ГлавнаяMy WebLinkО нас1994-10 7( . ' N - 7 A Newsletter for Employees and Retirees — ii.., — of Tompkins County r -.-s. )1111441111 . . 7 \I 1 OCTOBER 1994 Volume 7 Number 10 HOLIDAY JUMPSTART ,., by Roberta Chiesa, Credit Union DEDICATION , ogre you ready for the Holidays? Not the OF i Holidays of 1994 but the Holidays of 1995! Get a ` VW jumpstart on 1995 by opening a I holiday Account W at Tompkins Employees Federal Credit Union. The tr1G� E [2'6st . ' I people who have a real jumpstart on the Holidays are the members who have a Holiday account for NODS 1994 and have already set aside money each SREClAE. THANKS To payroll and have received a check in mid October <; / ; t o help them with their Holiday shopping or ? , swEEiNEART a+scEwsER WESTINGHOUSE COCtER j P Y PP g { ' / RUSSELL KUNBE• %,� e�ii" something else they have planned ahead for). 1 The 1995 Holiday Account starts with the aif j' payroll in October, but you can start yours ,,, \ anytime. The accounts pay in the middle of ■ t , 2 October and the check can be for an amount YOU 1 choose. You set up the amount you want deposited each pay period. Our members choose ' an amount deducted from each pay check and then that money can be distributed as they wish: to Assessment's recent "reassessment" of their drinking fountain was Holiday Accounts, regular savings, One Year the result of the installation of a l0000ng awaited dixie cup Accounts, share draft checking, to accounts for dispenser which increased the fountain's value to the department. their children or grandchildren. Come in and see Enjoying a refreshing break at the dedication are: left to right how flexible our accounts are - you design your Susie Fast, Vickie Wagner and Russ Klinger. own! Oh, and our Holiday Accounts pay dividends as well. The Credit Union is located in Biggs A, along the front of the building next to the main entrance *** . . • • • • to Probation. We serve employees of Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and all the • municipalities within Tompkins County. Also, Tompkins Community Hospital, Ithaca Housing Authority, Bangs Ambulance, the employees of the Biggs Complex as well as several other small SHARE YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE businesses. Stop in - join - and get a jumpstart on 1995. Just Do you have a favorite recipe you'd be willing to share with us? come in, bring an initial deposit of at least $5.00 With the holidays corning upon us with the speed of a greased rail, and Roberta, Barbara or June will be glad to open we are looking for recipes that will make our holiday season all the your account. Oh, and be sure to pick up your gift more special. Please share yours by sending it to Judy Tynyk, when you open a Holiday Account at Tompkins Weights & Measures by November 11 so they can be printed in the Employees Federal Credit Union. November issue. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT by Scott Heyman Helping Each Other Out Nearlyfify County employeeswith responsibility for administration within their department -- including personnel paperwork, budget preparation and management, purchasing, printing, copiers, and many more -- attended two separate training and discussions held over the last few weeks. Presenters from Data Processing, Purchasing, Central Services, Comptroller, Risk Management, Health and Safety, and the Clerk of the Board explained their roles and offered help to everyone who wanted to know how to get the things they need from central administrative offices. Personnel and Buildings and Grounds will make presentations in the near future. Several suggestions were received from people in attendance, and in next month's Corridors I'll report on what these were and on what followup they are receiving. BIRTH OF A NATION The birth of a baby, and the birth of a nation, may seem more dramatic, but a lot of people are just as excited about the birth of a new County Department. The Department of Finance has been created through the merger of the old Divisions of Purchasing and Budget and Finance and the old Comptroller Department. David Squires, formerly the County Comptroller and now the Director of Finance, is the head of the new organization. David and I explained to the Board that the fiscal stringency of recent years had shrunk Budget and Finance as well as the Comptroller operations to a dangerous point. Backup, and even coverage during lunches, was becoming harder and harder to come by. Everyday illness could create real catastrophe. The addition of Purchasing seemed logical because of its many ties to the Comptroller office. Putting all three together created a department that fits (barely) on one floor of the Old Jail. David and I met with all employees of the new organization prior to taking a proposal to the County Board and explained that no employee would be "reorganized" out of work or into a lower salary grade. Duties will indeed change over time and efficiencies and streamlining will be sought; but not at the expense of any current employee. THE ELECTRONIC FUTURE An item now included in the Proposed Capital Program for 1995 - 1999 that will be of interest to many employees is a computerized proposal developed by Dean Ekstrom and staff of Data Processing. A new mainframe will replace and significantly upgrade the machine that now meets the payroll, pays the bills, and authorizes all purchasing. Powerful new desktop machines will handle assessment and elections functions that are now on the mainframe. And of particular note personal computers in virtually all county departments will be networked and about 40 new machines will be purchased, with software and training provided. Dean has already asked department heads to apply to receive one (or more) of these. This new setup will make instant communication among county departments possible. Also included in the proposal is the capacity to create a public bulletin board and to network with City, Library, and Human Services Coalition offices downtown. ADDENDUM The third paragraph of the article "Major Change in Health Insurance Benefits" which appeared in our •w September issue should have read: T I t is important to note that no deductible or co- payment provisions will be required for these visits. Since this Pim payment will be made under the basic (Blue Shield) coverage and not the master medical coverage, visits will be ( • y paid in full if you use a participating medical provider who 1 r==r I accepts Blue Shield payment as payment in full. NOTE: If you do not use a participating provider, you will pay any balance for the office visit. Example: Physician charges I ; $50 for well child visit, Blue Shield pays $45 ... if not a par , r� ,; — provider, you will pay the other $5.00; if a par provider, f you will pay zero. "TEAM CORNER" EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE TLC PW DEVELOPS ADMINISTRATIVE The Leadership Council (TLC) has now met four times RESOURCE TEAM and real headway is being made. This is the unexciting The administrative staff members in Public Works phase -- getting organized and arranging for the training divisions (Administration, Airport, Buildings & Grounds, and organizational supports that will be crucial. Engineering, Highway, and Solid Waste) have developed an At its October 20 meeting the group planned to: itir Administrative Resource Team (A.R.T.). The group Propose approximately five pilot "project improvement started meeting in January of this year in an attempt to teams ". These are groups that will volunteer to go find more effective and efficient ways to accomplish the through training and then work with a trained facilitator ever increasing administrative workload without increasing on an identified problem or process that is important staff size. and difficult. The teams will be models of the processes The first task was for A.R.T. partners to reach consensus that will begin to be applied in many county on their mission. The mission is as follows: departments in about a year. "To develop and measure ways of performing the Finalize plans to orient all County employees on what administrative functions for the Public Works divisions of total quality management is, what are current plans for Administrations, Airport, Buildings & Grounds, Engineering, it, how it will affect all of us, and to ask people to Highway, and Solid Waste while providing opportunities to suggest names for the initiative. air develop new skills. This shall be done in a manner that is Review what is hoped to be a final draft of a open, supportive, fun and rewarding." labor /management partnership agreement. One of the The partners also developed ground rules that explain main features of this will be language that guarantees how they will conduct themselves during their monthly employees who work to improve efficiency that they are meetings. not working themselves out of a job. In order to get an understanding of the administrative or Propose specific followup steps on projects proposed or functions, the group as a whole developed lists entitled initiated by the Employee Council. or "What are we Doing ? ", "What Should we be Doing ? ", "What Consider how many facilitators to train and when (these Would be Nice to do?", and "What do we Need to be Able to are people who assist project teams with their processes Accomplish U?". Then, as a whole, they chose a topic that and skills; they are people who do not work with the they felt needed priority attention. people on the team). or The topic chosen as the most crucial was how to improve Review progress on communication and performance the answering of the phones at the Bostwick road facility in management efforts to support the overall initiative. order that more work could be accomplished without TLC MEETS THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY OF interruption. The solution that developed was to split the EVERY MONTH FROM 1.00 TO 3.00 P.M. You do not day in half and have one office cover the phone in the have to be a member to attend; interested employees are mornings and another cover it in the afternoon. This allowed for each office to have a half day of "quiet time." cordially invited. Most meetings are held at the Transit The dividends of this simple solution were felt immediately. Center by Newman Golf Course, but not all are so please The results were measured, as well and showed that check with Nancy Zahler 274 - 5310 or Scott Heyman 274 - production increased dramatically by having uninterrupted 5552 or any Leadership Council member about the location work time. of a particular meeting. The next process being improved is the completion and submission of payroll. The divisions are organizing the process used and are working to improve it. Leadership Council Members Another success of A.R.T. is the fact that each partner Barbara Mink, Board of Representatives 274 - 5434 C is preparing a Work Activity Index Notebook. This notebook Charlie Evans, Board of Representatives 274 - 5434 L is at each administrative work site and explains not only Scott Heyman, County Administrator 274 - 5552 I what needs to be done at that site, but also how to do it. Emery Guest, Sheriff 257 - 1345 P This allows for the partners to fill in for each other during David Chase, CSEA White Collar Unit 274 - 5294 work absences. It also boosts morale and productivity to Penny Van Shoick, CSEA White Collar Unit 274 - 5321 A know that when a partner is away that the work continues Leighann Baldwin, CSEA White Collar Unit 274 - 6674 N without interruption. Tony Denmark, CSEA Blue Collar Unit 277 - 5290 D If you are interested in getting more information on Bob Lampman, Sheriff's Deputy Assn. 257 - 1345 A.R.T., contact one of the partners. You can tell who they Loretta Bernal, Confidential Employees 274 - 5252 S Ward Hungerford, Middle Manager 273 - 4262 A are because they all proudly wear a pin that identifies them Mary Pat Dolan, Department Head (DSS) 274 - 5252 V as A.R.T. members. Irene Stein, Department Head (COFA) 274 -5482 E Don't forgot to turn your docks back Staff: Nancy Zahler 274 -5310 one hour on the 29th of October. Anita Fitzpatrick 274 -5526 's Daylight Saving Time ends October 30.nl7 1 VEEEERY INTERESTING UNCLASSIFIEDS Today it is hard to keep up! In fact, the Editor WANTED: of this publication was able to change the sex of Bookshelf stereo speakers. Call Bill 257 -8310. another County employee totally on paper. In the September issue of this publication, I WANTED: misspelled Frances Armstrong, Finance, spelling it Toy Trains: Lionel, American Flyer Ives. Prewar before Francis. My apologies Fran. WW II. Can also do repairs. Call Jon 838 -3540. Were you aware of how many names are shared by men and women? Sometimes the spelling is the WANTED: same but often not. Below are some examples we Lawn chairs in good condition. No webbing needed. I will thought of. Special thanks to Helen Beach, Finance, who thought of the majority of those listed. pick them up. Call Iretta at 315- 497 -0357. Thanks! FRANCES - FRANCIS WANTED: Jessie - Jesse Jean - Gene Folks who want their lawnchairs reconditioned. Several Carol - Carroll macrame patterns available i.e. animals, designs. Would Terri - Terry make a nice personalized present! Call Diana at 844 -8078. Nicki - Nicky Leigh - Lee Toni - Tony Marian - Marion s Gerri - Jerry 4: R . Shawn - Sean 0 Y r$` tolls g,...*: Dru Drew 1 "" Carrie - Carey . 4 i :. .. .- 1 . } .: Ciera - Sierra Jo - Joe 1 Leslie - Leslie A fr Sandy - Sandy / ;$ . Lauren - Loren Leslie - Lesley Laurel - Hardy Laurel Andrean - Andrian Chris - Chris Bobbie - Bobby FREE UNCLASSIFIEDS Billie - Billy Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose except no professional ads Hint: If you are going to misspell someone's name, willpe accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in these don't make it Frances Armstrong She's the ads. Use this coupon to send your ad to Corridors c/o Central Services. g ' PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY! PAYROLL Coordinator. Did we miss your favorite? If so, let us know. Itli 1 , 1 - COUNTY CORRIDORS 91 a Artic and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the volunteer I r •!' 1 1 ,1 ' editorial board based an their interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. r / C • Material is solicited from current employees, retirees and others. : ��i� ,d+ ,i�`+'' II N Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the I !� �.f ��M� 7 ra right to edit any submissions. The editorial board is made up of: Bill Chopp, *, Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Assessment; Iretta Ellis, Airport; Scott Heyman, ` _-. b t _ , . County Administrator, Louise McEwen, Personnel; Ruth Pond, Purchasing and �� i �; 1. a \4 f 7/L * �' - 6 > Central Services; Marilyn Strassberg, Office for the Aging, and Judy Tynyk 1 111 TRi« 1 A l *Air r (Chair), Weights and Measures. s Correspondence maybe sent through County inter-office mail to County i T ar Q Corridors, c/o Purchasing ffi and Central Services: or contact any board member, or dap. r - �C��/ rr �. �, , g via US Mail to: County Corridors, c/o Purchasing and Central Services, 125 E. Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.