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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD MINUTES 03-04-97 57 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT HELD ON MARCH 4, 1997 The District Board of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District convened in an adjourned regular session at 1250 Spring brook Road, Walnut Creek, County of Contra Costa, State of California, at 6:00 p.m. on March 4, 1997. President Menesini called the meeting to order and requested that the Secretary call roll. 1. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Members: Rainey, Nejedly, Hockett, Boneysteele, Menesini ABSENT: Members: None 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS Member Rainey reported that the District received the Boy Scouts Environmental Achievement first place award for the Sewer Squad Elementary School Program. Mr. Roger J. Dolan, General Manager-Chief Engineer, stated that the District also received a number of awards from the San Francisco Bay Section of the California Water Environment Association. This item has been calendared on the March 6, 1997 Board agenda. President Menesini reported that over 100 people attended the Workshop on the Non- Point Source Program for the Martinez Watershed on March 3, 1997. The meeting wás well attended and progress is being made in the effort to bring all of the people in the community together to look at programs to share in the care of the watershed. 3. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE/BOARD WORKSHOP a. AUTHORIZE FILLING VACANT NETWORK COORDINATOR POSITION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT Mr. Paul Morsen, Deputy General Manager, presented the request for authorization to fill the vacant Network Coordinator position. Following discussion, it was moved by Member Hockett and seconded by Member Rainey, that authorization be given to fill the vacant Network Coordinator position in the Administrative Department. There being no objection, the motion was unanimously approved. b. AUTHORIZE FILLING VACANT ASSOCIATE ENGINEER POSITION IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT GROUP Mr. Robert A. Baker, Deputy Chief Engineer, requested that the Board authorize filling the vacant Associate Engineer position in the Infrastructure Division, Construction Management Group. It was moved by Member Hockett and seconded by Member Rainey, that authorization be given to fill the vacant Associate Engineer position in the Infrastructure Division, Construction Management Group. There being no objection, the motion was unanimously approved. Mr. Dolan, General Manager-Chief Engineer, stated that Mr. Baker has a prior commitment and must leave the meeting early. Mr. Dolan requested that the Board take Item 3.d.3) Engineering Department Personnel Requests for 1997-1998 out of order at this time. President Menesini proceeded to Item 3.d.3). 03 04 97 58 d. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL REQUESTS - 1997-1998 3) Enaineerina Deoartment Mr. Baker, Deputy Chief Engineer, presented the Engineering Department Personnel Requests for 1997-1998, noting that if the Board approves these requests the total number of authorized positions in the Engineering Department will increase by one. Following discussion, the Board received and endorsed the Engineering Department Personnel Requests for 1997-1998. At this time, President Menesini reverted to the order of the agenda. c. DISTRICT SAFETY UPDATE Mr. Charles W. Batts, Plant Operations Department Manager, presented a District Safety update. Mr. Batts stated that the Safety functions of the District are being reorganized in light of the recent departure of the Safety and Loss Control Specialist in the Administrative Department. Two alternatives are being explored. In the initial alternative, safety functions would be centralized in the Plant Operations Department (POD) with support being provided to each department. After discussion with various work groups, safety teams, and employees throughout the District a new alternative emerged. In the new alternative safety staff which is currently in the two line Departments would remain where they are. The POD Operations Safety Specialist would assume responsibility for plant operations and household hazardous waste, while the Collection System Operations (CSO) Department Operations Safety Specialist would be responsible for all field safety including construction and contractors safety activities. The function of safety support and external reporting would be assigned to the POD Manager. Discussion followed in which Members Rainey and Hockett endorsed the present alternative under consideration. President Menesini asked if any comparative work had been done to determine how other agencies handle safety functions in terms of structure, staffing, and so on. Mr. Batts stated that the District has had an award winning program. Benchmarking has indicated that the District program has been used by many agencies as a model, though most agencies the size of the District have only one safety professional. Member Boneysteele stated that he previously expressed concern about accountability with regard to the safety program. Member Boneysteele stated that the present alternative under consideration has no accountability. Mr. Dolan, General Manager-Chief Engineer, stated that as in the past, there is a chain of command responsibility for safety passing from the General Manager-Chief Engineer to the Department Managers through the supervisors to each employee. Member Boneysteele stated that there is still no central accountability except with the General Manager-Chief Engineer. Member Boneysteele stated that by its nature, safety is a staff responsibility enforced by supervisors. Member Boneysteele stated that he has very serious concerns about the present alternative. Mr. Batts stated that he would have overall safety responsibility. In addition, there would be a safety professional in POD and one in CSO to serve as resources. Following discussion, Mr. Batts stated that a safety audit will be performed by an outside consultant, Pacific Safety Solutions. The consultant will look at the District's safety structure and make recommendations which will be considered in the final recommendation made to the Board. Mr. Batts stated that he hoped to return to the Board in 4 to 6 weeks with a firm recommendation after the safety audit has been completed and all of the input has been received. Messrs. Dolan and Batts thanked the Board for their advice and guidance. d. RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL REQUESTS - 1997-1998 Copies of the Personnel Budget requests for Fiscal Year 1997-1998 had been previously distributed to the Board. Ms. Cathryn Freitas, Human Resources Manager, provided an 03 04 97 59 overview of the personnel requests as set forth in the Personnel Budget, noting that the total number of authorized regular positions in the District will decrease by three from last year. 1 ) Administrative Deoartment Mr. Paul Morsen, Deputy General Manager, reviewed the Administrative Department Personnel Requests for 1997-1998 as detailed in the Personnel Budget presented to the Board. The proposed job description for the Public Information and Production Assistant 1/11 position was discussed. President Menesini stated that the job description was vague. Following discussion, Mr. Dolan stated that when this item is brought back to the Board for further consideration, a narrative will be provided to describe the anticipated near term duties of this position in more detail; however, because of the potentially changing nature of the work to be assigned to this position, staff would recommend preserving flexibility in the job description. President Menesini also requested that the Community Education Officer develop specific goals and objectives for the program including a budget. Mr. Dolan stated that staff intends to return to a future Board meeting for further discussion and Board guidance. 2) Plant Ooerations Deoartment Mr. Charles W. Batts, Plant Operations Department Manager, reviewed the Plant Operations Department (POD) Personnel Requests for 1997-1998, noting that the authorized staffing for POD is proposed to decrease by one during the coming year. The Board endorsed the proposed personnel requests and authorized the filling of one vacant Utility Worker position as set forth in the 1997-1998 Personnel Budget. 3) Enaineerina Deoartment This item was taken out of order earlier in the agenda. 4) Collection Svstem Ooerations Deoartment Mr. John A. Larson, Collection System Operations Department Manager, presented the Collection System Operations Department Personnel Requests for 1997-1998, reducing authorized staffing at CSO by three positions. The Board endorsed the proposed personnel requests. 5) Co-Oo Student Budget Ms. Freitas, Human Resources Manager, presented the request to hire students to fill thirteen positions in the Co-Op Program, four more than last year. The four additional Co-op positions are for Work Redesign, the Safety Section, the Planning Division, and the Infrastructure Division. The Board's endorsement was received. e. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES Ms. Freitas, Human Resources Manager, requested authorization to hire 41 seasonal employees in Fiscal Year 1997-1998. Thirty-nine student positions were requested last year. The Board endorsed the request and agreed that this matter be calendared for Board consideration on March 20, 1997. f. DECERTIFICATION ELECTION Mr. Morsen, Deputy General Manager, reported that the decertification election will be held on March 12, 1997. Results will be available that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. 03 04 97 60 g. MANAGEMENT SUPPORT/CONFIDENTIAL GROUP (MS/CG) SALARY SURVEY CONDUCTED BY SHANNON DAVIS & ASSOCIATES Mr. Morsen, Deputy General Manager, stated that one of the demands of the Management Support/Confidential (MS/CG) is to implement a salary survey that was commissioned by MS/CG. The District has commissioned a salary survey as well. Mr. Morsen distributed copies of that Salary Survey conducted by Shannon Davis & Associates. This matter will be discussed further in the coming negotiations with MS/CG. 4. CLOSED SESSION a. LABOR NEGOTIATIONS With respect to labor negotiations, the closed session was held pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6, to meet with designated representatives prior to and during consultations and discussions with the representatives of employee organizations regarding the salary, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of employees in order to review its position and instruct its designated representatives. The District's negotiators are Deputy General Manager Paul Morsen and Human Resources Manager Cathryn Freitas. The pertinent employee organization is Management Support/Confidential Group. At 8:50 p.m., President Menesini declared the closed session to discuss labor negotiations pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6. At 9:07 p.m., Member Hockett excused herself and left the meeting. At 9:38 p.m., President Menesini concluded the closed session and reconvened the meeting into open session. 5. REPORT OF DISCUSSIONS IN CLOSED SESSION No decisions were made nor votes taken in closed session which require reporting at this time. 6. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS None 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, President Menesini adjourned the meeting at the hour of 9:40 p.m. /#MttJ ~~ President of the Board of Directors, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, County of Contra Costa, State of California COUNTERSIGNED: ec et ry of the Cen ral 0 a ta Sanitary District, Cou ty of Contra Costa, State of California 03 04 97