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Board discusses hiring/termination procedures, take-home vehicles and four-day workweek; staff directed to return with options
Summary
Commissioners held an extended discussion of county personnel oversight, the limits of board authority, take-home vehicle use and a proposed four-day workweek. County attorney and HR staff outlined legal boundaries; commissioners asked the county manager to return with policy options, usage lists and comparative studies.
At the May 1 workshop the board of commissioners held a wide-ranging discussion about personnel policies, the limits of board authority, take-home vehicles and whether certain county departments should move to a four-day (4x10) schedule.
County Attorney staff gave an overview of statutory boundaries under the county-manager form of government: the manager has hiring, supervising and termination authority, while the board’s confirmatory role is limited (the attorney said department-head appointments ‘‘shall require confirmation’’). HR staff described the county’s progressive-discipline process, including documentation, investigatory steps and opportunities for employees to resign before termination. HR also confirmed the county has an internal grievance/appeal process and that labor counsel is consulted for complex or contested terminations.
Commissioners expressed concern about employees who report workplace issues and asked for clarity on grievance avenues and protections. Several commissioners requested clearer, accessible procedures that reassure employees they can raise concerns without fear of reprisal, and asked staff to present specific improvement options.
On take-home vehicles, county manager Terry Ashley said roughly 10 percent or fewer of the county’s ~215 full-time positions currently use a take-home vehicle; he defended careful, limited use for operational needs (public safety, utilities, on-call functions), noted liability and insurance steps (employees must provide proof of insurance naming the county as additional insured), and said staff would provide a list of all take-home vehicles, why each is assigned and mileage/use policies. Commissioners asked staff to produce that list and a budget impact analysis before final policy decisions.
Commissioners debated a four-day 10-hour shift schedule for some field crews (road and bridge, fleet, facilities). The county manager said the county previously shifted crews from a 4x10 schedule to a 5-day schedule because available staffing had declined and on Fridays coverage gaps were frequent; some commissioners argued 4x10 schedules increase productivity and work-life balance for certain crews, while others cited risks such as staggered absences and the difficulty of ensuring service levels on specific days. Several commissioners asked staff to conduct a data-driven study or trial (six-month run) analyzing productivity, overtime, service levels and risks and to return with options.
No formal board action to change personnel policy, take-home vehicle allocations or county working hours was recorded during the workshop; staff were asked to return with written proposals, comparative data, and suggested timelines for policy changes or trials.
