Nov 13, 2002 By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh wants an immediate divorce from long-time personnel consultant Felice & Associates rather than a gradual separation, at least concerning current negotiations with the county’s largest labor union. Cavanagh served notice at Tuesday’s agenda meeting that he doesn’t want Greensburg-based Felice near the negotiating table, stating his preference that the county entrust that job to the replacement firm that could be hired as early as today.

“I just want to make it clear: Felice & Associates does not speak for Sean Cavanagh,” said the two-term commissioner, who added that the lame-duck status of Felice makes it impractical for the firm to carry on in any official negotiating capacity.

Although Felice is one of three firms that responded to the county’s request for proposals for a new personnel consultant, Cavanagh said that he wouldn’t consider their proposal, which would essentially continue their contract with the county beyond Dec. 31.

However, Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites, the lone Felice supporter on the board, said it makes sense to use the firm’s full range of services through the end of the year. Vicites said not doing so would amount to the county paying double for the same services, as Felice is already under contract.

Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls, who joined Cavanagh in previously exercising the opt-out clause in Felice’s contract, said that Vicites’ assessment was only partially correct. Nehls said that while Felice has a contract to provide human resources services to the county at a set figure per month, the firm is paid on a per-hour basis for other types of work such as contract negotiations.

Nehls said that the county could simply assign all per-hour work to the new firm through the end of the year, when it would then take over the human resources component from Felice. He also voiced support for hiring a replacement.

“We’re long overdue on getting good, quality human resources in here,” said Nehls.

The commissioners may vote as early as today on hiring one of the two firms that joined Felice in responding to the county’s request for proposals. The other firms in the running are: Select HR of Bridgeville, with prices of $9,800 per month for human resources work and $185 per for labor negotiations; and Pittsburgh Human Resources Group, with prices of $97,500 per year for human resources work and $120 per hour for labor negotiations.

While Vicites voiced support for having Felice continue contract negotiations on behalf of the county until the clock strikes midnight on their deal, Cavanagh made a motion to put on today’s agenda a vote on ordering them to cease that activity.

The motion passed 2-1, with Nehls in support and Vicites opposed.

When Vicites stressed that Felice should remained involved because the contract with the Service Employees International Union expires Dec. 31, Cavanagh noted that the firm has never wrapped up a new contract before expiration of the old one during its long association with the county.

“Felice has never finished a negotiation at the end of the year (that a contract expired,” said Cavanagh.

Vicites said that in addition to doing a good job, Felice charged the most reasonable rates of all three firms that expressed an interest in the job. He said Felice’s $81,000 per year for human resources work plus $75 per hour for contract negotiations were the best prices on the table.

The commissioners are meeting today at 9:30 a.m. instead of Thursday. Today’s meeting will be held in the commissioners’ first-floor conference room in the Fayette County Courthouse.