ORD-2007-219 - Human Resources - Provisional Status Employees Amendment to Personnel Ordinance Article 1 Sections 2.0 & 4.0

Browse Search

6. Regular Agenda a. Provisional Status Employees The Board considered adoption of an amendment to the Orange County Personnel Ordinance Article I, Section 4.0 to include a definition for "Provisional Status" Employees and to confer the status of "provisional' employee on those employees who qualify according to the definition. Policy and Compliance Officer Annette Moore said that on August 19th the Governor signed into law an amendment to the State Personnel Act, which requires that local government employees covered by the act be employed for 24 consecutive months before gaining career State employee status and gain a property interest in their position. Orange County has employees covered by this act, and for this amendment, it means that if the employees do not complete the probationary period on or before August 18, 2007, they must be employed for 24 consecutive months from the date of their employment before they can apply a property interest in their position. In County employment, this probationary period is sometimes tied to benefits such as funeral leave, maternity leave, military leave, tuition refund and educational leave, the ability to donate or request shared leave, and access to the grievance and appeal process. This amendment will not give these employees a permanent status, but it will give them access to these benefits that have been taken away. In answer to questions from Chair Carey and Commissioner Gordon about the differences in the original and the amended abstracts, Annette Moore said that there were only minor wording changes. Commissioner Gordon asked that the next time there are changes to an abstract that they be highlighted. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to adopt the amendments to Article I, of the Orange County Personnel Ordinance to add sections 2.6 and 4.33, renumber sections 4.33 -4.39, and confer the status of Provisional Status employee on all employees who qualify under these sections. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 7. Reports a. Potential Artificial Soccer Surface Report The Board received a report to determine if there is continued interest in this project and to provide direction to staff. Lori Taft said that last year there was a series of meetings with the soccer community members with the Board of County Commissioners, and one suggestion from this was adding artificial turf to playing surfaces to increase usage and playing time on some soccer fields. She said that she was asked by the Manager to look into this idea for the Smith Middle School fields. Carrboro, CHCCS, and Orange County entered into an MOA for usage and upkeep of these fields and a couple of years ago, there was an agreement concerning the lighting for the fields. This has helped the soccer community but not the condition of the fields. These fields are the only two full -sized fields in southern Orange County, and adults are able to play on these fields. She said that she has looked into this issue of artificial surfaces. There was an information sheet attached to the abstract, along with a site plan for the facility. The cost for putting turf on two fields is $ 1, 624, 400, and the cost for one field is $ $856,000. She said that she could only go so far without any funding mechanism in place because of design work that would be required. She said that the drainage and grading is half of the budget. She said that members of the soccer community have participated in this process and some have offered to contribute financially. She said that the school district has tentatively agreed to relinquish control of field 3 -a to Carrboro after school hours, which has not been done before. Future