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on page 9 of the abstract. She divided them into two categories -those who were regularly <br />working 15 hours a week or less and those working more than 15 hours. There were a total of <br />136 employees over one year and there were 93 working 15 hours or less and 43 appeared to <br />be regularly working 15 or more hours. She noticed of the 43, there were 1 Q who were working <br />16-17 hours. For those working over one-year and over 15 hours, she outlined in the report the <br />kinds of functions they provide. Regarding next steps, she and the Manager have sent a memo <br />to department heads, bringing their attention to the policy limits on temporary employment and <br />asking them to monitor this and to seek the Manager's approval if they need additional hours <br />beyond the policy. The Manager has also asked her to survey what other government <br />employers in the area are doing. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that this information begs the question of how the County <br />would function without so many temporary employees. The information provided shows that <br />temporary employees are providing services to the public. She still has concerns about how the <br />County administers the policy for hiring and retaining temporary employees. She said that it <br />would seem that, if these positions are necessary to carry out County functions, then they need <br />to look at whether or not they should hire more employees to perform these functions and to <br />provide benefits to them. She has a problem with people being employed in a temporary <br />position for more than a year and not having benefits. <br />Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Foushee's statements and said that <br />this was brought to their attention when they saw the State purposefully manipulate its workers <br />to lay them off after 11 months and then hire them again. He agrees that if someone has <br />worked more than a year, then they need to look at whether to provide benefits. He would be <br />interested in knowing what keeps them under 20 hours. He thinks they should be forthright in <br />what they ask employees to do. He is not so worried about the retirees who come in and work <br />because they already have benefits. He would like to narrow down the 43 a little more. <br />Commissioner Gordon commended Commissioner Foushee for bringing this up and staff <br />far bringing such a formal analysis. She asked about the recommendation of staff to remedy <br />this situation. She wonders if following the personnel ordinance would fix it. Elaine Holmes <br />said that the policy originally set the limit on over one year based on 15 hours because of the <br />exceptions. She thinks that what has happened is that there are instances where the original <br />plan was to follow the policy, but the department has had to increase the hours for services <br />needs. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked if the departments follow the ordinance to a tee, would it <br />solve the situation, which is that there are people working over 15 hours a week for more than a <br />year. Elaine Holmes said that there are departments that are facing real service demands, and <br />that is one of the reasons that they have provided the opportunity to come back to the Manager <br />for an extension. If the ordinance were followed exactly, the situation would be eliminated. <br />John Link said that there would be economic impacts. Commissioner Gordon said that <br />the staff should come back with a recommendation of what to do. If the recommendation <br />includes something besides following the ordinance exactly, they should give the pros and cons. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that to have the breakdown of the 43 people would help also. <br />This also came up when they were looking at the abundance of overtime hours. <br />John Link said that this would help them to focus on biting the bullet in terms of further <br />benefits to carry out the mission of the County. He thinks this is very timely. <br />4. Capital Funding Matters <br />Revised Capital Funding Policy <br />