Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
Present: President, Bruce Myers; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Evan Long, Bette George and Harold Dozier.
Staff: Manager, Michael Alburn.
It was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Belen Gomez, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the May meeting be approved as mailed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried that the May Bills be approved as mailed. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 25, Exhibit I.
Following discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Belen Gomez, and unanimously carried that the May Bills be approved as mailed. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 26, Exhibit II.
It was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried that the June Payroll be approved and ordered paid. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 27, Exhibit III.
None.
Michelle Dempsey and Katherine Biehle have joined the lab. All temporary personnel are now hired for the summer program.
Swimming pool inspections are nearly caught up. These are from the aerial photography/ surveillance and Forclosureradar.com. District continues to use the 150 day briquette treatments effectively clearing the pool as a breeding source for the remainder of the year.
Dycast Risk Model a measure of dead bird clusters over the most recent 21-day period has been used to direct our surveillance effort. Fourteen WNv positive dead birds year to date, five occurring this week (one in south Visalia belonging to Tulare MAD). Press release encouraging awareness, repellent use and bird reporting was issued.
Current West Nile information was reported to the Board.
The District has been processing preliminary paperwork in preparation of potential aerial mosquito control missions over populated areas. The FAA requires a flight plan for these missions and review can take up to 30 days before approval. Therefore, the Manager requested Board approval to sign the authorization to fly over these areas if/ when such time as conditions warrant. In the event actual flights were to occur, an entire public information program will be initiated. In addition, local entities will be made aware. Because these entities have appointed the Board members as their representative, the Manager felt it is not necessary to go back to them to get approval individually to prepare a flight plan. There is a difference between putting together maps and identifying product and aircraft type and actually preparing to go out on a mission. The former is simply putting all our ducks in a row while the later will undoubtedly entail community awareness.
Dynamic and Clarke Mosquito will be under contract to perform possible missions with a minimum of 20,000 acres ordered. This can be shared with neighboring districts. Cost is $.92 / acre. Product is not included. It was emphasized that this is preliminary work to allow appropriate response if the need arises.
Following discussion, it was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to authorize the Manager to proceed with the FAA Area Plan on behalf of the District.
The commission has invited the District to nominate a person to sit on the East County Mosquito Abatement Study Steering Committee. We are asked to provide a nominee who has intricate knowledge of the organization’s day to day operations, goals and policies so that they are able to effectively reflect the organization’s concerns and suggestions. LAFCo staff will review the list of nominees and submit the list to the commission in order to ratify the official steering committee member roster at the July meeting.
The Manager reviewed the past experience the District has in the area for Board consideration of the request.
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to nominate Michael Alburn, General Manager for consideration by LAFCo staff.
The Manager presented the updated documents describing the response plans employed by the District. These plans are used in conjunction with our CEQA document dated January 2004. It was moved by Belen Gomez, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried to approve the California Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance and Response Plan as well as the supplemental document Operational Plan for Emergency Response to Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks, dated 2008 as the District’s own.
The Manager requested the Board consider a Wage and Benefit package prior to Budget presentation so the employees would be able to have checks on time rather than have increases paid retroactively.
April CPI for all Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers – U.S. city average equals 4.2%. Following discussion, it was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to approve a 4.2% COLA for all personnel.
The Manager requested the Vector Control Technician I position be considered for a pay scale adjustment, as the salary was insufficient to interest and retain employees of significant caliber. The recommendation was to increase step five in the salary schedule by $2.00/ hour and for steps 1 – 4 to retain their normal percentages of step 5. Following discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried to approve the increase.
The Manager reported that Michele Dempsey, Vector Control Tech I has been with the District for 6 years. She is competent in all facets of the lab and has earned her bachelor degree in business at night while working here at Delta. Michele enjoys the work and is interested in becoming a Vector Control Technician III. With our commitment to the surveillance program being carried out by the lab in mind, the Manager recommended a change in classification for Michele to Vector Control Technician II effective June 9th. Following discussion, it was moved by Evan Long, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried to approve the recommended change.
It was moved by Bette George, seconded by Evan Long, and unanimously carried to approve a reclassification of Mark Dynge, Administrative Assistant to Systems Administrator with the salary schedule being equivalent to the Foreman position. The Policy Manual will direct appropriate step administration.
It was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Evan Long, and unanimously carried to approve a reclassification of Sheri Davis, Administrative Technician to Administrative Assistant. The Policy Manual will direct appropriate step administration. The Board will hold the Administrative Technician position vacant until future action.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Board Minutes approved on July 9, 2008.
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Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary