Benton County Officials OK New Jobs

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace endorsed a range of personnel requests, saying the cost of the new jobs was mostly offset by deleting others.

The Personnel Committee recommended approving items from the Assessor and Collector, along with reorganizations in the Road Department and Information Technology Department. The committee also recommended deleting staff position in the budget of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission.

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What’s Next

Benton County’s Finance Committee will review requests for personnel changes recommended for approval by the Personnel Committee. The Finance Committee is set to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Quorum Courtroom at the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville.

Source: Staff Report

Jeff Clark, public services administrator and head of the Road Department, said the reorganization will save money and give him more flexibility. Clark estimated eliminating four jobs and creating four, with some of the same duties but some changes as well, will save $9,225 this year and $21,806 in 2015. Clark said the changes will provide more administrative support as he strives to be a 'hands-on' manager.

"This will let me have people to do the research work for me when I have to be out in the field," Clark said. "They'll be able to handle the data, the budget and the daily expenditures."

Clark also said he's planning a more structured safety program in the department and one of the positions will have that responsibility.

Assessor Bear Chaney asked the committee to approve adding four jobs and deleting four. Chaney said he wants to make the changes now so the office staff can be ready for the next reappraisal, which will be in 2016. Chaney said his request will carry a small cost to the general fund, estimated at $580 in 2014 and $1,370 in 2015.

County Collector Gloria Peterson asked to add three jobs and delete one. Her request will have no impact on the general fund.

The committee also voted to recommend changes in the Information Technology Department. Eddie Mahar, head of the department, said deleting five positions and adding five will cost about $7,329 this year and $17,324 next year. Mahar said the department has the money in its budget.

The committee approved one minor change in the vacation policy, correcting what Barb Ludwig, human resources manager, said was an error in the original wording. The panel declined to endorse Ludwig's proposed change to the grievance policy.

Ludwig asked to change the grievance procedure to limit distribution of grievance letters employees are required to submit detailing their claim. In the policy the letters are sent to the justices of the peace who serve on the Grievance Council when the hearing date is set. Ludwig wanted to present the letters to the justices of the peace at the hearing.

Ludwig said she wanted to avoid having justices of the peace judging the case based on the letters. She likened it to a jury trial where one side was able to present it's claims before the trial began.

"We don't want you to do to so much research," Ludwig said. "We want you to listen and be impartial."

Susan Anglin of District 9 said she didn't want to wait until the hearing to have the information presented to her. Anglin said she might have questions about policy she would want answered before a hearing. She suggested administration could present any information it wanted to at the same time the letters were sent.

Tom Allen of District 4, said the justices of the peace are able to make their own determination. Allen said as elected officials they aren't going to be influenced by an employer or supervisor.

"We're objective," he said. "I don't have to worry about what the county judge is going to say or do."

Allen questioned Ludwig's contention justices of the peace are unduly influenced by grievance letters.

"That's not true that we believe only the one side that's been presented to us."

Ludwig said she would be willing to provide additional information from administration along with the grievance letters, if the justices of the peace want her to.

Patrick Carr of District 12, said he's served on juries and grievance panels and he believes the justices of the peace understand the letters aren't the sole source of information they will have.

"I don't see any need to change the policy," Carr said.

NW News on 06/25/2014

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