PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 2001
A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Personnel Committee was held on
Monday, October 1, 2001 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The
meeting was called to order by Chairman Hopper at 4:00 p.m. with a quorum present.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Aaron Hopper, Chairman, Bernard LaJoie
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ted Postula
OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Dolehanty, County Controller
Additions / Deletions to the Agenda
Chairman Hopper called for additions or deletions to the agenda. None were offered.
Approval of the Agenda
Chairman Hopper declared the agenda approved as presented.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Correspondence and Information Items
No correspondence or information items were presented.
Agenda Items: Position Review
Deputy Public Defender, Administrative Assistant, Legal Secretary
Controller Dolehanty reviewed the wage scales for positions in the Public Defender's office as requested
at the last Personnel Committee meeting. He stated all positions were being compensated according to
the appropriate pay grades.
Commissioner LaJoie noted confusion exists regarding methods of compensating those who work a 40-
our week as opposed to those who work a 35-hour week. The Committee asked the Controller to review
the current practice and to report his findings at the next meeting.
Legal Secretary I
At the request of Chairman Hopper, Controller Dolehanty reviewed the results of the position
reclassification request presented by Sandra Kempf, Legal Secretary I, from the Prosecuting Attorney's
office. Dolehanty reported that a reclassification committee called for in the AFSCME contract was
convened to consider the request to reclassify Ms. Kempf from Legal Secretary I to Legal Secretary II.
As required in the contract, the recommendation was presented to the Personnel Committee for its
consideration and recommendation to the full Board.
After considering the request, the reclassification committee agreed to recommend the change in
recognition of the chain of authority in the Prosecuting Attorney's office. With four persons now
classified Legal Secretary I, the group concluded it would be appropriate to assign one person the
responsibility of coordinating the work of all Legal Secretaries. The added responsibility should be
recognized and compensated.
Commissioner LaJoie asked about the change in compensation rates for a Legal Secretary II position.
Dolehanty reported the maximum rate for a grade 7 Legal Secretary I is now $14.14, while the maximum
compensation rate for grade 8 is $16.05. LaJoie stated that he concurred with the recommendation of the
reclassification committee, but the matter should be considered by the Finance, Claims and Accounts
Committee since the decision will include a fiscal component.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie, supported by Chairman Hopper, to refer the Secretary I
reclassification request to the Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee for a recommendation to
the Board. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.
Court Administrators
Controller Dolehanty provided Committee members with a comparison of position descriptions for all
three court administrators. He noted the decision-making authority granted to the Probate Court
Administrator and the different education requirements for each position.
Commissioner LaJoie asked about the pay grade established for each position. Dolehanty stated the
Circuit and District Court Administrators were classified at level 11, while the Probate Court
Administrator was assigned to level 14. Commissioner LaJoie observed that there was a difference of
more than $10,000 in the maximum compensation rate between the two pay grades.
Committee members agreed that the matter needed more thought and that the full Committee should be
present to form a recommendation.
Deputy County Clerk
Committee members acknowledged the September 14 communication from the County Clerk advising
that the department secretary would also be formally recognized as deputy clerk. It was noted that this
change would not result in any reclassification.
Community Service Supervisor
The Committee considered the request of Sheriff Moran to increase the pay rate for the Community
Service Supervisor from $9.00 per hour to $10.50 per hour. Committee members expressed concerns
about the way part time employees were compensated as there is no formally established pay scale for
any part time employee. Controller Dolehanty was instructed to develop a pro-rated pay scale, based on
the current grade and step plan, to be applied to part time employees. A draft of the scale is to be
presented at the next Personnel Committee meeting.
MSU Extension Home Economist Position
Controller Dolehanty asked the Committee about the Extension Home Economist position. Director Jim
Lucas requested that the County fund this position in the 2002 budget, adding that the Personnel
Committee had previously agreed to the funding request. Committee members did not recall making a
commitment to fund this position, but did agree that the full Board should be asked to consider the
request. Commissioner Hopper stated Director Lucas was asked to pursue other funding options, but
none had materialized. The Committee agreed to refer this request to the full Board for consideration at
a budget meeting later in October.
Draft Personnel Policy
Review of the draft personnel policy was postponed to the next meeting. The Committee members
present agreed that all three members should discuss the draft policy before a recommendation is made.
Controller Probation Review
Committee members acknowledged that Controller Dolehanty completed the probationary period in
September. Discussion of the matter was postponed to the next meeting as the Committee members
present agreed that all three members should be present for discussion.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
There were no additional Committee member comments.
Chairperson's Comments
Chairman Hopper had no addition comments.
Adjourn
Chairman Hopper declared the meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m.
__________________________________ __________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder Aaron Hopper, Committee Chairman
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 31, 2001
A special meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Personnel Committee was held on
Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The
meeting was called to order by Chairman Hopper at 1:37 p.m. with a quorum present.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Aaron Hopper, Chairman, Bernard LaJoie, Ted Postula
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Dolehanty, County Controller, Dave Carpenter, Finance Director,
Don Wilson, Darren Hosmer, Vince Rose
Additions / Deletions to the Agenda
Chairman Hopper called for additions or deletions to the agenda. Hearing none, the agenda was declared
approved as presented.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Correspondence and Information Items
No correspondence or information items were presented.
Agenda Items: Collective Bargaining Strategies
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie, supported by Commissioner Postula, to enter into a c
osed session to discuss strategies connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining
agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
Local 1552 of Michigan, pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act, Act 267, P.A. 1976, as
amended, being MCL 15.268(c). A roll call vote was taken as follows: Hopper - Yes; LaJoie - Yes;
Postula - Yes. Motion CARRIED.
It was moved by Commissioner Postula, supported by Commissioner LaJoie, to resume the ope
session meeting of the Personnel Committee. A roll call vote was taken as follows: LaJoie - Yes;
Postula - Yes; Hopper - Yes. Motion CARRIED.
Draft Personnel Policy
Controller Dolehanty presented the Committee with a revised draft personnel policy. If adopted, he said
the policy would affect all non-union, non-elected and non-court employees. Dolehanty discussed the
importance of the personnel policy despite the current lack of such a document. The Committee agreed
to review the draft policy for discussion at the next meeting.
Commissioner LaJoie suggested calling a special meeting for mid-November to further discuss the draft
policy.
Controller Probation Review
Chairman Hopper reported that the only comment presented to him regarding the Controller was very
minor in nature and he did not consider it to be a problem. Commissioner Postula added he heard the
same comment, and concurred with Commissioner Hopper's position.
Commissioner LaJoie lead discussion about the pay grade for the Controller position. It was the
consensus of the Committee to continue the position as established at pay grade 18,and to acknowledge
the Controller's completion of the probationary period. The Committee also agreed that the 90-day pay
level should be applied, retroactive to September 1.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
There were no additional Committee member comments.
Chairperson's Comments
Chairman Hopper had no addition comments.
Adjourn
It was moved by Commissioner Postula, supported by Commissioner LaJoie, to adjourn the
meeting. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.
Chairman Hopper declared the meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
__________________________________ __________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder Aaron Hopper, Committee Chairman