To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 25927 to establish the classification of Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist (represented) and add three positions in the Health Services Department; and to reallocate the Assistant Director of Hazardous Materials Program salary. (Hazardous Materials Contract funding, Enforcement case settlement funding, Certified Unified Program Agency fees).
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 25927 to establish the classification of Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist (VLHB) (represented) at salary plan and grade ZA5 1018 ($9,623.112 - $11,696.95) and add three (3) full-time positions; and reallocate the salary of the Assistant Director of Hazardous Material Programs (VLFA) (represented) at salary plan and grade from ZC5 1924 ($9,652.16 - $11,732.26) to salary plan and grade ZA5 1019 ($12,288.487 - $14,936.730) on the salary schedule in the Health Services Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Upon approval, there is an annual cost of approximately $964,117.45 inclusive of $140,847.59 in pension costs. These positions will be covered through Certified Unified Program Agency fees.
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Programs (CCHMP) is assigned to protect human health and the environment by promoting pollution prevention, increasing process safety knowledge and environmental awareness, responding to incidents, and implementing consistent regulatory compliance and enforcement programs.
In order to provide optimal services, maintain regulatory requirements, and reduce the burden of responsibility on the Assistant Director of Hazardous Materials Programs, the Health Services Department (HSD) is requesting to establish the classification of Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist. Over the years, CCHMP has expanded in terms of the number of facilities they have to inspect and regulate without adding additional staff needed to keep up with the workload. In addition to supervisory responsibilities, the Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist will provide technical assistance and consultation to assigned staff, conduct complex inspections and investigations, enforce laws, regulations, ordinances, and codes, assist with program operations, daily unit activities, and will report to the Assistant Director of Hazardous Materials Programs.
Currently, there are two (2) Assistant Director positions (one is vacant), that oversee twenty (20) Hazardous Materials Specialists and one (1) Hazardous Materials Technician. Due to the Assistant Director positions also being responsible for the administrative duties, program management as well as providing technical guidance to all the Hazardous Materials Specialists, overseeing the Hazardous Materials Incident Response team reduces the ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff. By adding three (3) Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialists positions, the Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialists will be responsible for supervising the twenty-one staff members (with each of them overseeing seven (7) positions each) and will report to the Assistant Director. This will alleviate some of the duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Director. These classifications are all part of the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) where having one (1) Assistant Director to oversee the implementation of those programs and ensuring all mandates are met will be beneficial.
The above proposed re-organizational structure is in line with industry standards to provide optimal services to human health and the environment. This change is vital in order to comply with existing industry standards, effectively adhere to regulatory requirements.
This action will create salary compaction between the Assistant Director of Hazardous Material Programs and the Director of Hazardous Material Programs (VLD2). Human Resources has been directed to review the salary of the Director of Hazardous Material Programs and to make a recommendation on a revised salary scale for the Director classification that is aligned with the new organizational structure of the CCHMP. Once this work has been completed, staff will return to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to reallocate the salary of the Director classification.
The Department is undergoing a fee revision, which will incorporate all costs associated with this action.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program's organizational structure will not meet its current and future organizational needs and will not have appropriate staff to effectively provide supervision to subordinate staff, which may lead to non-compliance of regulatory standards and adversely impact the health and safety of County residents.