PUEBLO — Pueblo County commissioners approved a change to the county’s probationary-period policy that allows supervisors to extend an employee’s probationary period up to 180 days when there is an identified, written need.

Director Matthews explained the revision expands the existing policy, which previously permitted extensions only for “extraordinary circumstances,” to allow extensions for documented, identified needs so supervisors have flexibility to help employees succeed. “It just expands the ability to extend the probation … to a written need to extend that probation out up to a hundred and 80 days,” Matthews said.

Action taken: The board moved, seconded and approved item 4c by voice vote; the transcript records “All in favor, say aye.”

What was not specified: The transcript did not include the policy’s specific administrative procedures, examples of qualifying written needs, or whether extensions require additional approvals beyond the department level.