HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 28 20001
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Finance and Administrative Services Committee
November 28, 2000
The meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m. by Committee Chair L. Ward
Nelson in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present: Absent:
Sam Crawford None
Robert Imhof
COUNCIL "CONSENT AGENDA" ITEM
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO AWARD BID #00-
105 TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, FRONTIER FORD, TO
PURCHASE 15 REPLACEMENT SEDANS FOR THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, FOR A BID TOTAL OF $355,093.20 (AB2000 -405)
Deane Sandell, Undersheriff, stated these are normal replacement vehicles
for the fleet. He requested authorization to increase the vehicles to twenty
vehicles, to include the five new vehicles approved in the 2001 budget.
Nelson questioned whether the increase would come from the Current
Expense fund.
Brad Bennett, Finance Manager, stated that was correct.
Nelson questioned whether this is through ER &R. Sandell stated they do an
interfund transfer to ER &R, which buys the vehicles.
Nelson moved to approve $355,093.20 for ER &R and to authorize the
additional five vehicles from the criminal justice money allocated in the budget.
Imhof stated it should come forward in a supplemental budget request.
Nelson questioned whether it would change the responsive bids.
Mary Green, ER &R Manager, stated she wrote the bid specifications for 15 or
more vehicles so they can add to it. They are $22,000 for each police package
sedan. Fifteen vehicles would be from 2000 monies and five vehicles would be
from the 2001 monies.
Crawford questioned the additional costs once the County gets the vehicles.
Green stated the five new ones would have new equipment. The 15 vehicles would
have the original equipment from the old vehicles added to them, unless there is a
defect.
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/28/2000, Page 1
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Nelson stated the amended dollar amount would come to the night meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.
2. RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTING A SALARY SCHEDULE
AND POLICIES FOR UNREPRESENTED WHATCOM COUNTY EMPLOYEES
FOR THE YEAR 2001 (AB2000 -370)
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the administration
recommended the resolution for 2001 as it is in the packet. They have had three
meetings with the County Council regarding the resolution. The administration
made adjustments based on the Council's feedback.
Nelson asked if it covers all the unrepresented employees in the County.
Desler stated it does.
Nelson stated there are employees in the County enrolled in the Law
Enforcement Officer and Firefighter ( LEOFF) I retirement program. Desler stated
the most senior people in the Sheriff's Office are LEOFF I employees. To the extent
that the unrepresented resolution meshes with LEOFF I or LEOFF II, they seek to do
that.
Nelson asked if LEOFF I employees would get the same compensation,
whether they are LEOFF I or LEOFF II, regarding the merit pay. Desler stated the
proposed step H is designed for high level performance and is not an immediate
increase. They would not implement it until mid -year, then evaluate it for the use
of recruitment and retaining staff.
Nelson stated he understood that LEOFF I employees are not eligible for the
step H. Desler stated he didn't know. He urged the Council to consider adopting
this resolution. As the administration gets more information about the specific
impacts on the people involved in LEOFF I and whether or not they would benefit,
the Council can come back to the resolution. He was not prepared to address the
details.
Nelson asked if a person would be eligible for the merit step increase, which
could amount to several hundred dollars per month, if he or she were in the LEOFF
I retirement.
Bennett stated LEOFF I is somewhat unique because if there is any
contingency as to whether the employees could receive the benefit, it is not
included in their retirement calculation. For instance, if it is contingent on
performance, then it is not included.
Desler stated a person could receive step H, assuming he or she meets all
the other criteria. The amount of the increase to step H would not be subject to the
calculation of the retirement benefit that would be paid out under LEOFF I. The rest
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/28/2000, Page 2
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of the pay would be included, but that particular portion would not. These are state
laws and rules. If anything is dependent upon merit and performance, which is
what they are seeking to do, then it sounds like LEOFF I has some exclusionary
elements in it. If administration made the step automatic, then it would meet the
test for LEOFF I compensation as they determine the benefit payments under that
system.
Imhof moved to recommend approval.
Motion carried unanimously.
OTHER ITEMS
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated he got word that the federal
government passed a law called the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self -
Determination Act of 2000. There is a title two or title three that would provide
about $300,000 for programs for payment of services for search - and - rescue and
emergency services, easement purchases, or county planning. The resulting
payment that Whatcom County would receive resulted from work that
Councilmember McShane did with the congressional delegation this year.
Councilmember McShane has been given the credit for bringing $302,000 per year
to the County, beginning in October.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:16 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, Committee Chair
Finance and Administrative Services Committee, 11/28/2000, Page 3