Personnel Committee

February 9, 2006 - 8:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

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

 

Others Present:          Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Merwin Armstrong, Legislator; Susan Morgan, Clerk of the Legislature; Annette Barber, Personnel Director; Elizabeth Larkin, County Clerk;Jeremy Boylan, Cortland Standard; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC

 Absent:                      Steve Dafoe

 

Mr. Cornell called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

 

Mr. Troy made the motion to adoption of the minutes of the January 12, 2006 meeting and seconded by Ms. Price.  All members voting in favor, minutes approved as printed. 

RESOLUTIONS:

 

Personnel/Civil Service

 

 1.        Amend Resolutions 335-05 (MSD Classification Study) – Ms. Price moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Troy.  Ms. Barber explained there was an oversight on the original list and this will amend that original list.  All members voting in favor; none opposed; resolution adopted.

 

Legislature

 

 2.        Amend Rules of Order-Regular Meetings-Cortland County Legislature – Mr. Troy moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  Ms. Price discussed the Sub-Committee formed to look at all the Rules of Order.  She further added that Legislators should adjust our schedules accordingly and leave the monthly session meeting time the same as what the public is used to.  She further stated that she will be voting no for that reason.  Chairman. Brown stated that meetings have been changed before and the public has had no problems with the change.  Mr. Cornell, Mr. McKee, Mr. Spaulding, Mr. Troy and Mr. Williams voted in favor; Ms. Price was opposed; resolution adopted.

 

3.         Amend Rules of Order- Annual Session-Cortland County Legislature  - Mr. Spaulding moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Troy.  Chairman Brown stated that she would like Mr. Whitt to explain this to committee members.  Mr. Whitt explained that he had a meeting with Mr. Cornell, Committee Chair, and they have reviewed the Rules of Order and found that Annual Session was established in the early 1900’s.  He further stated that the County Administrator can present the Budget at a regular meeting.  Mr. Whitt went on to state that it is costly to hold Annual Session for a single reason, to present the Budget.  Mr. Williams suggested that a change be made and discussed stating that the Tentative Budget be submitted not later than the regular Legislative Meeting in October.  Mr. Schrader stated that State Law requires that a Budget be presented by the Budget Officer not later than November 15.  Mr. Williams stated that he would like to see this not tied to elections.  He further stated that he would like to see the Tentative Budget be in place prior to the Elections.  Ms. Price stated that is what happened this past year.  Mr. Schrader further added that a resolution is needed to change this not just a change to the Rules of Order.  Mr. Whitt explained that State Law governs the Budget, he further stated that legal advise can be obtained from an attorney regarding the Budget.  He stated that the Budget Rules are directives of State Law.  Mr. Whitt stated that an opinion would be needed from the County Attorney regarding Budget proposals.  Mr. Williams made a motion to table this until date certain, next month Personnel Committee meeting held on March 9, 2006; seconded by Ms. Price.  Mr. Schrader stated that the law requires that Departmental Budget requests are due September 1st and that would still allow for the Budget to be present later in October.  Mr. Schrader added that if the Legislature was to request the Budget to be presented earlier in October, for example the first part of October, then there would be a problem with the due date for Department Budget Requests.  Chairman Brown explained to the committee that this resolution is only to change the rules regarding Annual Session.  Mr. Williams explained that he would like to change the rules all at once, not piece by piece.  Mr. Cornell, Mr. McKee, Mr. Spaulding, Ms. Price and Mr. Williams voted in favor; Mr. Troy was opposed; motion carried. 

 

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

Mr. Williams made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a litigation issue; seconded by Mr. Troy.  The Personnel Committee went into Executive Session at 8:59 am.  Mr. Williams made a motion to come out of Executive Session; seconded by Mr. Troy.  The Personnel Committee had nothing to report from Executive Session. 

 

Mr. Cornell discussed with the committee the possibility of changing meeting times to meet at 9:30 on Thursdays and allow the Human Services Committee to meet at 8:30 on Thursdays.  He further added that this would better accommodate some other Legislators schedules.

 

  1. Rules Revision Sub-Committee – Mr. Cornell discussed the Sub-Committee formed to review the Rules of Order.  He stated that himself, Ms. Price, Mr. Ross and Mr. Troy were Legislators that were on the Sub-Committee he added that he had asked Mr. Schrader and Mr. Whitt to also sit on the Sub-Committee.  Mr. Williams inquired about the theory of how this committee was composed and asked for clarification as to why the County Auditor was on the Sub-Committee.  Chairman Brown discussed the fact that at the David Guido Strategic Planning Summit held at TC3 in 2004, when the County Auditor was hired, it was discussed that his position would look at the policies and procedures and he would not be just a bean counter.  Chairman Brown stated that she referred to the Legislative Session minutes of April 15, 2004 and the statements made by Dr. DiGiovanni and Ms. Breed in those minutes.  Chairman Brown further stated that part of the premises of hiring a County Auditor was for that position to check the statutes and assist in bringing our policies and procedures into compliance.  Ms. Price stated that she has served on a Sub-Committee regarding rules revision and she stated that it is more beneficial to have staff on the Sub-Committee.  Ms. Price further stated that she would like to see the Travel Request Policy looked at and attempt in streamlining the procedures.  Chairman Brown expressed that the County Auditor is to do provide Departmental Audits and Audits for efficiency within the County.  Mr. Williams stated that he has reviewed that State Law and the role of the County Auditor.  He added that the law stated that the Auditor would audit accounting.  Mr. Williams stated that as for interpretation of the Rules of Order, we have a County Attorney and his staff to do that.  Chairman Brown stated that we have a person other than the County Attorney who is capable of doing that.  Ms. Price stated that she would like the County Attorney to look at any changes of Rules towards the end before they are voted on.  Mr. Whitt expressed that rules can be misused and misinterpreted and this can become very costly to the County.  He stated that an example is Annual Session is a very costly meeting for the County to hold when this can be done at a regular monthly meeting.  Mr. Whitt stated that it is a mistake to include someone on this Sub-Committee who is not aware of these costly and inefficient facets.  He further added that the Chair of the Committee can assign who they want desire to a Sub-Committee.  Mr. Williams stated that it was not a personal issue.  Mr. Whitt stated it appeared that way to him.  Mr. Cornell stated that he was leaving Mr. Whitt on the Sub-Committee, he further added that he had spoken with Chairman Brown regarding this and she would like to see Mr. Whitt on that Sub-Committee.  Ms. Tytler expressed concerns regarding an even number of people on the Sub-Committee.  Chairman Brown stated that she though it was a good idea to have two Republicans and two Democrats on the Sub-Committee.  She added that anything decided from the Sub-Committee will need to come back to the Personnel Committee to be voted on.     

 

2.         Personnel: Vacancy Report – Ms. Barber distributed a monthly Vacancy Report to Committee Members and briefly discussed it.  Ms. Barber further stated that negotiations with New York State Nurses Association  (NYSNA) began yesterday.  She added that Nursing is still an issue.  Mr. McKee inquired about these negotiations bringing back some of the Nurses that we lost.  Ms. Barber stated yes and it will cut down on the orientation and training process.  Mr. Schrader stated that he is interested in trying to recruit some of those that have left.  He added that he does not want to penalize them. 

 

3.         Clerk/Legislature: Carletta Edwards – Ms. Morgan informed the committee about Ms. Edwards remaining here to finish Clerk of the Legislature Journals.  She added that she would like to commend her for her work on a volunteer basis and further added that she has been extremely valuable.  Committee members agreed.  Mr. Whitt explained to the committee that when Ms. Edwards has completed the Journals she is currently working on, the County will be in compliance for the first time in regards to the publishing of Journals of Proceedings.  He further added that this will bring the County up-to-date and will make it easier to keep everything up-to-date.  Ms. Tytler suggested that a leather bound Journal be purchased for Ms. Edwards with her name on it.  Mr. Schrader stated that he would check and see if Ms. Edwards was interested in that. 

 Mr. Troy made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  The meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.

BACK