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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministration 11-01-06 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE November 1, 2006 9:00 a.m. St. Croix County Government Center Room 1281 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA ACTION ON PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES: October 4, 2006 DATE OF NEXT MEETING — December 6, 2006 OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Review of County Board By -Laws — Article VI, Section E re: Department Head Vacancies 2. Status of County Board Goal Setting Objectives 3. Review of County Fair Structure ADJOURN (Items may be taken in different order) ** Additions /Changes /Corrections Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting. 10/25/2006 9:24 AM OFFICIAL MINUTES ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 1, 2006 Meeting called to order by Chairman Caflisch at 9:00a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Roll call. Present: Dick King, Ron Raymond, Don Jordan, Tom Caflisch. Absent and excused: Daryl Standafer. OTHERS PRESENT: County Board Chairman Buck Malick, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Julie Speer and Amy Geurkink. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Motion by Jordan, 2 nd by King to adopt the agenda. Carried unanimously. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: December 6, 2006 at 9:00am. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Motion by King, 2 nd by Jordan to approve the October 4, 2006 minutes. Carried unanimously. REVIEW OF COUNTY BOARD BYLAWS — ARTICLE VI SECTION E (REGARDING DEPARTMENT HEAD VACANCIES): Caflisch read the corresponding bylaws and commenced discussion regarding the Administration Committee's role when there is a Department Head vacancy. Raymond reported he objects to the idea of Administration Committee approval not the review; he doesn't care for the idea of one committee second - guessing another, stating that is not the way to operate. Whiting reported the committee approves the process was completed whether or not they are in agreement of the result. Discussion regarding the process and the parent committee reviewing the job description, etc. Jordan reported he believes committees have been diligent about the process involved. Discussion regarding the bylaws do not indicate a report needs to be submitted to the Administration Committee. Discussion concerning a previous agenda item specifically stating `approval' in reference to a department head vacancy. Discussion concerning if not the Administration Committee, who should conduct the review. Discussion regarding there no longer is a Personnel Department/ Committee and whether that is a factor; King reported it never went to the Personnel Committee when that committee did exist. Discussion whether the Administrative Coordinator should assume the role. Whiting reported you want to avoid the situation where nobody looks at it and that it comes down to a policy choice. Jordan reported the Administration Committee has been a way -stop in the past, if it goes to the Coordinator and there is a problem, then what? Whiting reported if it affects the bylaws then the Administration Committee needs to look at it; you do not want a change to happen without the County Board knowing about it. Caflisch provided an interpretation of the bylaws; the parent committee reviews the position, etc. and if something needs changing, then it goes to the Administration Committee. Whiting reported he believes the Administration Committee has it covered. This committee makes sure the bylaws are carried out and the parent committee did things correctly. Jordan reported a brief review by the Administration Committee to make sure there is compliance is a sensible approach and it is better to have it reviewed by this committee than to have it go to the board without any review. 1 Raymond suggested the administration/personnel department assume the role and why should a committee review all this simply because they want to. He suggested the Administrative Coordinator could inform the committee when something is going on and if it is acceptable or not. Malick responded the County Board Chairman should be informed as well and the Administrative Coordinator's role ought not to be elevated. Jordan reported the review by the Administration Committee stemmed from a need to be consistent regarding position vacancies and streamlining the process. Whiting explained the historical context of the Administration Committees' role and reported there has never been a problem. Discussion regarding the steps to take when a vacancy occurs and the bylaws should be clear about the hiring process, etc. Whiting reported the bylaws are designed for the County Board and are not for administrative action. Caflisch summarized the review has to lie somewhere and someone must be responsible for upholding the bylaws. Discussion regarding an amendment to the bylaws. Malick reported the bylaws will never be perfect, as committees are so diverse. However; the bylaws do work and cautioned they ought to be left alone as we do not want to end up with unintended consequences. Brief discussion whether this issue needs further investigation and/or discussion. STATUS OF COUNTY BOARD GOAL SETTING OBJECTIVES: Whiting indicated he has nothing further to report at this time. Caflisch reported a question at the most recent County Board meeting was: what is the main goal of the energy policy? Caflisch cited an interesting article in the October 2 nd edition of the County News concerning a company in Japan that builds a plant that incinerates trash at 10,000 degrees and converts it to gas energy. The plant produces two times the energy it takes to run it. The company builds the plants at no cost but receives all the energy that is produced. King recollected the incineration plant the county once operated and indicated it could have done a similar job had it been run correctly. Discussion regarding the technology is here and there are ways to make landfills obsolete. Raymond reported there as been an acceptance of the resource agent position (Janke's replacement) and one of his assignments is to assist with developing an energy policy. Whiting reported the goal setting session funds have been removed from the 2007 budget and the Administration Committee will need to think about how to hold the 2007 session. Discussion regarding utilizing the community room. This item will be on the next meeting agenda. Malick reported he sent a request to department heads to report back concerning review of goal setting options. Jordan requested clarification concerning the Disabled Veterans request at the County Board meeting. The group has requested various counties donate $10,000 to upgrade the kitchen at its Menomonie facility. Speer explained it is a core group and some of their members are from St. Croix County. The Menomonie building was given to the veterans and it is a sizable facility they want to improve. The Finance Committee requested Sather's opinion and Sather did not recommend it. King reported he feels it is difficult to donate money when it is not in our county and we ought not to open ourselves to that. 2 REVIEW OF COUNTY FAIR STRUCTURE: Caflisch reported Standafer requested this item be brought forward for discussion and since he is absent, suggested it be tabled until the next meeting. Caflisch explained the discussion would involve the land, how the fair is currently operated and the possibility of having it privately operated, etc. This item will be placed on the next meeting agenda. Discussion regarding the possibility of not holding a December meeting. Caflisch adjourned the meeting at 9:58am. Richard King, Secretary Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary t i 3