The Ashe County Board of Commissioners voted March 17 to approve several changes to county human-resources policy recommended by the county personnel committee.

Trace, speaking for the personnel committee, summarized the package of technical changes and said the committee unanimously recommended shortening the probationary period for county employees from two years to one. "There's a recommendation from the personnel committee that that that be reduced to 1 year for all county employees," Trace said.

The board also approved updates to the county's longevity pay schedule and revisions to sick-leave transfer language. The sick-leave change replaces wording referencing "local government retirement system" with "North Carolina retirement system" so transfers with the state system are permitted, Trace said. The longevity schedule will be updated from a 15-step to a 16-step plan, aligning the human-resources resolution with a recent salary study.

Commissioners discussed procedural safeguards and asked staff to confirm whether the probationary policy includes provisions for extending probation in cases such as Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). Trace said the old policy included an extension provision and staff would research and, if necessary, add language to the new policy.

A motion to accept the committee's recommendation was made and seconded; the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor. Commissioners also heard that the personnel committee will return with a proposed educational reimbursement policy to help retain staff; that policy would require manager approval of the study plan and include repayment provisions if an employee leaves before an agreed period.

Staff cited packet page references for the changes and asked the board to approve the technical amendments to the human-resources resolution.