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r FEB 3 1991 <br />8cor 88 PAGE 766 —7 <br />cost is picked up by the County Is health insurance plan and the <br />balance is paid by the employee. <br />Commissioner Macht felt that perhaps if Mr. Hallquist would <br />accept a drug rehabilitation program, he could be returned to a <br />position for which he is qualified. Commissioner Macht felt it <br />would be a mistake to return him to a lifeguard position. If Mr. <br />Hallquist is retained by the County, he ought to be retained in an <br />unrelated position for which he is qualified. That would have the <br />effect of preserving his claim to tenure and also give him a chance <br />for whatever personal rehabilitation is appropriate. It certainly <br />would be the humanitarian thing to do. He felt the dismissal and <br />appeal were conducted very properly and based on very solid <br />evidence, but he agreed with Commissioner Adams that we are dealing <br />with a human being who has a personal stake in employment with the <br />County, regardless of the fact that he himself has jeopardized his <br />employment by involvement with drugs. <br />Chairman Bird suggested that proper wording for a Motion would <br />be to uphold the determination of staff with some feeling there for <br />allowing him the opportunity to apply and be considered for <br />reemployment by the County in the immediate future for a job for <br />which he is qualified. He wondered if any strings should be <br />attached to that. <br />Commissioner Macht felt that the burden should be placed on <br />Mr. Hallquist for recognizing the problem and dealing with our <br />Personnel Department and the County Administrator regarding <br />rehabilitation through whatever process the County has in place. <br />He wished to know more about that at a later date. <br />Commissioner Eggert pointed out that once he is fired, he <br />would have to be rehired before there would be any responsibility <br />for the rehabilitation; otherwise, he would have to get himself <br />into some kind of program before coming back. <br />Attorney Collins advised that when an employee is terminated, <br />he has rights under the COBRA, a federal law, which allows him to <br />continue his health care coverage up to 18 months by paying his own <br />premiums. He would be entitled to whatever hospitalization <br />benefits the County policy provides, whether it be drug treatment, <br />depression treatment, etc. <br />Commissioner Macht asked if, rather than Mr. Hallquist being <br />released, it would be possible for him to be transferred <br />administratively to a position for which he qualifies. <br />Administrator Chandler sensed that the Commission is trying to <br />find a gap here, but the problem is how do you get from here to <br />there. He suggested that perhaps the Board uphold the termination, <br />but modify it to an extent that he is suspended without pay for <br />34 <br />