Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
STAFF MEETING AGENDA Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners Tuesday, September 8, 1998 - 12:00 Noon County-City Building - Meeting Room #113 AGENDA ITEM 1 12:00pm SALARY & BENEFITS FOR BAILIFFS - Honorable Earl J. Witthoff; Diane Staab, Deputy County Attorney; John Cripe, Classification & Pay Officer 2 ACTION ITEMS a. Microcomputer Request from Corrections, C#98239, for $10,588.23 from Corrections Budget for Six (6) Compaq Deskpros, Six (6) Monitors, Three (3) Printers and One (1) Scanner b. Microcomputer Request from Corrections, C#98238, for $2,700.55 from Corrections-Inmate Benefit Budget for Two of Each of the Following: Compaq Deskpros, Monitors, CD-ROM Drives, Sound Cards, Speakers, Surge Strips, Mousepads 3 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT a. Justice Building Change Order for District Court 4 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Joint Budget Committee - Campbell b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Campbell, Heier c. Railroad Transportation Safety District - Heier, Steinman, Svoboda d. Public Building Commission - Campbell 5 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Board of Health - Tuesday, September 8, 1998, at 7:00 p.m., at 3119 "O" Street - Hudkins b. Southeast District NACO Meeting - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 9:00 a.m., at the Villager Motor Inn - Campbell, Steinman c. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 1:00 p.m, at the County-City Building, Room #106 - Hudkins d. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 4:00 p.m., at the County-City Building, Commissioners Hearing Room - Heier e. General Assistance Monitoring Committee - Tuesday, September 15, 1998, at 8:00 a.m., at the County-City Building, Room #106 - Campbell, Heier f. Government Access & Information Committee - Wednesday, September 16, 1998, at 12:00 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #206 - Steinman g. City-County Common - Friday, September 18, 1998, at 8:00 a.m., at the County-City Building, Room #113 - All Commissioners 6 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD 7 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD 8 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 9 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
Minutes Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners County-city Building Meeting Room #113 Tuesday, September 8, 1998 12 P.M. Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair Kathy Campbell Bernie Heier Commissioners Absent: Steve Svoboda Larry Hudkins Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer Ann Taylor, County Clerk's Office AGENDA ITEM 1 SALARY & BENEFITS FOR BAILIFFS - District Court Judge Earl J. Witthoff; Diane Staab, Deputy County Attorney Benefits for Bailiffs Judge Witthoff reported that bailiffs' duties include transcription of court decrees and orders, scheduling of the daily court agenda, conducting pre-trial conferences with attorneys and processing of protection orders. He noted that the bailiff position is full-time, with frequent late work hours, such as when juries are in deliberations. In response to a question from Campbell, Judge Witthoff stated that a bailiff's vacation leave must coincide with that of the judge the bailiff serves. He estimated that their vacation leave averages four weeks per year, with six weeks the maximum allowed. Judge Witthoff indicated that other absences of short duration are approved at the discretion of the affected judge. He noted that the extended maternity leave requested by the Child Support Referee's Bailiff was unusual, in that it necessitated hiring of a replacement. Steinman asked Judge Witthoff whether he thought bailiffs might be willing to share receptionist and Court Administrator duties, which include determination of indigency, in the new Hall of Justice and Law Enforcement Center in exchange for regulated sick and vacation leave benefits. Judge Witthoff noted that bailiffs serve in an at-will capacity and the District Court Judges have been reluctant to initiate any changes in policy that would treat bailiffs as vested County employees. Campbell noted that the make-up of the Board is subject to change and it may be to the bailiffs' advantage to have a policy in place that clearly defines leave benefits. In response to a question from Heier, Judge Witthoff stated that the Douglas County Court Administrator's office performs many of the scheduling functions assigned to bailiffs in Lancaster County. Steinman suggested that alternative solutions may be to hire an additional bailiff to cover absences and perform receptionist duties for the District, County and Juvenile Courts or to request that judges share bailiffs if scheduling and technology duties are assigned to a Court Administrator position. Campbell suggested that bailiff positions could also become part-time, with commensurate salary. The Board requested that Judge Witthoff discuss a regulated leave policy and expanded job duty issues with the other District Court Judges and report back to the Board. Judge Witthoff agreed and stated that he would forward a copy of the written job description for bailiffs and a pamphlet prepared by Judge Merritt to the Board. Eagan noted that a review of State Statutes, for applicable law with regards to bailiffs, will also be necessary. Campbell suggested that the County seek legislative change which would shift responsibility for bailiffs to the State. Salary for Bailiffs Eagan noted that the District Court Judges recommended a 1.5 percent merit and a 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for the bailiffs. Board consensus to approve a 3.5 percent salary increase and Post Employment Health Care Plan (PEHP) benefit for the bailiffs, retroactive to August 27, 1998. The Board agreed to continue to explore the issues of expansion of duties and providing sick leave and vacation benefits for the bailiffs. 2 ACTION ITEMS a. Microcomputer Request from Corrections, C#98239, for $10,588.23 from Corrections Budget for Six (6) Compaq Deskpros, Six (6) Monitors, Three (3) Printers and One (1) Scanner b. Microcomputer Request from Corrections, C#98238, for $2,700.55 from Corrections-Inmate Benefit Budget for Two (2) of Each of the Following: Compaq Deskpros, Monitors, CD-ROM Drives, Sound Cards, Speakers, Surge Strips, Mousepads MOTION: Campbell moved and Heier seconded to approve Action Items a and b, from the Corrections and Corrections-Inmate Benefit Budgets. On call Campbell, Heier and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried. 3 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT a. Hall of Justice and Law Enforcement Center Change Order for District Court Eagan noted that the change order request will be delayed until further information regarding the results of a meeting held by the District Court Judges is made available. 4 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Joint Budget Committee - Campbell Campbell reported that the City and County will each be required to provide $5,000, for each of the next two years, in support of a Communities Helping Immigrants and Refugees Progress (CHIRP) grant, which provides a system for accessing health and human services. She noted that this item was not included in the budget. Campbell reported that a response had been received from Jessie Rasmussen, State Health & Human Services Director, in which she indicated that Lancaster County was not envisioned as a separate Network Management Service Area. Campbell also reported that: Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator, has recommended that the County apply for an additional $5,000 Community Correction Grant for planning purposes Joan Modrell, Urban Development Director, has suggested that one District Court Judge be assigned, for a one year term, any cases involving environmental issues, such as illegal dumping Region V has received an additional FYI grant, which will allow them to provide case management for an additional ten youth b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Campbell, Heier Campbell stated that a status report on the Wilderness Park survey was received and Betsy Kosier, Lincoln Lancaster Mediation Center, provided an overview of the Wilderness Park Subarea Study - Issue Identification Process. Campbell also reported that a request to form a Greenbelt Subcommittee to look at ways to create an area of green around the City of Lincoln was placed on hold until reports are received from Parks & Recreation and the Planning Department on what is currently being done to provide parks and green space. c. Railroad Transportation Safety District - Heier, Steinman, Svoboda Steinman reported that the Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD) operating budget will need to be extended out to pay for existing projects, while maintaining necessary reserves. Steinman also reported that the University of Nebraska and the railroads have agreed to reallocate $200,000 in additional costs associated with the engineering amendment for the "X" Street Project. d. Public Building Commission - Campbell Campbell reported that asbestos removal has been completed in the Hall of Justice and Law Enforcement Center. Campbell also reported that the Arts Council has proposed that a Citizens Committee be formed to develop criteria for art donations for the City/County Government Complex. 5 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS a. Board of Health- Tuesday, September 8, 1998, at 7 p.m., at 3119 "O" Street - Hudkins b. Southeast District Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) Meeting - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 9 a.m., at the Villager Motor Inn - Campbell, Steinman c. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 1 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #106 - Hudkins d. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Thursday, September 10, 1998, at 4 p.m., at the County-City Building, Commissioners Hearing Room - Heier e. General Assistance Monitoring Committee - Tuesday, September 15, 1998, at 8 a.m., at the County-City Building, Room #106 - Campbell, Heier f. Government Access & Information Committee - Wednesday, September 23, 1998, at 12 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #206 - Steinman g. City-County Common - Friday, September 18, 1998, at 8 a.m., at the County-City Building, Room #113 - All Commissioners 6 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD 7 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD 8 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 9 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS 10 ADJOURNMENT By direction of the Chair, the meeting was adjourned. ______________________ Kandra Hahn Lancaster County Clerk