Warren County committee agrees to rescind COVID paid-leave policy, approves $23,500 transfer for employee health coverage

Warren County's Personnel Administration Higher Education Committee voted July 31 to rescind a 2020 resolution that authorized paid administrative leave for medical quarantine related to disease prevention and to approve a $23,500 transfer from contingency to human resources to cover an employee's hospitalization coverage cost. The committee's request to rescind Resolution 73 of 2020 was tied to the state's decision to sunset its COVID leave policy; committee members said the county wants to align its policy with state law. "The state has gone forward and they're going to sunset their COVID leave policy, and we'd like to do the same," said a committee member during the meeting. The rescission was requested to be effective August 2025 and the motion carried by voice vote. The committee also approved a transfer of $23,500 from the contingency account to human resources to cover the county share of an employee's health insurance after that employee elected coverage during the last open enrollment period. A staff explanation said the employee previously did not have coverage, elected coverage during open season, and the current departmental budgets lack sufficient funds to cover the county contribution. The motion to move the transfer to the floor was made and seconded; members voted in favor and the motion carried. Committee members asked procedural questions about the differences between "elected coverage" and standard coverage; staff clarified that employees choose among several coverage options and that the selection affects both employee contributions and the county's contribution level. Committee members also noted the absence of the human resources director for detailed questions and asked for further clarification if needed. The actions occurred as part of routine committee business; members voted by voice on both items and recorded the motions as carried. No formal dissent was recorded on either vote. Looking ahead, members discussed that changes to county leave and insurance practices will be reflected in updated human-resources materials and brought into the county's electronic policy and records system for employee access.