Employee manual to be implemented
At least one Fayette County department will have additional time to implement the long-awaited county employee manual. During Tuesday’s agenda meeting of the Fayette County commissioners, Lisa Ferris-Kusniar, administrator of the Fayette County Mental Health/Mental Retardation department, asked the commissioners to give her additional time to “crosswalk” the manual with the current policies used by her department.
Kusniar initially wanted six more months to implement the manual, but during discussion agreed to have it implemented by Oct. 1. She said the county manual has to be consistent with state regulations binding on her department.
Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink pointed out that the manual was in the making long before she took office and asked Kusniar if she was involved in its creation during 2004.
The commissioners adopted the county manual in January. Select HR, the county’s human resource firm, handled the creation of the manual but talk of needing a manual stretches years back into the former administration.
Kusniar said she knew the manual was approved and then revised but because it was “bounced around so many times it didn’t become a priority” for her.
Kusniar added that she doesn’t believe the manual applies to union employees.
Zimmerlink countered that it does apply to union employees, but added that any union contract supersedes the manual.
Kusniar said there should be language in the manual about civil service employees. Zimmerlink then asked Rita Wolinski of the human resource department if there are any issues with other departments that have civil service employees.
Wolinski said she was unaware of any, but added that human resource director Dave Rodgers is on vacation this week and thus unavailable to answer such questions.
“I imagine it will be (binding on) more (departments) than MH/MR,” Zimmerlink said.
Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III said it is important to get all the departments to make sure they have no problems with the manual. Michelle Shumar, director of the county Office of Human and Community Services, said she has issues in the manual dealing with a drug-free workplace policy and drug and alcohol program.
When Zimmerlink asked for a motion to give the MH/MR department until Oct 1, Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites spoke against it, saying he didn’t think the commissioners should set a time frame.
The motion to place the issue on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting passed 2-1 with Vicites voting no.
The commissioners also voted to place a motion on Thursday’s agenda to bid the leasing of a copy machine, fire alarm system upgrade and a sewage system grinder for the Fayette County Prison.
Warden Larry Medlock said the sewage system grinder had been budgeted for $10,000 for this year.
Zimmerlink suggested that the money should be budgeted for next year for the fire alarm system upgrade.
Medlock said after the meeting that there is an ongoing problem at the jail that arises when inmates flush large items that clog up the drain.
He said that a “muffin monster” grinder device should solve the problem.
The commissioners also voted to place on Thursday’s agenda a motion to either seek a request for proposals or advertise for human resource services for the county.
The current contract with Select HR expires in November.
The commissioners additionally voted to place on Thursday’s agenda a motion authorizing the repair and replacement of the roof and parapet for the county annex building (courthouse).