Minutes - 19991013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I department heads. He does not fully understand access to fax machines as being 2 discrimination. He said that when he came on board, the County had just gone through a 3 detailed job study. He said that someone has to be placed in the position of evaluating the 4 coworkers. He said that his perception is that the pay of the County's department heads is very 5 good. He has a problem with doing this study and having it done by a consultant. With regards 6 to the solid waste transition of the County's employees, he does not see this as a problem. He 7 indicated he would not vote to spend any money on this study because he feels the study 8 should be done in-house and that there are enough staff to do it in-house. 9 Commissioner Carey said that he does not share the perception that there is gender 10 discrimination in County Government. He feels that if a study is done that it should be done for 11 everyone. Doing a study implies that something is going to be fixed. He questioned the 12 perception a study like this would give to the other employees when they may have some of 13 these same issues. He is not convinced that there are any big problems with gender equity or 14 on any front. He said that this study is very expensive. The County treats the department 15 heads well and a lot is expected from them. It could be perceived that the department heads 16 are being treated better than the troops. He said that if a study is done, it should be farmed out 17 because the study would have more credibility if someone outside County government does it. 18 Commissioner Jacobs said that he agrees with Commissioner Carey in that all of County 19 Government should be studied and not just part of it. He thinks the County is moving toward the 20 place where it makes sense to look at these issues wholistically. He said that he has no 21 problem with having the study done in-house. He said that he is not concerned that this study 22 be done this year. He realizes it might put the Personnel Director in an awkward position, but 23 the Manager can work with the Personnel Director to make sure that objectivity would be 24 achieved. He reiterated that all of County Government should be studied. 25 Commissioner Brown said that she was interested in this from the beginning because 26 she wanted to understand what the department heads did. She does not know in terms of the 27 market how fair the salaries are. One issue is that there is a disparity because of the longevity 28 of employees. She said that some of the information that she would still like to see goes back to 29 a space analysis which is addressed in the study. 30 Commissioner Carey said that the space study is a higher priority than this salary study. 31 Commissioner Brown would like to know how the salaries in Orange County compare 32 with other county governments. 33 Elaine Holmes said that she could call and survey the salaries of other counties. The 34 difficulty in surveying other counties is that job functions may be different. 35 Commissioner Halkiotis questions why the Sheriff, the Register of Deeds, and the Clerk 36 to the Board are considered as department heads. 37 Chair Gordon does not understand why this Board does not want to do this study. She 38 has had people come to her about different situations. She said that the study should not be 39 limited to just women. 40 Commissioner Brown asked about space. She asked about the criteria and the 41 information that would be collected about office space. She asked what would be accomplished 42 if any inequities in space were found. 43 Chair Gordon said that something would be done only if there was a consistent pattern 44 found. She said that some citizens have noticed the inequities of space. 45 Commissioner Carey said that for him it is a matter of priorities. This is something that is 46 interesting but he has heard many things that people are dissatisfied with in County 47 government. He said that it is a matter of priority and what is important right now. A space 48 study is more important at this time. It is not that he does not want to know about pay equity, 49 but stakeholders have expectations when it is finished. Everyone should be looked after. 50 Chair Gordon said that she is surprised at the reaction of the Board on this issue.