09/10/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attorney James G. HarpringOOpening Statement Attorney Harpring said that a reorganization of the work schedule from a 12 -hour shift had originally been proposed by former Sheriff Roy Raymond, who in 2008, decided to allow the incoming Sheriff to decide what would be the desired shift configuration; that is the reason for the mandatory re -openers in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Attorney Harpring declared that regardless of the Articles to be discussed today, the real issue is the Sheriff's authority to efficiently manage the internal day-to-day operations of his office. Attorney Harpring asked the Board to keep in mind that said operations are a function that belong uniquely to the Sheriff as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer, and quoting from Chapter 30, Section 30.079, he set forth the Sheriff's authority to "...to exercise control and discretion over the organization and operations of the Sheriff's Office..." Attorney Harpring responded to questions from the Commissioners regarding the background of the proposed shift changes, the mandatory re -openers, and Chapter 30 of the Florida Statutes. Stephen J. Valis - Opening Statement Mr. Valis informed Commissioners that the negotiation process goes back to December 2006. He said that Sheriff Raymond's desire to change the shift schedules was never formally pursued to the Union because of the Deputies' objections. Relative to Chapter 30, Section 30.079, regarding the Sheriff's authority, he said that contracts by their nature limit that authority. He remarked that where there is no union, the Sheriff can pretty much do what he wants if it is within the law; once you have Collective Bargaining, there is another party to deal with. He hoped that the Commissioners would keep in mind, as they listened to the arguments 3 September 10, 2009 Special Call Meeting