2014-07-17 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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enough education and awareness for employees about why policies are in place and what are their intentions. She did ask if there was a concerted effort to put that information out whether it was in newsletters or internet postings. Ms. Maddox reported the following regarding Research and Development: · Ms. Maddox and Ms. Kierkiewicz met with Laverne Omori, the Department Head, and Donn Mende, the Deputy. · They have a clear vehicle policy in writing and they also have a vehicle assigned to Research and Development. · Encourages staff to use the County vehicle during County business whenever possible as opposed to mileage reimbursement. No staff members take vehicles home. · The Department has a clear overtime policy and it requires overtime approval in advance. The Department rarely incurs overtime and Ms. Omori’s preference is that employees use flexible scheduling; she also has approval over that. Ms. Kelly asked how they track their flex schedule. Ms. Maddox replied they didn’t’ not talk about that. Ms. Kelly commented that when departments open during County hours and if there are four or five employees in that department what are on flex schedule, how do they communicate to know who is in. Ms. Kierkiewicz remembers that during the interview, there was a white board with everyone’s name with magnets showing who’s in or out and other columns. Ms. Kelly is interested in knowing about the accountability of the working hours for each person. Ms. Kierkiewicz said she would follow up. Ms. Kierkiewicz and Ms. Maddox were both surprised to learn that there were 14 positions within the Department and 11 were filled so 11 people do the work that is required of Research and Development and many of them go above and beyond a 40 hour work week. · The Department is responsible for the County Agricultural Program, the Business and Community Economic Development Program, the Community Capacity Building Program, the Energy Program, the Film Office, funding and grant resources, the County’s Health Care Initiative, the Tourism Program as well as providing information resources. · In the process of addressing their efficiencies and staffing by undergoing a Department organization which they have been working on for a couple of years, this also requires union approval. · Developing more community available resources in the Resource Center. Beth Dykstra is the single grant writer from the department and also serves as a resource to other departments within the County; she not only writes grants but looks out for grants and channel to those departments. Ms. Maddox reported the following on energy projects: · Lalamilo wind farm project moving forward. 9