HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180854.tiffMINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
February 12, 2017
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter at 6:30 p.m., Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Weld County Administration
Building, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL:
The meeting was called to order by President Gene Stille. Councilmen Michael Grillos, and
Brett Abernathy were present, constituting a quorum of members. Councilman Charles Tucker
had an excused absence. Councilman Jordan Jemiola was absent. Also present was County
Attorney Bruce Barker and County Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA :
Councilman Gallas made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilman
Abernathy and carried.
APPROVAL Of DOCUMENTATION:
Approval of January 22, 2018, Minutes
Councilman Grilos made a motion to approve the January 22, 2018, minutes, seconded by
Councilman Abernathy, and the motion carried.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
There was no review program.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dave Kisker, Johnstown, read a statement about a potential whistleblower program. He said it
must be safe, confidential and effective. He said the administrator should be outside of Weld
County. All stakeholders should be considered, including a contractor, for example, who didn't
feel they were getting a fair shake.
He said the county council should be the internal administrator. It's the only entity that doesn't
have a vested interest in the outcome. It's the only body that can remain impartial.
He doesn't want the commissioners to be the administrators, as he said they are not always
objective. Commissioners don't direct all county employees.
In order to make this happen the council and commission have to work together. Everybody has
to agree on the role of HR.
Councilman Abesiathy asked what kind of additional time it would take to oversee such a program
as the Council is voluntary.
Mr. Kisker said it would depend on the number of complaints and would probably require more
work at the beginning.
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Karen Grillos, of Hudson, also read a prepared statement. She said this council spoke about a
whistleblower program last summer, and the auditors recommended a whistleblower program.
In October Mr. Stille and Mr. Tucker were assigned the responsibility to begin work. She has
missed any report on where the work and research stands.
This project is for the welfare of employees and citizens. It is undeniable that HR lacks training
and needs help to handle cases current and upcoming.
It is also undeniable the Harvey M. Rose recommended this to the council specifically for good
reasons.
The commissioners have conflicts of interest and in your oversight role you are tasked to guard
against those.
A work session on the commissioners' calendar Feb. 21 notates whistleblower software. I applaud
the commissioners in showing interest in the council project.
I request the council form a work session immediately to get this program moving, developed and
in place. If the council work session does not precede the commissioners meeting on Feb. 21, I
ask that all council members be present and follow through with a council work session.
Perhaps the commissioners will have something useful for the council to consider in its work.
Use these council meetings for opportunities for brainstorming and problem solving.
Last year, the audit was a great accomplishment. It took leadership and hard work. That work is
not finished.
This work will allow employees and supervisors the safety to move forward and confidently and
without fear do the work they are here to do, improving Weld County for all knowing the Council
has honored its commitment to them.
It occurred to me today, this year we have one commissioner with a non -frivolous ethics violation
complaint against her and one commissioner with a possible upcoming investigation against him
for ignoring complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace. Both great examples of why a
whistleblower program is needed.
My question for tie BOCC oversight board is what parameters, what procedures are utilized to
determine which commissioners have departments to oversee in any given year. I'll take my
answer after your investigation.
Ellen DeLorenzo, of Johnstown, said ethical behavior is very important to her.
I spent most of my career in ethics, this program needs to be thought through carefully.
In the current environment, around the country, in the workplace, with what is going on with people
in power — this program is more important than ever before.
I really strongly recommend that you take the time to do this properly.
One example I just thought of, we used a 1-800 number. That completely removed everyone.
Took away the mistrust. Just an example. There are a whole myriad of ways this can be
constructed. Not all complaints will be valid. There will be a spike when this gets implemented. It
is an important program, but more importantly it needs to be done correctly.
NEW BUSINESS:
Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
Councilman Stille said he had the opportunity to work with Councilman Tucker on an issue
brought forth by constituents. The issue was resolved.
Bills
Councilman Abernathy made a motion to approve bills, it was seconded by Councilman Grillos
and carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
Update on Whistleblower Program
Councilman Stille said commissioners are hosting a work session Feb. 21 - it's an open meeting.
He thanked Ms. Lorenzo, saying the idea of a 1-800 number is a good suggestion.
Hopefully we'll have some answers after the meeting for Ms. Grillos on how we're going to work
this out.
He hopes the program will be open to not only internal employees, but also external constituents.
He said he hopes that once we have this work session that we can all come to some kind of
agreement because we're all going to grow, we're all going to learn something in the process. It's
incredibly important, especially in this day and age.
Councilman Grillos said emails have bounced around where Commissioner Moreno wants to
spearhead the whistleblower program. He cited a Greeley Tribune article in which Commissioner
Moreno was accused of not taking action on accusations of workplace sexual harassment when
he was the clerk & recorder. Councilman Grillos said he wants Commissioner Moreno to have
nothing to do with the program.
Councilman Abernathy said that he, as an employer, would hope his employees would come to
him with problems. But, if they didn't feel comfortable doing that a whistleblower program would
be the place to start. He doesn't like the idea of elected officials having their fingers in any sort of
the program, investigations or the structure of the program. He supports the idea of having an
independent group handle the program.
Councilman Stille reminded everyone the meeting is set for 8 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21.
County Attorney Bruce Barker confirmed it's an open meeting. He said he did not know if the
public would be allowed to speak during the work session.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation, the meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
March 19, 2018
ouncil President, Gene Stille
-Council Secretary, Linda Kane
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