2006-11-20 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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f. Department of Environmental Management (Solid Waste): Recommend additional trainers to train transfer station attendants to become equipment operators, thus increasing their ability to multi function. The commissioners recollected that Mr. Dworsky of the Solid Waste Division had mentioned there was only one trainer and that he himself was multi - tasking and training others to do different functions. Motion and Vote: Mr. Sakaguchi moved to include this recommendation in the report, Ms. Provalenko seconded the motion, and all commissioners voted aye. g. Department of Environmental Management (Solid Waste): Recommend that employees be subject to random drug testing, which is to include current employees and not just new hires. Ms. Stremski noted that Mr. Ben, of the Civil Service Department (now the Department of Human Resources) had informed them that employees are covered by privacy laws and that the random drug testing can only include police officers, fire fighters, and CDL drivers. The Chair said this recommendation is a union issue. They could put forth this recommendation, but it would involve negotiations between the County and the unions. Mr. Sakaguchi questioned whether the Solid Waste chief was concerned primarily with random drug testing for truck drivers, or whether he wanted all employees to undergo the testing. Ms. Nicholson said the truck drivers were a part of the concern, but it also involved employees not showing up for work and leaving the Division short- handed. The issue went beyond public safety and involved absenteeism. Motion and Vote: Ms. Stremski moved to adopt this recommendation, Ms. Nicholson seconded the motion, and all commissioners voted aye. Ms. Garson introduced Nancy Crawford, who arrived from the Department of Finance. The Chair moved back to item 6 on the agenda. 6. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REGARDING (1) COUNTY'S USE OF AND PROBLEMS WITH "FRESH" COMPUTER SYSTEM; (2) PAYROLL LAG; AND (3) CONSOLIDATION OF PAYROLL/PERSONNEL FORMS Ms. Nicholson informed Ms. Crawford that they had concerns regarding the computer system, payroll lag, and consolidation of forms, as other departments had brought these issues up. Ms. Crawford stated she did not know the specific questions but would be glad to speak on them. She explained that FRESH is an acronym and represents the new software to which the County converted over a period of years. The first module was started in May, 2004, which in