Personnel Committee

May 11, 2006 - 9:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Members:                     Larry Cornell, Chairman; Mike, McKee, Vice Chairman; Sandy Price, Don Spaulding, John Troy, Tom Williams

Others Present:             Richard VanDonsel, County Attorney; Danny Ross, Legislator; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Annette Barber, Personnel Director; Elizabeth Larkin, County Clerk; Bob Howe, Board of Elections; Bill Wood, Board of Elections; Jeremy Boylan, Cortland Standard

Absent:             Steve Dafoe

 

Mr. Cornell called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m.

 Mr. Spaulding made the motion to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Troy.  All members voting in favor, minutes approved as printed. 

RESOLUTIONS:

There were no resolutions on the agenda for consideration.

Mr. Howe distributed a resolution to be discussed.  Chairman Brown inquired if this resolution had been pulled by Mr. Schrader and was informed that Mr. Schrader had pulled it and had a meeting scheduled next week to meet with Mr. Howe regarding this particular resolution.  Committee members discussed the best manner in which to proceed with this and the time sensitivity involved with the resolution.  Chairman Brown recommended that the resolution be considered and referred to Budget & Finance for further discussion.

Authorize Contractual Agreement, Board of elections, Info Quick Solutions, Inc. – Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Troy.  Mr. McKee inquired as to any other controversy involved with this resolution.  Ms. Larkin explained the process involved with loading the records onto the computer system.  She additionally explained that she would like to try to move this along due to the fact that the Board of Elections is going to be entering their busy season with petitions becoming due fir upcoming elections.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

Election Office – Mr. Wood explained to the Committee the need for new voting machines with the new regulations regarding HAVA and there is only funding of $551,000 to do this.  He further stated that there is not enough money to buy all the machines needed throughout the County.  Mr. Wood discussed looking into exploring the possibility of merging some of the polling places, which would create the need for fewer voting machines.  Chairman Brown asked how much additional money would be needed to purchase all the new voting machines.  Mr. Wood explained that approximately $60,000 of county funding for machines and training would be needed.  Additionally, he discussed the increased pay for polling judges.  He stated that he would like to just make the committee aware of these items.  Chairman Brown requested that the committee be provided with information regarding the additional fees being charged and a break down of the increased funding needed.  Mr. Wood distributed a list of polling places in the county and a break down of the machines needed at each.  Mr. Howe discussed the possibility of a new polling place in Marathon and in Blodgett Mills due to the new HAVA regulations.  Mr. Wood discussed the documents he distributed and the possibility of merging some of those polling places.  Mr. Howe and Mr. Wood further discussed the new voting procedures.  Mr. Williams asked for some clarity regarding the documents distributed.  Mr. Wood explained that currently there are 48 voting machines in the county; under new HAVA regulations, without any merging of polling places, 72 machines are needed; and if there is merging done then only 67 machines will be needed.  He further explained that the estimated additional funding needed is approximately $60,000.         

 

Personnel: Vacancy Report – Ms. Barber provided the Committee Members with a Vacancy Report.  She noted to the committee that the recently vacated position of Director of Administrative Services due to the retirement of Linda Medeiros was left off the report.  Ms. Price discussed the vacant position of Linda Medeiros and inquired about any restructuring being done in that department.  Ms. Barber informed the committee that the applications have just gone to Mr. Schrader for his review.  Ms. Price inquired about any restructuring being done prior to interviews.  Ms. Barber informed the committee that it is being looked at.  Ms. Price inquired about whom exactly is doing the reviewing.  Mr. Whitt informed the committee that Mr. Schrader is not here but he is looking into it at this time and he has had a meeting with members of the Community Services Board.  Mr. Whitt suggested that the committee refer this to Mr. Schrader.  Mr. Williams inquired as to why the position has been advertised if there is going to be a restructure in that department which could affect the duties and responsibilities of that position.  Mr. McKee explained that this was addressed briefly in the Community Services Board and he believed that there has been some confusion in who should fill the position.  The committee members discussed that this has also been discussed in the Health Committee.  Mr. McKee stated that things are being addressed but this is a sensitive issue.  Ms. Price inquired about the vacancy regarding the County Historian.  Ms. Barber explained that Chairman Brown has reviewed the applications and they had been reviewed by herself just last night.  Both of them have given input on the applicants and they will go to Mr. Schrader now for his review.  Ms. Price asked if she could review the applications.  Ms. Barber will look into that and let her know.  Ms. Barber stated that applications are in the process of being reviewed.  Mr. Troy inquired as to why the Wait Pool Attendant was under the Highway Department.  Ms. Barber explained that the Highway Department maintained the parks and this would be a park employee.   

 Personnel: Unemployment Insurance Report – Ms. Barber distributed a confidential Unemployment Insurance Report and briefly discussed it.  She pointed out an error on the report that will be corrected.  Ms. Barber collected all reports that had been distributed.

 Update on various contract negotiations – Ms. Barber requested that the committee go into Executive Session to discuss these issues.  Mr. Troy made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Personnel issues.  Mr. Williams requested that the committee finish up any additional discussion items prior to going into Executive Session.  Mr. Troy withdrew his motion to go into Executive Session. 

Mr. Cornell referred to two memo’s that had been distributed to committee members and expressed that he is forwarding both of them to the Sub-Committee for their review.

Mr. Troy made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a Personnel issue; seconded by Mr. Williams.  The Committee went into Executive Session at 10:05 am.

Mr. Troy made a motion to come out of Executive Session; seconded by Mr. McKee.  The Committee returned from Executive Session at 10:22 am.

Ms. Price addressed some issues she would like to discuss at future meetings.  She addressed the relocation of the Department of Motor Vehicles.  She requested that the Nepotism Policy, which was passed in December of 2003, be reviewed.  Ms. Price asked that a complaint filed last fall by Mr. Bill Allen be addressed. She explained to the committee that he has been in contact with her and he has not received satisfaction regarding this complaint.  Mr. Cornell forwarded this issue to the Sub Committee to be looked at further.  Ms. Price inquired about MUNIS training and if more is needed.  Ms. Price addressed some concerns she has with the Health Insurance and requested that it be reviewed because all employees are not happy with it.  Ms. Barber recommended that if anyone hears of an employee complaining about the Health Insurance, please refer that employee to Laurie Gosse and she added that Ms. Gosse is wonderful at dealing with the issues and dealing with RMSCO.   

Mr. Troy made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

     

Personnel Committee Cortland County 60 Central Avenue Cortland, NY 13045-2746
Marilyn E. Brown		Larry Cornell
Chairman of the Legislature		Chairman, Personnel Committee

 

May 16, 2006

 

 

To:                   Members Personnel Committee

Re:                   Suggested Rule Change from Legislator Tom Williams (memorandum attached)

From:               Larry Cornell, Chair Personnel Committee

In response to the suggestions for a rule change by Legislator Tom Williams discussed at the March 9, 2006 Personnel Committee, we will take up his suggestion outlined in his memorandum in the workshop session of the Sub-Committee meeting immediately following the Personnel Committee meeting of this date.

   

LC/ldw

 

Personnel Committee Cortland County 60 Central Avenue Cortland, NY 13045-2746
Marilyn E. Brown		Larry Cornell
Chairman of the Legislature		Chairman, Personnel Committee

 

May 16, 2006

 

To:                   Members Personnel Committee

Re:                   Rules of Order relating to Article I, Section 5, “ANNUAL SESSION”

From:               Larry Cornell, Chair Personnel Committee

 

 In response to the vote of the Personnel Committee to have the Sub-Committee reviewed proposed changes in the language of Article I, Section 5, “Annual Session”. The Sub-Committee met in workshop to consider the instruction. After review of the history of the section, discussion and consideration, it was the consensus of the Personnel sub-committee, that Section 5 of Article I, Titled “ANNUAL SESSION” be stricken. Further it was discussed that any budgetary policies considered during these discussion be established by resolution of the Legislature after a review by the Budget and Finance Committee.

   

LC/ldw

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