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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101110_REGULAR_MINUTES_APPROVED COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Committee: Cost Control Commission Meeting Date: October 11, 2010 Location Mo'ikeha Building—Liquor Conference Room 3 Start of Session: 1:30 p.m. End of Session: 2:13 p.m. Present Chair Lawrence Chaffin Jr., Vice-Chair Sandi Sterker, Randy Finlay, Dirk Apao and Linda Faye Collins Also present: First Deputy County Attorney Amy Esaki, Boards and Commissions Administrator John Isobe and Mercedes Youn Boards and Commissions Clerk. Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Chair Lawrence Chaffin Jr called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Approval of Vice-Chair Sterker moved Agenda to approve the agenda; seconded by Commissioner Apao and unanimous) carried 5:0 Approval of Commissioner Collins Minutes Regular meeting minutes of September 13, 2010. moved to approve the minutes; seconded by Vice-Chair Sterker and unanimous) carried 5:0. Business CCC 2010-19 Memorandum dated 9/28/10 to all Department/Agency Heads, from Chair Larry Chaffin of the Cost Control Commission, requesting information to determine what types of appropriate personnel and industrial relations training opportunities are being provided to the County employees. Responses received from the following departments: • Finance/Risk Management • Police • County Attorney • Liquor • Fire • Housing Agency Note: There were (4) Departmental Employee Training Survey that were received after posting of the agenda. Continue Business o Parks and Recreation Department 0 Public Works Department Cost Control Commission Open Session October 11, 2010 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION o Custodial o Civil Defense Discussion Referring to the Finance/Risk Management training survey Vice-Chair Sterker questioned whether July 2010 asbestos awareness training was done for the older county buildings. Ms. Amy Esaki stated yes, such as the Old Historic County Building. Vice-Chair Sterker stated that for the July 2010 asbestos awareness training, it does not indicate the number of employees attending. Ms. Esaki explained that the survey that was submitted by the Finance/Risk Management indicates that there were 12+ employees that attended the training. Vice-Chair Sterker indicated that some of the training descriptions included OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Compliance training, and then asked if it was mandatory training for all county employees. Boards and Commissions Administrator John Isobe stated that he does not have the information available at this time and is unsure if the county had any mandatory training in the past. Chair Chaffin suggested that some pressure should be applied to open the door to implement mandatory training for all county employees. Commissioner Collins stated the she is still not certain on the types of training that should be mandatory, and made by whom; noting that safety issues should be mandatory. Commissioner Collins then asked who determines if it should be mandatory; the insurance companies or the government. Chair Chaffin stated that it should probably be the government, because it may be pertinent should an accident occur. Vice-Chair Sterker asked Commissioner Finlay to give his insight on OSHA compliance policies as it relates to his company. Continue Commissioner Finlay stated his company has been conducting company-wide OSHA training every year, due Business to upcoming expiration of the certifications. Commissioner Finlay stated that the OSHA compliance training should be mandatory every year. Commissioner Finlay then indicated that his company also holds weekly Cost Control Commission Open Session October 11, 2010 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION meeting on safety issues. Ms. Esaki noted both the Finance/Risk Management Department and Public Works Department list AON Risk Services for their training programs with Mike Seu as the trainer. Ms. Esaki explained to the Commission that the County's insurance broker over sees the county's risk management, and makes the recommendations on the types of training the County should hold for its employees. Ms. Esaki noted that trainer Mike Seu of AON Risk Services held training programs for the following departments: 1) Department of Public Works- Manual Material Handling & Body Mechanics 2) Department of Finance/Risk Management—Asbestos Awareness 3) Department of Parks and Recreation— Leadership Empowerment& Social Behavior Commissioner Finlay noted that what he finds interesting is the list of the types of training that each department is requesting for that would be beneficial to their department. Commissioner Finlay noted that because of the possible need for workplace violence and co-worker management training, the Commission begin to explore the adequacy of the County's internal employee training efforts relating to personnel and industrial relations in an effort to minimize workplace injury, liability and risk within the County. Vice-Chair Sterker stressed the need for annual OSHA Compliance training for the County employees. Ms. Amy Esaki stated that certain County departments have access to the State training program and workshops. Vice-Chair Sterker asked how are the employees being notified on what types of trainings are available to them or are these trainings only available to the supervisors. Ms. Esaki stated that for the Finance and Risk Management, Mr. Gerald Estenzo would be the person who would notify the supervisor regarding the training programs that he feels is pertinent to the employee's county wide. Vice-Chair Sterker stated that by reviewing the list of trainings that were provided by the Departments, there seems to be a lack of connection on the types of training that should be mandatory to the county employees. Chair Chaffin stated that the county needs to provide a uniform manual of information on the types of mandatory trainings that may be pertinent to each individual department. Continue Ms. Esaki stated that each union contract offers broad information on the types of trainings and development Business required by each union. The information provided in the contract generally states that the employees are encouraged to participate in employee training programs to meet the needs of the employer. The employer must develop in service training or make available out service training including training for temporary Cost Control Commission Open Session October 11, 2010 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION assignment and promotion that is deemed necessary to meet the needs of the employer. Ms. Esaki also stated that the union shall be consulted periodically at least once annually in developing training plans. And specific training programs shall be developed in consultation between the union and the employer. Ms. Esaki noted that when the county chooses to put together a training session a consultation is involved with the union. Commissioner Collins asked who the Commission would refer its question to in regards how the process is implemented. Ms. Esaki stated that because it is a civil service issue, the department of personnel should be able to address the matter. Commissioner Finlay stated it seems that the union supports the training; however, they are not responsible for providing the training program to the employer. Commissioner Collins raised the questions to Ms. Esaki if she would direct to them the Finance and Risk Management. 1) How is it decide upon on what type of training is necessary 2)Will the training be mandatory to the department heads as it relates to the OSHA Compliance & Sensitivity training? 3)Are there any programs that the county coincides with the unions, pursuant to the union contracts? Chair Chaffin stated that rather than asking the department to provide the Commission with the answers or an instruction manual. The Commission should request the information from the County's insurance broker. Commissioner Finlay said that he doesn't think that anyone would be able to provide a manual or a program, because it seems that from reviewing the list that was provided by the departments it seems that the County has no coherent training schedule at all. Commissioner Finlay suggested that the County should have a County-wide training program that doesn't touch on a specific issue in a department, but rather on global issues such as Sexual Harassment and Leadership/Supervisory skills and make it mandatory. Commissioner As a follow-up staff will Finlay reminded the members that this Commissions purview is to reduce workplace injuries and limit liability send a memo to the exposure. Commissioner Finlay suggested that the Commission recommend a county wide training program County Attorney's Office on employee's specific issues and NOT on the department's specific issues, and recommend that the requesting for the following Department of Personnel Services implement a plan to determine the types of training they feel is pertinent information: using the list provided by the departments. 1) Provide a list describing various claims/cases that Commissioner Collins stated that she feels it may be important to get information from the County Attorney's have been settled or Office describing various claims/cases that have been settled or pending that are related to personnel actions pending that are related to that may be due to a lack of training. personnel actions. Cost Control Commission Open Session October 11, 2010 Page 5 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION The Commission discussed in response to the survey, that there is a need for training in the areas of As a follow-up staff will personnel and industrial relations and how to structure the Commission's recommendation to the Mayor on the compile a list of trainings types of training as requested by the in survey. and identify the top six (6) most desired trainings that With regards to the survey, Commissioner Finlay, suggested to the members to focus on the trainings that were identified by the stands out the most, which is workplace violence and sexual harassment because of the lawsuits that seems various departments. to be encumbering the County. Chair's Announcements o Next Meeting— Monday, November 8, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Mo'ikeha Building in Liquor Conference Room 3. o Chair Chaffin announced that he will not be present at the next meeting. Adjournment Vice-Chair Sterker moved With no further discussion, Chair Chaffin called for the motion to adjourn. to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Collins and unanimously carried 5:0. The meeting adjourned at 2:13 p.m. Submitted by: Reviewed and Approved by: Mercedes Youn, Staff Lawrence Chaffin Jr., Chair ( x) Approved as is. Approved on 12/13/2010 ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of meeting.