Personnel committee approves several new positions funded by opioid settlement, grants office adds compliance role; votes at a glance

The Milwaukee County Committee on Personnel took multiple personnel actions Tuesday, approving several position‑creation and reclassification requests across departments. The votes — taken individually or by consolidated motion where noted — were recorded unanimously by the four supervisors present.

Items 5, 6 and 8: Countywide MIH team funded by opioid settlement

The committee voted to create a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team funded by opioid settlement dollars. Dan Pojar (listed in the record as EMS division director, Office of Emergency Management) described a proposed team of specialized paramedics and support staff to engage high‑risk patients in nonemergency settings, including people with opioid use disorder and those with chronic conditions who frequently call 911.

The committee approved creation of the following positions (motion by Supervisor Johnson Jr.; roll call aye votes by Supervisors Vincent, Johnson Jr., Wasserman and Chairwoman Loxton): - Item 5: Create 1 FTE MIH social worker, pay grade NR25. - Item 6: Create 1 FTE MIH captain, pay grade NR27. - Item 8: Create 4 FTE MIH clinicians, pay grade NR26.

Pojar said the countywide team would supplement programs run by six of the 12 eligible fire departments and help fill coverage gaps where departments lack manpower or funding.

Item 7: Abolish EMT, create paramedic/trainer (approved)

The committee approved abolishing 1 FTE emergency medical technician (EMT) pay grade NR14 and creating 1 FTE paramedic and trainer pay grade NR20 to recognize and retain an employee who completed the paramedic program and certification (motion by Supervisor Wasserman; unanimous roll call). Dan Pojar said the existing position was funded by operating and by revenue generated from medical services (events such as Fiserv Forum, county zoo and others).

Item 9: Abolish safety program manager; create senior safety specialist (approved)

Adam Abelson, director of risk management, said a vacated safety program manager position provided an opportunity to reconfigure risk management staffing. The committee approved abolishing that position and creating a senior safety specialist to allow greater countywide placement flexibility and to provide clearer career progression within risk management (motion by Supervisor Johnson Jr.; unanimous roll call).

Item 10: Create senior grants compliance manager (approved)

Milwaukee County Comptroller Liz Sumner requested creation of a senior grants compliance manager position in the Comptroller’s office. Sumner said the role responds to findings in a grants audit and to the county’s effort to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement; the position will centralize grant tracking and improve federal reimbursement. The committee approved the creation (motion by Supervisor Wasserman; unanimous roll call).

Item 11: Create community intervention specialist in Housing Services (approved)

Eric Collins Dike, deputy administrator for Milwaukee County Housing Services, requested creation of 1 FTE community intervention specialist for the county’s My Home rental‑assistance program. Collins Dike said the position will be funded from the My Home allocation (no county levy) and is intended to speed housing placements for people exiting homelessness or shelters. The committee approved the position (motion by Supervisor Wasserman; unanimous roll call).

Procedural notes

All approved items were recorded as recommended for adoption by the Personnel Committee and will be forwarded to the appropriate approval channels as required by county procedures. Several items were informational prior to the votes; the MIH positions were explicitly funded with opioid settlement proceeds.

Ending: The committee adjourned after completing a full docket of personnel and informational items. Vote records for each approved item were entered into the meeting minutes.