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11 <br /> 1 • No change to current performance bonus tiers <br /> 2 • Study adding performance awards to base salary <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Chair Dorosin asked if the current process could be explained. <br /> 5 Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources Director, said it is a lump sum, and the highest <br /> 6 award one can receive is for an exceptional performance, at the amount of $1,000. She said <br /> 7 this is a one-time award. <br /> 8 Chair Dorosin asked if all employees are eligible. <br /> 9 Brenda Bartholomew said yes. <br /> 10 Chair Dorosin asked if the award is received on an employee's anniversary date. <br /> 11 Brenda Bartholomew said the employee has a performance review around 30 prior to its <br /> 12 anniversary date, and the award is received within two payrolls of paperwork being submitted. <br /> 13 Chair Dorosin said there has been some discussion on the Board about raises being a <br /> 14 dollar amount or a percentage of an employee's salary. He said if a study is completed, he <br /> 15 would like to consider if there a different model that may narrow the gap between those with the <br /> 16 highest salary and those with the lowest. <br /> 17 Bonnie Hammersley said staff will look into this question. She said the recession led to <br /> 18 most public employees receiving one time, lump sum raises because one time revenues were <br /> 19 identified. She said recommendations will be brought back to the Board. She said <br /> 20 compression is eliminated when it is put on an employees pay, but it is put on as a lump sum <br /> 21 and people are not moving. <br /> 22 Chair Dorosin asked Brenda Bartholomew if she could identify the salary of the lowest <br /> 23 paid FTE in Orange County. <br /> 24 Brenda Bartholomew said $28,600 annually, and $31,200 if the County changes the <br /> 25 living wage to $15 in January 2018, as recommended. <br /> 26 Commissioner Burroughs asked if there could be a conversation in the future regarding <br /> 27 the history of cost of living adjustments for retirees. <br /> 28 Commissioner Burroughs commended Brenda Bartholomew for her help with the Board <br /> 29 of Health's (BOH) Director search. <br /> 30 Commissioner Jacobs said he was unclear if the Manager's comments about the <br /> 31 performance bonuses were meant to be a response to Chair Dorosin's comments about the <br /> 32 percentage wage increase. <br /> 33 Bonnie Hammersley said she was talking about the performance awards. <br /> 34 Chair Dorosin said he was talking about the 2% increase, and possibly switching to a <br /> 35 dollar amount instead. <br /> 36 Commissioner Jacobs said he agrees that there is a disproportionate increase for those <br /> 37 at the higher end of the salary scale, and he would like to see this become more equitable. <br /> 38 Bonnie Hammersley said staff is looking into all of this, and perhaps a tiered approach <br /> 39 would be helpful. <br /> 40 Commissioner Rich asked if the wage increases compare to surrounding entities. <br /> 41 Bonnie Hammersley said Chapel Hill was giving 2.5%, and Carrboro about the same, <br /> 42 but the County offers health insurance with no increases this year, as the County absorbed the <br /> 43 cost. <br /> 44 Commissioner Rich said she would like to make sure that the County is competitive. <br /> 45 <br /> 46 o Compression reduction plan - $250,000 <br /> 47 o Health insurance increase (active employees) - $524,433 <br /> 48 • Employee Pay and Benefits — page 497 <br /> 49 o Living wage increase to $13.75 effective 7/1/17 for all employees <br /> 50 consistent with OC Living Wage - $101,000 <br />