The Howard County Council met
The meeting was called to order by
Sheriff Marshall Talbert and conducted by President Richard Miller.
The minutes of the
OPENING COMMENTS AND REMARKS:
Mr. Papacek commended the county employees, especially members of the
Sheriff’s Department, for their outstanding work during the recent storms and
flooding. The gentleman rescued from
floodwater in western
IN THE MATTER OF ORDINANCE NO. 2003-HCC-26 ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Ordinance
No. 2003-HCC-26 was read in full for the first time by
020 HOWARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ACCIDENT REPORT FUND:
4710 Equipment $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00
Total
Accident Report Fund: $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00
Sheriff
Marshall Talbert explained this fund is generated by the sale of accident
reports. The Sheriff proposes to use
$2,000.00 to purchase two (2) hand held radar units. One unit would be assigned to a K-9 Truck and
the other unit would be used in a car that is equipped for the Reserve Deputy
Program. Sheriff Talbert proposes to
have the Reserve Deputies focus on traffic on traffic enforcement and speeding
complaints.
Mr. Papacek
made a motion to appropriate $2,000.00 in Line Item 4710 as presented. Mr. Shearer seconded the motion, and it
carried.
150
IN THE MATTER OF RESOLUTION NO.
2003-HCC-12 -- TRANSFERS:
Resolution
No. 2003-HCC-12 addressing requested transfers was presented and read in full
for Council information and review. The
following actions were taken:
TRANSFERS: AMOUNT:
FROM: TO: REQUESTED: ALLOWED:
001
005 HOWARD
COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT:
1113 Deputies 1119.07
Overtime Deputies $ 17,226.89 $ 17,226.89
1119.01 Corrections Officers 1122 Overtime-Corr. Off. $
20,647.38 $ 20,647.38
1119.01 Corrections Officers 1115.02 Clerical Part-time $ 3,000.00 $ 3, 000.00
4723 Motor
Vehicles 3121 Radio Removal/Install. $
5,500.00 $ 5,500.00
4723 Motor Vehicles 2725 Red lights, sirens etc. $ 3,000.00 $ 3,000.00
4728 Mobile Comp. Terminals 2726 Police
Equip. $ 87.00 $ 87.00
Personnel Administrator Ree Moon stated that the Sheriff’s Department continues to struggle with overtime hours. Two to four employees have been on family medical leave this year, there is double staffing in unit force since the recent suicide of an inmate, and 16 hours of mandated training have all contributed to overtime costs.
The Sheriff’s Department is looking into a new objective versus subjective classification system that the jail inspector will require in the year 2005. Inmate classification would be thoroughly scrutinized, which should help better utilize manpower at the jail. An inmate would have to meet very rigid standards to be classified as minimum security. This would cause the inmates to be in a secured environment more often, resulting in less security guards needed.
Mr. Miller requested the total figures for overtime spent this year. Ms. Moon said up to now, $36,000.00 has been spent for overtime pay this year. Sheriff Talbert said the staffing is greatly affected as several Correction Officers are on extended family medical leave. Two inmates were seriously injured which required guards to be present for several days during their hospitalization. Sheriff Talbert said he worked during some of the shifts in an attempt to keep some of the overtime down. One of the employees that had been on extended family medical leave recently quit work and the position had to be filled. A deputy who is very ill remains on medical leave.
Mr. Papacek asked, “How much difference in manpower does it take with direct supervision of the inmates as opposed to a linear supervision?” Sheriff Talbert said, “It takes quite a bit more manpower in a linear facility.” Ms. Moon said, “Inmates have a tendency to be more aggressive in a linear setting than in an open concept setting. A linear setting results in more injuries to inmates and correctional officers.”
Regarding the request for a transfer to Line Item 1115.02 Clerical Part-time: Ms. Moon said the Sheriff’s Department employs a civilian to work as a part time civil process server. The employee helps with prisoner transports and other necessary duties.
In regard to the last three
listed non-salary transfers, so far this year the Sheriff’s Department has
purchased two civil process vehicles, two K-9 trucks, a prisoner transport van
and one Chevrolet Impala for the Courthouse Deputy. This amounts to six vehicles that have been
equipped with radios, emergency lights and sirens. The cost to install emergency equipment in
each car ranges from $300 to $950. Only
$3,000.00 was appropriated to Line Item 3121 Radio Removal/Installation. Also, a mechanically sound vehicle was discovered in the back line, destined for
disposal or trade-in, having only 66,000 miles on it. The necessary lights and sirens were
installed on the vehicle and it is reinstated to be used in the Reserve Deputy
Program. On
Mr. Papacek made a motion to approve the transfers to the Line Items as listed above in Account 001-005. Mr. Singer seconded the motion, which carried.
033
1118 Clerk/Civil 1120 Clerk/Criminal $
1,696.00 Return
to Council
Superior Court III Judge Douglas A. Tate explained that after recently
hiring a new employee to take over the position of Civil Clerk, the payroll
indicated that the existing Criminal Clerk’s salary was significantly
less. The duties of the Civil Clerk
remain unchanged but the Criminal Clerk’s workload has increased over the last
three years. Judge Tate proposed an
adjustment in order to make the Clerks’ salaries the same: Combine the existing Criminal Clerk’s salary
of $26,975.00 with the Civil Clerk’s salary of $30,367.00 for a total of
$57,342.00 and divide the money equally to create two clerk salaries of
$28,671.00 each.
Mr. Singer stated that job descriptions were not provided when the PAC
Committee reviewed this request. Judge
Tate explained that the duties will not change.
He reiterated that an employee hired less than a month ago would be
making significantly more money than the other employee that started working
three years ago with increased job duties.
Judge Tate advised that the proposed salary adjustment has been
discussed with the employees.
Mr. Papacek said in the past, the Council encouraged all four courts to
establish the same rate of pay for each job classification. Judge Tate explained that he has three
different salary rates within his office.
Mr. Ellison made a motion to table this request until the next meeting. Mr. Ortman seconded the motion, resulting in a
split vote for three (3) in favor of and three (3) opposed. The motion died.
Mr. Papacek made a motion to return this request to the PAC Committee and
request the PAC Committee to make a recommendation before the next Council
meeting. Seconded by Mr. Stout, the
motion carried.
150
4723.01 Furn. & Equip.--CH 4329 EM Equip./Repair $ 16,700.00 $ 16,700.00
Mr. Singer made a motion to
approve the transfer as requested. Mr.
Ellison seconded the motion, which carried.
510
Mr. Papacek made a motion to approve the transfer of $42.07 from 1580 PERF to 1500 FICA. Mr. Shearer seconded the motion, and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF SALARY
ORDINANCE NO. 2003-HCC-27 – AMENDING THE EXISTING SALARY ORDINANCE FOR 2003:
A
motion was made by Mr. Papacek, seconded by Mr. Shearer and carried to approve
Amended Salary Ordinance 2003-HCC-27 as read.
The amended salaries, any changed position titles and all other
pertinent information is shown as follows:
POSITION/NUMBER/SALARY REQUEST: APPROVED: YTD:
001
005 HOWARD
COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT:
1113 Deputies 19@$36,549 -$61,054=$633,377 -$
17,226.89 -$ 17,226.89 $
616.150.11
1119.01 Corrections
Officers 32@/$27,234 -$2,451=$869,067 -$ 23,647.38 -$ 23,647.38 $
845,389.62
1119.07 Overtime Deputies $20,000 +$
17,226.89 +$ 17,226.89 $ 37,226.89
1115.02 Clerical/Process Server
Part-time $12,000 +$ 3,000.00 +$ 3,000.00 $ 15,000.00
1122 Overtime Corr. Off. $16,000.00 +$ 20,647.38 +$ 20,647.38 $ 36,647.38
510
1111 SHOCAP Tracker New 1
@ $25,691.00 +$
25,691.00 +$ 25,691.00 $
25,691.00
IN THE MATTER OF PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE ISSUE:
Prosecutor James Fleming explained the Prosecutor’s Office has four
programs that generate income:
2.
Asset Forfeiture Program
3. Bad
Check Program
4.
Copy Money
IN THE MATTER OF MAYOR’S COMMUNITY BASED
Rick
Swigart, Coordinator for the Howard County Drug-Free Community Program
addressed the Council in regard to his 2003-2004 Budget.
The
Drug-Free Community Program conducts a range of activities including purchasing
interdiction equipment, providing law enforcement training, funding community
awareness activities.
As of
There were
no questions or comments. Mr. Papacek
made a motion to approve the allocation proposal of the Drug Free Community
Funds for the 2003-2004 year as submitted.
Mr. Ellison seconded the motion, which carried.
IN THE MATTER
OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR ISSUE – ANTHEM PRESCRIPTION PLAN:
Personnel
Director Wanda McKillip distributed Information packets to Council Members
regarding the Prescription Program for employees enrolled in the Anthem
Insurance Plan.
IN THE MATTER
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUE:
Administrator
Kristine Conyers presented information regarding the mosquito elimination
program.
In 2002 the State
Department of Health gave every county in
The Health
Department also put together and distributed educational packets to people in
the community that have potential to have
mosquito breeding sites on their property.
Literature regarding mold is also being distributed to the community.
IN THE MATTER OF BUDGET
HEARINGS:
The next regular Council
Meeting on August 26th will be extended to hold the 2004 Budget Sessions for a total of four
sessions – August 26th, 27th, 28th and
September 9th, which
will include regular business and adoption.
IN THE MATTER OF
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:
Sheriff Marshall Talbert
mentioned on the evening of July 21st, there was an incident in
Greentown requiring the SWAT team to be called in. There was a hostage situation where an armed
man threatened to kill his wife and himself.
The situation was resolved without violence or gunfire. Coroner Jeff Stout, who happened to be in the
Greentown area on other business, was able to observe the operation from
beginning to end. After a discussion,
Sheriff Talbert and Major Steve Rogers thought it would be a good idea to
notify any interested Council Members or Commissioners when the Sheriff’s
Department sets up a command post for major incidents such as a SWAT operation,
manhunt, missing child, explosion, etc.
The Councilman or Commissioner would be permitted to go to the command
post as an observer, help coordinate things or offer suggestions.
Sheriff Talbert felt this would
be a viable program and would establish a good working relationship between the
Sheriff’s Department, County Council, and Commissioners. Anyone interested in the program should
contact Sheriff Talbert.
There being no further business to come before the
Council, Mr. Papacek made a motion to adjourn.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Stout, and carried. The meeting adjourned at
__________________________
County Council Minutes,