During this final quarter of the FY2010 fiscal year, HumanResources Department saw one of its dedicated employees, AndyMercado, retire. It was also a busy time with reviewing the HealthFund, communicating the recommendations of the Risk Pool Boardand the changes ordered by Commissioners Court. Additionally,Human Resources Department worked with County departments insupport of carrying out the effects of budget and their efforts tosustain their operations. Thanks to each division in HumanResources, we are also pleased to report several highlights for thequarter.

In the JPD division, the HR Team participated in Probation ParoleWeek, July 18-24; this year’s event included inter-agencyactivities such as shared training, community awareness, officeOlympics, and a Volleyball Tournament. The participatingagencies included Juvenile Probation, Adult Probation, andFederal Probation Departments. The weeklong event provided anavenue for communication, learning, camaraderie, and funcompetition between the agencies. JPD employees supported theUnited Blood Services Drive in August by raising 22 units. InAugust, the Department hosted Dr. Laura Nissen, AssociateProfessor, Portland State University, as she presented StrengthBased Approach training to all JPD employees. The ChallengeAcademy graduated 7 students this September with a friends andfamily attending the ceremony. The Department welcomed thefollowing new employees in the quarter: Daniel Navarrette –Detention Officer, Ruben Pallares – Corrections Officer, ArturoTarango – Custodian, Anthony L. Porter – Juvenile ProbationOfficer, and Erika Martinez – Corrections Officer. 

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

 

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Quarterly Report

4th Quarter

Fiscal Year 2009-2010

Presented to

Commissioners Court November 22, 2010

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS Continued

 RISK POOL FUND BALANCE 06/30/2010 =$4,879,124

RISK POOL FUND BALANCE 09/30/2010 =$3,360,119

43 VACANCIES POSTED 4195 APPLICATIONS PROCESSED

NEW HIRES 56 TESTS ADMINISTERED # OF GRIEVANCES FILED COUNTY -3 JPD-0 SHERIFF - 0 96 = OF SEPARATIONS/TERMINATIONS 24 TRAINING PRESENTATIONS 360 TRAINING PARTICIPANTS # OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS FILED = 0 # OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS DISMISSED = 1

Risk Management Division During this reporting period, Risk Management received 11 incident reports:ten were for automobile accidents and one was a general liability claim.

Risk Pool Board

During this reporting period, the Risk Pool Board conducted their regularlyscheduled meetings on July 21, 2010, August 18, 2010 and September 15,2010. A special meeting was held on September 2, 2010. The Board:

• Recommended renewing the health plan services agreement withHealthScope Benefits for third party administration services and withAdvantage Care Network for provider network services.

• Forwarded the proposed pharmacy benefit plan changes from MedCo,to County Attorney’s for legal review. Upon completion of the legalreview the Board will forward proposed changes to Commissioner’sCourt for final approval.

• Recommended submitting the Business Associate Agreement addendumbetween the County and HealthScope Benefits and the Early

 DEPARTMENT STATISTICS 

  

Retirement Reinsurance Program (ERRP) application to Commissioner’s Court for approval. The addendum isneeded to meet ERRP application requirements.

• Recommended that Commissioner’s Court approve University Medical Center’s (UMC) proposal for administeringthe County’s employee’s on-site clinic and voted to place an item on Commissioner’s Court agenda to approvethe negotiation of a contract between UMC and the County for employee on-site clinic services.

• Recommended adding a third health plan option, a Consumer Driven Health Plan, to the County’s Health andDental plan. This includes establishing health savings account services with the HealthScope Benefits banking provider.

Workers Compensation

• During the reporting period, 61 worker’s compensation claims for work-related injuries were filed: 27 claims were medical only and 34 were lost time claims.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS Continued

Employee Budget Committee

During this quarter, the employee budget committee began forming as a result of the employee survey that wasconducted regarding the County’s budget shortfall. The committee is designed to focus on submitting, reviewing, andresearching ideas that would either save the County money, increase efficiency or effectiveness, or increase revenue.The committee began preliminary work on a few ideas during this quarter that may result in beneficial outcomes to theCounty. A plan needs to be developed regarding the allocation of any amount saved or other benefits derived from thecommittee’s efforts.

Recruitment

During the quarter, the recruitment division screened and interviewed 1 volunteer and attempted to place them with adepartment needing assistance due to the hiring freeze; reformatted or created 13 job descriptions and submitted 3 ofthem to Civil Service for approval; conducted 4 new hire background checks at the request of department heads; andassisted JP 2, Judge Haggerty with implementing an improved hiring process for screening over 90 candidates for 2positions.  

 Ethics Board The Ethics Board met one time during this quarter. At the meeting, the Board dismissed a complaint that had beenfiled in the previous quarter, finding it was not under their jurisdiction. The Board also reviewed the status of filingsof Statements of Financial Interest, Lobbyists Activities Logs, and Lobbyists Sign-In Logs. The Board agreed they wouldnot meet again until the following quarter unless a complaint or other business caused a need. Ethics Commission During this quarter, the Ethics Commission held 6 meetings to work toward establishing a new code. The Commissionalso discussed proposing legislative changes to the statute governing the commission, how to promote more publicparticipation in the drafting of the code, and met with the County’s lobbyists team regarding the background of thelegislation being passed. The Commission also reviewed information regarding a lawsuit that had been previously filedand the outcome of that case as it relates to the frivolous complaint provisions and the related penalties. Additionally,the Commission worked on drafting its complaint form and where it would be submitted.

Sheriff’s Division

In the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, the Sheriff’s HR Division created & compiled 2 online trainings for theSheriff’s Office: Occupational Exposure and Contagious Disease Control, and EAP Referrals for Supervisors. They alsocoordinate with the IT Department on finalizing the Agency Web software that will enhance the HR database of itsemployees. The office hired an HR Generalist Intermediate position which is being currently cross-trained to learn thedetails of the office. They serve as liaisons with the Sheriff’s Recruitment Team and have coordinated many eventsto include one job fair which was organized with EPCC in September. We handled a total of 3 unemployment claimsand received an outcome favorable to the employer in all three claims. We hosted 1 training on FMLA Breastfeedingguidelines for the Sheriff and his Command Staff. We also conducted 2 internal staff trainings on USERRA & I-9guidelines. We assisted the Grants Section by creating 4 job descriptions to assist them in obtaining personnel viafederal grant funding. After all positions were waived by the Hiring Freeze Committee, our office was able to postand process a total of 12 positions for the Sheriff’s Office. We continue to work on digitalizing our personnel files byutilizing 1 volunteer. The Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission held 3 meetings. There were no grievancesheard, but the Commission did approve six (6) employees to receive vacation donations. Finally, our section workeddiligently to assist with the potential of a Reduction in Force of 22 Detention Sergeants and 19 Floor Control Officers.While a concession was made, and the need to do so was eliminated, the office was prepared in making this process avery smooth and effective one.

Civil Service Commission During this quarter, the Civil Service Commission held 3 meetings. Carol Garcia was appointed as Chair of the CivilService Commission. Lee Urias and Kelly Dickson are new board members that were also appointed serving a 2 yearterm. The board amended Rule 1.05 changing the language from 2 to “3 board members must be present toconstitute a quorum”. District Clerk, requested that five (5) employees be changed from non-covered status tocovered status by the provisions of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations system. Justice Peace #2 was approved toexempt a Court Coordinator positions from coverage of Civil Service provisions. Four (4) employees were approved toreceive vacations donations. The board approved one (1) newly created job description and (1) one revised jobdescription.

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS Continued