Buncombe County approves updated personnel ordinance, standalone policies and benefits language

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted May 20 to approve revisions to the county personnel ordinance, a new position classification policy and changes to the benefits policy, including updated applicability language for board-approved policies.

Interim Human Resources Director Karen Marshall summarized the multi-year project to separate and clarify policy language that had been embedded in the personnel ordinance. “Starting back in 02/2021 we started the multiyear project to update the personnel ordinance,” Marshall said, describing the work to extract standalone policies for clarity and transparency.

Key changes: the actions before the board combined approval of (1) the revised personnel ordinance, (2) a new position classification policy intended to formalize how classifications and reclassifications are handled, and (3) an amended benefits policy with language tied to recent state action (Marshall referenced House Bill 1020 as a driver for benefits language changes). Marshall also described a standalone workplace violence policy that was previously an appendix but will now be a separate policy with more detailed procedures.

Commissioner Wells sought clarification about which classification actions require board approval and which remain administrative. Marshall explained that adding or deleting entire classes or adding new positions typically comes to the board through budget requests, while routine reclassification of a single position for operational reasons is generally handled at the department level and does not always return to the board.

Public hearing: Chair Amanda Edwards opened the public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke on the item and the board acted that evening. Commissioner Whitesides moved to approve the combined resolution, Commissioner Horton seconded, and the motion carried after an oral vote in favor.

Why it matters: the updates aim to make personnel policies clearer and to codify processes for classification, recruitment/selection, benefits and workplace safety. The new classification policy also clarifies how departments may request reclassifications and when such changes require board action.

Provenance: - topicintro: transcript block starting 1630.255–1631.155 — "We have a public hearing this evening. The first is to consider amendments to the county personnel ordinance, and Carol Karen Marshall is going to give us more information." (Chair Amanda Edwards) - topfinish: transcript block starting 2098.0898–2108.195 — "Those motions have approved. Karen and team, thanks for your work. We appreciate y'all." (Chair Amanda Edwards)