by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), an act of Congress of “making emergency supplemental appropriations available for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020,” was discussed by the Greene County board of supervisors at their regular meeting on March 30.
Since the courthouse remains closed to the public, only supervisors John Muir, Pete Bardole, Mick Burkett, and Tom Contner attended the meeting in person. Audio of the meeting was made available through a phone or computer link to zoom.us.
The FFCRA requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The requirement begins April 1 and continues through December 31 of this year, unless extended.
County attorney Thomas Laehn and county human resources advisor Renee Von Bokern drafted a memo to employees describing two types of paid emergency leave created by the FFCRA. Additionally, posters have been designed and posted to convey the information.
Laehn said the emergency paid sick leave under FFCRA applies to employees who are subject to quarantine or isolation because of COVID-19. FFCRA requires full wage replacement up to $511 per day for 10 days. Part-time employees are entitled to two-thirds of their wages up to $200 for 10 days. An employee who must care for someone due to COVID-19 is also entitled to two-thirds wages up to 10 days.
Public health emergency leave under FFCRA can be taken at two-thirds salary for up to 12 weeks. This category generally relates to the care of children impacted by public health emergency actions such as the closing of daycares.
The entire Act covers many financial situations and work situations. It can be found online.
The board unanimously approved the adoption of the memo by Laehn and Von Bokern explaining the types of leave under FFCRA. The board added a provision allowing employees to supplement emergency paid sick leave with other leave for which they might be eligible.
The board can choose to expand on the FFCRA in the future. They did discuss making the provisions retroactive to March 8 to cover employees affected by the closing of daycares in the county.
In other business, supervisor Bardole shared photographs of three sculptures chosen for this year’s Bell Tower celebration. The supervisors passed Resolution 2020-19: Resolution Approving the Placement of Sculptures on the Courthouse Grounds in Celebration of the Mahanay Carillon Tower.
One of the sculptures will be chosen by Jefferson Matters: Main Street for display on the courthouse grounds from May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021. The remaining two sculptures will be displayed on courthouse grounds from May 1 to Nov. 1, 2020.
The supervisors approved hiring of Natasha Muir as part-time custodian for 20-25 hours per week at $16 per hour effective Mar 30.
