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ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး1993-10 ( 7" 7 ( 11, I , f A Newsletter for 1"••■,,,Ni ,iikiumu,,,.._,..:__ Employees and Retirees ., Ni.... of Tompkins County 7 s_____„, ------- f \ i ., ,‘„,,,,, ., ..,, __........„,,,ip 7 , 1993 Volume 6 Number 10 DOUBLE OR NOTHING Due to the upcoming holidays, we will combine rr y ; 114 M • . the November and December, 1993 issues of 4 •• ' t / County Corridors. Look for the double issue the '1111011141r-- i Affair- . ♦ s.,, iiii- first week of December. ly you would like to t , ,` •,,,„ submit an article for that issue, please send it by Friday, November 12, to Ruth Pond, Purchasing. A.. t' @0 ©8 .,r . 440 ' r gg p +! �^��v .'s.'2M 44 �. ..c . _ . q4a l'r fi � ,., mi qt 1 I ) ' ' filk ,r � r f � # MOM'S PROTEGE * 4 We're proud to present Erika Lauren Whitney, 3 -1/2 year old daughter of Andrea Whitney, our Civil Engineer at Public Works. Erika attends the Tompkins Employees' Day Care Center and one day when Mom arrived to l' pick -up Erika, she refused to remove the hardhat until Mom took her picture. Andrea felt this was a genuine "following in Mom's footsteps" picture, and so obligingly snapped Erika's photo in front of the beautiful catalpa tree with County buildings in the background. Thanks for sharing Erika with us, Andrea! �� 1 CONGRADULATIONS - 1 On September 26, 1993, a graduation ceremony was held for those completing %` `i courses to obtain their General Equivalency Diploma. In addition to ** *VOTE* *VOTE* *VOTE * ** working two jobs and raising two children, , our own Donna DePutron of Buildings Remember to vote .. it's not only your duty, it's your right and privilege and Grounds managed to complete the required assignments and graduate. We offer our sincerest congratulations to Donna for a job well done! EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE! COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT by Scott Heyman I have been keeping employees up to date, through this column, on County government's actions to "edge" toward what is known as Total Quality Management. That "edging" is becoming a brisk trot, so this month's news is all about that subject. A lot of different things have been going on. - On September 30th, County Department Heads attended an educational session on implementing the new Performance Review policy. , \� The policy was passed by the Board of Representatives in August at the request of Employee Council, and after "�� review by Department Heads. The key section of the policy says that "The purpose of the review process is to promote communication, improve job understanding, and promote effective job performance and career development. The review must be based on the performance of current job duties based on written goals and objectives which are, to the greatest extent possible, mutually agreed upon and specific. Appropriate training must be provided to all participants in this process." In the December 1990 survey of employees, a great many staff said they should receive this kind of feedback from their supervisor. ++ The training session on the 30th was the fast of three such presentations by an organization called Training for Change - 1 - specifically Kirby Edmonds and Laura Branca. I was in attendance and I thought they, and the Department Heads present, did an outstanding job. This was the first set of training offerings organized by the Inservice Education Committee (see my column in earlier newsletters) chaired by Nancy Zahler. These will not be the last educational opportunities in connection with performance review, and all employees will be receiving soon a survey document intended to guide the development of educational opportunities on a wide variety of subjects which will help all of us to do our jobs better. - What does all of the above have to do with Total Quality Management? Everyone involved in any way with Total Quality Management organization will testify to the need for a commitment to educating employees as the first step to increasing the importance of all employees in problem solving and decision making. - The County Board has begun to consider a resolution committing County government to Total Quality Management and establishing a "Leadership Council" to spearhead the effort. Articles about this have appeared in the print media in recent weeks. - The County Tax Committee is a group of business people affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce who have been examining information about Tompkins and a few other Counties for the last 8 months and who issued a report at a press conference on the 30th of September. There were some problems with the report - -it was caustically critical of the "efficiency" of the Health Department's Home Care Program. Our review of their "facts" indicates that they are simply mistaken. In addition, sadly, the author of the report had more than one conflict of interest in the subject- -the County Tax Committee should not have issued this report. But the bulk of the report was written by people other than the individual who wrote about the Home -Care Program- -and their suggestions are outstanding. They argue that the County Board should turn to leadership and policymaking, and away from overseeing and directing operations. — / i %_ They say that the "tossed salad" County organizational structure should be made more businesslike. Instead of many departments reporting to the County board directly, or to advisory boards, or entirely to the voters, they contend that all should report to the County Administrator who is held accountable by the Board. I know it appears self- serving for me to advocate and agree with this - -but it makes sense and it is the whole point of having a County Manager. No other organization on the planet would organize itself the way County government (and most local governments) does. Lastly, they urge the County to adopt Total Quality Management -- meaningsupervisors at all levels should trust and lead, and they should educate the staff who report to them so they can make decisions on their own. This is the strongest part of the report and Paul Steiger, its primary author, was ringing in his oratory about it. Don't all of us as supervisors frequently do just the opposite? Don't we fail to educate and explain what is expected, and then feel that we must recheck and redo other people's work because it isn't what we expected? Of course we think we're too busy to teach- - too busy rechecking and redoing. This vicious cycle can be broken. EMPLOYEE COUNCIL CHAIR'S REPORT ...by Cheryl Nelson Have you ever been asked to set up a meeting in a County conference room? If so, did you become somewhat frustrated trying to find out whom to contact to reserve the room, or how many people the room could hold? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, the following information should be of interest to you. This information was gathered and organized by Pat Nowakowski, Employee Council Vice Chair. The Council hopes it will be useful to County employees. Also, the Communications Committee of Employee Council will send this information to the media so that the public can be appraised of it as well. LOCATION CAPACITY CONTACT PHONE Public Works, 170 Bostwick Rd. 49 Sandi Draghi 272 -7421 SADD A & B, Biggs Bldg. A 66 or 132 Ed Hague 274 -5636 F •,••■ DSS, Biggs Bldg A 118 Ed Hague 274 -5636 Board of Reps., Court House 20 Michelle Pottoroff 274 -5434 ® � ITTC - small 6 Jolene Nagel 277 -9388 - large 40 " 11 1 � $ Health Dept., Biggs Bldg. -Rice Room 76 Richelle Siclare 274 -6674 �.�y> - Resource Room 15 -20 Assessment, Bldg. C 26 Sharon Cooper 274 -5517 Old Jail - small/large (can be combined) 20/26 Katie Knapp 274 -5560 Mental Health 10 Barbara Karaviotis 274 -6309 (evening reserv.) 55 Judy DeGrusso 274 -6300 (daytime reserv.) In other Council business, the Annual Report for the year of October '92 - September '93 has been dispersed. If you are interested in seeing this report, contact your Employee Council representative or your Department Head. The Employee Council has changed its regular meeting day to the first Thursday for the months of November and December. The meetings will be held at the Ithaca Tompkins Transit Center from 9 -1 la.m. Last, but certainly not least, the County Administrator's report in the County Corridors edition speaks largely of quality improvement and specifically references the new administrative policy on performance review. These are big issues which the Employee Council strongly supports. The information being generated on these issues speaks to the involvement and approval of Employee Council. Therefore, if these issues are important to you, be sure that your feelings, thoughts, and comments are conveyed to your Council representatives. By having input by all employees, through their elected Employee Council representatives, the strength of the Council will continue. I encourage all employees to read monthly Employee Council meeting minutes and consult with your council representative in order to keep current with Council activities. BENEFITS REMINDERS.....b Louise McEwen A PERSONAL APPEAL from Andrea Whitney P.W. Flexible spending accounts are being set up by County In the last year the American Red Cross has made employees for 1994. If you did not attend one of the numerous appeals, both locally and nationally, for blood meetings on either 10/27 or 28 to speak with the RMSCO donations. Despite this fact there continues to be a serious representative, please call Personnel in early November to shortage in the blood supply. I would like to encourage all receive an enrollment form. Also, please be aware - per County employees to take a little time out of their busy the notice sent to all departments - that the Tax Credit schedules to donate blood to the Red Cross on a regular disappears on the 1994 tax return so if any of you have basis. I never realized how important donating blood really declined the before -tax option on health insurance is until 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with a rare and premium dollars, you should not do this in 1994 in the life - threatening blood disease. My survival depended on hope of taking advantage of the tax credit on your 1994 the success of a still controversial treatment, given by the IRS return. Red Cross, called Plasmapheresis. This process requires Medicare Part 13 premium will rise from $36.60 /month to the removal of the entire blood volume with subsequent $41.10 /month effective 1/1/94. This will necessitate an disposal of the plasma portion of the blood. The patient's adjustment in health insurance premiums for those with Red Blood Cells & Platelets are then returned to them Medicare Part B considerations. If and when anyone along with 8 -10 units of Donor Plasma. Each unit of covered on the County's health insurance is enrolled in the Plasma comes from 1 unit of donated blood (i.e. from 1 Medicare Part B, please send a copy of the card to person). I received 10 days of treatment at Upstate before Personnel. I was stable enough to be removed from the process. In Don't forget - Pre - Retirement Planning Seminar with this 10 day period I received what amounted to approx. 100 Retirement and Social Security representatives, TC3, units of Donor Plasma, each one from a different person. November 8, 1993, 1:30 -4 p.m. (Employees must use fringe Although this is an extreme case, there is a day to day and time to attend, and clear with supervisor). Pre - registration minute to minute need for blood around the world, with was required by County employees so if you're "on the list" lives hanging in the balance. Please take a few minutes of don't forget ... NOVEMBER 8. your time today to save a life tomorrow. Call 273 -1900. PERSONNEL PERSONALS ALZHEIMERS INFORMATION DAY Guest speakers: Richard J. Ham, M.D. and CONGRATULATIONS TO: Cynthia Lange, MSW from the Alzheimers Disease Resistance Center, Syracuse. Sam Fish, Sheriff's Dept., who s the proud Dad of Deane Michael Fish, who arrived October 2, 1993. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 9 a.m. to noon Larry Bentley, Buildings & Grounds, the proud Dad of First Unitarian Church Richard Bentley, who arrived September 16, 1993. Btl(jalo & Aurora Streets Angel (District Attorney) and Garry Ecker on the birth of For more information, call 273 Nicholas Adam on September 22, 1993. 0 * * SYMPATHY TO: TQM - WHAT IS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?? Ruth Freeman, Mental Health, on the loss of her Curious about Total Quality Management? What is this grandmother. movement with the funny name and what does it have to do with cars that don't break down? If it's a Japanese Lois Hulbert, DSS, on the loss of her brother. phenomenom, how come an American taught it to the Japanese, and how come the Japanese showed they could build Katie Knapp, Planning, on the loss of her grandmother. cars just as well in the U.S. as in Japan, and how come American workers are now building cars just as well? Richard Jackson, Public Works, on the loss of his mother. A set of video tapes is circulating throughout County government that tells the whole story about Total Quality Bridie Hockenberry, Mental Health, on the loss of her Management, and about how it can work in local mother -in -law, also the grandmother of Laurie Crandall, government. It is narrated by Joseph Sensenbrenner who Building & Grounds. served as Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, from 1983 to 1989 and who applied TQM during that period. It features Carol Boles, Bd. of Elections, on the loss of her mother. stories and testimonials from local government employees from Madison, as well as from Tennesee, North Carolina, Anne Moses, Assessment, on the loss of her brother. and Washington state. The tapes run very long (over five hours) but they are GET WELL WISHES TO: well worth watching for their completeness. If you only want to watch the most interesting parts, fast forward to the Jim Wilson, Buildings & Grounds. discussions among employees and to the question and answer sections. Bonnie Tanner, wife of Dave Tanner, Public Works. The tapes can be borrowed and in most cases taken home if you contact Barb Karaviotis in Mental Health, Jack Daugherty, Solid Waste. Nancy Zahler at Biggs A, Richelle Siclaire in Public Health, Cathy Covert at the Board of Representatives, or Augie Churchill, wife of Ron Churchill, Health- retired. Kathleen Drew in County Administration. Jean Welch, Board of Elections- retired. CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Lois Hurlbut, wife of Hugh Hurlbut, Personnel retired. by Sigrid Kerr, R.N., Health Dept. Jim Clasby, Sheriff's Department. October is breast cancer awareness month. One out of nine American women will develop breast cancer - 175,000 TRANSFERS: this year alone, and about 44,500 will die this year. Did Louis Loiselle II, from Solid Waste to Airport. you know that County insurance will cover physician * * * • • * * • referred mammograms? Stop putting it off? Make that call today! UNCLASSIFIEDS 1 ,•' -- - r ;;• . - -- - - - • ,, FOR SALE: Kingsize Waterbed: dark pine, bookcase , ` _ = _ ~ ti' headboard with minors, 6 drawer pedestal frame, liner and - 1 ; !� � - • 3€ a .;, baffled mattress. $300. After 5 call 564 -7254. ' � ,. }, > � 11° ii ;' SALE: Kodiak Wood Stove $150.00. GREAT 1 ►I I a, �1 �t ' ' � � � * , �_ � �s : � t - . � ; �; � FOR f i F r — ' v / 1 r , ' . ` , + , � , 1 y •,:,..,,, = o ��� ! 4. , • -• n i f l 1 % SHAPE! Includes insulated pipe. After 6 call 756 -0319. ik„,,)))