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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-09 S 1QttQ for Newsletter ' .. '' '' :.:.:•:.:.'. . .i. ..:10. ..1::1.1.:If. .1.i ::.! ':'''' ' '''' A 0 Employees and Retirees I s d Qt v R P Y of Tompkins County Y ] .. .. , September 1992 Volume V No. V tot er a Recycled Y paper SO LONG, "MR. H." w , ,.: by Louise McEwen, Personnel 0 , September 30, 1992, marks the end of Hugh Hurlbut's career as the Ititt Tompkins County Commissioner of Personnel. "Mr. H." is retiring and -; hopefully will enjoy a bit more leisure time during the weeks and years to a come! t�� In December of 1966, Hugh Hurlbut was hired as Tompkins County's �„ , 0 Commissioner of Personnel, the second person to hold that title in the °k- County structure. He was hired to administer salaries, benefits and Civil Service for all County employees which at that time also included about , 500 County Hospital employees. In March of 1967, I came to work for 3 "Mr.H." in Personnel. A book could be written on changes in personnel, labor relations, employee benefits and salaries, employees' attitudes„', X / -' . . towards the County and their jobs, and the list goes on and on. Just one . '� , . . ` example - the 1968 "employee package" consisting of one page plus a salary ' '; schedule had 28 labor grades, all jobs ranged from a low of $1.51 per hour '... x .,t'' to a whopping $5.87 per hour for the Director of Public Health Nursing! ` ' ' "`` i. .r �y _ That was our "contact "! Over the years, of course, with the inception of the ; , ` , 4 , Taylor Law providing for collective bargaining and other changes in t " „ "'�. '”" '' ' employer /employee relations, Hugh Hurlbut has attempted to administer - ' „-.,:.•; . .,.. Personnel to the best of his ability. Human resources is not an "easy row 5 i. , " to hoc" nor is it a popularity contest, and decisions must be made with the _ ' . , , . �s employee in mind but in a manner which is consistent and fair because it », may set a precedent for other employees. County government is losing an employee who has done much to further Civil Service administration, negotiations, grievance settlements and many other areas of this compli- cated animal called "personnel ". Much of this work has been done in a quiet fashion, and most people probably don't realize the time and effort which has gone into building the Personnel Department over the past 26 years <. - ,' with "Mr. H." as the Commissioner. First Place Winners of the Barrel Decoration Contest 1 personally will miss the expertise and guidance which I've been accus- left: Lena DiPaolo Probation tomed to, and I know many employees would agree with that. From me to right: Nancy Krebs DSS cl you, "Mr. H." and on behalf of many County employees who've worked with you over the years - we wish you a happy and healthy retirement for many years to come. And we thank you for all you've done for the County FROM YOUR... during your tenure. Good Luck, and Enjoy! WELLNESS COMMITTEE Just a quick note -- FLU CLINICS will be scheduled by the Health Department beginning in October. Total cost ', ''fi?Se'f - will be $5.00 for employees and the Wellness Program is . i:i � _..cam /C_ l _ happy to subsidize this at $2.50 so the employee will pay . ,,, r _ yj only $2.50 for this important protection foi the winter of 1992 -93. More publicity will follow from the Health Depart- ment. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT HEALTH INSURANCE COST- A PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE / t i by: Scott Heyman -County Administrator 1 .-��=i,ce�.- This week's question from a County employee is anonymous: What can I as an individual, or County employees as a group, do to reduce the cost of health insurance or to decrease future increases ?Are other health plans offered either through Blue Cross or elsewhere? Would self - insurance be a better idea? When we became aware in late spring that health insurance premiums for employees and County government would again increase 25 percent over the previous year, a number of steps were taken: The Benefits Manager, Louise McEwen, began to investigate increases in health costs for other major local employers. The Commissioner of Personnel approached CSE and asked whether CSEA was willing to agree to benefit reductions in return for a lower premium beginning July 1 of this year. CSEA canvassed its members and decided not to agree to any reductions in coverage, or increases in co -pays for the prescription card. As soon as enough information has been gathered from other major employers to determine whether County health costs have gone out -of -line, alternatives will begin to be investigated. This is a very complicated process that we have undertaken in the recent past. A professional in the health insurance field will probably have to be hired to assist us to look at other health insurance programs and to look at health insurance costs. There is a strong likelihood that the current contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield is as good as we are going to get; the reason is that other private insurers must now pay 25 percent more for covered costs than Blue Cross /Blue Shield, by State law, and because private insurers are no longer permitted by the State of New York to "target" their coverage, or "cream" the least expensive insureds, and leave Blue Cross/Blue Shield to insure the higher -risk individuals. Another reason is it may not be possible to find cheaper coverage is that the County currently, for all intents and purposes, "self- insured" through Blue CrossBlue Shield. We pay for what we use. Many people, including yours truly, have concerns about the level of administrative costs charged by Blue Cross /Blue Shield. In spite of those costs, however, the advantages noted above that the Blues enjoy usually outweigh this disadvantage. If any employee, as an individual, feels that steps should be taken to increase the prescription co -pay or to make some reductions in coverage, you should communicate this to the leadership of the employee group of which you area part. **************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * ** * * * * * ** * ** * * ** ** * *r The agency shop fee is about to arrive in Tompkins County. The Legislature of the State of New York has approved, and the Governor has signed, Legislation mandating that all County employee who are represented by any union or employee association that functions like a union must pay an "agency shop fee" whether they belong to that group or not. All County employees who will be affected by this will be contacted directly by the union involved, not by county government; a recent Supreme court ofthe e United States decision requires that unions communicate directly to affected employees what they must pay, what it is for and why. Many people have strongly opposed and favored the imposition of the agency shop fee requirement. Opponents argue that the decision whether to be a member of, and pay money to, a bargaining unit should be an individual one for employees. Unions have been contending for many years that since the Taylor Law of the State of New York requires that employees be represented, and since representat costs money, it is appropriate for the persons who are receiving benefits of representation to pay for this and not to take a "free ride" on the backs of those who do. Irrespective of how anyone may feel about this debate, it has been settled by the government of the State of New York. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ANNUAL COUNTY PICNIC!!! 8 w, -. , r , ‘. i . eA 0 i '"*- , ^. K 1 -< s, Cornell Cooperative BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Extension THE WORK OUT FOR WELLNESS 1992!! NEW T.V. SHOW "INSIDE TOMPKINS COUNTY" ON CABLE 53 • Last year Tompkins County employees had 20 teams in the "Work Out For Wellness ". Inside m s County" is a new This year the County Wellness Committee wants to make it easier and more exciting television program which aired for the first time on Tuesday, September 8 on TCTV 53, for our employees to join in the fun and fitness. We will have our own competition, as our local government access channel. "In- well as competing with other worksites throughout the community. side Tompkins County" is part of the recent- • In addition to paying the $4.00 per person entry fee, the Wellness Program has ly formed public information program contributed the prizes for top county teams - 1st Place; dinner at Jay's Clinton Hall designed to better educate residents about County programs, people, and services. Cafe, and 2nd Place; lunch at Jay's!! The one -hour magazine format show fea- What is it? tured stories about County employees and • Each participant gets their choice of a fanny pack, a golf hat or a water bottle. services including Frank Chase on rabies, Dan Drew on home burglary protection, • Each participant receives a pass to visit each of the 4 fitness clubs in Ithaca 5 times Bara Hotchkiss on recycling, and the road (that's 20 visits in all)! construction project on East Hill with Jim Eligibility for random prize drawings throughout the 5 weeks of the program. Viewers also saw County staff select g' Y P ram. g P g ing art work for the new transit facility. • An invitation to attend a "Playday" with your family and friends at Helen Newman Hall Inside Tompkins County is being on October 11th. Volleyball tournament, aerobics, food, prizes, and other activities will produced for the County by Julie Crowell, be offered (more information on this later) Cornell Cooperative Extension; and Terry • The opportunity to take the "Next Step" and get into better shape. Harbin, Tompkins County Public Library. Tompkins County Reps. Barbara Mink and How do you sign up? James Mason serve as advisors to the • Just fill out the form below and send it to the Healthy Heart Program by inter - project. departmental mail. This is not an entry form, you will receive entry materials if you send Twice a month new programs will be in this form. Send by September 21st. a 7 m shown on Tuesdays Produced dsh 0 o Tuesd P and P• n Board of f Tompkins County oa d o week after ee ate th P Y will meetings. Shows w be ee t . S Representatives ..................... ............................... at Bated on Thursdays 9 r o e P p.m. The next da Sept. 22 on e featured o ues s show will be at 7 P.m. If You subscribe to basic cable services American Community Cablevision will provide you with a free converter box so you can receive channel 53. Video tapes of Inside Tompkins County will be available at the Library as well. EMPLOYEE COUNCIL FROM COFA... August 31, 1992 Regina McGriff, SSI Outreach Coordinator for the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, Elections for officers of the Employee has been awarded the Social Security Public Service Award for her outstanding efforts in Council were delayed until the next meeting the SSI Outreach Program. to enable nominees to speak with employees and present their ideas regarding the The SSI Outreach Program, initiated by the Social Security Administration, was a joint priorities of the Council. The following effort with other social service agencies to seek out potentially eligible individuals for members were nominated: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI pays monthly benefits to those who are Chair: Henry Chan 65 or older, blind, or disabled and don't own much or have a lot of income. The Primary Cheryl Nelson goal of the Outreach Program was to deliver benefits to all eligible individuals. Vice - Chair: Frank Justice Secretary: Leighann Baldwin Ms. McGriff has been instrumental in seeking out numerous potential beneficiaries, Pat Nowakowski including blind or disabled children and adults as well as those age 65 and older who come in contact with her agency. This screening and referral process has resulted in a high Bylaws were adopted and sent to the percentage of cases being approved for SSI benefits and an improved quality of life for Board of Representatives for their approval. many who otherwise may not have been aware of the SSI program. Meeting days were changed to the first In appreciation of the. role that Ms. McGriff has played in this program she was presented Wednesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. with the Social Security Public Service Award on Thursday, August 27, at 11 am at the 11:00 a.m. in the Biggs A Conference Room. Tompkins County Office for the Aging. * *wt mwc tine nri11 hw (lntnh.r'7 EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION by Louise EcEwen, Benefits Manager The following County employees have recently been recognized for completing 5,10,15, or 20 years of service with Tompkins County during 1992. Congratulations to all ojou, and thank you for all your good work and being a part of the team effort in Tompkins County. 3 FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS �':{nhVp0000o00oP%+N r�`400400C O...{(.;q r ..,,M \. 73., : Doreen Lauper Assigned Counsel Mary Call Board of Representatives Cindie Day Budget & Finance Stuart Stein Board of Representatives Michael Armstrong Central Services Barbara Hazard District Attorney Lisa Eaton Purchasing Helen Beach Comptroller Sharon Cooper Assessment Robert Mulvey County Attorney Russell Klinger Assessment Joann Drake (retired) Sheriff Victoria Wagner Assessment Ronald Lampman Sheriff Merrilleen Wilcox Assessment Margaret Arcangeli Probation Joline Hendrix County Clerk George Youngling Probation Michael Manickham County Clerk Beverly Knapp Sheriff Elizabeth Smith County Clerk Charles Parsons Fire & Disaster Katherine Cornell County Clerk Susan Pesco Health Elizabeth Cree Elections Karen Burlew Mental Health Shirley Fritts Public Works Paula Austic Mental Health Scott Hemenway Public Works Judith Oneil Mental Health David Bush Sheriff Oloerua Carter Social Services Jill Gerber Probation Sharon Prezioso Social Services David Wolf Probation Harold Mednis Planning Robert Babcock Sheriff Steven Mente Public Works Harry Hawk Sheriff Matthew Whittemore Public Works Joseph Sorberger Sheriff James Sperger Sheriff Charles Smithers Fire & Disaster Laura Ellis Health FIFTEEN YEARS Onnalee Empson Health Judy Healey Health Sheila Ferrari Purchasing & Central Services Sandra a Norton Health Anita Fitzpatrick Personnel Sand Polce Health John Andersson Health Michelle Sturm Health Anthony Deluca Mental Health Cynthia inia Lamb Health Maida Gierasch Mental Health Lucinda Mallery Health Thomas Weber Social Services Denise Kooperman Mental Health Ernestine Wright Social Services Henry Chan DSS Michael Carlisle Public Works Cindy r Cummings DSS Sandra Clark DSS Richard Jackson Public Works Kathleen Drew DSS Eleanor Frandsen DSS Cheri Hartman DSS TWENTY YEARS Louis Loiselle DSS Rhonda Myer DSS James Myers DSS Michael Day Sheriff Dianna Crane Office for the Aging John Miller Fire & Disaster James Kazda Public Works Cheryl Conover Health Rodney Besemer Public Works Edwin Breese Public Works Roger Ganoung Public Works Sandra Draghi Airport Robert Lauper Public Works Martin Adams Public Works Roger Hile Public Works Edward McKane Public Works David Tanner Public Works PLATFORM OF CHERYL NELSON FOR EMPLOYEE COUNCIL CHAIR As Employee Council Chair I hope to gather employee support of the council by: A. Conducting organized effective council meetings by following the bylaws and rules of the council. B. Hold periodically scheduled informal meetings (lunch breaks, etc.) with council members and their respective employee groups to hear concerns and comments first hand for the sake of expediency, accuracy, and reduction of questionnaires and surveys. C. Acting as a liaison to the Board of Representatives for the purpose of addressing and clarifying employee and council issues. D. Promoting open communication for the betterment of county employees, the county as an employer, and to boost the morale of the County work force. Employees need to feel confident that they may ask questions and seek information regarding their work without fear of reprisal, reprimand, or "putdown." Why Should Cheryl Nelson be Employee Council Chair? She has 171/2 years of service with Tompkins County in the Public Works Department. She started as a Typist, moved to Sr. Account Clerk Typist, then to her present position of Public Works Administrator. Her experience of "coming up through the ranks" has been very valuable to her. It has taught her that county departments and agencies would not function without support and technical staff, and that these employees are the "backbone" of county government. However she has also seen that these same employees' concerns are often sugar coated, altered, or lost in the chain of communication from the first link to the last. It is not so much the end point that concerns employees as it is the process that takes place in between. She feels that Tompkins County employees need to feel confident in county processes and that they are treated fairly and equally. As Employee Council Chair, she plans to be sure that employees' concerns and issues are fairly heard and understood by the Board of Representatives and that subsequent results are fed back to the employees with a full explanation as to why the particular result was chosen. Employees who feel their suggestion or issue was treated fairly will prompt other employees to follow suit and make county employees the County's strongest asset. She will promote the continuation of the Communication, Reward and Recognition, Human Resources, and Professional Growth and Development Committees, She also feels that two new committees should be formed; those being a Bylaws Committee and a Recruitment Committee. The Bylaws Committee would be responsible for council action, then dispersing final copies when acted upon by the council. The Recruitment Committee would be responsible for seeking employees to fill vacant council memberships. She also would seek approval for the other employee committees (Wellness, Vending, Safety, etc.) to be represented at regular Employee Council meetings to relay information from these committees that may be pertinent to the work of the Employee Council. Be sure your Employee Council Representative votes for Cheryl Nelson for Chair of the Employee Council. * * * * ** * * * * * * **** * *** *** * ** * * * * ** ***************************************** ** *** * * * * ** **** ** ** * * * ** *** * *:k I* ** :►* Henry Chan was also nominated for Chair of the Employee Council. County Corridors contacted him, to give him an equal opportunity to state his platform. He had no comment at the time of printing. v „ 4 . ,P -hiail1lG. 7'' FROM T iii l t ' tt 7 1111161 o Ar :.�.. • � a r ii CLASSIFIEDS � . . ,, A � 'r lat: FOR SALE: 9 iece queen - size *i * " A # per: bedroom suite (includes desk) and box springs and mattress, basically _,, :- F - new $500, couch and chair still looks great $50, "Fuji Royal" 10- Thursday, October 15, 1992 speed bike $100, Stereo $40, Call 10 am - 1 pm 272 -2204 evenings. Pyramid Mall - Ithaca / Ithaca, NY ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE for Small Businesses. DATA Meet with area employers DIRECTIONS 844 -3774. Discuss your skills cm Learn about available jobs or ones projected for the near future TYNYK ORIGINALS ex- <z2) Explore your opportunities perienced seamstress specializing ( p in wedding and formal attire for women of all ages. Reasonable �' g : ....if you are looking for work, the 55+ Job Fair is a great opportunity I price quotes and assistance in • You will be able to informally talk with company representatives. material selection. For more infor - y Social Security staff will answer questions about earning limits and mation, call 564 -9244 evenings and more. Learn about services available from the NYS Department of weekends. k ' 4 Labor and area training programs. WANTED: Plastic Model Cars. {h: ! •' Fre - 10 Copies of Preferred from 50's Call Ber your Resume y nie 657 - 8184 v • Packet of Job Search Tips FOR RENT: One bedroom BEFORE THE FAIR . , . apartment. Interlaken. Yard /Park- ing. $265.00 Plus. Deposit Re- Prepare to meet employers by quired. Anita 532 -9556. Prepare 1 attending a workshop. To Work or Not To Work...Affer 55? Workshop will cover deciding •.)n a job goal, earning limits and Social Security, where and PERSONNEL PERSONALS how to look, surviving an interview, tips for resemes and more. Tuesday October 6th NEW GRANDPARENTS 9am - 12 noon John Huether-Sheriff's Inves Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County tigator Grandson Steven Weaver 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, N.Y. was born 7/7/92 Crake Dey Street Exit off Route 13 going toward the city. Take first right onto Lincoln Street, Cooperative Extention Building is next to AAA. Parking and entrance at rear of building off Willow Ave.) SPECIAL NOTES Advance workshop registration is not required, but will help us in our planning. My apologies to Keith Reynolds Call 277-0148 for his name error that appeared in last month's newsletter. Co- Sponsors: Iomok County OMce for Aging icmpkins County Chomoer of Commerce tamokuu County Area Development. Inc Tompkins County Employment and Training Challenge Industries. Inc. NYS Depatrtment of Labor From the Editorial Board Complete and mail to : COUNTY CORRIDORS has Tompkins County Office for Aging, 309 North Tioga Straet, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 been in existence for more than four years and we have never Please register me for the To Work or Not To Work" workshoo. received a letter to the Editor....Are I will attend the To Work or Not to Work' workshop we doing that good of a job? We'd i I cannot attend the workshop, but pion to come to the Job Fair really like to hear from you. Nome: phone: Send us your most amusing work Address: related stories. Please change the - names to protect the innocence City /State: Zip: the guilty also.