‘VERY FAIR COMPROMISE’; WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE CHANGES TO DEBATED PTO PROPOSAL

  

Washington County Commissioners unanimously voted today (Tuesday) in favor of revisions to the county’s employee handbook, putting an end to a debate on changes to employees’ paid time off (PTO).

The approved changes were presented as a middle ground compared to previously presented adjustments, which combined sick time and vacation time into one pool and capped them at 480 hours.  That will still hold true for the new policy; however, that maximum of 480 is for anyone hired after the policy’s effective date. 

Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak explained that existing employees will get to keep their hours up to a maximum of 720 until December 31, 2025.  At that time, their hours will reset back to the set maximum – 480 for regular, full-time employees – but they will still be able to accrue PTO throughout the year up to 720, earning at a faster rate depending on their years of service with the county. 

The original changes that were brought forth during a March 19^th workshop led to criticism from some long-tenured employees, who said they would lose whatever time they had collected above 480 hours.  The group of employees in attendance at today’s meeting appeared more agreeable to the new changes. 

Precinct 1 Constable’s Office Chief Deputy William Shepherd, one of those who spoke against the initial proposal, thanked the court for listening and giving thought to the employees’ ideas, saying that while not everyone agrees on the same thing at the same time, they all work together.  He added, “I think that we’ve come to a very fair compromise in this.”

Commissioner Candice Bullock called it a “team effort from start to finish” to come to this point.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath said he hopes that in the future, the employee handbook documents do not go as long without revision, in hopes of avoiding a “forklift overhaul” that creates animosity among employees.

Mlcak said meetings are in the works with individual county departments and employees to walk through the changes in greater detail.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners approved an architecture and design contract with DRG Architects for the jail kitchen remodeling and expansion project, to be funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. 

The total combined contract sum for basic services like construction documents, design development and procurement, along with supplemental services like engineering and topographical surveying, is $280,800.  Bullock noted that the price does not include the cost of construction or project management services that may be necessary.  Hanath said the county must spend its ARPA funds by 2026.

Hanath said the contract stipulates an addition to the jail so that it can keep using its current kitchen before transferring over to the new one.  Bullock said this project ties in to the county’s plans to create a dedicated records storage facility, because there are records being kept at the sheriff’s office in a space that can be retrofitted.

In other business, the court:

• Approved several items in relation to the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival, including a mass gathering permit, a right-of-way permit, and the closure of several streets from 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 13th through 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 14th.  The street closures will be Cedar Street (east) from FM 1155 to Church Street; Sycamore Street (west) from FM 1155 to FM 2447; and Poplar Street (east) from FM 1155 to Church Street.  Providence Street would allow for traffic flow in a one-way (north) direction as the access route.
• Approved going out for bids for a chassis for the EMS Department.  Bids will be due and opened on Thursday, April 25^th at 10 a.m. and considered on Tuesday, April 30^th at 9 a.m.
• Read proclamations declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and declaring April 28 – May 5 as Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week.