Personnel Committee
February 8, 2007 - 9:30 am
DRAFT MINUTES
Members: Larry Cornell, Chairman; Mike, McKee, Vice Chairman; Sandy Price, Don Spaulding, John Troy and Tom Williams
Others Present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Richard C. Van Donsel, County Attorney; Annette Barber, Personnel Officer; Dennis Whitt, County Auditor; Bob Howe, Board of Elections; Bill Wood, Board of Elections; Susan Morgan, Clerk of the Legislature and Corey Preston, Cortland Standard
Absent: Steve Dafoe
Mr. Cornell called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.
Ms. Price made the motion to
approve the minutes of the December 7, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Troy.
All members voting in favor,
minutes approved as printed.
Board of Elections
1. Approve Contract/Receive Funds – Voter Education & Poll Worker
Training – Mr. Troy moved
adoption; seconded by Ms. Price. Mr.
Wood explained that each County would receive an allotment from New York
State, according to a memo dated January 26, 2007.
He explained that funding has been released for programming, such as a
video/website program for inspector and voter training when the new voting
machines arrive. Committee
members inquired as to when new voting machines are expected.
Mr. Wood explained that they could possibly be installed in 2009.
Mr. Howe further discussed the concern with the Presidential Election
and the use of new machines. Chairman
Brown inquired as to the timeframe involved for the use of this funding.
Mr. Wood explained that it was not known because the exact type of
machine is not known. Committee
members discussed that the funding would be rolled over from year to year
until the time came that it could be utilized.
The Committee discussed new voting machines, the time frame involved
and the type of machines to be used. Ms.
Price inquired about having enough people as polling judges.
Mr. Wood explained that this past year college students were utilized
and it seemed to work out fine. He
added that the new type of machines might determine if more new polling judges
would be needed. He expressed that more college students could be used. Ms.
Price expressed that all people are welcome to be polling judges.
Mr. Howe stated that he invites everyone to be a polling judge if they
are not running. Ms. Price
expressed that it is very interesting. Mr.
Wood expressed that new machines will be a challenge and that it would be a
task to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
All members present
voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
2. Approve Contract/Receive Funds – Polling Sites Access Improvements – Mr. Tory moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price. Mr. Wood explained that he wrote all municipalities in regards a survey of their polling sites. He added that then he and Mr. Howe visited all polling places and found that only four or five places needed to be made accessible. He further explained funding available for accessibility. He further discussed that most polling places are religious places and only temporary changes can be made. He further discussed that a few changes were made and some places have been consolidated. Committee members discussed assisting municipalities in making polling places accessible. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.
3. Authorizing Agreement with Benefit Consulting Group, LLC, Health Insurance Benefit Consulting Services - Mr. Troy moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Price. Mr. McKee inquired about when our current Health Insurance agreement is good through. Mr. Schrader expressed that it is good through December. Ms. Price inquired about what type of services Benefit Consulting Group provides for the County. Mr. Schrader explained services that Benefit Consulting Group provides such as assist in drafting proposals, providing cost analysis, providing provider analysis and they report back with valuable information and offer their recommendations. Mr. Troy inquired how much this would cost the County. Mr. Schrader explained that it would be $30,000 per year. Mr. Troy requested that the resolution be amended to reflect “$30,000 per year.” The consensus of the Committee members was to make this amendment. Mr. McKee stated that he thought this was $35,000 per year the first year the County used Benefit Consulting Group. Mr. Schrader explained that it was and it has decreased. Committee members discussed going out for an RFP in regards a health insurance provider. Committee members further discussed the decrease in cost for Benefit Consulting Group and the learning curve involved in working with a company of this nature. Mr. Schrader explained that Mr. Larry Fisher from Benefit Consulting Group was instrumental in the return of $225,000 to Cortland County from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Mr. Schrader further explained that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is still holding $50,000 and will continue holding until July 2007 and explained why. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved as amended
DISCUSSION:
1.
Vacancy Report, Annette
Barber – Ms. Barber distributed
the Vacancy Report dated February 1, 2007.
She briefly discussed the report and added that since the CHHA is
secure she has been advertising for more Nurses.
She further discussed the vacancies in the Sheriff’s Department.
Mr. Troy inquired about the vacancy in the Information Technology
Department. Mr. Schrader
expressed that the Approval to Fill has been approved and the Personnel
Department is taking the necessary steps to fill that position.
Mr. McKee inquired about the vacancies in Nurses and if they can be
removed from the report. Mr. Schrader explained that the need to fill the positions if
they can and that they need to remaining on this report.
Mr. McKee further inquired about the Nursing shortage.
Ms. Barber discussed a Welcome Program for Nurses in hopes to recruit
more Nurses to the area.
2.
Chamber Photos – Clerk
of the Legislature – Ms. Morgan
explained that in efforts to ensure that there are photos of all past Chairmen
of the Legislature in Chambers she has found that the glue on the matted
photos already in Chambers is drying and the photos are beginning to slide and
that they are not protected for the long term.
She expressed that at this point she stopped and began to look what the
long-term goals are. She
explained the need for preservation of these photos as a portion of Cortland
County history. Ms. Morgan additionally suggested that these photos be
finished uniformly. She expressed
that she had no idea of the costs and added that she did not include this in
the budget. Ms. Morgan explained
that she received three different quotes in regards to rematting the existing
photos and to matte the ones that are not matted.
She explained that Dana Merker provided two different quotes; one for
$13,000 and the other for $18,000. She
explained and showed the Committee members what was included in these two
quotes. Ms. Morgan further
explained that Vicky Delany of Cortland Picture Frame provided her with a
quote for $1,625 and explained what was included in this quote.
Ms. Morgan explained her personal experiences with both and recommended
using the quote from Vicky Delany of Cortland Picture Frame.
Ms. Morgan further discussed what the quote included.
Mr. Cornell inquired about where the funding would come from in the
current budget for this. Mr.
Schrader expressed that the Legislature does have the funding in their budget
under Professional Services. Mr.
Spaulding expressed that Cortland Picture Frame does very good work.
Ms. Morgan explained that this pricing also includes identification
tags inside the frames and added that the ones currently in Chambers are
outside the frame and are beginning to fall off.
Ms. Price inquired as to how long this will take from start to finish.
Ms. Morgan expressed that she was not certain but would work to have it
complete in a month. She
additionally discussed re-hanging photo’s and doubling up on some photo’s.
Ms. Price suggested that Chairman Brown have her photograph taken and
have it hung in Chambers during this same time frame. Ms. Price made
a motion to have the Clerk of Legislature proceed with drafting a resolution
to present to Budget & Finance Committee authorizing the Clerk of
Legislature to proceed with this project utilizing the proposal from Cortland
Picture Frame for 25 pieces for $1,625.00 to be paid from Legislature,
Professional Services line in the budget; seconded by Mr. Troy.
All members present voting in favor; none opposed; motion carried.
3.
Committee Meetings
recordings – Mr. Cornell
inquired as to the Committee member’s opinions and feelings in regards to
the recording of Committee meetings. Ms.
Price expressed that she feels it would great to record the Committee
meetings. Chairman Brown
expressed that if one Committee was going to have their meetings recorded then
all Committees need to do this. Mr.
Spaulding inquired as to why this is being brought up and added that he is not
against it. He further expressed
that the minutes are all available and the meetings are open to the public.
Mr. Troy inquired about the cost involved in it.
Ms. Price further requested that the costs involved be researched and
the availability on the access channel. Mr.
Schrader expressed that he would have Mr. Parker look into it.
Ms. Morgan expressed that Chambers is already set up with the sound and
video system. Committee members
discussed the history of Committee meetings and minutes.
Mr. Spaulding made a
motion to have Mr. Parker look into the expenses involved in the video/audio
recording and the audio recording of Committee meetings and report back to the
Personnel Committee; seconded by Mr. Troy.
All members present voting in favor; none opposed; motion carried.
4. Rules of Order
– Mr. Cornell discussed that Ms. Spicer had looked into preparing a set of
Rules of Order with all attachments. He
discussed two different size binders that could be used; a full size binder
that holds 8½” x 11” pages and a memo size binder that holds 8½” x 5½”
pages. Chairman Brown expressed
that she would rather see the full size pages.
Mr. Cornell expressed that these binders would be for use in Chambers
and would be assigned to Legislative Districts and not individual Legislators.
He added that the cost would be about $3 each and they could be
produced in house.
Mr.
Troy made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter;
seconded by Mr. Spaulding.
The Personnel Committee went into Executive Session at 9:57 am to discuss a
personnel matter.
The Personnel Committee came out of Executive Session at 10:10 am.
The Committee had no report from Executive Session.
Mr. Troy made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Mr. Cornell adjourned the meeting at 10:13 am.