LAKEPORT >> An ordinance transferring Welfare Fraud Investigators and their supervision from one association to another was approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors during this week”s regular meeting.
Formerly, the positions were a part of the Lake County Deputy Sheriff Association, but with the approval of the ordinance they now become part of the Lake County Safety Employees Association.
“The nature of the peace officer powers ? is more closely aligned to those of probation officers and other safety positions,” explained Lake County Employee Relations Officer and Human Resources Director Kathy Ferguson.
“It just makes sense,” Ferguson had said during the first reading of the ordinance on Dec. 16.
Both associations supported the change.
The movement of the classifications took longer than expected because of required adjustments to the LCDSA of California Public Employees” Retirement System (CalPERS) contributions and salary unit.
CalPERS is an agency that administers health and retirement benefits on behalf of more than 3,000 public school, local agency and state employers.
As of June 2013, the agency has approximately 1.7 million members in its pension program, paying approximately $12.7 billion. As of October 2014, approximately $1.4 million people are covered by CalPERS health program, with the agency paying an estimated $7.5 billion in the 2013 fiscal year.
Adjustments were in regard to current welfare fraud investigators and supervising welfare fraud investigators maintaining their current salary and CalPERS contributions, even if it differs from the contribution for other classifications within the safety employees association.
Additionally, salary and contributions would be in effect until and unless another agreement is negotiated specifically for these classifications.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance in concept at its Dec. 16 meeting.
Because he did not have a full history and all the information on the ordinance, newly-elected District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele recused himself from voting.
The remaining four supervisors unanimously approved the movement of the classifications.
No members of the public offered any comment on the ordinance.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
