May 2010
CHIEF OF LABOR RELATIONS CORNER
Personnel Rules Workshop
On April 28th I represented SEBA during a workshop on updating the County's personnel rules. Others who were present were the Civil Service Commission, Human Resources, San Bernardino Public Employees' Association (SBPEA), and San Bernardino County Police Officers' Association (SBCPOA).
This workshop was the culmination of seven months of reviewing the entire set of personnel rules. During that time, I met with SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough several times to discuss their position on the rules. These meetings were fruitful, I was able to glean from our discussions that SBPEA had similar concerns. Additionally, Human Resources, SBPEA, the Attorney's Association and SEBA met to talk about the rules collectively. At the workshop, SEBA, SBPEA and SBCPOA worked collaboratively to state their position to the Civil Service Commission. At the close of the meeting 90% of the proposed changes had been agreed to by all the parties present at the meeting. The remaining 10% will be brought back at the next scheduled Civil Service Commission Meeting for review.
Apple Valley Fire District in Financial Trouble
Apple Valley Fire District (District) is feeling the financial pressure of the "Great Recession." Beginning fiscal year 2010/2011 the District's budget will be reduced by 1.5 million dollars. This is due to the reduction in the assessed value of residential property. Because of this unfortunate circumstance, the Fire Chief has been working with his financial team with the goal to minimize the impact of services to the community.
I was invited along with members of the Apple Valley Professional Firefighters' Association (PFA) to attend a budget workshop the District held on April 6th. During this meeting, the Chief unveiled what he has coined as the "New Norm." This consists of three engine companies staffed with three personnel and one squad staffed with two personnel per shift. To be able to make that happen, the Chief presented several options to obtain his goal. These options include: 1) providing an incentive for employees who agree to retire; 2) freezing step increase; 3) limited over-time only covering the three engine companies; 4) add an additional Limited Term Firefighter; 5) Conditional use of Paid Call Firefighters and other personnel to perform PFA work; and 6) possible salary reductions. If this was not bad enough, the PFA has already agreed to defer their 6% salary increase due them in July of 2010. Because of the financial uncertainty of the Fire District, the PFA directed me to write a letter to each Board of Director requesting them to entertain a request for proposal from the San Bernardino County Fire Department to take over providing fire protection to the community of Apple Valley. As of the date of this article I have not received a response to my letter.
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