HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-191
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RESOLUTION NO. 06-191
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION
NO. 86-173, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING
THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR EMPLOYEES
OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made
the following determinations:
1. By Resolution No. 86-173, adopted September 16, 1986, and subsequently amended,
the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Employee Handbook for employees of St.
Lucie County in order to update personnel policies to reflect changes in the federal and state
law and provide each employee with essential information regarding personnel policies and
benefits.
2. It is necessary to further amend Resolution No. 86-173 to update and clarify
certain sections of the Employee Handbook. regarding public records requests and the Code
of Workplace Conduct.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. Resolution No. 86-173, as amended, is hereby further amended to incorporate the
amendments to the following sections of the Employee Handbook, attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit "Au:
EDWIN M. FRY, Jr., CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
SAINT LUCIE COUNTY
FilE" 2883919 06f21/2006 a1 04:12 PM
OR BOOK 2594 PAGE 2372 - 2379 Doc Type: RESO
RECORDING: $69.50
2. This resolution shall be effective for all non-bargaining unit employees on the date
of adoption.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Doug Coward AYE
Vice Chairman Chris Craft AYE
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE
Commissioner Joseph E. Smith AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 13th day of June, 2006.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONËR~
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FL<?/UÐA"
BY:
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APPROVED AS TO LEGAL 'FORM AND
CORRECTNÊS5:
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SECTION 4 - MAKING THE COUNTY A BETTER
PLACE TO WORK
Section 4.00 is amended to read as follows:
4.00 CODE OF WORKPLACE CONDUCT
STANDARDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Included below are standards for the administration of disciplinary actions for
various types of offenses. The list includes the most commonly occurring offenses
and is not meant to be all-inclusive. The identification of offenses that are subject
to disciplinary action does not preclude the County's right to discipline or dismiss an
employee for other causes, including acts which breach the requirements inherent in
the "At Will" employment relationship between employees and the County. Further,
the County may deviate from these standards in its discretion as circumstances
warrant. Within each level of occurrence, a range has been provided to allow
management flexibility in selecting appropriate discipline based upon consideration of
the seriousness as it relates to the employee's duties and responsibilities, the
employee's past employment and disciplinary history and any extenuating and/or
mitigating circumstances which have substantially contributed to the violation for
which discipline is being considered.
(Subsections 4.00(1) through 4.00(28) are unchanged.)
(29) Charged or Conviction of a Crime
Employees charged with a felony (by indictment. information or
otherwise) will be suspended automatically without pay. The suspension
will continue until such time as such charge(s) is finally resolved by a
trial. by dismissal. quashing of the charge or (adjudication withheld). or
otherwise.
If the employee pleads guilty, or nolo contendere, or is found guilty of
any crime which adversely affects the employee's ability to perform
his/her job, or which adversely affects the County's ability to carry out
its mission.
First Occurrence
Suspension to Dismissal
Second Occurrence
Dismissal
(Subsections 4.00(30) through 4.00(36) are unchanged.)
Section 4.15 is amended to read as follows:
4.15 INQUIRIES ABOUT FORMER EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC RECORDS
INQUIRIES ABOUT FORMER EMPLOYEEs
All inquiries concerning past employment should be directed to the Human Resources Department.
The Human Resources Department has the responsibility to answer all inquiries concerning former
employees. Accordingly, all employees should refrain from answering letters or telephone inquiries
concerning former staff.
PUBLIC RECORDS
St. Lucie County (the "County") shall comply with Chapter 119. Florida Statutes.
I. Purpose:
To comply with the public records law and establish consistent procedures for
efficient processing of public records.
II. Policy:
A. It is the policy of St. Lucie County that all county records. except those
exempted by law. shall be open for personal inspection. examination and/or copying.
B. "Public Records" means all documents. papers. letters. maps. books. tapes.
photographs. films. sound recordings. data processing software. or other material,
regardless of the physical form. characteristics. or means of transmission. made or
received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official
business.
C. The public records statute does not obligate the County to create a
record or compile lists of information from various existing records to accommodate
a public records request.
III. Procedures:
A. Persons may request public records either orally or in writing.
B. Processing Public Records Requests.
1 Requests for Readily Available Documents: "Readily Available
Documents" are those that are easily retrievable. regularly disseminated to the public
and do not require additional review in order to determine whether they contain
exempt information. Any employee who receives a request for this type of
information should comply by providing review and/or a copy of the information as
requested. When the documents are readily available. there should not be any charge
for the labor in retrieving the requested documents. but any copies purchased by the
requestor should be charged as provided by Florida Statutes.
2. If a request for public records is not readily available. staff
should forward the request as follows:
a. Employee Records Requests:
The Human Resources Department shall respond to requests for
employee records.
b. Media Requests:
Requests from the media for public records shall be forwarded to
the Public Information Officer. (772) 462-1791.
c. Litigation-Related Requests:
The County Attorney's Office shall have the primary responsibility
for responding to public records requests involving lawsuits.
d. Requests for Other Documents:
All other requests shall be forwarded to the County Attorney's
Office. Although it cannot be required of the requestor. the requestor should be
encouraged to put his public records requests in writing. The requestor cannot be
required to give his name. address. telephone number or asked why he wants a copy
of the public record.
C. Charges for Public Records
1 General:
a. The fee for duplication of a one-sided letter size (8-1/2 x
11). legal size (8-1/2 x 14) or oversize (11 x 17) document. capable of being reproduced
on existing county equipment. shall be fifteen cents ($.15) per copy. Duplication of
two-sided pages shall be twenty cents ($.20) per copy.
b. The fee for a certified copy of a public record will be one
and 0/100 ($1.00) dollar. per copy.
c. For large. single documents not covered above (i.e..
blueprints. maps. plats. etc.). the fee shall be the actual cost to the County for
reproduction.
£ Information Systems:
The fee for output to any other medium (i.e.. diskette. compact
disk. etc.) shall be the cost to the County for such medium.
J.. For any copies not listed above the fee shall be limited to the
actual cost of duplication.
4. If the nature or volume of public records is such as to require
extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory
assistance. a special service charge will be assessed which shall be reasonable and
shall be based on the cost incurred.
5. Fee Collection and Receipts:
a. Payment of costs associated with a public records request
shall be made before the copies are provided.
b. Payment may be requested prior to the extensive use of
information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance.
c. A receipt for payment of costs associated with a public
records request shall be given to the requestor upon payment of the levied fee.
IV. E-mail
Many e-mail messages created or received in the transaction of official County
business are public records open to public inspection. The content is the critical
factor. rather than the medium. Depending on the content and topic of a particular
message and the County's approved retention schedule. the e-mail mayor may not be
exempt from public inspection under Florida's Public Records Law. Each user is
individually responsible for maintaining the public accessibility of his/her own
incoming and outgoing e-mail messages as required by the Public Records Law.
Questions relating to whether or not the content of a particular e-mail message
constitutes a public record or is covered by an exemption should be directed to the
County Attorney's Office.
Y...... Redaction of Exempt and Confidential Information
A. County personnel responding to a public records request should follow
these steps: a) determine if the requested document is a public record; b) review the
document to see if any exemptions or confidentiality requirements apply under state
or federal law; and c) disclose the non-exempt/non-confidential material.
!h If a requested record or part of a record is confidential or exempt from
inspection and copying under state or federal law. the records custodian will redact
the exempt or confidential information and must state the basis and statutory
citation for the exemption.
C. Questions relating to whether or not the contents of a particular
document constitutes a public record or is covered by an exemption should be
directed to the County Attorney's Office.
VI. Summary of Common Exemptions and Confidentiality Requirements.
A brief summary of some common types of records that may be maintained by
the County and which are "exempt" or "confidential and exempt" from public
disclosure includes. but is not limited to:
a. Social security numbers
b. Home addresses. telephone numbers and photographs of current or
former human resource directors. assistant directors. managers or
assistant managers.
c. Home addresses. telephone numbers and photographs of current or
former code officers
d. Bank account numbers. debit. charge. and credit card numbers
e. Medical information
i. Security system plans - including all records. information. photographs.
schematic diagrams
9.., Building plans. blueprints. schematic drawings and drawings. including
draft. preliminary. and final formats; attractions and recreation
facilities; industrial complexes; retail and service development; office
development
h. Any information that would identify or help locate a child who
participates in government sponsored recreation programs or camps
I. Spouses and children of law enforcement personnel, certified
firefighters and County Judges
Questions relating to whether or not the contents of a particular document
constitutes a public record or is covered by an exemption should be directed to the
County Attorney's office
VII. This Policy shall be interpreted consistent with Florida and federal law.
VIII. Effective Date:
Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and effective on