MINUTES
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 13, 2006
3:00 P.M.
SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: J. Dennis, Chair; D. Kiefer; P. Mackesey; F. Proto; L. McBean-Clairborne (arrived at 3:06 p.m.)
Staff: C. Covert, Clerk of the Legislature; C. DeMarco, Mental Health Department; B. Doling, Mental
Health Department; K. Kephart, Social Services Department; B. DeLuca, Mental Health Commissioner; A. Fitzpatrick, Personnel Commissioner
The meeting was called to order at 3:03 p.m.
Mrs. McBean-Clairborne requested approval of the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion logo be added to the agenda.
Bylaws
Mrs. McBean-Clairborne reviewed the bylaws as revised by the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In response to a question raised regarding County policy for removing members, Mrs. McBean-Clairborne agreed to review the policy for consistency. Mr. Proto cautioned the Committee to monitor the membership and appointing County staff living outside the County as residency requirements for advisory boards has been an ongoing concern with the Legislature. Mrs. McBean-Clairborne agreed but did not feel it would be an issue. Following further discussion and a few changes recommended by Committee members and accepted, it was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve and submit the bylaws dated December 2006 to the full Legislature for approval.
Diversity Logo
Mrs. McBean-Clairborne said the Marketing Team and Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee went back and looked at the diversity logo again based on suggestions and feedback by this committee. She provided the names of the team and introduced the members of the team present. Kit Kephart, a County employee and member of the team, began working on this one year ago and explained the process at arriving at the logo design presented. The idea was to have something that was representative of the County and adaptable. Mrs. McBean-Clairborne noted the time spent on designing this logo by Ms. Kephart and her partner was donated time.
It was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, to approve and submit the logo design as presented to the full Legislature for approval. Further discussion followed and Committee members offered their reactions and feelings about the design. A brief review of the history was provided and how the logo would be used. Some examples for using the logo include using it on County documents, the County’s website, and highlighting the Diversity Statement.
A voice vote resulted as follows: Ayes – 5; Noes – 0. MOTION TO APPROVE DIVERSITY LOGO APPROVED.
Red-Circled Positions
It was MOVED by Mr. Dennis, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval.
Ms. Kiefer introduced the concept embodied in the 2004 resolution (distributed) that references salary increases in 2005 will not be less than $500 or more than $2,000. The resolution represented a compromise as the percentage of a high salary is much more money than the same percent of a lower salary. Ms. Kiefer said she would like the proposed resolution to say something similar. Mr. Dennis noted that if the County were to pay for these professionals by the hour outside County government, it could be quite costly for the County. In response to a question raised by Mr. Proto, Mr. DeLuca said the doctors are covered under the County’s liability insurance and also carry their own insurance.
Mrs. McBean-Clairborne expressed her opinion that the Committee should act and not have an extensive discussion now as a real discussion needs to happen earlier in the year as requested in previous years to allow the time needed by the Committee to address a process and/or approach for approving salaries for red-circled positions. Ms. Mackesey agreed with Mrs. McBean-Clairborne’s comments as she as some questions she would like to have addressed, but understands there is not enough time to discuss this subject this year. Ms. Fitzpatrick noted she brought this issue up in June/July but was told to wait until it was known what management/confidential employees would receive, which wouldn’t be known till after the budget process.
As
referenced in the November 8th Committee minutes, Ms. Kiefer asked
the status of the reorganization plan for the County Attorney’s
department. Ms. Fitzpatrick
said the County Attorney will be presenting a plan to the Government Operations
Committee in January and it is anticipated that additional requests for
red-circled positions will be presented.
Following further discussion, it was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, to add the following Resolved: RESOLVED, further, That salary increases in 2007 for these positions will not be less than $1,000 and not more than $3,000.
Mr. Proto suggested that when this is presented to the Legislature that a detailed explanation be provided especially for new Legislators.
A voice vote resulted as follows on the amendment: Ayes – 1 (Kiefer); Noes – 4 (Dennis, Proto, Mackesey, and McBean-Clairborne). MOTION LOST.
A voice vote on the original resolution resulted as follows: Ayes - 4 (Dennis, Proto, Mackesey, and McBean-Clairborne); Noes – 1 (Kiefer). RESOLUTION CARRIED. As a follow-up to the discussion regarding this issue being discussed early next year, Mr. Dennis said he would be willing to do that. Ms. Fitzpatrick said there is a need to develop the criteria in reviewing this and making decision. For example, is there interest in a merit system? in market analysis? She noted it is very difficult to get a true picture of what doctors are paid. Mr. Proto mentioned CPI and inflation and agreed that guidelines need to be developed. Ms. Kiefer asked that a packet of background information including individual base salaries, Mr. DeLuca’s memorandum concerning the positions in the Mental Health Department, and the previous years’ resolutions be provided to Legislators prior to the Legislature’s meeting considering the resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. – AUTHORIZING SALARY INCREASES
FOR POSITIONS WITH SALARIES SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
ABOVE THE SALARY RANGE
WHEREAS, salaries for employees in the following titles were previously established by separate resolution of the Legislature:
Psychiatrists
Medical Director, Mental Health
County Attorney
, and
WHEREAS, the system utilized by Tompkins County to assign salaries to positions based on job description is unable to match the market-rate salaries of these highly specialized professional positions, and
WHEREAS, incumbents in these titles were placed at a rate above the salary schedule by previous resolutions of the Legislature, and
WHEREAS, salary increases for incumbents in these titles could be based on annual increases provided to other management staff, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Personnel Committee, That base salaries for all incumbents in these titles listed above shall be their 2006 base salary,
RESOLVED, further, that effective January 1, 2007, the affected positions salaries will increase by three (3) percent for 2007,
RESOLVED, further, That effective immediately, whenever there is a vacancy in one of these titles, a base salary will be set for the newly hired incumbent on an individual basis by a resolution of the Legislature.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * *
Ms. Fitzpatrick provided copies of the job descriptions for the four employees reporting to the Legislature as a follow-up to the discussion held regarding performance evaluations. She noted it is likely the job descriptions have not been reviewed or revised since the pay equity study in the early 1990’s.
The Committee reviewed the following goals and commented on the status:
2006 Goals
Personnel Committee
(Dated - February 16, 2006)
Action items (Committee
information with most items requiring committee approval)
Ø Performance Reviews and evaluations- County employees – No action – roll over to 2007.
Ø Report outs of experiences from employees who attend training – No action taken.
Ø Red-circled positions - review salary schedule of certain employees as compared to the market rate – Committee recommends this be rolled over to 2007.
Ø Performance evaluations - Four staff reporting to Legislature – Paula Younger and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne are in the process of working on this.
Ø Training for Supervisors – Some money was placed in the budget for training and training seminars were held in 2006.
Information only
(Committee review and understanding of items - committee action may be needed
on some items)
Ø Progressive discipline procedures – No discussion occurred.
Ø Exit interviews – No discussion.
Ø Review of Civil Service exams and procedures – Presentation provided.
Ø Training for Committee members on appeal process as outlined in the policy – Presentation provided; Ms. Fitzpatrick provided more information on this subject.
Ø Familiarize and understand labor grades and rates – Presentation provided.
Ø Review health benefits – Pilot program implemented. Mr. Proto requested a review of utilization data for 2007.
Ø Longevity payments – No discussion or review (negotiable item).
Ø Employee parking – Action taken by Legislature; Bus pass pilot program implemented and extended for three months.
Ø Residency requirements – Report and information provided.
Ø Salary schedules of contracted agencies funded by the County – No discussion – roll over to 2007.
Ø Lateral transfers from out-of-county to fill positions – Noted that training costs are not incurred; Recommend reviewing pros and cons in 2007.
Ø Review process for reclassifying positions – No discussion.
Ø Affirmative Action Officer position – No discussion; Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee will discuss this in 2007.
Staff directives
(responsibility of staff with committee review and input)
Ø Study Guides for taking Civil Service exams – Brief report was provided; roll over to 2007
Ø Develop
Personnel Handbook – No action – roll over to 2007. Ms. Fitzpatrick said
there are many pros and cons to having a handbook and that there needs to be a
stakeholder group to develop the criteria.
It was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the minutes of November 8, 2006, as corrected.
Mr. Dennis reported the Negotiating Team has a meeting with Elaine Gold of the firm, Roemer, Wallens, and Mineaux, hired by the County scheduled for January. Two negotiating sessions have been scheduled for January.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.