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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2011 (20) A RESOLUTION TO HIRE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES + VICTIM WITNESS OFFICE Resolution No. �6 J r, I 1 St. Croix County, Wisconsin WHEREAS, on October 5, 2010, the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution requiring any position in which a vacancy occurs to be reviewed by the parent committee, the Administration Committee and the County Board prior to refilling; and WHEREAS, two employees in the Victim Witness Office are taking a leave of absence; and WHEREAS, the Administration Committee deems this situation to be covered by the vacant position review policy; and WHEREAS, the Public Protection Committee is the parent committee for the Victim Witness Office; and WHEREAS, the Public Protection Committee has reviewed the situation and determined that coverage is necessary during the employees' leave of absence and that coverage can be achieved by hiring temporary employees for up to fourteen weeks; and WHEREAS, the Administration Committee has reviewed the situation and agrees with the conclusion of the Public Protection Committee and recommends temporary employees be hired for up to fourteen (14) weeks; and WHEREAS, the County Board has reviewed the situation and agrees with the conclusions of the Public Protection Committee and Administration Committee that temporary employees should be hired for up to fourteen (14) weeks. THEREFORE, be it resolved by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors that temporary employees may be hired, up to fourteen (14) weeks, to provide coverage during the employees' leave of absence in the Victim Witness Office. Offered by the Administration Committee YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Ryan Sicard ❑ ❑ ❑ ® Esther Wentz ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Vacant ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Lorin Sather Sharon Norton- ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Bauman 'Lug t5 C �' �l «� d "I i t ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Buck Malick l /� ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Daryl Standafer This Resolution was adopted by the St. Croix County Board Reviewed as to form on 3 _ of Supervisors on �. �_�t 11 Greg Ti erman, Corporation Counsel Cindy Campbel, CountjClerk STATE OF WISCONSIN COUNTY OF ST. CROIX 1, Cindy Campbell, St. Croix County Clerk, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the forego g is at rue and correct c '01 \ adopted by the County Board of Supervisors at their meeting held a F-�dy Cw Ear" St Croix Cnrnty ^ierk :�aax Cathy Halverson ST. CROIX COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Office Manager � St. Croix County Government Center ♦ 1101 Carmichael Rd. ♦Hudson, WI 54016 Francis D. Collins Telephone: 715- 386 -4658 ♦ Facsimile: 715- 381 -4397 Assistant District Attorney Sharon A. Correll Assistant District Attorney = Kevin H. Gehler - i Assistant District Attorney Kathryn S. Grosdidier Assistant District Attorney L Amber L. Hahn Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth L. Rohl Assistant District Attorney ERIC G. JOHNSON Kenneth N. Sortedahl N DISTRICT ATTORNEY Assistant District Attorney Pam Bellrichard VictimANitness Coordinator Karn Winberg TO: Public Protection Committee Victim/W Specialist Jill Administration Committee r Vict imNVit mNVitness Services Asst. Selena Peterson RE: Summa of request for VW LTE p ositions Legal Advocate Summary q p Lisa Multhauf Diversion Program Coordinator Victim Witness is requesting 2 LTE positions to fill maternity leaves. These positions are essential to be filled due to statutory requirements under Wis. Stat. 950. Services to victims and witnesses of crime are provided for under statute. Failure to provide said services could result in enforcement and remedies. The Crime Victims' Rights Board receives complaints, investigates and takes action. The possible consequences include: a private or public reprimand, referral to judicial commission (for judge violations), civil actions for forfeiture up to $1,000.00, and issue reports and make recommendations on victims rights and services. Karn Winberg is due March 21, 20.11 She is planning on taking 8 weeks off. She will have 1 -2 weeks paid and the rest of her time will - be unpaid leave. Her position is a Chapter 950 position and reimbursed up to a certain percentage by the State of Wisconsin/Dept. of Justice. In 2009, the average reimbursement rate was 53.5 %. To have a LTE fill her position would be at a lesser cost to the county than having Karn in her regular position since an LTE would be at a lower rate of pay than Kam. (18.29/hr LTE v. 26.11/hr Karn). The State would still reimburse at least 50% of that position as well. Karn's position involves providing essential services to victims of crime under Wisconsin Statute 950. These services are mandatory and we cannot pick and choose which victims we provide services for. Kam works with victims of felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases. Because these services are statutorily required, our office would have to continue to do the work on her cases. Overtime would likely be accumulated by the three remaining staff members to keep up with the duties and responsibilities. Selena Peterson is due May 17, 2011 She is also planning taking 8 weeks off for her maternity leave. Selena has more PTO accrued and will likely have most if not all of her time off. paid. Selena is a Legal Advocate in the Victim Witness Program and her position is funded through a VOCA grant that has been in existence in the St. Croix County Victim Witness Program for 13 years. This grant covers approximately 80% of position costs and requires a 20% match by the County. The majority of Selena's position is helping people file temporary restraining orders and then following through with the injunction hearings in front of the Judge. This position also carries a caseload focusing 3 i - A mainly on domestic violence cases that have the same requirements under Wisconsin Statute 950 as the other positions in the Victim Witness office. Our office would continue to provide the essential services to victims in criminal cases and' again, there would be the likelihood of overtime being accrued to keep up with the mandated requirements. For people that needed assistance with the temporary restraining order process, our office would have to refer to* an outside agency like Turning Point to provide assistance. This may cause clients to ask more questions and spend more time with clerk of court's office staff and court staff as well. In 2010 Selena estimated assisting 194 clients with the restraining order process. It would be estimated that the cost to the County to fill the 2 nd LTE position (Selena Peterson) would be around $6,344.00. This figure includes the LTE wage at 18.29 /hr plus the minimum benefits of FICA/Medicare /Worker's Comp. In 2010, there were 1,274 victims served and 179 witnesses served. It is difficult to come up with an exact number of victims /witnesses served per Victim/Witness staff. In addition, it is not possible to determine how many contacts each of those victims /witnesses had with a VW staff. That number is generated by our case management system to tell how many victims /witnesses served per time period. The fact that we have 4 people in the Victim Witness office makes handling the caseload of victims /witnesses more effective and realistic since there are 4 courtrooms and 1 court commissioner in St. Croix County that operate on any given day. In October 2009, the County approved a LTE position for 8 weeks and 20 hours of training to fill in for Selena (Legal Advocate) maternity leave. This LTE was county funded as Selena's first maternity leave was all paid through her PTO. In June, 2010 the County approved a LTE position to fill in for Jill Beskar's maternity leave. This position was partially reimbursed by the State (over 50 %) with the balance funded by a grant. On February 9, 2011 the Public Protection approved filling the LTE positions requested by VW for a total of 14 weeks. Rick Johnson has the discretion as to how the two positions will be structured to equal 14 weeks.