2003-131-Minutes for Meeting February 19,2003 Recorded 2/26/2003DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS NANCY n
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DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK
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Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1130 NW Harriman St., Bend, OR 97701-1947
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 388-4752
www.deschutes.org
MINUTES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2003
Present were Commissioners Dennis R. Luke, Tom De Wolf, and Michael M. Daly.
Also present were Mike Maier, County Administrator; Debbie Legg, Personnel;
Gary Smith, Mental Health Department; and Rick Isham, Legal Counsel.
No media representatives or other citizens were in attendance.
The meeting began at 1:30 p.m.
1. Approval of State Contract.
Dennis Perkins of Community Development had asked that a contract
between the State and Deschutes County regarding the County providing
electrical inspection services be approved as soon as possible. It had
previously been sent to the State, who is unable to locate it.
DEWOLF: Move approval.
DALY: Second.
VOTE: DALY: Yes.
DEWOLF: Yes.
LUKE: Chair votes yes.
2. Update on the PERS Situation.
Rick Isham stated that the PERS Board met, and plans to make the rate
change effective July 1, contrary to the October judgment. The Association of
Oregon Counties has indicated that if the rate is adopted, the Association
wants to join an administrative appeal against PERS.
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Page 1 of 4 Pages
They would like all counties to support this, and to join the appeal each
County will need to contribute $150. A resolution is needed, authorizing
Deschutes County to join the appeal and authorizing their legal counsel, John
Osburn, to handle it.
Mike Maier said that the rate increase is 17.9% now. Rick Isham added that
the suit needs to be filed or the rate is solid. It could go down but not up,
depending on legislation. The County could elect to pull out of the appeal and
cancel the representation, but would still maintain its appeal rights.
After further discussion, the Board took action on this issue.
DEWOLF: I move signature of Resolution No. 2003-019, authorizing AOC
to coordinate the 2003 PERS rate increase appeal. I also move
signature of a representation letter to John W. Osburn to handle
the 2003 PERS rate increase appeal for Deschutes County, with
all of the appropriate caveats if the County needs to remove itself
from the appeal.
DALY: Second.
VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes.
DALY: Yes.
LUKE: Chair votes yes.
3. Update on Potential Staffing Cuts.
Gary Smith explained that various meetings had been held to discuss the
funding problems of the Mental Health Department. Some of these meetings
included Attorney Bruce Bischof. Mr. Smith then asked the Board if the
County has a "game plan" regarding State funding cuts and potential County
layoffs.
Mike Maier replied that this depends on the budgeting process, and whether
the County will choose to utilize general fund dollars to fill any holes due to
revenue losses. Commissioner DeWolf added that there are some general
fund reserves, but in the past these have not been used to subsidize operations.
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Page 2 of 4 Pages
Commissioner DeWolf then asked the group to put themselves into the shoes
of the employees; it is likely any employees who may be laid off would like to
know as soon as possible. If there is some kind of "hit list" available, it is
unfair to make them wait.
Mike Maier added that these people may have an opportunity to find another
job, even one within the County if the employee is qualified. This would keep
valuable people within the County, Debbie Legg said her department is
getting a lot of questions regarding severance pay, medical benefits and so on.
Gary Smith said that some employees are also thinking about retirement.
Mike Maier explained that there is nothing on the horizon regarding another
offer for an early retirement plan. Commissioner DeWolf stated that the
County's goals and problems are different now, and it can't give incentives to
employees to retire early.
Mike Maier stated that in the past the entire County has gone to a reduced
worked week, either four 8 -hour days, four 9 -hour days or four 10 -hour days,
in order to keep Deputies on the road. It is important to note that the true state
of the County's finances won't be known until the budget process is well
underway, probably around mid-April.
Gary Smith stated that there is unprecedented pressure for services from the
public, and there have been a few resignations that have been attributed to
non-support of the workers and inadequate help.
Commissioner DeWolf asked that Mr. Smith meet with Debbie Legg, Mark
Amberg and Mike Maier to discuss this further. He said he feels strongly that
this issue should be defined as soon as possible so that people can be notified
or at least put on alert that their jobs might be in jeopardy.
Commissioner Luke stated that the Board needs to know the size of the
"hole"; this pertains to all departments. Mike Maier observed that the one for
Mental Health is $1.2 million, and about 25% of this is grant funded.
Mike Maier explained that the Board would need to vote if they want to see
the entire County go on a four day, 9 -hour schedule, with the exception of
Community Development, the Sheriffs Office, the Juvenile Justice
Department, Solid Waste, and the Road Department, which are the
departments that are critical for public safety reasons or are self-funded.
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Page 3 of 4 Pages
Commissioner DeWolf said that this isn't going to be a short-term problem
with the State. He said he would go along with a shortened work week,
depending on how it was structured. There's a pitfall of doing so as a backfill
for State cuts, but the Board is talking about real people and families.
Gary Smith explained that he and some of the management in his department
have discussed cutting their work week back to three days a week in order to
keep staff available to serve clients.
At this time, Debbie Legg and Gary Smith left the meeting.
4. Other Issues.
Rick Isham advised the Board that the Wilson lawsuit was finally settled at
$17,000, a bit less than the total authorized.
Being no further items brought before the group, the meeting adjourned at
2: 40 p. m.
DATED this 19th Day of February 2003 for the Deschutes County Board
of Commissioners.
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary
Minutes of Administrative Liaison
Page 4 of 4 Pages
C}l/h''- Dennis R. Luke, Chair
Tom DeWolf, Commissioner
Michael M. Daly, Com ssioner
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
