- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Supervisors approve nonessential worker guidelines for county government employees and alternate health officer contract
The meeting can be viewed here.
The board met online for just over an hour on Friday to take up the recommendations as well as to consider approval of an agreement for an alternate health officer.
Regarding the workers’ definitions, board members reported receiving calls and emails from community members who were concerned that the board was laying out rules for all county workers, including those employed by private businesses.
However, the supervisors emphasized that wasn’t the case, that they were looking specifically at the employees of the county of Lake.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson told the board that an ad hoc committee that the board assigned to look at the nonessential workers’ definition met and came up with the recommendations.
The committee consists of Huchingson, Board Chair Moke Simon, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier and County Counsel Anita Grant.
She said the ad hoc committee focused on two key goals that guided their decision-making: safety of employees and compliance with the countywide shelter in place order.
“This is an extraordinary time when we are in crisis,” she said.
Huchingson also emphasized that the term “nonessential” wasn’t a correlation whatsoever to specific workers’ value in the county workforce. Rather, it’s a term being used during the shelter in place order.
She said the committee found that, because of the shelter in place order, the county government must focus on critical duties essential to continuing operations or maintaining critical infrastructure.
General office workers who conduct clerical and support work have been determined to be nonessential during the disaster and should shelter in place. Huchingson said they will be able to work remotely when possible, and where it’s not feasible, they’re to be offered the chance to work as disaster service workers at the county emergency operations center or to shelter in place at home and wait to resume their duties.
The committee recommended the board give department heads flexibility in determining nonessential workers, Huchingson said.
She said the committee also recommended the board direct department heads to immediately send workers they have determined to be nonessential home to shelter in place, and authorize them to periodically adjust their determinations of nonessential workers as the situation warrants.
Department heads also are being told to provide remote work assignments to nonessential workers when feasible, offer disaster service work or approve such employees’ use of accruals and other leave benefits while sheltering in place and not working, Huchingson said.
The recommendations included having the ad hoc committee continue to be available to work with county department heads on any issues and return to the board after meeting again no later than April 14, she said.
In response to a question submitted by Lake County News about whether or not the county had a total number or percentage of how many employees are considered nonessential under the new guidelines, Huchingson said they didn’t have that information yet, as it varies by department. She said the situation is fluid and changing as the disaster continues.
Sheriff Brian Martin, who also was present online, said 7 percent of his department has been determined to be nonessential, and half of them will be working remotely.
“It’s not going to be a mass exodus of employees,” he said of his department.
The board approved the recommendations unanimously.
They also voted to amend their previously approved resolution relating to workplace safety, employee leave and remote work in response to COVID-19.
Huchingson recommended removing Section No. 3 of the earlier version of the ordinance, which states, “In order to protect members of the public, staff and the broader community, if any individual appears at a County facility presenting symptoms of COVID-19, County staff shall require they do not enter the facility, provided staff can deliver services through alternative procedures, such as via telephone and/or web-based means.”
She said that in light of the new determinations made about nonessential workers needing to shelter in place and not come to the county offices, the original resolution no longer applies and may be confusing.
The board also took separate action to direct all department heads to immediately cease business practices which involve bringing the public into the Lake County Courthouse unless they have made special arrangements, subject to Huchingson’s approval, to ensure employee and workplace safety.
In other business, Health Services Director Denise Pomeroy asked for the board’s approval of appointing Dr. Charlie Evans as the county’s designated alternate Public Health officer and to approve a professional services agreement with him.
The agreement’s term is from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. It calls for paying Evans for services on a monthly basis, not to exceed $10,000 for the agreement’s term.
Pomeroy said she had been working on the proposal with Dr. Evans for the last few months.
Her written report to the board explained that Evans graduated with honors from University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 1982 and has more than 38 years of medical experience, including work in emergency medicine, family medicine and public health, specializing in tuberculosis control.
She said Evans has worked previously with Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
Pomeroy had asked for the matter to be expedited because “it’s going to be a long haul.” Her written report said Pace had been working 12 hours days, seven days a week, and the goal was to have backup and assistance available for Pace, as well as allow him to take a day off.
She also pointed out that the Marin County Public Health officer has come down with COVID-19, and larger counties have deputy health officers available to step in as backup.
Pomeroy said it’s important to have backup for Pace, as the COVID-19 situation could last several months.
The board unanimously approved Pomeroy’s requests to appoint Evans as the designated alternate Public Health officer and approved the contract with him.
Board Chair Moke Simon noted during the meeting, “This is going to be a long-term battle,” adding, “This is probably just the beginning.”
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