BOC to hold work sessions on sheriff’s budget, personnel policy July 9

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Wednesday, July 8. 2009

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The Madison County Board of Commissioner will hold two work sessions on Thursday, July 9, in the public meeting room of the Madison County Government Complex.

The BOC will meet with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 4 p.m. to discuss the 2009 and 2010 budgets.

At 5 p.m., the BOC will meet to consider changes to the county personnel policy, which will, among other things, revoke all vested proprietary rights to employment and convert all employees, both current and those hired in the future, to “at will” status. All interested employees as well as interested members of the public are encouraged to attend, and all employees who wish to speak on the changes will be afforded the opportunity to be heard, officials said.

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#1 Anonymous on 07/08/09 at 12:15 PM [Reply]

BIG MISTAKE if that happens. Great if you happen to work for a benevolent type. What happens if someone not of your political leanings gets elected? If one is "at will" he can be fired for any or no reason and has a job only as long as he is wanted by the powers that be. Spend 20 years and the bst of your life and then get fired when the wrong group gets elected? You have no rights in the matter. This is a step backwards in employee rights and will lead to much grief for all parties involved - it is questionable whether it is even legal. The citizens of Madison County will be paying legal bills for some time. I cannot believe Dove will consider bringing this matter forward. Is he a smooth talker like O'bama and yet has his own agenda to gain power and make his own position more powerful? Think Madison County! You may be cutting the throat of the employees that work for you.

#1.1 Billy on 07/09/09 at 05:51 PM [Reply]

Just in case many of you don't know this, Georgia is a "right to work state" and it doesnt really matter---none of us have any rights. I was fired from a job after 18 years of service (with a good work record-only one write up for 18 years)--went to a lawyer, the EEOC, but because Georgia was a right to work state--nothing i could do about it. I think its a shame!

#1.1.1 Anonymous on 07/10/09 at 07:00 PM [Reply]

Billy, "right to work state" deals with unions etc. There are job rights. Look at Clarke County - they have to have a good reason to fire someone, not just some arbitrary and capricious 'you don't fit in our model for this administration'. Why would anyone want to give up this right without a fight?
I fear Mr Dove and the rest of the geniuses on the commission have some hidden agenda. They allow someone to 'give' a sickday to someone when the employee does not own the sick day, yet want the employee to give up a job right they do own.

#1.1.1.1 Anon on 07/14/09 at 05:07 AM [Reply]

The county no longer allows a person to give there sick time to another directly. You can however donate time to a sick bank and if anyone needs to use that time it is up to the Commissioners who gets it and how much.

#1.1.1.2 Anonymous on 07/19/09 at 01:35 PM [Reply]

Uh, pretty sure Clarke County is not an example we want to follow! Tens of thousands for rotting train trestles, the "rain tax" for rain falling on your property, etc. NO THANK YOU.

"At will" is how every other employee in every other business is hired. Why should working for the county be any different?

Heck, every time I go to the waste transfer station, those guys are almost never working. They're usually sitting in a truck talking. Or sitting in the little shed talking. Or sitting on a rock talking. You get the picture. When you have a job, it's called "going to work" for a reason. If they aren't "going to work" then fire 'em and hire some actual "workers!"

Welcome to the real world, people! Time to pry your butts off of whatever surface it's parked upon or BE REPLACED.

#1.2 Satisfied Citizen on 07/12/09 at 12:45 PM [Reply]

I think going to "at will" will save the county money. If anything it will stop these stupid lawsuits that keep popping up when some crybaby gets their feelings hurt for loosing their job due to poor performance. It seems no one can take responsibility for their own actions, thus forcing the hand of those in charge with good reason.

What job right are you talking about? Are the county employees better than those in the community who don't have these so called rights? You compare Mr. Dove to Obama? What? Very strange. Did you take your medicine today sir? You say he wants all this power. You sound paranoid. Is this what you would do in his position? I would elliminate all opportunities for hearings myself. Good for Dove and the BOC. I am glad they are focusing on the county as a whole and not just the whinners who can't make it through the day without purposely stirring some crap.

I'm certain that if you show up and due the job you were hired to do with reasonable skill and tried to get along well with others you would have nothing to worry about.. That's the way it works where I am employed. Dang it man..

#1.2.1 Agree on 07/19/09 at 08:10 AM [Reply]

Everything you state is correct.You must be a well educated person and know the facts.These stupid lawsuits cost the taxpayers a lot of $$ & causes work for employees that is completely unnecessary.If employees would just show up & stop whinning wanting a free pay check & do their job then the BOC would not be doing this.ThBOC is looking out for the taxpayer as well as the employees that actually do their jobs.I feel there is a lot of dead beats at the county & they should go.Our tax $$ are paying some that do nothing but stir the pot & complain about others.If they had enough to do then they would not have time to stir the pot & tell untruths.Those that actually do their jobs should have nothing to worry about. It is just those who want a free paycheck that are worry about their job.

#2 BETTYBOOPER on 07/08/09 at 04:40 PM [Reply]

IF THIS AT WILL EMPLOYMENT PASSES EVERYONE WORKING
FOR THE COUNTY HAD BETTER START LOOKING FOR WORK
OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. THESE PEOPLE ARE REAL VINDICTIVE.

#2.1 Another dept. on 07/13/09 at 02:48 PM [Reply]

You got that right! I could not have said it better!
Thanks.

#3 coach on 07/08/09 at 05:36 PM [Reply]

I remember discussing the 2009 Sheriffs budget back in August of 2008. The 2009 budget was approved in late 2008 why do we need to discuss it again now?

#4 John on 07/08/09 at 05:40 PM [Reply]

A lot of us tax payers dont get off work till five why meet so early? I would like to be there. Hopefully our local press can let the working people know whats going on with our money.

#4.1 Martha on 07/10/09 at 12:45 PM [Reply]

I am also wondering along with John, I thought that the 2009 budge was discussed in 2008 late year, so why do we need a workshop? Can anyone answer this question. Are is the question who can't manage within that budget?

#5 Eddie D. on 07/09/09 at 02:22 PM [Reply]

This "at will" thing is just another attempt by Chairman Dove and other commissioners to gain more control and absolute power over county employees. "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" people beware!

#6 Anonymous on 07/09/09 at 09:25 PM [Reply]

John,
Why can't they discuss this after 5 or at a regular meeting? Because they hope that we will not attend, that's why. They always discuss controversial subjects at odd meeting times. If you don't believe me, watch the agendas.

#7 comergal on 07/10/09 at 11:00 AM [Reply]

Wow it didn't take long for Mr. Dove to start acting like Wesley Nash did it? Something happens to people when they get elected. I guess when you get in there you can lose all your morals and that is just fine. Well way to go Anthony Dove you have just lost all my respect.

#8 whatashock on 07/10/09 at 11:07 AM [Reply]

isn't it already like this for the sheriff's office??? LOL

#9 concerned on 07/10/09 at 02:09 PM [Reply]

If they have the meetings after 5:00, then you all would complain about them meeting "after hours" and not working during the day hours. SOMEBODY is going to be p'd off NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!! SOME OF YOU ARE RIDICULOUS!!!!

#10 comergal on 07/10/09 at 02:44 PM [Reply]

Yeah I know the GA workers have no rights. I was fired as soon as I went on maternity leave. Then when I tried to get unemployment, the Unemployment Office sided with my boss that said that I had quit. I don't know how someone quits without quitting. We really need to research the people we are putting in office to make our decisions for us.

#11 Mikey on 07/12/09 at 07:26 PM [Reply]

Public safety dept.'s should not be asked to trim there budget's. It is hard to retain qualified personal to protect life and property as it is. If you try to cut there pay these great men and women will go some where else. Leisure dept.'s such as the recreation dept. should close there doors before any public safet budget is cut. I know we need it for the kids but I would vol. my time up there as would many other parents who want to see there kids play. Look at it like this there are over 200 public safety personal that are strictly volunteer (no pay) in madison co. and there are many times that we still need more people. If our paid people leave we are gonna be in a pickle, and if they take ther pay they will.

#11.1 Anonymous on 07/13/09 at 07:58 AM [Reply]

There are only a few paid employees at the Rec Department and they really earn their money. Every coach and every member of the Little League Board and Recreation Department Board and MCYA board are volunteers. People who complain about the Recreation Department are usually the ones who do not have kids who enjoy sports. I have been to many recreation departments around north Georgia with my kids and our Recreation Department is certainly the best one around. It is a wonderful facility with great employees who really care about the kids. It is also a good network for the kids to make friends who have a positive influence. Our kids are our future.

#11.2 Anonymous on 07/13/09 at 01:15 PM [Reply]

I agree w/ you about deputies leaving if their pay is lowered and that we'd be in a pickle.
However, Kip Thomas is quoted in the ABH as wanting "one million" over what he already has, 4 new deputies & 12 new patrol cars. Yes, many vehicles have excessive mileage on them (it's been that way for 8+ yrs.) but Kip should have thought of that (mileage, maintaining,gas)when he let/letting new deputies take home cars, driving 40-50+ miles one way to Walton Co., Oconee Co., Athens, Social Circle. He took a man off each shift (that's 4) to make a traffic unit that only writes tickets & don't answer calls. Kip would have been able to stay in budget if he didn't promise such high wages to less qualified people he brought w/ him. Wages are public record at MC HR Office. It shouldn't matter what department it is, stay in budget!!!!!

#12 Carol on 07/13/09 at 05:26 PM [Reply]

I read in the Athens Banner Hearld on Sunday that our new Sheriff wants a Million Dollars added to his 2010 budget. The article said the Commissioners asked him to cut 5% to which he replied I'm not going to cut anything as a matter of fact I need an extra Million or something to that effect. I guess our Sheriff hasn't heard about the recession. Use a little common sense Sheriff times are hard for some people. I guess the local press wasn't there or they dont want to give this sad news to the citizens. If our Commissioners go for the Sheriffs idea get ready to pay.

#13 anonymous on 07/13/09 at 05:53 PM [Reply]

I remember reading and hearing Kip Thomas saying that the Sheriff's office had plenty of personel during his campaign and that the problem was Sheriff Lowe didn't know how to manage personel. I quess things are alot different on the inside than they are from your fathers house asleep.

#14 Mikey on 07/13/09 at 09:47 PM [Reply]

I am not saying give him the checkbook and run wild. I am saying that life saving organizations should be better funded and safe when it comes to budget cuts. We expect some one to help us when were in need but if a car that has 200,000 plus miles on it breaks down on the way you would blame the Sheriff. How about this they have several lawn mowers and John Deere Gators at the rec. Dept. that state inmates ride around on, MAKE THEM WALK behind a push mower or carry there weed eater around by hand. I love the Rec. Dept. I played ball there for years growing up but it never once saved my life or my property.

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BOC to hold work sessions on sheriff’s budget, personnel policy July 9

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BOC to hold work sessions on sheriff’s budget, personnel policy July 9

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