1992-05063-Minutes for Meeting May 10,1991 Recorded 2/19/1992c
92-05063 0108 1473
MINUTES
DESCHUTES COUNTY
BOOARD OF COMMISSIONERS g� FEB19P Y t$3
, 1991
Chairman Maudlin opened the meeting at 9:05 a.m. Board member 1
attendance were Dick Maudlin, Tom Throop and Nancy Pope Schlangen.
Also present were: Oscar Bratton, Assessor; Rick Isham, County
Counsel; Mike Maier, County Administrator; John Witty, Labor
Counsel; Debbie Legg, Personnel Specialist; and Joan Rotsolk,
Deputy Assessor.
Before the Board was a discussion of two requests from County
employees: (1) a memo dated April 26, 1991, from Joshua Marquis,
Chief Deputy District Attorney, requesting to "donate" sick time or
vacation time to Janice Shannon, and (2) an undated memo to
Personnel and Joan Rotsolk from Janice Shannon requesting a medical
leave to paid for from "donated" sick time or vacation time from
Joshua Marquis.
Rick Isham said that Janice Shannon did not have any,sick leave so
the only basis for approval of a medical leave in accordance with
the County Personnel Rules would be a leave without pay.
Mike Maier said that said a transfer of vacation time had been
allowed three years ago in the Public Works Department. There was
a lot of controversy over this decision and because of the
potential problems, the Board had not allowed a transfer of leave
time since then. He said a number of requests had been made, but
they had all been denied. He said that to do so would really
create problems because it would become a popularity contest and
would be expensive for the County. Concerning the request for a
leave of absence without pay, the Personnel Rules stated that if
the Department Head granted the leave, the Board would have final
authorization.
Rick Isham asked about the history of granting or denying sick
leave without pay. Debbie Legg said she knew of at least three
requests in the last year which were approved. Rick Isham asked if
she was aware of a situation of leave without pay for a
probationary employee. Debbie Legg said she did not know and would
have to look it up. John Witty asked if the County had ever
approved such a request for an employee who had exhausted their
sick leave prior to making the request. Debbie Legg said yes.
Commissioner Maudlin said that he had not seen a request from
Janice Shannon for a leave without pay. John Witty said that the
undated memo to Personnel could reasonably be considered a request
for leave without pay. Rick Isham and Mike Maier said they both
considered it a request for leave without pay.
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Commissioner Throop asked how the job status of Janice Shannon fit
into the discussion if at all. John Witty said it was difficult to
separate the issue of attendance problems and other problems which
were subject to a grievance she had filed which was pending. He
felt uncomfortable dealing with the specifics of those problems,
but when dealing with the question of whether the Board should gant
this leave request, it was very difficult to separate out the fact
that this was an employee with attendance problems and is
probationary. He said this made this request unique and different
from requests that had been received in the past.
Rick Isham said it was his opinion that the purpose of this meeting
was not to deal with the pending grievance. He said the Board was
a potential hearings body for any grievances filed should the
Department Head take action.
#1. Chairman Maudlin asked he would like to deal with the request
from Joshua Marquis regarding donating his leave time.
THROOP: I would move that the request be denied.
SCHLANGEN: Second.
Commissioner Throop said he felt strongly that transferring
vacation and sick leave time created a lot controversy among
employees which was difficult to deal with and interfere with the
work the departments were expected to do. He said it would
establish an equity problem in the County where different employees
would be treated in different ways. He said it would be difficult
and expensive to administer especially given the budget problems
the County was facing.
Commissioner Schlangen felt it should be denied because it would
create an equity problem. The one time it was allowed it proved
to be a problem.
Chairman Maudlin said that when the one situation was allowed, the
Board had been advised by the County Administrator that they were
making a "bad step." To his knowledge, no requests had been
approved since then.
VOTE: THROOP: YES
SCHLANGEN: YES
MAUDLIN: YES
#2. Chairman Maudlin said the second request was from Janice
Shannon for medical leave which would be without pay due to
the previous motion.
SCHLANGEN: I'll make a motion that we deny the medical
leave.
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0108 1475
THROOP: I'll second the motion.
Commissioner Schlangen said she was terribly concerned about the
Assessor's Office efficiency because of ballot Measure 5 and the
increased needs because of the rapid growth of the County.
Oscar Bratton said they were currently understaffed and with the
cut back to 36 hours on July 1, 1991, they would be further
restricted and would every staff person working in order to even
come close to meeting their responsibilities. He was also
concerned that the leave could be extended beyond the original
request.
Rick Isham asked if Oscar Bratton was recommending that the request
be denied? Oscar Bratton said yes.
Mike Maier said that if they went back and researched the personnel
files, he did not think they would find one instance in which an
extended sick leave or any kind of leave of absence was granted by
the Board contrary to the recommendation of the Department Head.
VOTE: THROOP: YES
SCHLANGEN: YES
MAUDLIN: YES
DESCHUUT S COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
To, Throo ,,ZQmmissiongr
Dick Maudlin, Chairman
BOCC:alb
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