Meade County defers leave‑policy action pending HR counsel and executive session

Meade County commissioners postponed action on a proposed leave policy after HR staff and union representatives raised questions about how a two‑week short‑term disability period would be covered and whether sick‑bank donations exist to backfill time off.

Deborah Bransford, Meade County HR, said the county has not received any sick‑bank donations in nearly three years and that new hires would need two weeks of peer and local training before becoming fully certified. Commissioners asked that the HR attorney review an emailed inquiry from James and return guidance before the commission takes further action.

Speaker 6 asked about the balance in the sick bank; Bransford said she would need to check. Multiple commissioners agreed to delay substantive changes until legal counsel had reviewed union‑related questions. The item was placed on a future agenda and the commission limited public discussion time on the subject to 15 minutes at the next meeting.

Next steps: the commission will await written guidance from the HR attorney, revisit the leave policy and consider any recommended changes in a future open meeting after executive session discussion.