Personnel Committee

April 12, 2007 - 9:30 am

Corrected

DRAFT MINUTES

 

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

Others Present:         Marilyn Brown, Chairman, Cortland County Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Richard C. Van Donsel, County Attorney; Annette Barber, Personnel Officer; Jeremy Boylan, County Historian; Elizabeth Larkin, County Clerk; Don Ferris, County Treasurer; Bill Wood, Board of Elections; and Corey Preston, Cortland Standard

Absent:                       Steve Dafoe

Mr. Cornell called the meeting to order at 9:30 am.

Mr. Troy made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2007 meeting; seconded by Ms. Price.  All members voting in favor, minutes approved as corrected. 

** Items noted with ** and in bold print were chosen by the Personnel Committee as suggested items for Legislator review.

RESOLUTIONS:

COUNTY CLERK

 

1.                  Designate County Sign Language Interpreter – Mr. Spaulding moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Troy.  Chairman Brown inquired as to the cost related to this resolution.  Ms. Larkin explained that there is no cost and added that these services are not utilized very often.  She explained that she received a telephone call from the State asking who the designated Sign Language Interpreter for Cortland County was.  Ms. Larkin expressed that she has looked into this and there is no designated Sign Language Interpreter for Cortland County.  Mr. Spaulding inquired if there is a need for one.  Ms. Larkin explained that there has not been a need since she has been in office.  Mr. Spaulding expressed that this is important to have.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved. 

 

ELECTIONS OFFICE

                       

2.                  Transfer Funds, Cortland County Board of Elections (NYS Voter System III) – Mr. Troy moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  Ms. Price requested background information on this resolution.  Mr. Wood explained that it is a requirement of HAVA for voter registry.  He stated that it is to remain in compliance with HAVA.  Mr. Schrader expanded that it would be used to upgrade software.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

PERSONNEL

 

3.                  **Create/Appoint Full Time Staff Psychiatrist, Mental Health Department - Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  Mr. Schrader explained that that this resolution was passed by the Health Committee and added that he has made necessary amendments after the Health Committee meeting.  He expressed that this is for the creation of a position; Psychiatrist.  Mr. Schrader explained that he is in the process of drafting an employment agreement and would like to provide it to the candidate before it is made public.  He further explained that he will be including a provision in the employment agreement requiring a $20,000 penalty if the candidate were to leave before the five year agreement were up.  He explained that the $20,000 would cover the cost of hiring a headhunter to fill the position.  Mr. Schrader discussed the employment agreement further and expressed that he would have it available by Legislative Session.  Committee members discussed the offset of revenue to be provided by this position; directly and indirectly estimated of $500,000.  Ms. Price explained that this was discussed in Health Committee.  Chairman Brown discussed that in addition to generating revenue this would decrease the wait list and serve people in need.  Mr. Schrader discussed two recent resignations and explained the need to reduce the wait list.  He expressed the fact that this is a specialty field and the difficulty in filling a position of this type.  Mr. Troy inquired if the salary was competitive.  Mr. Schrader expressed that it was and added that this is a lower salary that the candidate originally requested.  Mr. Schrader explained that discussions took place with the candidate regarding the fringes and his schedule and he agreed to the salary.  Mr. Schrader explained that this would need to be sent to Budget & Finance Committee for their approval and he added that a budget amendment would also need to be done.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

DISCUSSION:

 

1.                  Contract, Systems East, County Clerk – Ms. Larkin explained that this was discussed in a meeting with Department Heads and a concern was addressed regarding the added pressure that this would place on the Treasurer’s Office.  She added that Mr. Schrader and Mr. Corpora are scheduling a meeting with Systems East to discuss the software problems that could occur. 

 

Ms. Larkin announced that she had not received an official letter yet, but has been told that Cortland County was not approved for the funding for a mobile Department of Motor Vehicle.  Chairman Brown explained that there are issues to be resolved with that.

Committee members discussed and complimented the CCTVS Meetings. 

 

2.                  Agenda & Minutes of Committee meetings- Marilyn Brown – Chairman Brown discussed Committee meetings and the minutes.  She added that items the Chairman of each Committee deem significant are to be noted at the beginning of the minutes for suggested Legislator review. 

 

3.                  Vacancy Report, Annette Barber – Ms. Barber distributed the Vacancy Report dated April 1, 2007 and briefly discussed the report. She explained that the Road Patrol would be fully staffed and added that there are vacancies in Corrections.  Mr. Troy inquired about the Conflict Attorney position.  Mr. Schrader explained that there were six applications received and there are three interviews being scheduled.  He added that Chairman Brown, Mr. Dayton and himself would be involved in the interviews. 

 

4.                  Bicentennial Update, Jeremy Boylan – Mr. Boylan explained that Bicentennial Committee has broken into Subcommittees and added that some of the things that they are working on are:

Bicentennial Ball in Courthouse Square

Bicentennial/Outlook

Bicentennial Parade

Countywide Bell Ringing

He also explained that he is attempting to establish a tentative budget and working on projects to offset the cost.  He discussed amounts that were provided by past Board of Supervisors in 1908 and 1958.  He explained that he would be coming to the Legislature with a request for funding in the future.  Ms. Price inquired if he was working with Town Historians on this.  He explained that he was and that he has quarterly meetings with them.

            Mr. Boylan provided Committee members with a copy of the Office of County Historian, 2006 Annual Report. 

 

5.                  Distribution of Health Insurance Program Annual Review – Mr. Schrader distributed a copy of the Cortland County, Annual Review, January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2006 from RMSCO, Inc.  He explained the adjustment concerning prescription drugs and expressed that the cost of health care is rising.  He explained that he had a meeting with RMSCO and sat down and discussed this.  He added that at this meeting he addressed his concerns and concerns from the Unions.  Mr. Schrader explained that retiree health care accounts for one-third of our medical costs.  Mr. Schrader expressed that if anyone has any concerns or questions to let him know.

 

** Mr. Williams inquired about the recording of meetings.  Mr. Schrader expressed that this was discussed last month in Committee meetings and there was not much interest due to the price attached to equipping the rooms with the recording devices.  Chairman Brown expressed that there was discussion that if a meeting were to be recorded then Chambers could be used because the equipment was already available.  She additionally expressed that she was not in favor of having meetings in Chambers because it would take away from the group-setting environment that is in place now in Committee meetings.  Mr. Williams requested that cost for audio recording be looked into.  Chairman Brown expressed that minutes are taken in all Committee meetings and asked how much more technical are we expected to be.  Ms. Price expressed that her desire to have meetings recorded was so that they were available to the public and to allow for a more open government to the public.   Mr. Williams discussed audio only recordings and explained that they can be downloaded.  Mr. Cornell discussed General Services Committee pursuing this.  Mr. Schrader expressed that he would take it back to them.  Chairman Brown expressed that this was to be discussed in caucus to gain a consensus of the entire Legislature. 

 

Mr. Williams inquired about the annual job evaluation of the County Administrator and asked which Committee was responsible for this.  Committee members expressed that it would fall under Budget & Finance Committee. 

Mr. Schrader expressed that the Human Services Committee just completed the evaluation of Kristen Monroe, Commission of Social Services and explained that a resolution would be presented at the next Legislative Session for her reappointment. 

Mr. Troy made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  Mr. Cornell adjourned the meeting at 10:04 am.

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