ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး1989-11 • COUNTY :_.. A Newsletter For Employees and Retirees of Tompkins County Vol. 11, No.IX November 1989 Grace Under Pressure by Rachael S. Pierce Tompkins County Clerk What begins with a "D" and is a place you hate to visit? We hope you respond "the Dentist" and not "the DMV." Those of us who work in the DMV know we're the place you love to hate. Even Tonight Show comedians tell jokes about the DMV. But, believe you me, we're doing our very best to get you in and out fast and with a smile. We make every effort to make your visit short and sweet. We want you to be served quickly and efficiently, without repeat visits. Good service for all is our goal. Did you know, for instance, that on an average day, we help about 400 people. We help 10 to 12 people to get their driver's permits and nearly 100 persons to buy new plates or transfer plates for their cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, tractor trailers or agricultural vehicles. We also process about 100 car, boat, and/ or snowmobile renewals in a day and help nearly 50 drivers to renew their driver's licenses. When you've put your car or truck title in a quote, unquote "very safe place" but can't remember where that safe place is, 5 or 6 of you a day come to the DMV to apply for a duplicate title so you can sell your old vehicle to that waiting buyer. And don't forget the 35 sets of plates that you surrender in an average day (you wouldn't believe what some of them are covered with!) Not to mention the fact that between customers, we field phone calls from morning 'til night to help answer questions for people on a wide variety of topics but often involving complex laws and regulations that they didn't really want to hear. All in all, that's about 8,000 transactions per month and 72,000 transaction per year. Whew! We do have some wonderful customers who smile back, say thanks and even comment on the fast and friendly service. We also have some who loudly proclaim "! @ #$% & *! We try very hard not to treat the next person the same way THOSE customers treated us. Generally, people are sympathetic to us for suffering such abuse and they try extra hard to be pleasant. We're grateful when people smile ack. It makes working at the DMV better for everyone. il Since Patricia Adduci, a former County Clerk in Monroe County, became Commissioner of the STATE DMV, customer's concerns ve been a topmost consideration. She has made many changes in mandatory procedures to improve things for people on both sides of the counter. For example, she eliminated the need to mail in your old registration stub and current insurance card with your renewal making it so much easier to do your business by mail. She even visits local offices twice a year all over the state to listen to people's needs and concerns. Did you know that at one time, not too long ago, every single set of plates in the whole state expired on December 31st? Naturally there were long lines on that date as there still are in some downstate offices. Did you see the recent article in our local newspaper that told of Long Island residents driving to Cooperstown, N.Y. to conduct their motor vehicle business to avoid the delay downstate? Commissioner Adduci made the old "end of the month" blues (we used to dread those days), a thing of the past by staggering the expiration dates of licenses and plates throughout the month. She also personally rewrote the driver's manual so it wouldn't be written in legalese which everyone knows is a foreign language. Since Albany makes the laws and rules, local government is merely acting as an agent of the Commissioner. Having a leader committed to bettering the bureaucracy has been a boon to customers and workers alike. Rest assured that within these regulations, the local DMV workers do their utmost to provide good service and they deserve a hand for difficult jobs performed with grace under pressure. f I(.:I :NSE A Pp to r{;t4. a /VV. '..: , Shown in photo from left to right is Shawn Reese, M. V. License Clerk, Coral Mc- Laren, M. V. License Clerk and Penny Mc- Guire, Supervisor Motor Vehicle PROCIPs h "Reminder " the next meeting of the Ai , County Corridors Board or for " anyone who would like to , " in attend the SADD is December Conference 19th Room 1989 . , =• , at 9:30 a.m. ,,1 Benefit Highlights Central N. Y. Regionwide II Plan • Hospitalization (Blue Cross) Up to 365 days of paid -in -full hospital care for an illness or injury, including room and board, general nursing services, and special facilities in a semi - private room or intensive care unit Paid -in -full coverage for outpatient medical emergency or accidental injury care, pre - admission testing, and outpatient surgery (medical emergency defined as life - threatening illness) Paid -in -full coverage for most diagnostic and therapeutic hospital services including outpatient diagnostic x -rays, laboratory tests, and radiation therapy Paid -in -full care in a skilled nursing facility as an alternative to hospitalization (not custodial care) Paid -in -full care for up to 40 home health care visits per year (not custodial care) Paid -in -full maternity benefits to include nursery care for newborn child Elective sterilization Ambulance service to a local hospital Surgical Care (Blue Shield) Select Blue medical/surgical coverage is a comprehensive basic benefits program to pay doctor bills for illness or injury. Under the Select Blue Shield program, BLUE SHIELD PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS accept Blue Shield's allowance as payment in full. Select Blue benefits inciude: Medical care Elective sterilization Surgery Laboratory tests Surgical Assistants Radiation therapy Anesthesia X -ray examinations Consultations Outpatient or ambulatory surgery Second surgical opinions Inpatient psychiatric services • Maternity (including initial exam of newborn) Up to $50 toward one physical examination per year Premature or sick baby care for newborn for active employees over 50 years of age Major Medical $1,000,000 lifetime maximum per person $100 deductible per person per year with $200 maximum deductible per family per year 80% coinsurance after deductible up to $2,000 in covered expense per year; 100% thereafter The benefit program is applied to: Benefits described under basic Blue Cross and Blue Shield after basic benefits have been exhausted Physician's charges for home and office medical care 325 Home health visits per year Private duty nursing, visiting nurse service Prosthetic devices and durable medical equipment, ostomy supplies, catheters, oxygen and its administration Outpatient psychiatric services (80% of charges not to exceed $40 per visit, after deductible; maximum lifetime benefit of $50,000) Professional services by a physiotherapist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, and a number of other health services on a case -by -case basis Speech therapy by licensed speech therapist prescribed by physician for active treatment following surgery or for an organic medical condition Chiropractic services when indicated by X -ray or prescribed by physician (not custodial care) Up to $25 for organized volunteer ambulance service to a hospital for covered services Alcoholism treatment and drug abuse; 7 weeks of care per admission, 14 weeks per calendar year Prescription Medicines and Insulin $1.00 co -pay • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Central NY, 344 S. Warren St., PO Box 4809, Syracuse, NY 13221 (315-424-3700; 1-800-633-6066) FRINGE FACTS Dear Friends: Q - I noted that RMSCO will be signing up employees for the flexible spending account. did not participate last year. If I have no non - covered medical care or dependent care ex- pensesfor 1990, should I still plan to attend a meeting relative to premium conversion only? This letter is addressed to all of you that I've come to know in the last four years at Biggs, the Courthouse Complex, the High - A - Currently an employee pays $28.40 per month for single coverage and $60.53 per way Dept., the Public Safety Building and month for family coverage. This premium is paid after taxes. Why not find out how you can the Airport. save those taxes by having a flexible spending arrangement for your premium. It's simple Times they have changed and as of and it makes sense. Everything is done automatically through the payroll system. You pay November 3, I resigned from the County's your health insurance premium before taxes are taken, thereby reducing your gross pay employ. I didn't get to say goodbye to most which is taxed, so you're not paying a tax on top of your premium for health insurance. It of you, but would like to take this oppor- should be kept in mind that unless an employee in this program has a major family change tunity in the "County Corridors" to wish you (for example, birth, divorce, death) as defined by the IRS, he /she cannot change or cancel one more farewell and good luck. With health insurance during the year. Obviously, if such employee leaves County employment, extra thanks to Bob Mabee and my friends insurance and the flexible spending plan terminate accordingly. on the B &G crew, all the prolific work order I would encourage all employees to learn more about flexible spending by attending one writers- Jackie Yoder, Faith Allen, Sheila of the meetings to be scheduled. Ferrari, and Brenda Vassalotti. ("This is the last time you have to move it REALLY ") To the good folks at Personnel, Louise McEwen, Shirley and Mr. H., and to all of you in the departments around the County COFA OFFERS A WORKSHOP SERIES who helped to make the last four years some of the best I've ever had. It would take many FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS pages to list you all even if I did know all the names. The Caregivers' Resource Center at the Office for the Aging is offering a three - session You are all good people and I will series of workshops for home health aides and other professional caregivers to frail, older miss you. Thanks & best of luck to all. S rsons inr co munity. designd pls provide a lity ca re to the their clients as well The wor as deal effecti are vely with e family help members rofessiona W ays of reduc ing job - related stress and networking with other professionals will also be covered. Harold Brill Sessions will be held in the Medical Office Building (201 Dates Drive) on the following dates: Thursday, November 16, 1989 2 -4 p.m. Room 105 Thursday, November 30, 1989 2 -4 p.m. Room 101 Thursday, December 7, 1989 2 -4 p.m. Room 101 COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors Advanced registration is requested. Please call the Office for the Aging at 274 -5450. are selected by the volunteer editorial board based The workshop series is made possible by a grant from the State Office for the Aging. on their interest to Tompkins County employees Participating agencies include the Health Planning Council, Family & Children's Service, and retirees. Material is solicited from current the Long Term Care Coordinating Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension, The Registry employees, retirees and others. g g ' p , = County Corridors is published by County and Housing Opportunities for Seniors Today. Central Services using "desktop publishing' typog- raphy and layout. Publication and distribution is on the second County payday of the month. Material for publication is selected by the ,--. editorial board which reserves the right to edit any ---. submissions. The editorial board is made up of 1 Karen Barry (Central Services), Bill Chapp (DSS), Sheila Ferrari (Purchasing and Central Services), " �� Scott Heyman (Administration), Louise McEwen (Personnel), Joyce Musson (Administration), la / Doreen Schrader (Buildings & Grounds), Marilyn Strassberg (Office for the ;Aging), Judy Tynyk (Weights & Measures), and Unnette Warner (Solid All r-llit ) Waste). • I 1 Correspondence may be sent through County ,, I nter - office mail to Newsletter or Central Services or via Us Mail to: Newsletter CIO Purchasing & Central Services `II 1 011114 Biggs Center Bldg'A I u sl � 1 '. - , 301 Harris Dates Dr. 1 Ithaca, Ky. 14850 1 FREE UNCLASSIFIEDS The Tompkins County Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees and their im- Personnel Office is mediate families. Ms may be for any purpose except no personal ads will be accepted. No applications for County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in the ads. Use this coupon to send your accepting p p • ad to Corridors c/o Central Services. IMMEDIATE and ANTICIPATED VACANCIES in the following positions: AUTO MECHANIC: Public Works,LG 12 BUILDING MAINTENANCE WORKER (PLUMBER/STEAMFIT- TER) : Public Works, LG 11 CLEANER: Public Works, LG 3 JUNIOR ENGINEER: Public Works, LG 13 MEADOW HOUSE Works, LG ENANCE WORKER: Public CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Public THURSDAY AND FRIDAY PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER: Mental Health, LG 14 DECEMBER 14th AND 15th PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE: Health, 14 TOMPKINS COUNTY TRUST COMPANY LG TYPIST: Various Depts., LG 4 YOUTH PROGRAM PLANNER: (lobby, main branch) Youth Bureau, LG 14 10 :00 A.M. - 2:00 P. M. WELDER: Public Works, LG 11 TC3 -- Security Officer (Shift work) JD HANDMADE CRAFTS Senior Typist (18 3/4 hrs. throu 9/15/90) Please contact the Tompkins County o ,� Personnel Department for job descriptions and minimum qualifications for the above oo v b listed vacancies. County Corridors Announcements 1. The Health Dept. welcomes Eric Broberg, who came on board as Public Health Technician for the Environmental Division on Oc- tober 10, 1989 2. The Health Dept. welcomes back Cindy Lamb, Nutritionist for WIC, from maternityleave. Her absence has been noticed by us all. 3. Special congratulations go to Environmental Health Division Stenographer, Karen Rose and husband Dennis, on the birth of their first daughter, Erika Ann, on October 8, 1989. Michael's sister weighed in at 8Ibs, 12oz. 4. Congratulations to Karen Barry, our Corridors Specialist who does such a fine job of putting this paper together each month, and her husband Mike on the birth of their first child. A boy, Michael Scott, 8lbs, 2oz. on October 29th. 5. The Candor Community Chorus is presenting "Hello Dolly!" on Friday, November 24th and Saturday, November 25th at 8 p.m. also a matinee at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Candor Central School Auditorium. Tickets are priced at $2.50 pre -sale and $3.00 at the door for students and $3.00 pre -sale and $3.50 at the door for adults. This is a wonderful family show so bring the whole family. Tickets can be ob- tained from Jeanne Frandsen at the Board of Representatives Office, 274 -5434. 6. As this is the Last issue of the County Corridors before the Holiday Season is upon us, we would like to extend to all the employees and their families a very joyous and happy Holiday Season. • HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! 01 7. ? -111\%, - M111.-