[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6542786,"mediaKeyId","3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5","parentId",3859308,"title","Personnel committee approves minutes and adjourns; no policy votes taken","audioSeconds",47,"startMs",0,"endMs",47000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5&start=0&end=47","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6542786/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Personnel-committee-approves-minutes-and-adjourns-no-policy-votes-taken","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542786-c7127cd94ac01f6d4e506634652f01fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770853788&Signature=DUnKgjMuUQsgUkwnGIETYRuJG4U-Ej1sV4X9wzUsE2Zb6E1QCIB6PHe22dph6dBmY9NZWEc~L2eVa0j4BZ~i15YQ1C~JbOv5mv4XI5FibdxbbsB54Lf7-bx7ZPUuBv2jo4YJCdOXvqPHtW~cA1NqNPGoLZR2DnYYvKDgHyy0YjRAF1UhCT1SeIDE75bGD5efA3T-2~P-Mgh2jWlQuIMdLoGWWDe-xsHdbjproSqc9TkB5DNNyxPgkLHxNVLP5L-qPzYX6ZZqVc5ZnoPs0~gxAU45fLh72nMckhT9u~2JuqNgQ4tVGvxuQdHafitd-WNKFiGnZ~rAhTrqo2bSeP~a5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Castle County","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","The New Castle County Personnel Committee approved the minutes from its Jan. 21, 2025 meeting and then later adjourned on a voice vote at the June 17 meeting. There were no recorded committee votes on ordinances or policy adoptions during the session.

At the start of the meeting Chair Valerie George asked for approval of minutes from Jan. 21, 2025. A motion and second were made, and the minutes were approved on a voice vote. At the meeting's end a motion to adjourn carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: Approval of minutes is routine committee business that ensures an official record; the meeting focused on presentations and discussion rather than votes on ordinances or personnel actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Castle County - Personnel Subcommittee Meeting - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the June 17 New Castle County Personnel Committee meeting the committee approved minutes from Jan. 21, 2025, and later adjourned; no committee votes were recorded on policy or ordinance items that day.","taxTitle","New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",12637,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542791,"Personnel committee launches systematic review of Council handbook; plans phased updates",130,3706000,3836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5&start=3706&end=3836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5/thumbnail_3706000.jpg","/articles/6542791/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Personnel-committee-launches-systematic-review-of-Council-handbook-plans-phased-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542791-7d1a92d5e65d0b8f599580d5c12b8841/orig.mp4?Expires=1770853788&Signature=YueH9s6fxGHUIY-3e5WwuhhQ8F79mn10JUAjTtZLWBKbRLafCMSYlMlHlUq9BqgRKboOQZD9wEGNFIM9yPSPLMnX8oc7Im1SEmngfkXDctzaF3sAIn59ADZgcsCRBnj2Eqjrmnam5TH5CyoVgGD2DEYS~oiATbnEw2FMKZpR0rMe4aGvq9QufG22A26sduS11gmyC51JCaNt0kf8sEoW9ryQhdqLLd1j1o4XxNT4RHokOYhykI1k8GGXrjeuODkhsMAtO19xB4Xbx~hNvbah6C8Rc7kS5k0WRB~av-4d4XR9f-Z3kJg~~9noCiTpbOUePG7ywwSsuMu0ynmbKjUV2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Castle County Personnel Committee on June 17 began a multi-month review of the council's personnel handbook, which the committee described as an eight-chapter, roughly 30-page document that incorporates selected merit-system policies by reference.

Chair Valerie George said the committee and counsel to council worked with the clerk's office and legislative assistants beginning in January to assemble a draft. The committee plans to review sections sequentially over the next several months to produce \"clean legislation\" and ensure cross-references are correct.

\"This document contains council's key personnel policies and incorporates by reference some merit system policies that council has chosen to follow as a best practice,\" George said. The chair said the committee's goal is to finish the systematic review by mid-February and that she will circulate a schedule so members know when items important to them will be discussed. The committee said it will bring in outside counsel for technical issues when appropriate.

Council members asked for explicit references in the handbook to the legal authority for specific policies so staff and new hires can see the statutory or administrative backing for handbook provisions. Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick asked that the handbook identify whether provisions derive from state, federal or county law, and the chair acknowledged that change will be considered during the review.

The committee said draft sections will be brought forward in \"bite-sized pieces\" for discussion at future committee meetings; no formal committee vote was taken on the overall schedule during the June 17 meeting.

Why it matters: The handbook sets expectations and procedures for council staff; an updated, well-documented handbook can reduce confusion, ensure compliance with legal requirements and streamline onboarding.","The New Castle County Personnel Committee said it will systematically review and update the council handbook's eight chapters over coming months, aiming to finish by mid-February and to present topics at future committee meetings in bite-sized segments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542796,"Council counsel proposes new \"legal assistant to Council\" role; committee to consider ordinance next week",1319,2306000,3625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5&start=2306&end=3625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5/thumbnail_2306000.jpg","/articles/6542796/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-counsel-proposes-new-legal-assistant-to-Council-role-committee-to-consider-ordinance-next-week","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542796-41f2249835407c596d5cb502f2a692b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770853788&Signature=SVdjkKnsC8o983wyxQX7KfeBp7G9jZvuCshAZGZGeOhYIgBv08qCBiRpBhpC7C5FknqLU21RbWA9Qt~szLXYIU~RXgHfLjLrnRcaM3zjxhj8PFhlHnHd~xvNKLIVLWv7ao8e5yvJU~Oj8hry~Bvq4MafZkikvAvgQSIW-k0k6THQWDN2r8pUg40RCCg803Ou8-3sOvxnE1p~QP4pDe-X4eF5IObxdZYhLO-bRlwPjXyBQMBZjnSeTiyFmlMDdWz02D2dBj-ukCB-2D9aOrrjThMay~7OfLtCJi1q0ib-~VvZCotbruCIt6LJHfaU-39cDVwdUJdXz~8iSkdGXK-j0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council counsel Mike Migliore told the Personnel Committee on June 17 that he plans to seek formal authorization to reclassify and fill a position to support the Council-to-Council office, proposing the title \"legal assistant to Council\" rather than \"paralegal\" and recommending a pay scale of 27.

Migliore said he spent 18 months assessing office needs and concluded the recent increase in requests for ordinances, resolutions and legal memoranda is likely to be permanent and requires dedicated support. He described three principal functions for the position: organized paralegal-like skills (not necessarily a certified paralegal), legislative drafting and policy work, and subject-matter knowledge to handle complex bills previously requiring multi-year efforts in drafting and coordination with the General Assembly.

Migliore compared existing county pay scales, noting the county attorney's paralegal is at pay scale 25 and a director of policy at pay scale 30; he proposed scale 27 for the new role. He said that if the committee agrees, the reclassification will be brought to council next Tuesday as an ordinance for discussion and possible vote.

Migliore recommended posting the opening internally first to allow current Council office staff to apply, a practice he said the council has used in the past. Several council members voiced support for internal posting and for Migliore's authority to supervise the position. Council members also discussed human-resources review and job-classification process: Councilman Toole asked whether HR would do a job analysis; Migliore said the proposed classification draws from existing paralegal descriptions and the county's HR processes and that positions at or below pay scale 28 do not require an external compensation review.

There was no formal vote at the June 17 committee meeting; Migliore said the ordinance to post and classify the position would be prepared for council consideration next week.

Why it matters: The new role is intended to provide dedicated legal and drafting support for 13 elected council members and to speed legislative support work; council members stressed the position's unique nature due to serving multiple elected officials.","Council counsel Mike Migliore proposed reclassifying an internal paralegal position as \"legal assistant to Council,\" recommending pay scale 27, internal posting for council staff and an ordinance to be introduced next week for formal consideration.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542799,"Institute for Public Administration to deliver nine months of training for New Castle County legislative staff",427,1703000,2130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5&start=1703&end=2130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5/thumbnail_1703000.jpg","/articles/6542799/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Institute-for-Public-Administration-to-deliver-nine-months-of-training-for-New-Castle-County-legislative-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542799-1e61be4cc3681cd28585fe9c76ca4f77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770853788&Signature=LEOhMuHGVl2RnswiqUvDxlAiCtc0hdg9YyVC9~xSWLUwkU-xKulkv-~lGAKzcUqW7bFLjQWxsQqz4efDJ2i112OIBCgHjcCC~xIHJz12vBCKJwco7sURY06dq2aKc8pVnAaMzszUeVF46TGoRqAs7VD8ht16tEFbixSOpHz5RxZvTNvliLVhOqQ6kXMj3yslirwwSfFxClBjRupKOAjBV3MNpEi1FDtOiMW9zFJo73MyF8xqjuYGjUoglp78UARpTDRCshjDu9iPnQkfvdpo5jgj6ZxAPab7wxWQlfE64muffRxpxH0xfnM4bj--6Gj-y04GfCqggF5rJihgc4dOPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Castle County Personnel Committee on June 17 heard a proposal from the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration to provide nine professional-development workshops for county council members and legislative staff in fiscal year 2026.

Sarah Marshall and Chase Barnes of the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) described a program of monthly workshops designed to improve technical writing, meeting efficiency, ethics and public policy research and offered to tailor certain sessions to county-specific items such as legislative-document formatting and parliamentary procedures.

\"We will design, conduct and evaluate nine professional development workshops,\" Sarah Marshall said. IPA plans to deliver workshops in person or via Zoom, provide materials in advance, record sessions and share recordings with the county for future staff use. Chase Barnes said IPA will coordinate pre-meetings to incorporate New Castle County's procedural specifics into the training.

Planned topics listed by IPA include effective meetings and communications, ethics, technical writing and use of Microsoft Office tools, social-media guidance for officials, and a primer on the public-policy process. The instructors said the program is intended to be context-specific; Councilman Carter encouraged emphasizing how New Castle County's structure differs from other municipal governments in Delaware.

Committee members supported the proposal and discussed scheduling considerations; council recess in August was noted and IPA said recorded sessions would allow staff who miss a live session to catch up. The committee did not take a formal vote; presenters said they would follow up to finalize scheduling and materials.

Why it matters: The training is intended to standardize and strengthen legislative support functions and technical skills for staff who support 13 elected council members, with recordings available for onboarding and refreshers.","The Institute for Public Administration at the University of Delaware proposed a nine-workshop professional development program for New Castle County Council members and legislative staff covering communication, ethics and research; workshops will be recorded and tailored to county procedures.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6542804,"New Castle County receives HR audit citing outdated merit code, job descriptions and tech gaps",1542,90000,1632000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5&start=90&end=1632","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859308-3f882570b31a6921b9adfd8069815aa5/thumbnail_90000.jpg","/articles/6542804/New-Castle-County/Delaware/New-Castle-County-receives-HR-audit-citing-outdated-merit-code-job-descriptions-and-tech-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542804-9e7701335ba50d7907fc966ae5edd6ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770853788&Signature=b222TlsahGG5ADuP746VpQesopMEq3dGh59tyiKII9Ai3F5skKQZnxb-mguqQip6hhx4-vXphDOXmSCsdHmuYRV6pD0bPmiXLvaxa7m9lP5-MIgNOnQCPH98DGdOXrCMr9s318uXncXFFTQLqutPU5-~PbDjvPmI6c7dydmeWJHlItbT21CEyJ1FAVrulOa8U4WOHFazMXf9wyM6YDHiOwPmqH4CmQJsM6Rejg0moCz0SSV5ku4PaYowLDZEud5fQ1p3z70vb2z-uh2YPIRAOAPzEkgbJX4RqC0lDYtmjjd9eajLHWUrt7TwrJNjhI4OD68mKlegTqsLRjK1XsfO5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Castle County officials on June 17 heard the results of an independent audit of the county's human resources functions that identified bottlenecks in hiring and recommended policy and technology changes to reduce compliance and operational risk.

The audit, conducted by Blackwell HR Solutions and presented by Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Dusty Blakey and Blackwell CEO Michelle Ray, concluded that the county's merit code and personnel policies were often decades old, that hundreds of job descriptions had not been updated, and that legacy systems such as PeopleSoft and NeoGov were slowing recruiting and onboarding.

Blackwell said the merit code, which governs hiring steps such as notices, required testing and appeals, creates delays because some provisions require waiting until a position is vacated before posting it and require written mailed notices with a 15-day appeal period. \"There's a lot of unnecessary bottlenecks that need to be changed in the code,\" Michelle Ray said during the presentation. Dr. Blakey told the committee the county has experienced \"missteps along the way\" and slow staffing that prompted the audit after Blakey's arrival in February.

The consultants quantified the scope: of roughly 400 county job descriptions, 114 were more than 20 years old and 260 were more than 10 years old, and the audit noted examples such as references to obsolete media in an IT job description. Blackwell also reported nearly 6,000 applicants last year and said the merit code's mailing and documentation requirements consume substantial staff time.

Recommendations presented include updating federal- and local-facing employment policies to ensure compliance (Blackwell cited ADA and HIPAA as examples of policies needing updates), modernizing workforce practices to remove unnecessary candidate constraints, prioritizing a large-scale job-description update, and investing in HR technology and staffing. Ray said some recommendations could be implemented before a full technology replacement, but that a modern HR platform would improve efficiency and could change staffing needs.

Council members asked technical and practical questions. Councilman Carter asked whether the audit provided a row-by-row inventory of deficient policies and job classifications; Ray said a roughly 40-page report was delivered with specifics and that a team member had become \"very, very proficient\" in the county's code. Council members also raised sequencing concerns: whether some policy work should wait until the county completes a planned move away from Oracle/PeopleSoft. Ray said many changes can be implemented independent of a full system migration, though technology will affect final workflows.

A public commenter, Rob Bullock, asked whether the study considered artificial intelligence in recruitment and whether apprenticeship or student pipeline programs were addressed. Ray said AI can be useful for screening but cautioned against using AI to replace core HR roles, and Dr. Blakey said the county is pursuing internships and pipelines with local schools and colleges and hopes to have initiatives in place by fall.

The presentation did not include any formal committee vote on adopting the recommendations. Blackwell and county HR said they would assist with prioritization and next steps.

Why it matters: The audit identifies structural and legal-process constraints that the county says are slowing hires and adding workload. Councilmembers signaled interest in pursuing changes but raised sequencing, staffing and compliance questions that officials say will guide implementation.","A Blackwell HR Solutions audit presented to the New Castle County Council Personnel Committee found operational inefficiencies driven by an antiquated merit code, outdated job descriptions and aging HR technology, and recommended policy updates, job-description reviews and investment in systems and staffing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Personnel committee approves minutes and adjourns; no policy votes taken

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Institute for Public Administration to deliver nine months of training for New Castle County legislative staff

New Castle County receives HR audit citing outdated merit code, job descriptions and tech gaps