County moves to electronic timecards; HR and IT report staffing and system updates

County staff reported progress on payroll and timekeeping changes, website postings and human-resources items.

IT and human-resources staff said the county has switched to electronic timecards (Edmonds payroll/timecards) for county employees, with salaried staff (e.g., department heads) not required to enter timecards. IT staff said audio recordings of commissioner meetings are now posted on the county website alongside agendas and minutes. One staff member (probate) who reviewed posted recordings said microphone quality was uneven and that only one microphone appeared to be working in the previously posted meeting audio.

HR reported work to set up approved pay increases for the coming payroll, and an HR manager job description was written in anticipation of an internal promotion. HR staff asked for coverage and said they will send out a promotion notice before a leave of absence. The HR speaker reported discussing a potential third-party administrator for paid family medical leave and said the county is exploring whether a third-party administrator could produce cost savings. The speaker noted deadlines tied to grant/benefit timing and the need to present materials to commissioners by mid-July to meet a July 31 deadline.

Why it matters: moving to electronic timekeeping affects payroll accuracy and reporting. Posting audio increases transparency but may require microphone or audio-quality fixes. Potential adoption of a third-party administrator for paid family medical leave would change how leave is administered and could affect county costs and HR operations.

Provenance: statements drawn from IT and HR reports and exchanges in the meeting transcript.