The Buncombe County Commissioners had a dramatic discourse about employee benefits. In reports, county staff celebrated progress in the recruitment and retention of more talented staff since 2005. Raising salaries and benefits has saved the county training costs. The only downside reported in an excellent article by Jay Frankel was a 40-60% turnover of nutritionists in the WIC program.
Commissioner Holly Jones felt the county was not doing enough for its employees. The federal government would soon require the county to reduce the waiting period for enrolling for benefits from six to three months, but that was not good enough. In addition, she does not like the county’s two-tier system that awards higher benefits to employees hired before defined dates. Jones also thought the commissioners made a mistake last year when they voted unanimously to freeze entry-level pay.
Jones’ simple statements reportedly drove County Manager Wanda Greene and Commissioner Carol Weir Peterson to the brink of tears. Then, Vice Chair Bill Stanley brought the meeting to a close, even though Chair David Gantt and Jones wished to continue the discussion.
