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Commissioner Brown - Human Resources - Resolution Placing Local DHHS Employees Under the Gaston County Personnel Policy
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STAFF CONTACT
Amia Massey - Human Resources
Steve Eaton - County Manager’s Office
David Goldberg - County Attorney
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
N/A
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BACKGROUND
To comply with federal grant requirements for a merit-based personnel system, North Carolina traditionally placed employees of local health and social services departments under the State Human Resources Act (SHRA). This system is distinct from County policies, notably granting employees appeal rights to a state administrative law judge.
In 2012, state law allowed counties to consolidate these departments into a single Consolidated Human Services Agency (CHSA) and use their own local personnel policies instead of the SHRA. However, in 2013, while Gaston County did consolidate its Health and Social Services departments, it explicitly chose to keep its employees subject to the State Human Resources Act rather than transitioning them to County policies.
Gaston County is the last remaining county to have a Consolidated Human Services Agency with employees still subject to the State Human Resources Act.
POLICY IMPACT
The proposed Resolution place DHHS employees under the Gaston County Personnel Policy, just like almost all other County employees. Gaston County’s Personnel Policy aligns with federal merit personnel requirements and provides processes that meet or exceed those contained in the State Human Resources Act.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution