Sullivan County HR committee approves staffing, recruitment and military-leave measures as director reports on investigations and insurance

The Sullivan County Human Resources Committee on an October meeting approved a block of resolutions that included creating a grant-funded position and other personnel actions, and separately adopted a resolution extending benefits to county employees called to active military duty.

Julie (last name not specified), who presented the HR report to the committee, said the county “received approval for from civil service for several additional positions to be entered into the HELP program,” adding that employees who had been in competitive titles will become permanent appointed employees in noncompetitive titles. She also reported six active investigations—“1 of them new, 3 of them on the verge of being closed by tomorrow.”

Why it matters: the actions change how some county jobs are filled and how certain positions will be funded or advertised, affecting recruitment for the sheriff’s department and other county services. The committee also approved a benefits change for service members that committee members described as extending existing protections to employees called to active duty.

In her report, Julie noted progress on recruitment and staffing for corrections: “Civil service has introduced a continuous recruitment option for the corrections exam. Right now, that's offered once a year. This continuous recruitment would offer it 3 times a year, so that would give them a continuous pool of new candidates coming in and those folks wouldn't have to wait for the annual exam.” She said the sheriff’s department had expressed interest in taking part.

Julie told the committee the county has two people currently on unemployment billing and praised staff work to limit unemployment exposures: “There's only 2 people on our unemployment, which is, pretty fantastic.” She reported that Medicare premium reimbursements were in process and on track to meet a March goal, that the county’s property-and-casualty coverage is being marketed because of a projected increase, and that the county submitted materials for jail insurance renewal. She also described work with PERMA and NYSAC on a new point system tied to measurable training and safety activities.

On the agenda, committee members agreed to move agenda items 1 through 3 in a single block. A motion to move items 1–3 in a block was made and seconded; the committee approved the block by voice vote.

The committee also approved a resolution to “extend additional benefits to all employees of Sullivan County who have been and will be called to active military duty.” During discussion, a committee member asked whether the extension would be perpetual or time-limited; staff indicated the intent was to extend the policy to qualifying employees rather than reauthorize it annually. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Committee discussion also covered a resolution that creates a position tied to grant funding and a separate procurement step: staff said the grant supports the position and that the county will issue an RFP for mobile crisis services connected to the grant-funded enhancement. One committee member noted both the position and the RFP were covered under the same grant language.

The meeting concluded after additional routine personnel motions, with committee members moving to adjourn.