COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION
				     MEETING MINUTES

				     April 18, 2002



A work session meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners was held on Thursday, April
18, 2002 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  Acting Chairperson Rita
Dale called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. with a quorum present.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Rita Dale, Earl Kay, Ted Postula, Don Cooper and Bernard LaJoie

MEMBERS ABSENT:	Gary McDowell, Chairman, and Aaron Hopper, Vice Chairman

OTHERS PRESENT:	Tim Dolehanty, County Controller

Additions / Deletions to the Agenda
Commissioner Dale called for changes to the agenda.  Hearing none, the agenda was declared approved as
presented.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

Agenda Items:  Draft Personnel Policy
Commissioner Dale expressed opposition to the proposal that would require employees to pay ten percent
of the health insurance premium.  She suggested imposing this rule at a future date as determined by the
County's fiscal health.  Commissioner Cooper stated the County's operating budget currently shows a
deficit, and health insurance rates continue to increase at a rapid pace.  Controller Dolehanty was asked to
prepare an analysis of options available to offset health insurance costs for consideration by the Board.

Draft Performance Evaluation Policy
Controller Dolehanty reviewed the proposed policy.  Commissioners discussed the philosophy behind
employee performance evaluations.  It was the consensus of Commissioners those performance
evaluations should be made at the end of an employee's probationary period.  All employees should be
evaluated at the same time each year.  The Controller was instructed to make these changes to the draft
policy for presentation to the Board at the regular meeting scheduled for May 13.

Draft Job Classification System Policy
Controller Dolehanty reviewed several spreadsheets delineating job scores and grade assignments.  The
Commission discussed the subjective nature of such a system and acknowledged that any system would
be subject to individual interpretation.  Commissioners agreed that another work session was necessary
before any decision could be reached regarding the job classification system.

Interpretation of Workers Compensation Claims
Commissioners reviewed a situation where an employee was injured on the job and was not eligible for
workers compensation or short-term disability benefits until the eighth day after sustaining the injury. 
Controller Dolehanty suggested it was the intent of the County to have all injuries covered from the first
day, as stated in the short-term disability policy.  However, because this injury was job related, benefits
were delayed to the eighth day under the workers compensation policy.

Commissioners agreed that employees injured in the line of duty should not suffer financially, but also
recognized that union contract text and the short-term disability insurance policy were clear in this case. 
The Controller was asked to investigate the cost of changing the workers compensation policy to allow
employees to receive benefits beginning on the first day after injury, and to bring the results to the
Finance Committee meeting on May 9 for further discussion.

District Court Facilities Plan
Commissioner Kay reviewed the status of the District Court expansion project.  Current construction
estimates totaled more than $1.5 million.  Commissioners agreed that all options should be explored,
including relocation of the Court to another facility.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

Commission Comments
There were no additional comments from Commissioners.

Acting Chairperson's Comments
The Acting Chairperson had no additional comments.

Adjourn
Hearing no other comments, Acting Chairperson Dale declared the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.








__________________________________	__________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder	Rita Dale, Acting Chairperson