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Chair Brown made reference to attachment three and the number of employees making below $40,000. Commissioners Jacobs and Carey asked same clarifying questions which were answered by Elaine Holmes. John Link said that the staff was comfortable with the twa items under phase 1 in attachment four. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would like to see some variations of phasing it in over a two to three year period. Commissioner Gordon asked for some clarification on the salary steps, which was provided by Elaine Holmes. Commissioner Jacobs asked for additional copies of the plan for the study. Elaine Holmes said that she could provide the handouts that the consultant spoke on in February, but they have not received the full report yet because the study is not complete. Commissioner Carey asked for a comment from Elaine Holmes on the steps that need to be completed and the time and cost. Elaine Holmes said that she estimates that they could bring the study back to the Board in two to three months. The original cost of the study for the consultant contract was $71,250. She does not anticipate any additional costs to finish the study. Chair Brown asked if the Board was interested in continuing this study and everyone agreed. Chair Brown verified that if the plan is fully implemented then the increase in cost is $2,500,000. Commissioner Jacobs asked how the hiring freeze figures into this and when it would be implemented. John Link said that it would be at the end of the fiscal year as opposed to the end of the calendar year. Commissioner Jacobs said that he recalls that the staff was supposed to come back to the Board if there were extraordinary circumstances or any emergency positions that needed to be filled. John Link said that they have addressed less than 10 positions that were critical during the hiring freeze. Commissioner Gordon asked if it was passible for the consultants to show quarter steps and Elaine Holmes said yes. John Link said that regardless of whether the Beard pursues attachment 4 or attachment 5, the one step that needs to be pursued as soon as passible is the one step (2.5%) service based increase for all employees. The study confirms that this needs to be done. Commissioner Gordon asked what exactly the Board was committing itself to -the plan the way the consultant proposed it or a modified version. John Link said that he has to sit down and talk with the department heads and staff and talk about the consultant's recommendations. Chair Brown clarified that the Board has agreed to go ahead with the pay and classification study. She is not hearing a solid response on deciding on either of the alternatives tonight. When the Board does decide on the implementation, then an active date needs to be determined. John Link said that the staff is recommending that the plan be made retroactive April 14t" The money is in the budget for this. Commissioner Gordon wants the study to go forward, but she wants to see it before she commits to it. She still has questions. Discussion ensued about the next steps. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the housing living wage and asked if all of the employees were above the housing living wage. Elaine Holmes said that she would look and see where the County stands on this. The housing wage for a family of four is $31,000. Commissioner Jacobs would like to see what positions are below this and haw long they have been in their jobs.