The Personnel Committee met in Room 874 of the Albemarle Building at 11:30 a.m. on the above date. Present were:Patrick McCoy, Office of State Personnel; Dianne Gallimore, Alamance County; Keli Greer and Cathie Bradshaw, Forsyth County; Colleen Turner, Gates County; Rhonda Hughes, Greene County; Jacqueline McLeod and Reta Shiver, Pender County; Jim Atkinson, Watauga County; Tony Beaman, Haywood County; Roy Young, Union County; Jack Jones, Lenoir County; Pat Cameron, Harnett County; Jerry Rhodes, Washington County; Bill Scarlett, Cumberland County; Henry Hayes, Warren County; Lori Lancaster, Wilson County.

Co-chairman Jack Jones welcomed the group. He reviewed the agenda and asked Patrick McCoy to give an update from the Office of State Personnel. Mr. McCoy mentioned the policy guidance that had been given concerning workplace harassment. There now exists a process for grievances that extends coverage to employees subject to Chapter 126. He also discussed some of the training modules that will be part of a comprehensive training package for 2003. The list included classification training, supervisory training, Interaction Management, and Workmen’s Compensation laws. The data has been compiled to produce a report of the average salary paid for classifications in local social services agencies.

The minutes of the September meeting were approved following motions by Reta Shiver and Jim Atkinson. Jack Jones reported that SB 1238/HB 1529 was enacted by the General Assembly. This legislation allows local government employees to purchase withdrawn service in the State Retirement System.

Roy Young shared some changes the co-chairs were proposing to the Personnel Committee’s Scope of Work. The amendments were approved for submission to the Executive Board.

The committee reviewed the draft job specifications that were written for two positions following the Work First Personnel Study: Human Resources Placement Specialist (Grade 63) and Community Employment Case Manager (Grade 66). Of particular interest to the group were the “Minimum Education and Experience” requirements for each classification. The committee agreed to approve the recommended job specifications with two minor changes: (1) under the “Difficulty of Work” section of the Human Resources Placement Specialist, the wording “mentally handicapped (or challenged)” was substituted for “mentally retarded.” (2) under the “Training and Experience” section of the Community Employment Case Manager, it was suggested to add experience as a Human Resources Placement Specialist. The committee further expressed concern that while the Community Employment Case Manager offered local DSS’s more flexibility to staff Work First functions, the grade assigned to the position was equivalent to a Social Worker II (66). Members were concerned that because the new position did not require a college degree that there was the potential to “erode” the Social Work classification in the future. The committee’s action was to be shared with the Executive Board on October 10.

The next meeting is scheduled for December 11 at 11:30 a.m. With no further business, the meeting adjourned.