The
State Room, 7:30 a.m.
Red
Lion Colonial Hotel
Helena,
Montana
1. Approval
of Minutes: Board member Rehbein moved to approve the Board minutes
from the meetings of September 26 and September 29, 2004. Board member Seilstad
seconded the motion and the members unanimously approved the motion.
2. Certification Overview: Gordon
Morris, MACo Executive Director, gave the Board a brief update of the
curriculum for the commissioner orientation and certification. He noted that
the certification overview in the Board packets had been revised and the
revised version was distributed. The introductory session “County Government
Structure and Authority” was reduced to 12 hours and the “Elective” segment was
increased to 6 hours. He reported that 81 elected officials had registered for
the program with 51 officials opting for the certification track.
3. Committee Appointments: Bill Kennedy, MACo
President reported on committee assignments. It was noted that Fergus County
Commissioner Petersen would serve out his term and effective January 1, 2005,
Meagher County Commissioner Doggett will be appointed to the NACo
Transportation Steering Committee and will serve as Vice Chair of MACo’s
Transportation Committee with John Ostlund serving as Chair. Kennedy also noted
that Rosebud County Commissioner Fjelstad was selected by the JPIA Trustees to
fill the unexpired portion of Petersen’s term on the Trust. Kennedy reported
that he would continue as chair of the Health, Human Services and Labor
Committee with 1st Vice President Kaercher as Vice Chair. It was noted that the
Reservation Counties would have to select a new Chair and Vice Chair as both
were vacated as a consequence of the recent election. It was also noted that
District 3 would need to meet to fill the Workforce Investment Council vacancy
created with the election loss by Custer County Commissioner Janet Kelly. Board
member Tinsley noted that he currently represents District 8 on the Council
instead of Commissioner Murray.
4. Discussion: President Kennedy moved to go into executive
session for purposes of discussing the “Time Frame Analysis” the Job
Descriptions for the MACo Executive Director and the Assistant Director and the
actions of the Board and the Executive Committee.
5. Other
Business:
Morris updated the Board on the efforts of the Justice and Public Safety Committee to further work on the County Attorney Salary proposal. It was pointed out that the current considerations pegged the salary at 85 % of the District Court Judicial salary rather than 90% as previously proposed. At the same time, the appropriation that would be requested in any proposal would increase state funding from the current level of $1,743,305 to $2,155,209. The money as proposed would come through the county entitlement program. There was discussion of how the proposal would variously impact counties. Board member Dunbar questioned why the Committee was even going in this direction based upon the reaction at the September conference, which he characterized as general opposition. He noted that the benefits provided were not a consideration in reference to overall salary. Board member Seilstad noted that his district counties appeared to be losers in terms of the increased costs that they would incur under the proposal as currently presented. President Kennedy commented that he was totally opposed to the concept of opening up the entitlement for purposes of getting the money to counties. He stated that this would establish a precedent that might lead to the legislature looking at this as an available revenue source. Board member Gallagher, representing the County Attorneys, drew attention to the comparison of “county costs of doing nothing” to “county costs under the proposal.” He added that the concept is to establish a salary base and then leave future adjustments to commissioners and salary committees. Several Board members indicated an interest in being at the meeting either in person or by conference call. Morris thanked the Board and Leo Gallagher for the discussion of this issue.
With no further
business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.