MINUTES
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
3:00 P.M.
SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: J. Dennis, Chair; F. Proto; D. Kiefer; P. Mackesey (arrived at 2:46 p.m.); L. McBean-Clairborne
(arrived at 3:10 p.m.)
Staff: C. Covert, Clerk of the Legislature; B. Kominos, Benefits Manager; C. DeMarco, Mental
Health; A. Fitzpatrick, Personnel Commissioner; S. Martel Moore, Deputy County Administrator; P. Younger, Deputy County Administrator; G. Potter, Information Technology Services Director; A. Cole, Public Health Director; B. Crosby, Public Health Administrator; S. Estes, Deputy Personnel Commissioner; M. Lynch, Public Information; D. Squires, Finance Director; Oville Boden, Health Insurance consultant
Guests: Todd VanOrman, CSEA Blue Collar Representative; Stephanie Engster, CSEA Regional
Representative; G. Anthony Howard, President and CEO CanaRx; Margaret McNamara, Director of Pharmacy and COO; Margaret Lloyd, CSEA Health Benefits representative
The meeting was called to order at 2:25 p.m.
There were no changes to the agenda.
Mr. Dennis updated the Committee on the activities of the Negotiating Team and said the firm Roemer, Wallens, and Mineaux of Albany, New York, was hired for negotiations by consensus of the Team. This firm has vast experience in New York State and collective bargaining. Of the five proposals received, two were interviewed. A flat rate up to interest arbitration was offered by the hired firm. It is anticipated negotiations will begin soon and the Request for Qualifications is available upon request for review. It was also noted that the firm has some experience in Tompkins County as well. Ms. Fitzpatrick noted she contracted with Elaine Gold in 2001 to do the mediation component of the road patrol contract.
Resolution
It was MOVED by Mr. Proto, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. – AUTHORIZATION TO PAY INTEREST ARBITRATION COSTS FROM
THE CONTINGENT FUND
WHEREAS,
the Employees Union of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department has been
working without a contract since March 1, 2004, and
WHEREAS, the Employees Union of the Tompkins
County Sheriff’s Department has, by Section 209.4 of the Civil Service Law,
been given the right to Compulsory Interest Arbitration, and
WHEREAS, Compulsory Interest Arbitration has
never before been exercised in Tompkins County and the amount of these interest
arbitration expenses could not have been anticipated or budgeted in advance,
and
WHEREAS, no funds have been budgeted or
allocated for these or future interest arbitration costs, and
WHEREAS, the Personnel Department has paid
previous negotiation and interest arbitration costs from its own rollover funds
and these funds are now depleted, and
WHEREAS, additional funds are necessary to
pay these expenses, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Personnel
and the Budget and Capital Committees, That consultant fees in the final amount
of $1,228.25 associated with Compulsory Interest Arbitration be paid from the
Contingent Fund,
RESOLVED, further, That the Director of
Finance is hereby authorized and directed to make the payments from the
contingent fund:
FROM: A1990.54440 Contingent
Fund $1,228.25
TO:
A1430.54400 Program
Expense
$1,228.25
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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Ms. Fitzpatrick requested and the Committee agreed to postpone discussion on the 2007 salaries for red-circled positions until the December meeting. One department consisting of a red-circled position is in the process of reorganizing and postponing this action will allow the reorganization to occur.
Personnel Department (continued)
Payroll/Human Resources – Software Update Plan
Mr. Potter briefly explained the proposal to hire a consultant from Pentamation to develop a Business Process Analysis (BPA) to define the County’s needs that will eventually lead to the replacement of the County’s payroll application and replacing and updating necessary software. Appropriate County staff is trying to achieve a system that is completely integrated from the Personnel Department through the budget process. In response to a question from Mr. Proto, Mr. Potter anticipates this step of the process to take approximately two weeks.
Ms. Mackesey arrived at this time.
Pilot Health Insurance Plan
Ms. Fitzpatrick gave an overview of the Comprehensive Value Plan, a pilot health insurance program, and outlined the details of the plan. An internal steering committee has been meeting over the last year looking at various options and gathering information. The steering committee looked at TC3 and the Public Library as subgroups of the overall plan that is administered by Tompkins County. During those discussions, TC3 elected not to participate in the pilot program. Prior to exploring this program further, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the unions was needed. The CSEA Blue Collar and White Collar unions have signed MOU’s to participate in the pilot project. Following a meeting with the Union representatives from the Library, it was felt they could not sign an MOU and therefore will not be participating in the pilot program. Alternative plans for the retirees are being considered, but no recommendation has been made at this time. Ms. Fitzpatrick believes based on preliminary discussions, that the road patrol and corrections unions will sign the MOU and participate in the pilot program.
Ms. Kominos reviewed the detailed information of the Comprehensive Value Plan in comparison with the Traditional/Indemnity Plan as distributed with the agenda.
At this time, Ms. Fitzpatrick highlighted the benefits for employees to enroll in this plan. One area that was built into the plan was a safety net of savings to employees. Other benefits include a debit card for reimbursement for qualified medical expenses. The balances on the debit cards rollover from year-to-year up to eight years.
Mrs. McBean-Clairborne arrived at this time.
Copies of the 2007 Health Insurance Rates were distributed and reviewed at this time including the Comprehensive Value Plan.
Further discussion followed and concerns were raised with how difficult it may be for some employees to understand and make the necessary comparisons. It was recommended that employees need to be educated and possibly a worksheet available for employees to make a comparison between health insurance plans before a decision is made. Ms. Fitzpatrick said education sessions have been planned and encouraged other feedback as well as any available information in the future will be provided upon request.
In response to a question raised, Mr. Boden noted the 2007 administrative rate is fixed; however, the rates in 2008 could be impacted if the number of employees switching from traditional health insurance to the pilot program is significantly different.
The following representatives of CanaRx were introduced: G. Anthony Howard, President and CEO; Margaret M McNamara, Director of Pharmacy & COO; Margaret Lloyd, CSEA Health Benefits representative.
Mr. Howard gave an introduction and overview of the CanaRx program and said it has been in existence for approximately five years. It is a voluntary program. The purpose of the program when it first began was to provide the lowest possible cost to medications from Canada. The program is now offered in the United States and serves many cities and counties in six States.
Tompkins Cortland Community College is offering the program to its employees. This program called CRXMeds is an optional international mail order program designed for employees covered under the County’s health insurance plan.
At this time, Mr. Howard spoke about the legality, safety, ease, and savings of the program. There are approximately 300-320 medications approved in the United States. The program is HIPAA compliant. Further information was provided and sample copies of the enrollment form was distributed and briefly reviewed. The only medications available through this program are brand name maintenance prescriptions. Refrigerated products are unavailable.
Chair Dennis declared recess at 4:29 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 4:32 p.m.
Ms. Fitzpatrick provided a brief history and background information concerning the establishment of salaries for Management and Confidential employees in previous years. She distributed a draft resolution setting salaries at a three percent increase for 2007. The resolution reflects what White Collar union employees are receiving and is consistent with other resolutions approved. Ms. Kiefer suggested the Committee consider a different approach such as a combination of a percentage and a dollar amount to go into the base salary.
Discussion followed and concerns were raised with how dialogues have changed and the approaches have been different from year-to-year causing frustration with Management and Confidential employees. Further discussion followed concerning these issues and Mr. Dennis recommended the three percent salary increase and commit to begin discussions with the Management and Confidential employees at the beginning of the year next year.
It was MOVED by Mr. Dennis, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. – ESTABLISHING SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF MANAGEMENT AND CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, 2007
WHEREAS, from 1988-2006, the Legislature has reviewed the salary schedules for Management and Confidential employees, and
WHEREAS, the schedule developed during that time period to bring management salaries into alignment is anticipated to be completed no later than 2009, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Personnel Committee, That Management and Confidential employees newly hired, reclassified, or who changed positions after January 1, 2001, are currently salaried based upon the relevant County salary schedule,
RESOLVED, further, That all incumbents in Management positions on January 1, 2007, shall receive an increase of 2.25 percent if their salary exceeds the relevant salary schedule or 3.0 percent if their salary is equal to the relevant salary schedule,
RESOLVED, further, That effective January 1, 2007, all Confidential employees shall receive an increase of 3.0 percent,
RESOLVED, further, That Management employees shall continue to be able to accumulate compensatory time to a maximum of three weeks,
RESOLVED, further, That Management and Confidential employees shall receive longevity payments as provided for in the CSEA White Collar contract and shall be entitled to all other fringe benefits specified in Administrative Policy 03-01, Fringe Benefits for Non-unionized Employees; any fringe benefit not specifically addressed in Administrative Policy 03-01 shall parallel the White Collar Contract,
RESOLVED, further, That discussions will begin soon after the first of the year with appropriate County staff and the appropriate Committee of the Legislature to decide on a process for approving salary increases and benefits of Management and Confidential employees.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II – 20
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Mrs. McBean-Clairborne said the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee (WDIC) has been meeting and reviewing proposed bylaws to submit to the Legislature for approval. At the their last meeting, WDIC approved the bylaws by unanimous consent.
At this time, the Committee reviewed the proposed bylaws and following a brief discussion agreed to the following amendments:
·
Add statement concerning amendments: Amendments will become effective upon approval by
the Tompkins County Legislature
Ms. Mackesey was excused at 5:10 p.m.
It was MOVED by Mr. Dennis, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the bylaws as amended to the full Legislature for approval.
It was MOVED by Mr. Proto, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the October 11th meeting as corrected.
The meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m.