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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 02-15-05 SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ST. CROIX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 1101 CARMICHAEL ROAD, HUDSON, WISCONSIN Tuesday, February 15, 2005 — 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Clarence Malick PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL REVIEW OF AGENDA OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Recruitment for Chief Deputy Position in the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department ANNOUNCEMENTS: ADJOURNMENT (Items may be taken in different order) * Changes or Additions after the Preliminary Agenda * * Late Changes and Additions 2/11/2011 2:25 PM OFFICIAL - AMENDED Approved 4119105 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST.CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Special Meeting February 15, 2005 Meeting called to order by Chair Malick at 7:00 p.m. Chair Malick reported this meeting was appropriately noticed. The Prayer of St. Francis was read by the County Board members. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call: 21 present; absent and excused: Supr. Peavey, Supr. Mehls, Supr. King, Supr. Habhegger, Supr. Mortensen, Supr. Marzolf, Supr. Swenson, Supr. Jordan, Supr. Krueger, Supr. Gunderson. 1. Recruitment for Chief Deputy Position in the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department. Chair Malick indicated Personnel Director Deb Kathan is present to provide a summary of the way in which recruitment has been done for the Chief Deputy position in the Sheriff's Department. Chair Malick added Sheriff Hillstead is also present. Chair Malick explained the Chief Deputy position is an important position in the Sheriff's Department. Chair Malick then called on Deb Kathan. Kathan stated the current opening for the Chief Deputy is a result of Ron Volkert's retirement. The actual position of Chief Deputy first came into being in 1983 as a result of the merger between the Traffic Patrol Division which was headquartered in Hammond and Sheriff's Deputy operation headquartered in Hudson. On January 1, 1984 the county established a First Deputy position in the Sheriff's Department. This position was originally titled First Deputy. Kathan indicated over the course of a few years through state legislation and changes with the Law Enforcement Bureau, the position became a Chief Deputy, which is the standard title for this position in the state of Wisconsin and functions as strong administrator /manager in an Undersheriff position. Kathan stated Undersheriff duties are defined in Wisconsin statutes. Kathan indicated the most recent job description for the Chief Deputy position were distributed to the board members and stated the job description has been reviewed and approved by the Public Protection Committee and it provides the basis from which the county does its recruitment and selection. Kathan reported the county has been recruiting for this position for a number of weeks. Advertisement and internet information were distributed throughout the state of Wisconsin. Kathan added most significantly the county used the Wilenet, a website specifically designed for police officers as an information network throughout the state of Wisconsin and also used the candidate career bulletin which the state of Wisconsin produces in addition to advertising in area newspapers. The recruitment closed on February 4. On February 8 a special team reviewed the applications. Those reviewing the applications included: Eileen Graham from Personnel, Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Supr. Denise Gunderson and Supr. Mark Erickson. That team selected five candidates to go forward in the formal interview process. Serving on the interviewing committee are: Deb Kathan, Supr. Esther Wentz, Supr. Lori Bernard, Supr. Julie Speer, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting and two chief deputies from Pierce and Polk counties. The job description indicated the candidate must be a certified officer in the state of Wisconsin. Kathan indicated twelve candidates applied and added some people feel twelve candidates is not an adequate number. Kathan explained after the interview process, the interview panel will need to reach a consensus on whom to offer the job. Kathan added in the state of Wisconsin the sheriff does have an opportunity to appoint individuals. The past two hires in this position have been filled through the county's personnel policy and Sheriff Hillstead agrees to abide by the county's personnel policy. Supr. Struemke questioned the procedure taken up to this point. Supr. Erickson, a member of the Public Protection Committee stated at the December 2004 Public Protection meeting the committee made changes to the job description which is not on the job description distributed to the County Board members. One being change was to include "or certifiable" after... "Must be a certified officer in the state 2/11/2011 2:25 PM of Wisconsin ". The reason to include "certifiable" was to tap into interested prospects in the metro area and advertising in the state of Minnesota. Supr. Bernard indicated it was her understanding after the December Public Protection meeting this position was going to be advertised in Minnesota. She added this is a high level position and a logical area to search is twin cities area. Supervisors asked questions regarding the recruitment process and job description. A lengthy discussion was held. Sheriff Hillstead explained the importance of the Chief Deputy position and the need for a qualified person to fill the position. Hillstead indicated he was part of the selection committee but not on the interview committee. He was surprised there were only twelve applicants but is opposed to stopping the process at this point and felt it would be unfair to those people who have been selected for an interview. Hillstead added it is in the best interest of the county and Sheriff s Department to let this process proceed and if the interview committee is not satisfied with that group, then they have the right to start the process again. Chair Malick indicated there may be a disconnect between the Public Protection Committee and personnel department staff. He is referring this matter to the Personnel Committee to tighten up the process. County Clerk's note: The following underlined comments were added per Supr. Struemke's request: Supr. Struemke requested that maybe Debbie could clarify that a little bit more because it was in understanding that, after her briefing, that historically in this county that was not the sheriff hiring, sheriff has not been here long enough to hire one, it was my understanding that the county board through committees was actually going out since 1988 or whenever it was created, the county has the historical precedents that they were hiring the Chief Deputy. Was that correct? Deb Kathan indicated that historically, for the position of Chief Deputy, in the last three hires that we've had, that's been done through a committee process following the policies that are in place for personnel hiring. Traditionally, that's that way it's been. However, statutorily, anyone of those sheriffs could have said, " I have the power to appoint." Supr. Struemke asked if counsel could give us the clarification. Chair Malick stated that apparently it does matter to some of you to get an answer to this and Greg has been looking at the statutes and I think he can give us an answer that we can rely on and then hopefully you can make your decision based on that. Take it away Greg. Greg Timmerman stated that in his opinion, the Chief Deputy position is solely a county position subject to count policy and not subject to any statutory requirements. Supr. Struemke indicated he needs to get a clarification here and this is directed toward counsel. What I'm . _getting from this is kinda what I thought, you know, I did the research myself on this a couple of months ago, which is why I brought _ it up last month. The understanding that I have is that there is no statutory requirement stating Chief Deputy positions for the Sheriff appointing. And thus, you go historically to the procedures that have been established by the county since the creation of that position and that policy would rule. Am I wrong or right? Greg Timmerman responded stating Mr. Struemke is correct in stating that this position is controlled by 2/11/2011 2:25 PM county policy and whatever we've done in the past to appoint or hire or determine the Chief Deputy should be followed, in this case, if we are going to consistent with our past practices. Motion by Supr. Struemke, 2nd by Supr. Bernard to reopen the position of chief deputy for a period of three weeks, change the wording to certifiable in the state of Wisconsin within six months, and if any new appropriate candidates be added to the interview process which is to be conducted after the second closing; and that this position be advertised to include the greater twin cities metro area. Kathan indicated that historically hiring for the position of Chief Deputy has been done by committee process following the policies in place; and added, statutorily any one of the sheriff's have the power to appoint. Corporation Counsel Timmerman explained the statutes mention two things — Sheriff shall appoint an under sheriff and it also says that within ten days of taking office the sheriff shall appoint deputies. Chair Malick called for a two minute break. Roll Call Vote: Yes — 7; No — 14. Motion fails. Voting Yes: Supr. Zoerb, Supr. Caflisch, Supr. Struemke, Supr. Erickson, Supr. Bernard, Supr. Feidt, Chair Malick. Supr. Struemke requested research regarding law enforcement appointing vs. county board appointing and requested clarification at the next County Board meeting. Chair Malick indicated this is moot because the motion failed. Supr. Struemke stated the policy needs to be clarified by the county for any new hires so this does not happen again. Chair Malick will take this under advisement. Announcements: Meeting adjourned at: 8:37 p.m. Clarence W. Malick, Chair St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Cindy Campbell, County Clerk 2/11/2011 2:25 PM