Committee approves several personnel and classification changes, waives temporary-pay waiting period for sheriff’s chief deputy

The Milwaukee County Committee on Personnel on Jan. 14 approved multiple personnel actions related to classification and staffing changes. Votes were recorded on five items brought before the committee:

• WRS liaison position (item 3): The committee adopted a resolution to abolish one FTE Specialist (HR system/compensation) and create one FTE Total Rewards Operations Analyst (to serve as the WRS liaison required by state WRS implementation/Act 12). Director Tony Mays said the change uses funding already allocated and will save the county money compared with the prior position. Supervisor Johnson Jr. moved adoption; the motion passed 4–0.

• Waiver for sheriff’s chief deputy temporary-pay waiting period (item 4): Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball requested the county board waive Chapter 17.085(1)(c) of the temporary-assignments policy so Inspector Brian Barco would receive higher pay retroactive to when he began performing chief deputy duties. Ball said Inspector Barco had been acting in the role since Oct. 8 and was appointed Nov. 3 while Chief Deputy Dan Hughes was hospitalized following a double lung transplant. Supervisor Martin moved approval; the committee approved the waiver 4–0 and asked Ball to keep the board informed of Chief Deputy Hughes’s condition.

• ARPA-funded program and evaluation analyst FTE (item 5): Ashley Adsit, director of project and performance management in the Office of Strategy, Budget and Performance, asked to create one FTE program and evaluation analyst in the project management office to support phase two of an ARPA evaluation covering about 73 projects. Supervisor Johnson Jr. moved adoption; the committee approved the creation 4–0. The position will be funded from previously designated ARPA evaluation funds and will not affect the tax levy.

• EMS classification change (item 6): Dan Pojer, EMS division director in the Office of Emergency Management, requested abolishing one FTE EMS captain (pay grade 27M) and creating one FTE EMS operations manager (pay grade 34M). Pojer said the change reflects expanded managerial needs, including oversight tied to a five-year Fiserv Forum agreement, fleet expansion and the county’s recently introduced whole-blood program for field care. Supervisor Martin moved adoption; the committee approved the change 4–0.

• IMSD staffing alignment (item 7): Matt Johnson, director of governance for the Department of Administrative Services’ Information Management Services Division, requested abolishing one manager, network position and creating a supervisor, infrastructure services position to realign job titles and responsibilities after the 2024 compensation study and the 2025 budget. Supervisor Martin moved adoption; the committee approved the change 5–0 (Supervisor Vincent was recorded present and voting on this item).

Each item included a roll call; recorded votes matched the tallies above. Committee members asked departmental representatives for follow-up reports where appropriate, including operational details, implementation timelines and assurances that actions fall within existing budget allocations.