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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2000 Meeting I 911 Advisory Committee 911 Center-March 6,2000 11 :00 A.M. PRESENT: W. Hornsby, Chairman, S. Hatfield, Co-Chairman, R. Oliver, Administrator, J. Wail, Attorney, D. Dlugolenski, EMA Director, T. Dixon, Marshal's Dept., V. Payton, Hephzibah Fire Dept., J. Lewis, Hephzibah Fire Dept., J. Hornsby, Blythe Police Dept., M. Rogers, ARC Fin:: Dept., G. Scott, HR S. Dismuke, HR L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: E. Doss, ENfA. ALSO PRESENT: T. Campbell, WRDW, M. Mathis, Augusta Chronicle. Approval of Minutes. Mr. Hatfield: So move for approval. Mr. Hornsby: Second. Motion carried unanimously. .1 Consider approval of the Job Descriptions of Director, Assistant Director and Training Coordinator for the Augusta Richmond County 911 Center and forward this as a recommendation to the Public Safety Committee. Mr. Wasson: In compliance with the desire of this committee at the last meeting the education requirements for both the Asst. Director and the Training Coordinator is an Associate degree with a two-year degree or in a related occupational field of study. I would like to make a recommendation in relation to that. What I would like to see us do is modify it just a little bit to expand the capabilities of us to look at people based not only on purely degree. Because what we're doing is looking at it just purely degree wise other than they have to have the experience. We're almost shutting the door in the faces of the dispatchers in the 911 Center, especially with the assistant director and the training coordinator. Some people have been working here for quite a few years and could have the experience and education, not formal education, but the experience in education and 1'd like to see us modify the education so that we could provide for that. Put in there that it is a two-year degree, but also that experience and education can be considered. I think this is the way a lot of job descriptions are written that way. And that way you're not just closing the door. The committee and everybody can always say that we're going to give a preference to a two-year degree, we're going to be looking for somebody with a two- year degree. But if you get somebody that's got ten, fifteen, twenty years in a communication position, but did not take the time to get a formal degree, we're slamming the door in their face. I Mr. Oliver: r think with the number of institutions that we have here somebody, and this is where I think we as an organization need to raise the bar ultimately. One of the things we have looked at from a Human Resources perspective is that we have about thirty percent of our employees who are not even high school graduates or have the GED. And that is not uncharacteristic with what the demographics of the community are. r think we need to raise the bar and I think the way to raise the bar is set what the requirement is and work with people during the evaluation process. There is really no reason with the opportUnities afforded to them that they can't go back to school. Mr. Hornsby: My feeling on that is similar to Phil's. I think that a degree is good. But I also think that an individual who has had time and grade service and knows what's going on in some instances it doesn't put the management process through the process of getting them up to par on the job. The Other thing is from a human resources point of view with somewhat of a career path, which we don't have here. If we could put something in there to the effect to let those employees lrnow that we're not closing the door on them, but at the same time allowing them to mow what is necessary for them to go forward. I think it makes for a better work environment and a better class of employees. I After further discussion, Mr. Oliver: I'll move for a four-year degree on all three positions with a two-year degree acceptable at the onset. And the purpose of that is to solely try to give an opportunity to the people with a two-year degree and experience to qualify for the positions. Motion fails for lack of a second. After further discussion, Mr. Hatfield: My motion is going to be that every employee in the 911 Center be grandfathered in and the job requirements be applied for future hires. We then begin to set the standards for them to achieve and qualify for these positions. I think we need to give everybody an equal opportunity to work toward what you say they should have. Chief Lewis: Second. I Motion carries with Mr. Oliver voting no and Chief Rogers abstaining. Other Business: At this time Mr. Wasson passes out the corrected pages for the handbook that were discussed last week. Mr. Hornsby: The suggestion has been made that a meeting perhaps with all the employees now that we are a consolidated organization be held in order to acquaint with policies and answer any questions they might have. We may want to have representatives from Human Resources to sit m and try to settle any issues that any of the employees might have. Mr. Hatfield: I agree with that. And maybe at that time or prior to ask every employee in the 911 Center, and I'm just making a suggestion, that he or she provide you with a folder of their years of service. What they've done as it relates to the job and what if any educational certificates, associates or degrees they may have. That's the only way you'lllrnow what they have. Mr. Wasson: We had a meeting with all the employees last week to give them an idea of what was going on. The Fire Department also had a meeting with their employees regarding the pension status. J list as additional information for the committee, the staff has completed purchasing and payroll training so all that will be done through the 911 Center. Also, the 911 I Center has been recognized by the State of Georgia as an independent agency for POST standards. I Mr. Dlugolenski: I would like to make a motion asking the committee to draft up some additional job descriptions and responsibilities basically outlining that the director is totally responsible for implementing, developing and planning the 911 program in its entirety. Broken down by the training coordinator and the training program and the deputy director would be responsible for the operational side. I would like the committee to consider these comments and may be included in some form in the job descriptions. Mr. Hatfield: Second. Motion carries unanimously. Mr. Hornsby: On the matter of points for the new job description. How do you intend to do that so that all of us will know will you be making a recommendation to this committee? Mr. Wasson: The fIrst thing this committee needs to do is entertain the directorship and then according to policy manual that was passed last week then the director appoints the assistant director and the training coordinator. Mr. Dlugolenski: I would like to make we institute a hiring committee that would make a recommendation to the committee after reviewing all qualified applicants. Mr. Hatfield: Second. I Motion carries with 5 to 1 with, Mr. Rogers abstaining and Mr. Oliver out of the room. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission Ibb I