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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth & Human Services 07-26-01 v REVISED ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Thomas Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Robert Stephens (John Borup, 246-8223) COMMITTEE TITLE: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board DATE: 07/26/01 TIME: 6:30 p.m. LOCATION: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Complex, New Richmond CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 08/14/01 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: 07/11/01 ANNOUNCEMENTS APPOINTMENTS : UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. St. Croix Industries production truck replacement 2. Savings from interruptible gas rate NEW BUSINESS: 1. Personnel Issues 2. Program Reports a. Family and Children's b. Nursing Home 3. Review of HMO Provider Contract Requirements 4. Action on bids to purchase forklift for St. Croix Industries 5. Request to refill vacant positions a. Job Coach-22 hours/week - St. Croix Industries b. Receptionist-15 hours/week - St. Croix Industries c. Public Health Nurse 60% d. Typist II - full time e. AODA Counselor - full time ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: John M. Borup DATE: COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE COUNTY CLERK NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE k ST. CROIX COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BOARD July 26, 2001 The St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board met on July 26, 2001, at the St. Croix County Health and Human Services/Health Center complex. MEMBERS PRESENT: Robert Stephens, Chair Leon Berenschot Chris Bethke Lois Burri Einar Horne Fern Johnson Mary Louise Olson Esther Wentz MEMBERS ABSENT: James Craig, excused STAFF PRESENT: John Borup, Health and Human Services Director Ron Eichstaedt, Director, St. Croix Industries Clark Schroeder, St. Croix Industries Kathy Dunlap, Family and Children's Supervisor Ron Kiesler, AODA/Mental Health Coordinator Steve Kirt, Mental Health/AODA Clinical Services Supervisor Malva Berg, Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Deb Kathan, Personnel Director Chair Stephens, called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. noting the meeting was properly and legally publicized. NEXT MEETING: The next Health and Human Services Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14, 2001 at 8:30 A.M. at the St. Croix County Health and Human Services/Health Center complex. Olson will review vouchers at 8:00 A.M. AGENDA: MOTION: A motion was introduced by Bethke, seconded by Berenschot, and unanimously adopted: That the agenda be approved as circulated. MINUTES: MOTION: A motion was introduced by Berenschot, seconded by Wentz, and unanimously adopted: That the minutes of the 07/11/01 Health and Human Services Board meeting be approved as circulated. PERSONNEL ISSUES: The Personnel Committee met on July 18, 2001 and voted to eliminate all positions that have been vacant for one year from the organizational chart. Borup said some of the positions affected by this action are part of the 2002 budget process. Due to the action by the Personnel Committee, these positions are being brought before the Health and Human Services Board for approval so they may also be forwarded to the Personnel Committee at their August 22 meeting and be included in the Health and Human Services 2002 budget. Kathan said if a position is vacant for 12 months, it is eliminated as a position and if that position needs to be filled at a later time, it will have to be presented as a new position. She said vacant positions need to have a deadline that the position is no longer needed. Requests for new positions are done once a year. Stephens said Health and Human Services has a record of reducing positions in the last 12 years. He said this action was unfair as Health and Human Services has not abused filling vacant positions in the past. He would have preferred the opportunity to testify before the Personnel Committee before this action occurred. Stephens said Health and Human Services has a constant fluctuation in workload due to customer influence and funding. Stephens said this action hurt Health and Human Services and may cost the county monies in the long term Horne said the county has different departments and different services and 1 there has to be one rule for all areas. He said there are more efficiencies in place with computers, etc. that the same staff is not needed today as it was ten years ago. Berenschot asked that presentation be made at the Personnel Committee to see what can be done to change this action. Borup said there was no warning to managers this action was going to take place and that it happened in the middle of the budget process. He said this action takes away motivation to investigate whether an area could move forward without a position when it is vacated. Job Coach-22 hours/week - St. Croix Industries: Eichstaedt said this position was not filled when it became vacant several years ago. He said at that time we were able to use the other three permanent part-time coaches by increasing their time. On-call limited term Job Coaches have been used at times to fill in during vacations or when more than three Job Coaches (bodies) were needed on a given day. It is not always known how much job coaching will be needed due to client job changes, behavior issues, or new referrals. That flexibility is needed. Revenues come from the billing out of the job coaching hours. If more job coaching is needed and know it is going to long-term, the vacant Job Coach position would then be filled. Eichstaedt said State funding for DVR was down last year and DVR eligible clients and funding has increased again this year. Borup estimated salary/fringe costs of $16,396, revenues of $14,593, leaving a County cost of $1,803/year. Motion: A motion was introduced by Horne, seconded by Wentz, and unanimously adopted: That the Board approves the Job Coach-22 hours/week position for St. Croix Industries and will forward to the Personnel Committee for approval. Receptionist-15 hours/week - St. Croix Industries: The permanent part-time non-union Receptionist position became vacant in 2000. There was difficulty filling the position due to the limited hours and time of day. The position duties include monitoring 2-way radio in the late afternoon while the vehicles are on the road, receptionist duties, data entry and word processing. Because the position was not filled, staff had to improvise with the position using another part-time position to monitor the 2-way radio and telephone while performing other unrelated duties within the building. It has not been decided at this time if this will meet St. Croix Industries needs. Some tasks for the Receptionist are not being accomplished such as data entry or client payroll, filing, and word processing and will still need help to get this work done. Borup estimated salary/fringe costs of $12,086 with revenues of $10,756, placing County cost at $1,330/year. Motion: A motion was introduced by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, and unanimously adopted: That the Board approves the Receptionist-15 hours/week position for St. Croix Industries and will forward to the Personnel Committee for approval. Public Health Nurse 50%: Filling this position is contingent on funding from the Jail. There is no cost to Health and Human Services. Public Health has been providing jail health services for years. In 1994 nurse time was at approximately 8 hours per week, by 1996 it had increased to 10 hours per week, then to 12 hours per week, in 2001 it was increased to 16 hours per week and the current request is for 20 hours per week (equivalent to a .50 FTE). These increases in time have been taken out of general Public Health programs. The jail reimburses the department for an hourly rate plus mileage. This amount of PHN time can no longer be provided without the reinstatement of the vacated position. Karen Humphrey is requesting this service and is uncertain of funding. We will withdraw request if they cannot fund. We were planning to fill this position from previously available vacant nurse position. Olson asked the reason for the request for the increase in amount of hours. Wentz said there are more County prisoners with more health problems. Horne questioned why a 50% position is being requested when only four more hours per week are being requested from the jail. Borup said time has been taken from 2 other areas and this work cannot be done without additional staff. Borup again stated that Public Health has held positions open to save money and now needs to fill this position to keep up. Olson asked if only four more hours of PHN time is needed, where will the additional 16 hours be used. Olson questioned outsourcing for RN services to an independent agency. Kathan said this would cost the jail a lot more as has been the experience of the Nursing Home hiring pool staff. Horne asked if the department could walk away from this request if so desired and Borup said we do not have to provide this service. Estimated cost for this service is $33,164/year to be charged to Public Protection. Motion: A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by Berenschot, and adopted with Horne voting no, That the Board approves the Public Health Nurse 50% for jail services and will forward to the Personnel Committee for approval. Typist II - full time: Kiesler said this position was laid off approximate five years ago when client census was decreased. He said we are currently facing a shortage of clerical coverage due to increased referrals across the unit that have increased the demand on clerical support and is requesting this position as part of the 2002 budget process. This position would be shared between Mental Health/AODA and the front office. Salary and fringe costs are $34,888/year with costs savings and revenues of $31,019, leaving a county cost of $3,869/year. Motion: A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by Bethke, and unanimously adopted, That the Board approves the full-time Typist II position for Mental Health and will forward to the Personnel Committee for approval. AODA Counselor - full time: Kiesler said there are currently 10 clients on the waiting list for services dating back to May 4, 2001. There would be no county cost for this position as it would completely fund itself. Salary/fringes are at $47,063/year and $4,000 in travel/office supplies. Revenues estimated at $52,992/year. Motion: A motion was introduced by Burri, seconded by Wentz, and unanimously adopted, That the Board approves the full-time AODA Counselor position and will forward to the Personnel Committee for approval. Borup said the above positions will be included in the 2002 budget, which will be presented at the August 14th Health and Human Services Board meeting. If members have any additional questions regarding the positions, they may be brought up at that time. In other personnel issues, Stephens questioned Kathan regarding the issue of cross-training bookkeepers. Kathan said the cross training is occurring now and the issue is being addressed. Stephens also questioned if negotiations for the next contract would begin before previous contract is resolved. Kathan said this would not happen. The next contract expires 12/31/02. Kathan said final offers for the social workers are being exchanged this week. She said an arbitrator will be assigned and it will take six to nine months to resolve or a voluntary settlement could be reached at any time before the final arbitrator decision. She expects a final decision by the first part of next year. ST. CROIX INDUSTRIES PRODUCTION TRUCK REPLACEMENT: Schroeder said the insurance company wrote the truck off as a total loss. He received two estimates for trucks to replace the production truck. The first truck is a 2002 that meets the exact specs requested and would be delivered approximately in October. The second truck is a 2001 that meets the specs except that it has a manual transmission and would be delivered in approximately four to five weeks. He said the total cost minus the deductible will be covered by the insurance company. The insurance company has agreed to pay for a rental vehicle until a new truck is delivered except that he is currently negotiating with the company regarding possibly splitting the mileage rate. Schroeder said all claims will be submitted to the insurance company and one check will be issued minus one deductible to cover the entire loss. 3 Motion: A motion was introduced by Berenschot, seconded by Bethke, and unanimously adopted: That the Board approves purchasing the 2002 Model 4700 with Marion body production truck for $45,650. FORKLIFT FOR ST. CROIX INDUSTRIES: Schroeder distributed a spreadsheet outlining bids received for a forklift for St. Croix Industries. Motion: A motion was introduced by Stephens, seconded by Wentz, and unanimously adopted: That the Board approves purchasing the Mitsubishi forklift from Herc u Lift for $14,556.00 with trade-in. FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S: Dunlap reported the Child Welfare Assessment has been completed and sent to the State. She thanked Wentz and Berenschot for their assistance in the process. Dunlap said work is continuing on the 2002 budget. She reminded Board members that social worker salaries are currently at 1999 rates as the union contract for the social workers is not settled. Dunlap said her unit is reviewing and assessing the contract with Children's Service Society and have not reached a decision on where to go with this contract. She said foster homes are staying even, a few are lost but a few are gained but have not seen a significant increase or decrease in the number of homes. She said there is not enough time in the current workers' schedules to do this work in-house. Horne felt we needed to stay with the contract for at least one more year. Dunlap said a new type of foster parent training will take place in the near future called "PACE" and has been well received in pilot counties. Dunlap said the revenues for collections for Family and Children's have not been as good as other departments. She said the department has had an increase in high cost placements and families are simply not able to pay for the placements. She anticipates there will be more high-cost placements in the future. Dunlap said a new program named Family Group Decision Making will be implemented soon. This program is intended to try to help families so there are less placement needs. Olson questioned if there was an evaluation process for this program. Dunlap said there is an established curriculum and six staff members will be training for this program. Olson requested a report back to the Board regarding results of this group. Horne questioned the status of Health and Human Services billing for secured detention. Dunlap said we are losing money on this matter. Borup will update the Board on figures in the future. Dunlap said the billing is a way of getting a message to parents that they are responsible for their children. Dunlap said a truancy policy is being issued by the judges. It is being discussed as a zero-tolerance policy. She doesn't know if extra staff will be necessary. We are working with the courts and will keep the Board informed. INTERRUPTIBLE GAS RATE: Motion: A motion was introduced by Horne, seconded by Olson, and unanimously adopted: That the Board approves installing units to switch to interruptible gas rate this summer and pre-buying propane as soon as possible. Health and Human Services will arrange funding. Borup said one-third of cost will be for Nursing Home and two-thirds for Health and Human Services and St. Croix Industries. Horne asked that a report tracking savings be formulated so it can be compared to cost at the non- interruptible rate. REVIEW OF HMO PROVIDER CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: Borup said staff have researched minutes for both County Board and Health and Human Services and have found no documentation that prohibits serving occasional out-of county residents. 4 Stephens asked if there were any other issues to bring before the Board. MOTION: A motion was introduced by Wentz, seconded by Bethke, and unanimously adopted: That the Health and Human Services Board meeting be adjourned. Time: 7:50 p.m. Chairman: Attest: Secretary 5