Supervisors table coronavirus employee leave decision for next meeting

The Washington County Board of Supervisors discussed whether to adopt new employee leave benefits for county employees affected by the coronavirus when it met in regular session Tuesday, April 21.

The supervisors considered a process to grant employees Emergency and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Act leave for any one of the following reasons:

*The employee is subject to a county, state or federal quarantine or isolation order related to the virus;

*The employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to the virus;

*The employee is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;

*The employee is caring for a child whose school or day care provider is closed or unavailable for care for reasons related to the virus;

*The employee is experiencing another substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Treasurer.

Up to 80 hours of leave could be granted under the policy.

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. said that current county benefit policies are more generous than what is required by law. He said the question before the supervisors is whether county policy should be changed to be aligned with the FMLA requirements. The supervisors tabled the matter to the April 28 meeting.

Other Business

*In other business the supervisors:

*Authorized the quarterly reports of the County Auditor, County Treasurer and County Recorder;

*Heard an update from Ambulance Department Director Jeremy Peck on progress being made to prepare the ambulance service to begin operating July 1;

*Approved a tower collocation lease with the Wellman Cooperative Telephone Association;

*Approved an application for a Brighton tower reconfiguration and relocation;

*Approved a Brighton tower site lease and plan and

*Discussed the Coronavirus update.