PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
March 11, 2005

Administration / Human Resources Office, Room #196
9:30 A.M.

Committee Members Present: Gerald Pardun, Phil Lindeman, Jeff Schinzing and Emmett Byrne.

Committee Member Absent: Eldon Freese.

Others Present: Candace Fitzgerald - County Administrator / Human Resources Director, and Marcy Thalacker - Human Resources Generalist.

Chairman Gerald Pardun called the meeting to order.

Motion
Phil Lindeman motion, Jeff Schinzing second to approve the December 15th, 16th and 21st, 2004 and January 31st, 2005 Minutes of the Meeting as distributed. Motion carried.

Staffing Change - Medical Examiner
This issue will be tabled until the next regular Committee meeting so that Pat Taylor can arrange his schedule to be able to appear before the Committee.

Economic Support Reclassification Requests
Candace Fitzgerald reviewed the previous reclassification processes and qualifications as applied to employees moving from an entry level worker position to the regular classification. Karla Brunberg - Economic Support Specialist/W-2 Supervisor appeared before the Committee regarding the reclassification requests received for Michelle Brown and Debra Chapman who had both posted from Secretarial positions into entry level Economic Support/W-2 Worker positions on August 23rd, 2004. The Committee will discuss this issue further in the closed session portion of the meeting.

Tuition Reimbursement Request - Airport Manager
Lloyd Arnold - Airport Manager appeared before the Committee to request reimbursement for his first semester, 2004 tuition and related expenses. This request is covered under Professional Development in Chapter 13 of the Policy Manual and had received preliminary approval from the Property Committee before the process was initiated. After discussion and response to the Committee's questions, this issue will be considered further in the closed session portion of the meeting as well.

Parcel Mapping Contract - Land Records
Kathy Swingle - Land Records Supervisor / County Surveyor appeared before the Committee requesting permission to contract with a previous provider from 2004 for parcel mapping research which must be conducted here under a standardized process using the available records. Committee concern was voiced to exercise care in the contractual process so that the County does not encounter the same circumstances recently experienced in the last Unit Clarification Process at the end of 2004. The contractual language has since been corrected to meet the required criteria.

MOTION:
Phil Lindeman motion, Jeff Schinzing second to approve a parcel mapping contract as discussed for research capped at under $5,000 in 2005 as presented. Motion carried.

MOTION:
Phil Lindeman motion, Jeff Schinzing second to go into Closed Session at approximately 11:05 A.M. to discuss Union Arbitration, Employee Compensation and Recommendations for 2005 pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1) (c) and (e). Roll Call vote as follows:

Jeff Schinzing Yes
Phil Lindeman Yes
Emmett Byrne Yes
Gerald Pardun Yes

The Committee reconvened into open session as announced at 12:30 P.M.

MOTION
Phil Lindeman motion, Jeff Schinzing second that an employee working in an Economic Support Specialist/W-2 Worker (Entry) position must work in that position for an additional six months after their training has been completed. Based upon successful performance at that time or thereafter as appropriate, the Supervisor in that unit can bring a recommendation to the Personnel Committee to reclassify the employee from the entry level to the regular position. Once that approval has been given, the employee will then move to the Regular Economic Support / W-2 Work classification and progress from the Start Step thru the final 18 Month Step. Motion carried.

MOTION
Gerald Pardun motion, Emmett Byrne second to approve Lloyd Arnold's 2004 Tuition and Expense Reimbursement Request as presented thru the Employee Development Section of the Policy Manual. Motion carried.

MOTION
Phil Lindeman motion, Emmett Byrne second that Candace evaluate this and other related Employee Development policies and come back to the Committee with recommendations that would structure the language to give the County greater control with time and/or dollar limits in this area at the next regular meeting. Motion carried.

MOTION
Phil Lindeman motion, Jeff Schinzing second to approve the 2005 Non-Represented Staff
Salary Across-The-Board Increase, Salary Adjustments and Benefit Changes as discussed and present same to the March 17th, 2005 County Board Meeting for their review and approval. Motion carried.

MOTION
Phil Lindeman motion, Emmett Byrne second that the Judge Gableman and Dorothy Richard - Register in Probate be informed that the Register in Probate's reclassification from Grade 13 to 14 in 2005 is tied to the Judge's assignment of responsibilities to the position related to Probate / Court Commissioner duties. If, in the future, the position becomes vacant or the duties are re-assigned, the County will re-evaluate the compensation base at the Grade 13 Level in the Non-Represented Salary Plan at that time. Motion carried.

2005 Loss Control Credit
AEGIS informed the County that the 2005 Deductible Fund Escrow Account was amended for 2005 to include a credit adjustment (to a possible maximum of 5% of the premium and deductible fund credit). Burnett County received a credit of $4,060 for 2005.

AAA Special Group Rates
Information was shared concerning a program jointly supported by the Wisconsin Counties Association and AAA which may qualify County employees for special discounts on AAA membership and Auto and Home Insurance. The information will be shared with County Departments.

Unemployment Compensation Benefits
The Committee was informed that Cheryl Covey, a former Substitute Dispatcher/Jailor had filed for benefits.

RECRUITMENT UPDATE:

A. Administration / Human Resources Office - Financial Manager. Lynn Miller was selected at the January 31, 2005 Interviews and began work in this position on February 1st, 2005.
B. Clerk of Courts' Office / District Attorney's Office - Secretary. Jackie Kurkowski began work in this split position on January 3rd, 2005 and successfully completed her 10 working day trial period.
C. Health / Human Services Department / Health/Human Services Director. Jeffry McIntyre was selected from the January 11th and 12th, 2005 Interview Process and began working for the County on Monday, March 14th, 2004.
D. Health / Human Services Department - Home Care Nurse. Wendy Struss resigned from this position on February 18th, 2005. Public Recruitment is currently underway to fill this position.
E. Health / Human Services Department - Site Manager / Cook. GeorgAnne Quernemoen will be resigning from this position on April 1st, 2005. Public Recruitment is currently underway.
F. Sheriff's Department - Forestry / Recreational Officer. Joshua Henry will be moving from a regular Deputy Sheriff assignment to this position as soon as regular staff have been hired thru the Deputy Sheriff Roster process. Phil Lindeman chairs the Forestry / Recreational Officer Oversight Committee.
G. Sheriff's Department - Deputy Sheriff. Two vacancies will exist - one from Richard Petersen's pending retirement and one from Joshua Henry's reassignment. Joanna Bartosh has been tentatively offered one of these positions contingent on successful physical exam, drug screen and psychological evaluation.
H. Sheriff's Department - Dispatcher / Jailor. Two Substitute Dispatcher / Jailor Positions were combined thru the 2005 Budget Process to become a single Benefited Regular Dispatcher / Jailor Position. Due to State regulations and other related staffing considerations during the review process, the Sheriff's Department management team determined staffing dictated that a male applicant be hired to fill this vacancy. Joshua Bently had originally been offered the position effective February 1st, 2005. Since that time, he has withdrawn his acceptance of the regular position, instead preferring to remain a part-time Substitute Dispatcher / Jailor. David Taylor has been offered and accepted the Regular Dispatcher / Jailor Position effective 03/21/2005. In order to reach this point, the County has also created a male and female Dispatcher / Jailor Roster which may be utilized over the next year.
I. UW - Extension Office / County Clerk's Office - Secretary. Ione Johnson was hired thru the February 25th, 2005 Interview Process and began work on Thursday, March 10th, 2005.
J. County Treasurer's Office - Account Clerk. Vikki Hostrawser was hired thru the same process and began work on Wednesday, March 9th, 2005.
K. Seasonal Summer Student Recruitment

a. Forest/Parks Department. Applications were taken thru March 4th, 2005 and have been forwarded to the County Forest Administrator for review.
b. Highway Department. Applications were taken thru March 1st, 2005 and have been forwarded to the Highway Commissioner for review.

AFSCME Interest Arbitration
The proposed meeting dates are Tuesday, April 5th and Wednesday, April 6th, 2005. A review of the Committee Member's schedules reveals that the week of April 25th would be the earliest these meetings could be scheduled for the Committee. Candace will contact Laurie Millot to reschedule these meetings for sometime that week.

National County Government Week
The March, 2005 Wisconsin Counties Magazine noted that NACO President Angelo D. Kyle spoke about National County Government Week as a way of honoring and recognizing County employees who serve America. The theme this is year is "Honoring County Heros" and will be held the week of April 10th thru 16th, 2005. It was decided that a Proclamation in this regard would be presented at the County Board Meeting on the 17th with a newspaper article to follow highlighting that recognition.

MOTON
Emmett Byrne motion, Phil Lindeman second to adjourn the meeting. The proceedings ended at 1:17 P.M. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted by

Emmett Byrne
Personnel Committee Secretary