1F387B5B579333F4872582F900713BEC Hearing Summary

The committee returned to discussion about the complaint procedure and the questions outlined in Attachment B.  Mr. Barry facilitated the committee's discussion about who would determine appropriate discipline. The committee discussed having a central office to file a complaint, providing a victim advocate, and allowing the complainant to decide if the complaint is formal or informal.  The committee discussed the role of HR staff, third party investigators, and a legislative workplace culture committee.

The committee discussed allowing the complainant to decide if a formal or informal complaint should be filed unless the safety of the community is involved, and the role of the HR staff in determining what kind of complaint is filed.  The committee discussed what safety of the community means.  The committee discussed the role of a District Attorney and the General Assembly in incidents that involve criminal allegations. Mr. FitzSimons discussed how an administrative process and criminal process can be conducted simultaneously. Mr. FitzSimons handed out a flow chart to the committee with the resolution process [Attachment C]. The committee discussed the resolution process outlined in the flowchart.    

The committee discussed whether there should be guidelines or decisional factors that should be used in making discipline decisions.  Mr. Barry explained how guidelines could be helpful with having consistency.  He asked who would prepare those guidelines and who would approve them.  Members suggested that the HR staff and OLLS staff could prepare the guidelines and bring it to the Executive Committee.  Committee discussion about the guidelines ensued.  

The committee discussed the ability of the director of OLLS to appoint someone to oversee complaints against HR employees.