(A) The Lake County Council hereby establishes the Lake County Human Resources Department ("Human Resources Department"). The Human Resources Department shall operate under the direction and control of the Lake County Board of Commissioners (Board of Commissioners) and operate pursuant to all rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Commissioners.
(B) (1) The Human Resources Department shall consist of a department head titled the County Human Resources Director, a Compliance Officer, and all other positions as shall from time to time be established by the County Council pursuant to I.C. 36-2-5 et seq.
(2) The Human Resources Director shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. This will be a full-time position, established by the Lake County Council. The Human Resources Director shall serve for no set term and shall serve as an employee at will.
(3) In addition to the Human Resources Director, a Compliance Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. This will be a full-time position established by the Lake County Council. The Compliance Officer shall serve for no set term and shall serve as an employee at will.
(4) All other employees of the Human Resources Department shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners to fill positions established by the Lake County Council pursuant to I.C. 36-2-5-1 et seq.
(5) The Human Resources Director shall serve as a liaison between the County Council and the Board of Commissioners, assisting in the development of any county personnel policies and recommendations concerning the general supervision of Lake County employees.
(C) The Human Resources Department shall have the following duties regarding the budget function:
(1) The Human Resources Director shall be deemed a department head, and the Human Resources Department deemed a county department for the budgeting procedures established by county ordinance and state statute.
(2) The Human Resources Director shall prepare appropriate budget estimates for the County Human Resources Department and shall follow appropriate budgeting procedures, pursuant to the provisions of I.C. 36-2-5-1 et seq.;
(3) All provisions herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Human Resources Director and the Human Resources Department shall submit budget estimates and all other documents and information pertaining to the budgeting procedures to the Board of Commissioners before these estimates, documents and information are submitted to the County Auditor or the County Council, as is done by all other county departments, offices, boards or agencies.
(D) The Human Resources Department bears primary responsibility for the general human resources function for all county personnel, and its duties shall include but not be limited to:
(1) Assuring compliance with all applicable federal, state and county human resources and labor/employment laws, statutes, regulations and ordinances;
(2) Developing and reviewing uniform personnel forms, including but not limited to employment application, disciplinary, and termination forms;
(3) Posting employment opportunities;
(4) Accepting employment applications and the evacuation thereof;
(5) Preparing, administering and evaluating testing materials for prospective employees;
(6) Notifying applicants of testing results or evaluations;
(7) Maintaining applicant records, including periodic updating of job applicants on file;
(8) Making recommendations for revisions, additions and deletions as deemed necessary regarding such policies, procedures and forms;
(9) Preparing and revising job descriptions;
(10) Preparing and revising classifications of county employees;
(11) Preparing and implementing employee safety programs;
(12) Responding to inquiries from parties outside the county government to verify past and present employees;
(13) Maintaining all employment files of all county employees;
(14) Assisting all office holders and department heads regarding employee and personnel matters related to, but not limited to:
(a) Policies and procedures regarding employment, hiring, orientation, safety training, discipline, employee services and legal compliance;
(b) Compensation and benefits;
(c) Disciplinary action; and
(d) Providing adequate records regarding vacations, time off and insurance needs of all county employees.
(15) The Human Resources Director shall perform any and all other duties assigned to the Humane Resources Department by the Board of Commissioners.
(Ord. 1414A, passed 11-14-2017)