.       Closed Session Minutes

 

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to approve the closed session minutes of May 9, 2003.  Motion carried – unanimous

 

6.       Emergency Services Management

 

 

Sheriff Terry Johnson joined the meeting.  The Public Safety Committee recommended that the Sheriff be compensated for the time he spent as the Interim Emergency Services Director.

 

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Board of Commissioners pay the Sheriff the Emergency Services Director salary from the day he was appointed as the Interim Emergency Services Director, until the start date of the new Emergency Services Director.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

7.       Committee Appointments

 

 

§         Family Independence Agency Board

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend to the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners that Patti Lowery be appointed to the Family Independence Agency Board.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

 

§         Solid Waste and Recycling Council

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners appoint Heidi Jo Wayco-Berden to the Solid Waste and Recycling Council.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

8.       Emergency Services Director Interviews

 

 

The Committee interviewed the following five (5) applicants for the position of Emergency Services Director:

 

 

§         Todd Harger

§         Carl Goeman

§         Michael Watson

§         Charles Chapman

§         Lisa Vincent

 

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Board of Commissioners hire Carl Goeman to fill the vacant position of Emergency Management Director, with Todd Harger, and Bill Chapman as the second and third choices respectively.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

9.       Clerk/Prosecutor Personnel

 

 

Laura Sexton, Clerk/Payroll explained that Deputy Robert Daunter who has been called up for active military duty continues to receive County paid health benefits.  However, Officer Daunter has not been able to pay the required employee payroll deduction.  Ms. Sexton was seeking direction on the problem.  Mr. McLeod stated that it didn’t make sense for the County to have to continue to pay for an employee’s health insurance because the military takes care of their health care needs as well as the health care needs of their spouses and children.  Mr. Garwood will again check on the requirements for the provision of health benefits during military leave.

 

 

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Dave Howelman, to recommend the Board of Commissioners pay the payroll deduction for Robert Daunter while he is on active military duty, if it is mandated that the County continue to carry the employee on the Health Benefit program.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

 

Ms. Sexton and Charles Koop, Prosecuting Attorney came into discuss the possibility of making Judy Eschedor a full-time employee in the Clerk Office and creating a full-time Clerk/Typist position in the Prosecuting Attorney Office.

 

 

Motion by Dave Howelman, supported by Mike Crawford, to recommend the Finance Committee find the funding and the Board of Commissioners approve moving Judy Eschedor into a full-time position in the Clerk Office and creating a new full-time Clerk/Typist position in the Prosecuting Attorney Office.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

10.     Assistant Prosecutor - Start Date

 

 

Motion by Dave Howelman, supported by Mike Crawford, to recommend the Board of Commissioners give credit for the time from December 16, 2002 (when Mr. Rossiter was first hired at 3/4 the Assistant Prosecutor salary in December) toward his seniority, for pay scale calculation purposes.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

 

The committee discussed the list of civil law issues that need to be addressed by Mr. Charlie Koop, as the County's Civil Counsel.  Mr. Koop indicated he has developed a list of issues and will get together with Mr. Garwood tomorrow to prioritize the issues.  Mr. Koop indicated that he is currently assigning more of the other work to his assistants, in order to free up his time to focus on the civil matters.

 

11.     Computer/Information Technology

 

 

The Committee reviewed the information gathered by Mr. Garwood regarding who other counties have used to conduct a technology study.  The Committee directed Mr. Garwood to put the issue on next month’s agenda.

 

12.     Park Manager Benefits

 

 

The Committee decided that the park manager benefits were to remain status quo.

 

13.     Privacy Policy

 

 

The Committee reviewed the Confidentiality policy drafted by Mr. Garwood.  The Committee had suggestions for changes and requested the issue be revisited at the next meeting.

 

Mike Crawford left the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

 

14.     Heath Benefit Options

 

 

Terry Roote, Insurance Agent joined the meeting to discuss possible changes in the health benefits.  The Committee decided to see how the report of the County’s current year of experience affects the projections (to be reviewed at the next months meeting).

 

15.     PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) Resolution (see attachment)

 

 

Motion by Dave Howelman, supported by Bob McLeod, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve the resolution provided by Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) opposing the Administration’s proposal for reducing the PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) payment and urging the State to use all possible funding sources, including restricted funds and revenue from the sale of state lands.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

16.     Resolutions

 

 

The Committee requested the resolutions from Lake County on MI Choice and Kalamazoo County regarding road commissions be tabled until next month.