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Mr. Dworsky stated another problem is in working with the unions, which he does not <br />have much experience in. Workers from different unions work in Solid Waste. The <br />unions are good for protecting the employees' rights, but they make it hard to <br />appropriately discipline employees. Many employees will not perform duties for which <br />they were not hired. He comes from a background where everybody would pitch in and <br />help. The unions have set things up in such a way that causes abuse of the system. <br />Random drug testing is another thing from which union employees are protected. Drug <br />testing is allowed only for a new employee coming in, before the job is actually given. <br />He wants to make sure their employees are clean, as they are driving big trucks on the <br />highways. They need to be safe to protect the public as well as themselves. Each year <br />when union contracts are being negotiated, there is a chance to bring it up. It is very <br />frustrating trying to get used to the system. <br />Mr. Dworsky said these are the major issues that he noted, in addition to the written <br />response the DEM sent in earlier. He apologized for not being more familiar with the <br />government. He said his office is over on Railroad Avenue, away from other County <br />offices, so he actually does not get to know much about how the County operates. <br />The Chair asked if the commissioners had any questions. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi commented that the greenwaste operation on the island is great. He does <br />not know who the vendor is, but they are doing a great job. The previous vendor was not <br />very good. Mr. Dworsky said he wished that was told to the County Council, as Ms. <br />Isbell had the funds removed for that using them, and EKO is one of the better <br />contractors. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi asked whether the DEM has access to cash to make emergency short-term <br />hires. Mr. Dworsky said it is not a financial problem if it is in the budget. However, new <br />positions require approval. He has not explored or heard about doing emergency short- <br />term hires. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi asked what kind of orientation Mr. Dworsky received upon coming to the <br />DEM. Mr. Dworsky said he received no orientation from the Civil Service Department, <br />although they kept him informed. He could have used more orientation, but on the other <br />hand there was enough to get him going, and it was more of a learn-on-the-job type of <br />situation. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi commented that a lack of training and filling him in on how to survive in <br />this environment must have caused a lot of stress on Mr. Dworsky and asked him how <br />long he would stay with the County. Mr. Dworsky said it is stressful and frustrating, as <br />there is such a great need. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi asked what could be done in terms of the delay in processing contracts, <br />whether longer terms would help, and Mr. Dworsky said yes. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi asked what contracts were reviewed for, and Mr. Dworsky explained that <br />the problem mostly was in having to create new contracts every year, and negotiate, and <br />rd <br />