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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-1996 Meeting I ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - March 25, 1996 3:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Beard, Chairman; Bridges, Vice-Chairman; H. Brigham and Powell, members; Jim Wall, Interim Attorney; Charles Dillard, Interim Urban Services Administrator; Linda Beazley, Interim Suburban Services Administrator; John Etheridge, Human Resources Director; Sirena Rogers, Community Development Administrator; Chief W. L. Maddox and Asst. Chief Dennis Atkins of the Fire Department; Christy Attaway, Building Official; Gayle Scott of the Human Resources Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. Also Present: Wayne partridge of the Augusta Chronicle, George Eskola of WJBF Television and Hons. Zetterberg, Powell and J. Brigham, Commissioners. Communication from the Community Development Administrator recommending award of the facade restoration contracts for 982 Broad Street to Chic, Inc. in the amount of $14,250 and for 984 Broad Street to Chic, Inc. in the amount of $14,250, was read. Ms. Rogers: This is the low bid for both of these. I Mr. Brigham: I move for approval. Mr. Powell: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A Resolution designating April 1-7, 1996 as National Community Development Week, was read. Mr. Brigham: I move we receive it as information. Mr. Powell: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Asst. Administrator regarding the implementation of the Augusta-Richmond County Summer Youth Program '96, was read. Mr. Hornsby: We are looking at having each commissioner and the Mayor appoint six young people to the program for a total of 66 appointments. The cost of the program would be $37,686.99 if we use 20 hours per week and 66 children and $55,804.48 for 30 hours per week. I would recommend that we use 20 hours per week with 66 children and these children must be at least 16 and residents of Richmond County. After a short discussion, Mr. Powell: I move that we approve this with the 66 students. Mr. Brigham: Second. I Mr. Bridges: to get involved in think we should be than adding to the This wasn't budgeted and I don't think we need this as it involves additional workers and I concerned about downsizing government rather workforce. Motion adopted with Mr. Bridges voting "No". Communication from the Human Resources Director requesting approval of a policy for establishing control of authorized positions, was read. Mr. Etheridge: I'm asking that you approve the number of positions that we will be held to regarding authorized positions within the new government. There are 911 in the urban area and 1,571 in the suburban for a total of 2,482 positions. The part time positions will remain in the budget and the temporary positions may decrease somewhat. After a short discussion, Mr. Powell: I move for approval. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I Communication from the Human Resources Director regarding the Health Central We1lness Program, was read. Mr. Etheridge: Last week you approved the Wellness Program that we set out. There was some concern about the reimbursement schedule and I've asked Laura Frischmann, who is the Wel1ness Coordinator for University Hospital, to make some comments on this. Ms. Frischmann made a short presentation regarding the advantages of a Wellness Program for both employees and employers. Mr. Bridges: I don't disagree there is benefit in this program but I question whether the taxpayers should be paying for someone to do this. I think they should do it themselves and I would recommend that we not participate in this program and I'll make that as a motion. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Chairman: Do you want to receive this as information and let it go to the full Commission? Mr. Powell: I so move. I Mr. Brigham: Second. I I I Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Human Resources Director regarding a recommendation on a benefit consultant, was read. Mr. Etheridge: Last week we told you as part of putting together the two employee benefit packages that we have now, it will require some expertise that we cannot do as quickly as we need to do it. I have talked with three nationally known organizations about this situation and phase one is the plan design. The two plans we have now are totally different and we need to begin work now to have one consolidated program for January l, 1997. Mr. John Fortin from Foster Higgins is here today and would be glad to answer any questions. Mr. Fortin made a short presentation regarding the above matter. Mr. Powell: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. Chairman: Would you also consider having Mr. Etheridge check with Mr. Carstarphen to see where we are on that and come back to the Committee with a report? Mr. Powell: Yes, sir, I'll accept that as an amendment. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered approval of the appointment of the new Utility Department Director - authorize recruitment from within. Ms. Beazley: Mr. Carstarphen was going to address that. I think he wanted to make a recommendation on a director and to proceed with authorization to recruit from within. Mr. Handy: How could we do this without advertising? Ms. Beazley: You would advertise from within first. Mr. Chairman: To me it would mean that he would follow the normal procedures in hiring but give the people within the departments the first opportunity to apply for this slot. Mr. Powell: This would just start the process. Anyone would be able to apply for the position. I move that we approve it. Mr. Bridges: Second it. After further discussion, Mr. Powell: I can understand the confusion. I'll amend the motion so that the phrasing of "recruitment from within" be removed from the motion and let the appointed committee go ahead and proceed with hiring from wherever. I Mr. Bridges: I'll second that. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Human Resources Director requesting approval of the Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual, was read. Mr. Etheridge: We have worked on this for several months and we're requesting approval. Mr. Chairman: I think Chief Maddox is here regarding a section of that manual. Chief Maddox: We are recommending that the each fireman receive three holidays a year, 24 hour days, and we are recommending they receive seven 12 hour days. The previous County department received ten holidays per year. There is no way we can give ten holidays per year to the firemen and keep the men on duty that we need. This will cost a little over $400,000 to accomplish. Mr. spivey: I'm Buddy Spivey and I'm President of the I Firefighters Local. We want to maintain what we already have. We get a maximum of seven vacation days. Last year was the first time ever we got ten holidays and that gave us 17 days off annually which put us on an equal basis with other county employees. Under the new proposal some of the firemen will lose some of those days off. We want to maintain what we have in terms of time off. After further discussion of the matter, Mr. Powell: I move that we receive both proposals as information and forward them on to the full Commission. Mr. Bridges: I second that. The Clerk: Are you approving the entire Policy and Procedure Manual? Mr. Etheridge: This Policy Manual has a lot more in there than just the part on the firefighters. We need approval on it. Mr. Chairman: Could we accept the Policy and Procedure Manual except for the portion regarding the Fire Department? Mr. Powell: Let me withdraw my motion and make a new motion. I move we approve the Policy and Procedure Manual with the exclusion of the firefighters portion. I Mr. Brigham: Second. I I I Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council NWM