Narrative of Resolution:
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RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH, CREATE, AND MODIFY CERTAIN POSITIONS WITHIN THE SULLIVAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
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If ‘Yes,’ specify appropriation code(s): Personnel & Fringe Lines for A-4010-33, 4010-206, 4010-207 & 4050
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RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH, CREATE, AND MODIFY CERTAIN POSITIONS WITHIN THE SULLIVAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
WHEREAS, the Sullivan County Department of Public Health has conducted a comprehensive review of its staffing structure to ensure that positions and resources are aligned with current operational needs, regulatory requirements, program responsibilities, workforce needs, and service delivery demands; and
WHEREAS, this review identified a number of positions that no longer reflect the Department's current organizational structure or service needs, as well as opportunities to realign existing salary appropriations to strengthen administrative oversight, supervisory accountability, workforce development, and direct service capacity; and
WHEREAS, the Department has further reviewed and clarified the proposed organizational changes with the Legislature and Commissioner of Human Resources, including the purpose, responsibilities, and operational need associated with the positions being created or modified; and
WHEREAS, the vacant Deputy Public Health Director position (3496) was structured as a broad executive-level position with responsibility for departmental operations, many of which are now appropriately distributed among the Director of Public Health, program leadership, clinical supervisors, fiscal staff, emergency preparedness personnel, and other departmental leadership; and
WHEREAS, rather than recreate a duplicative deputy executive structure, the Department recommends the creation of a Director of Administrative Services position focused specifically on the administrative and operational infrastructure of the Department, including quality improvement, regulatory and administrative compliance, strategic planning, policy and procedure development, workforce development, performance management, and coordination of non-clinical administrative functions; and
WHEREAS, this structure will provide dedicated administrative leadership and accountability while allowing the Director of Public Health to maintain responsibility for overall departmental leadership, public health strategy, community and governmental relationships, emergency and emerging public health matters, and statutory responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, the existing Community Health Coordinator position (3271) was established to coordinate health promotion activities and was not designed to provide the level of direct staff supervision and program accountability now required within the Department; and
WHEREAS, the Department therefore recommends replacing the vacant Community Health Coordinator position with a Community Health Supervisor position responsible for direct supervision of community health staff, oversight of grants and outreach initiatives, quality improvement, program evaluation, and community partnerships, thereby establishing clear supervisory authority and accountability; and
WHEREAS, within Core Programs, the Department recommends abolishing three vacant positions (2373, 3264-Per Diem, and 1636), including two positions historically categorized under Core Programs that are actually Certified Home Health Agency positions, and creating one part-time Administrative Assistant position and one full-time Senior Health Educator position; and
WHEREAS, creation of the Senior Health Educator position establishes an appropriate professional career ladder, supports succession planning, and increases leadership capacity, while the part-time Administrative Assistant position provides continued support for data analysis, dashboard development, performance reporting, and other administrative functions; and
WHEREAS, within the Certified Home Health Agency, the Department recommends abolishing multiple vacant nursing positions (2185, 0849, 2782-Per Diem, and 2502-Per Diem), therapy positions (3339-Per Diem, 3340-Per Diem, 3553, and 3667-Per Diem), and coordinator position (0806), and creating one full-time Public Health Physical Therapist position based upon current patient demand and operational experience; and
WHEREAS, physical therapy represents a significant service need within the Certified Home Health Agency, and insufficient physical therapy capacity can limit the Agency's ability to accept patients and provide other needed home health services, including nursing services; and
WHEREAS, within the Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the Department recommends abolishing four vacant nursing positions (0952, 2784-Per Diem, 2927, and 3634-Per Diem) and one supervisory position (3579), as the current staffing structure, including the addition of a Registered Nurse Supervisor and Licensed Practical Nurse, adequately supports current workload and service demands; and
WHEREAS, the Department recommends that the Director of Patient Services position (3158) be moved from Grade 7 to Grade 8 on the Management/Confidential Salary Schedule to appropriately reflect the scope, complexity, regulatory accountability, and leadership responsibilities of the position, recognizing that when the position was previously advanced from Director of Patient Services Trainee to Director of Patient Services, the corresponding 5% salary adjustment associated with the increased responsibilities was not applied; and
WHEREAS, taken together, these recommendations represent a restructuring and realignment of existing staffing resources rather than an expansion of the Department's overall workforce, eliminating positions that have remained vacant or no longer meet operational needs while directing resources toward functions for which there is a demonstrated administrative, supervisory, workforce, or service-delivery need; and
WHEREAS, these staffing modifications are projected to result in a net reduction of approximately Four Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Six Hundred and One Dollar ($475,601) in salary appropriations while continuing to support the Department's ability to meet its regulatory responsibilities, public health obligations, and community service demands;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sullivan County Legislature hereby authorizes the following position changes within the Sullivan County Department of Public Health, as reviewed by the Division of Human Resources:
• Agency Administration: Abolish the vacant Deputy Public Health Director position (3496) and Community Health Coordinator position (3271), and create one Director of Administrative Services position and one Community Health Supervisor position;
• Core Programs: Abolish three vacant positions (2373, 3264 Per Diem, and 1636), and create one part-time Administrative Assistant position and one full-time Senior Health Educator position;
• Certified Home Health Agency: Abolish vacant nursing positions (2185, 0849, 2782 Per Diem, and 2502 Per Diem), therapy positions (3339 Per Diem, 3340 Per Diem, 3553, and 3667 Per Diem), and coordinator position (0806), and create one full-time Public Health Physical Therapist position;
• Diagnostic and Treatment Center: Abolish four long-vacant nursing positions (0952, 2784 Per Diem, 2927, and 3634 Per Diem) and one supervisory position (3579); and
• Director of Patient Services: Move position 3158 from Grade 7 to Grade 8 on the Management/Confidential Salary Schedule.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Manager, Commissioner of Management and Budget, Commissioner of Human Resources, and Director of Public Health are hereby authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to implement these changes.