MINUTES
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
JANUARY 24, 2003          2:00 P.M.
SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Present:  M. Koplinka-Loehr, Chair; K. Herrera; L. McBean; T. Todd (arrived at 2:05 p.m.); M. Lane (arrived at 2:35 p.m.)

Staff:       B. DeLuca, Mental Health Commissioner; J. Wood, County Attorney; S. Whicher, County Administrator; W. Skinner, Public Information; D. Squires, Finance Director; K. Smithers,    Deputy County Administrator; V. Coggin, Assessment Director; A. Fitzpatrick, Personnel Commissioner; J. Franklin, Assessment; E. Marx, Planning Commissioner

Guests:    D. Kiefer, Board Member

Called to Order

    The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.

Appointments - Public Information

    It was MOVED by Ms. Herrera, seconded by Ms. McBean, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to appoint the following individuals to the Public Information Advisory Board:

    Terms expire December 31, 2004
    Rere S. Hassett
    Russell N. Maracle
    Duane Chapman
    Charles W. Broadhead

Chair's Report

    Mr. Koplinka-Loehr reported on a meeting he had with Diane Bradac, Anita Fitzpatrick, and the Chair of the Community Affirmative Action Committee to discuss refocusing the Affirmative Action efforts this year.  He said efforts will be focussed on retention as the hiring process is not as active as originally hoped.  The Community Affirmative Action Committee did not meet regularly last year, however several project teams held meetings and will continue to meet this year and provide reports to Government Operations and Department Heads.  

    Mr. Todd arrived at this time.

    It is hoped that this year the Diversity Consortium group will be used to accomplish significant parts of the Affirmative Action plan and that a diversity council will be formed with representatives from various departments and agencies such as Personnel, Planning, education and training, unions, Workforce Development, and Human Rights.  Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he will keep the Committee informed of progress.

Changes to Agenda

    There were no changes to the agenda.

Report from the County Administrator

    Mr. Whicher said he is working with Chairs of various committees to change the level of communication between department heads and committees.  He hopes to focus on goals and objectives and look at challenges and where the problems exist.  

Report from the County Attorney

    Mr. Wood reported on the case he was authorized to settle on and said the County settled for $15,000.  The total spent in self-insurance settlements for 2002 is $20,000.  

Report from the Finance Director

    Mr. Squires announced he is closing on the annual real property foreclosure cycle and said there are 21 properties he will be visiting February 10th to evaluate.  He said there are three properties with significant taxes owed.  He reported the Ithaca City School taxes paid by Lakeside Nursing Home were returned making their agreement in default.  He sent them a letter putting them on notice and directing them to pay their school taxes and to amend the agreement to include the school taxes.  He also reported that the County has not closed on the White Church Road property (Pinnacles).

    Mr. Squires said part of a Treasurer's responsibilities include handling estates.  He was recently appointed to handle an estate in Lansing that allegedly has no known heirs and has a considerable amount of property and possessions.  The County will receive a statutory fee to cover expenses and it is hoped that it will include attorney's fees.

Report from the Public Information Coordinator

    Ms. Skinner did not have a report.

Approval of Minutes

    It was MOVED by Mr. Todd, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the December 10th meeting as corrected.

Department of Assessment

    Ms. Coggin reported there will be approximately 16,000 notices mailed February 6th to property owners concerning assessment changes.  Primarily residential properties are impacted including approximately 1,000 apartment complexes.  She said there is a cover letter explaining the process that will hopefully prevent the problems and confusion raised last year.  A press release is also being sent to the Ithaca Journal.  Ms. Coggin also reported that she will be giving a presentation at the New York State Association of Counties conference concerning the County's assessment program.  She commented that Tompkins County is the only County-wide assessment in New York State at 100 percent value.

    Ms. McBean and Ms. Kiefer requested language be included in the cover letter mentioned above that explains why some property owners are receiving an increase in their assessment again this year.  Ms. Coggin agreed to include such language.

    Mr. Todd asked for assurance that other municipalities are receiving the same amount of attention as the Town of Lansing.  Ms. Coggin assured Mr. Todd.

    Mr. Lane arrived at this time.

    Budget Adjustment
    It was MOVED by Ms. Herrera, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following budget adjustment to the full Board:

    From:          1355.51000     Salaries        $15,000
    To:              1431.51000    Salaries         $15,000
    
Personnel and Mental Health - Red-Circled Positions

    Mr. DeLuca spoke about the reactions from staff and clients and the feeling that the doctors were being punished for something.  He said he has not heard any complaints from the doctors.  He also spoke about the language in the resolution that states if a vacancy occurs the salary reverts to the pay scale.  He said the red-circling occurred when the County revised the salary schedule and discussed the history of how the County arrived at the salaries.  He said he agrees that red-circled positions should be looked at separately each year.  The two issues he raised with the resolutions approved by the Board at their meeting in December concern the salary increases being different from everyone else and the language in the resolved he mentioned above.  

    Mr. Koplinka-Loehr spoke about the language in the resolved and said all red-circled positions revert to the salary schedule when a vacancy occurs.  Ms. Fitzpatrick explained the history of the salary schedules and said the Psychiatrists in Mental Health became County employees when changes were made at the State level and the service was no longer contracted.  She concurred with Mr. Koplinka-Loehr's statement that red-circled positions that become vacant revert to the salary schedule.  However, she said that with the positions in Mental Health, if a vacancy were to occur, she would request the Board look at the positions again.  

    Ms. Fitzpatrick said she spoke with the Psychiatrists after the Board passed the salary resolutions.  They asked her what criteria were used when the Board voted on their individual salaries and she could not supply any information.  She also spoke about another issue concerning the hours of the Psychiatrists.  Both positions are scheduled to work 35 hours per week; however, one Psychiatrist works less than 35 hours and the other works 35 hours and is willing to work additional hours.  The question is how should the remaining hours be handled.  

    Mr. Koplinka-Loehr commented that the reason for the salary increases as approved by the Board was based on the Cost of Living index and the hope that in future contract negotiations this will be considered and used as a guide.  

    Ms. Kiefer noted that the Board salary vote was not intended to and should not be construed as reflecting negatively on the doctors' work.  Rather, it was an attempt to keep them whole by having salary increases reflect inflation while at the same time recognizing the County's fiscal situation.

    Mr. Whicher spoke to the issue and feels that what is being stated by the employees is in future years to have a more rational process.  

    It was MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, to revisit the salaries for the Mental Health employees that received the Cost of Living index increase and recommend a 4.25 percent salary increases for said employees. Further discussion followed and the Committee agreed there needs to be a policy developed and Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he would add this to a future meeting agenda.  Mr. Todd asked Ms. Fitzpatrick if 4.25 percent is her recommendation.  She said it is not her place to make a recommendation, but that would be a pleasant outcome.

    A voice vote resulted as follows on the motion to recommend a salary increase of 4.25 percent for the three positions in Mental Health (Medical Director, Psychiatrists (2)):  Ayes - 3 (Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, and Todd); Noes - 2 (Herrera and McBean).  MOTION CARRIED.  A resolution will be drafted by Personnel to present to the Board at their next meeting.
    Ms. Fitzpatrick asked for clarification on the question she raised earlier concerning the issue with the hours of the Psychiatrists.  The Committee agreed that if the hours for the one Psychiatrist are increased to 40 to make up the hours for the other Psychiatrist, that the salary will be increased accordingly.  

County Administration

    Mr. Whicher explained the proposed personnel structure of Administration.  He said Mrs. Smithers will be working part-time this year to help with the transition rather than as a consultant.  He has also begun to advertise for the Administrative Services Coordinator position and when the individual is hired, Mrs. Smithers will assist with training.  Mr. Whicher said he has asked Mr. Marx, Planning Commissioner, to help out and work with the Facilities and Infrastructure and Planning Committees as well as the Consumer and Community Affairs Committee.  This transition period gives Mr. Marx time to decide if he may be interested in a Deputy County Administrator's role.  

    Ms. Kiefer raised a concern that this will be a further cut to the Planning Department.  Mr. Marx feels the department can handle this adjustment and stated his staff is very supportive. He said there is overlap in many of the areas he will be helping with and feels his department will benefit.   Ms. McBean spoke about the Planning Department's budget and recalls how tight it was.  Mr. Marx said he received approval to fill a vacancy which will help out during this transition period.  He said he will continue to work closely with the Comprehensive Plan and the Local Assistance Program which are two major areas of the Department's work plan.  He commented that if the Planning Department is adversely affected he will be the first to say he is not able to do this.  

2003 Goals

    Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he will prepare a draft list of 2003 goals for the Committee to discuss at the next meeting.

Adjournment

    The meeting adjourned at 3:18 p.m.

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