BY ORDER OF THE BOARD NO FURTHER COMMITTEE MINUTES WILL BE POSTED ON THE INTERNET E-mail County Commission
A meeting of the Gogebic County Personnel & Negotiations Committee was held on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at 9:00 A.M., Courthouse, Bessemer, Michigan.
Present: Thomas, Wiemeri, Koivisto, Kangas
.
Absent: None
Also Present: Juliane Giackino, Administrator; Sharon Hallberg, County Treasurer; Richard Adams, Prosecuting Attorney; Tracie Wittla, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
The first item on the agenda was to discuss the Treasurer’s vacancy as well as the pay grade change in her office and a new hire in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Thomas stated that he had talked to the Treasurer last week and there has been a change from the original plan from the County’s Prosecuting Attorney.
The County Treasurer stated that she had met with Mr. Adams and there was a change of opinions from the prior week’s conversation.
The brief background is that Mr. Adams hired in a former employee who is a legal secretary into his office at a legal secretary position. The former employee has transferred to a position in the County Treasurer’s Office at a pay grade 03. Mr. Adams felt that the position in his office would be brought in at a pay grade 03 however, in the thinking process he felt now that this position warranted a 04 pay grade being that the individual has a degree as a legal secretary from Gogebic Community College and should be paid at that rate coupled with her experience in the legal secretary field.
The County Treasurer stated that she did not wish to see the change in pay grade from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to her office from a 04 to a 03 and Mr. Adams felt the same way.
The County Treasurer was therefore asking the County’s Personnel & Negotiations Committee to consider upgrading the position in her office from a 03 to a 04 due to the fact of the duties and the amount of monies being handled in that office throughout the year.
Mr. Adams went on to state that he would be willing to transfer the funds for the 04 position in his office to the Treasurer’s Office and could justify the 04 position in his office with the funding to come from the Crime Victims Rights fund, as that would be a duty in her job description. He also felt that he needed a legal secretary to prosecute to the fullest extent as he wished to do in his job as Prosecuting Attorney.
Mr. Thomas stated that he has been aware that the Treasurer has wanted this pay grade change for some time. However, he gave the budget scenario that the County Board has adopted an extremely tight budget for 2002 and has taken a big portion of their fund balance which leaves an improper amount of fund balance remaining as it should be in comparison to the amount of the County’s General Fund Budget total.
The Committee was concerned with the willingness of the Prosecuting Attorney to fund the position at a 04 in the Treasurer’s Office for one year. In other words, after one year, the County will have to come up with the dollars to continue funding the position at that particular pay grade.
The Treasurer stated that in her conversations with the Prosecutor he would be willing to transfer funds from the Crime Victims fund budget to fund the 04 position in his office. In other words, the position in the Treasurer’s Office would be a 04 and the Position in the Prosecutor’s Office would also remain a 04 but would be funded as a 03 with the difference to come from the Crime Victim’s fund. Also, that fund is healthy and worse case senior would be that the County could not fund it in 2003 would be funded from that particular fund once again.
Questions and answers were asked of those present.
Mr. Thomas still felt that this was not the proper way to obtain the pay grade change in the County Treasurer’s Office.
The Treasurer stated that this position is comparable to those in the Courthouse presently at a pay grade 06.
Mr. Thomas felt that the Committee was postponing something that they will need to face in the next year.
Mr. Wiemeri suggested leaving the pay grade in the Treasurer’s office at a 04 for as long as the employment of Carol Johnson is in tact with the County in that office.
Mr. Kangas felt that he had a problem with the time frame of the changes have taken place and were brought before the Committee to this date.
The County Administrator questioned exactly which fund the Treasurer and Prosecutor were referring to. She stated that she was under the impression that it was to come from the Crime Victims Fund and not the Victims Advocacy Fund which was spoken of throughout the meeting. That was clarified and was in fact the Crime Victims Fund.
The Committee discussed a court case, which pertains to St. Clair County and wished to have clarification, as the Prosecutor had previous discussions with the AFSCME’s representative; the court case focused around the fact that the Prosecuting Attorney can hire and fire as he chooses. The AFSCME representative felt that there was an amendment to this court case.
The County Administrator was requested to obtain the clarification of from Michigan Association of Counties as to that court case and if in fact there were amendments to that case.
A motion by Mr. Wiemeri, supported by Mr. Koivisto to recommend to the Board that Carol Johnson in the County Treasurer’s Office would be increased to a pay grade 04 for the term of her employment in that position. Upon her leaving that particular position it will revert back to a 03. The position of Legal Secretary in the Prosecutor’s Office would remain at a 04. Yeas 3, Nays 1, Absent 0. Motion carried.
The County Administrator was then requested to put together an addendum to the contract pertaining to that particular action, and also instructed to contact the AFSCME rep and advise him of the situation.
The second item on the agenda was the County Administrator with regard to janitorial service. She had appraised the Chairman prior to the meeting that her janitorial service in the afternoon would be done as of January 10, 2002, as that person would be out on sick leave for approximately 4 – 6 week. The possibility of using a trustee was discussed.
Mr. Thomas suggested hiring someone for snow removal in the morning and having the daytime maintenance man pick up the remaining cleaning, etc. at the Courthouse.
The Administrator was requested to talk with the maintenance man to see if he would be willing to work a split shift or to work and afternoon shift to have coverage throughout the day.
The Chairman of the County Board wanted to discuss the possibility of what will happen when the maintenance man retires and suggested that the Committee meet in the very near future to determine what do to with that position.
The County Treasurer then discussed the retirement issue as well as the actuarial study requested by the WPPA at a previous meeting. She stated that she had obtained a quote of $1,000.00 from the actuary and also noted that the Elected and Appointed Officials were interested in an early out.
The Committee was very concerned with the cost of the early out to the County Retirement system and Mr. Thomas requested in writing what is actually going to be covered from the actuarial study.
No action was taken.
There were no “Other Matters”.
There were no “Public Comments”.
A motion by Mr. Kangas supported by Mr. Wiemeri to adjourn. Motion carried.
Personnel & Negotiations Committee
A meeting of the Gogebic County Personnel & Negotiations Committee was held on Tuesday, January 15, 2002, at 10:00 A.M., Courthouse, Bessemer, Michigan.
Present: Thomas, Wiemeri, Koivisto, Kangas
Absent: None
Also Present: Juliane Giackino, County Administrator
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the maintenance worker position. The County Administrator had received the letter from George Mayer, maintenance worker on January 8, 2002 stating that his last day of work would be February 28, 2002. He would then be using his vacation, carrying him through April 9, 2002.
The Administrator had included a copy of the present job description for the Committee’s use.
The Committee discussed the fact that Gogebic County has, countywide, been hit with layoffs. Therefore, they felt that they had a large field to choose from. The salary for the position will remain at a pay grade 06.
The Committee discussed the job description and what they wished this individual to do.
The testing process was discussed. Each Committee member was to compile a list of questions they wished the individual to explain in the interview/testing process. They were to have these to the Administrator by January 21, 2002. The Committee would then meet and discuss this process further.
The Administrator was instructed to post the position on this date.
The hours of the new individual as well as the existing janitor were discussed. The Administrator was instructed to require the individuals to work their seven hours as required by the A.F.S.C.M.E. contract with one hour for lunch and two fifteen minute breaks. Also the new individual may be required to work a split shift at times. This will be discussed with the A.F.S.C.M.E. rep in the near future. Upon reviewing the contract the Committee could not find any language on working a split shift if need be.
A number of issues were further discussed such as background security checks, letter of recommendation, weight limits for lifting purposes, etc.
The Committee also discussed basic plumbing being added to the job description. This will also be discussed with the A.F.S.C.M.E. rep.
Mr. Wiemeri then requested to be excused at 11:04 A.M.
The Committee discussed the position in more detail.
No action was required.
There was no “Other Matters”.
There were no “Public Comments”.
A motion by Mr. Kangas, supported by Mr. Koivisto to adjourn. Motion carried.
Stephen R. Thomas, Chairman
Personnel & Negotiations Committee
PN011502
A meeting of the Gogebic County Personnel & Negotiations Committee was held on Tuesday, January 29, 2002, at 9:00 A.M., Courthouse, Bessemer, Michigan.
Present: Thomas, Wiemeri, Koivisto, Kangas
Absent: None
Also Present: Juliane Giackino, County Administrator
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the questions submitted by each of the Committee members for the position of the maintenance worker. The applications are due on February 4, 2002 for this position.
The Committee wished to go through the questions and discuss amongst themselves the proper interviewing process and what they wished to achieve in this process.
The Committee discussed in detail the electrical, plumping, carpentry, and basic janitorial as well as some heating and cooling questions they would expect the individual to answer in detail.
Another meeting was set for February 5, 2002 at 9:00 A.M. to begin the process of reading the applications and determining whom they would like to interview.
There was no “Other Matters”.
There were no “Public Comments”.
A motion by Mr. Koivisto, supported by Mr. Wiemeri to adjourn. Motion carried.
Stephen R.
Thomas, Chairman
Personnel &
Negotiations Committee
PN012902
A meeting of the Gogebic County Personnel & Negotiations Committee was held on Tuesday, February 5, 2002, at 9:00 A.M., Courthouse, Bessemer, Michigan.
Present: Thomas, Wiemeri, Koivisto, Kangas
Absent: None
Also Present: Juliane Giackino, County Administrator
The purpose of the meeting was to review the applications for the maintenance worker position, which would be vacated on February 28th, 2002.
The applications were distributed amongst the Committee members.
Each Committee member reviewed each application.
After a lengthy discussion, the Committee decided upon five individuals, which they wished to interview. They chose February 7, 2002, at 1:00 P.M. to begin the interviews giving each individual 30 minutes.
No action was required.
There was no “Other Matters”.
There were no “Public Comments”.
A motion by Mr. Wiemeri, supported by Mr. Koivisto to adjourn. Motion carried.
Stephen R. Thomas, Chairman
Personnel &
Negotiations Committee
PN020502
A meeting of the Gogebic County Personnel & Negotiations Committee was held on Thursday, February 7, 2002, at 1:00 P.M., Courthouse, Bessemer, Michigan.
Present: Thomas, Wiemeri, Koivisto, Kangas
Absent: None
Also Present: Juliane Giackino, County Administrator
The purpose of the meeting was to interview for the maintenance worker position.
The Committee had previously gone through the applications and selected five candidates that they wished to interview.
The Committee interviewed each individual for approximately 30 minutes asking them basic questions pertaining to electrical, plumbing, janitorial, general maintenance, questions in general as well as any type of air conditioning knowledge.
Each applicant responded accordingly.
After the last applicant was interviewed the Committee discussed in detail the results of each interview.
The Committee felt that they needed more time on who to select for the position.
The Committee felt that they would again meet during the week of February 11th, and discuss the position further.
No action was required.
There was no “Other Matters”.
There were no “Public Comments”.
A motion by Mr. Koivisto, supported by Mr. Wiemeri to adjourn. Motion carried.
Stephen R. Thomas, Chairman
Personnel &
Negotiations Committee
PN020702