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Chair Jacobs said that he brought this up in the spring. He made reference to <br /> attachment 2 and said that numbers 8 and 9 should be the same. There should be the <br /> same treatment for a positive alcohol test that there is for a positive drug test. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that alcohol is a drug, but one is legal and one is not. <br /> She asked John Link for comments. John Link said that if you poll any employees about <br /> how long an illegal drug stays in your system they would get it wrong and thus <br /> suggested emphasizing to all employees that an illegal drug stays in your system longer <br /> than they think. After seeing what other employers do, he is willing to consider what has <br /> been recommended. He would like to look at how the other local jurisdictions handle <br /> how Managers, supervisors, and department heads make a determination whether or <br /> not someone is given another chance. He thinks that if someone is in a position where <br /> they are endangering lives, then they should not be given another chance. But if it were <br /> tolerated in some workers and not others, then we would cast very poorly upon the <br /> organization, the County Commissioners, and our citizens. He recommended coming <br /> back with the language for a revised #9 that incorporates the best aspects of the other <br /> jurisdictions. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that both Chapel Hill and Carrboro portray a greater <br /> sense of sensitivity and we come across as uncaring, cold, and insensitive. He said that <br /> our belief system and policy do not coincide. <br /> John Link will bring back language to address this and protect the organization and <br /> the employees. Part of the process is to get help and assistance for individuals. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said she would like to mention that if you are trying to make <br /> the alcohol and drug tests the same then you may have to make the alcohol one more <br /> strict and make it more compassionate so that someone who is trying to get help, thye <br /> would be able to do that. <br /> With no further items to address, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. <br /> Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> Donna S. Baker <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />