(L to R: NYSAPCSO 1st Vice President – Nicole Yaggle, NYSAPCSO President, Kerry Brennan, and NYSACHO Executive Director – Sarah Ravenhall)

On Friday, September 27, 2024, NYSAPCSO President Kerry Brennan and 1st Vice President Nicole Yaggle presented at the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) during their annual Public Health Leaders’ Summit. The event, held at the scenic High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, brought together health commissioners and public health directors from across New York State to discuss pressing issues in the public health sector.

Key Takeaways from the Presentation:

Nicole and Kerry shared their perspectives on navigating the complexities of the civil service system. They emphasized the importance of open communication between local health departments and their Personnel Officer or Commission, noting that such dialogue is crucial for managing staffing challenges in public health departments.

During their presentation, they addressed several key questions raised by the audience:

                1.            Provisional Appointments Without a Scheduled Exam:

                •              Question: If someone has been provisionally appointed for five years and a test hasn’t been scheduled, is there anything that can be done?

                •              Answer: Kerry and Nicole encouraged attendees to reach out to their Personnel Officer or Commission and inquire about a non-competitive jurisdictional classification, especially if the exam had been ordered three or more years ago.

                2.            Decentralized Exams or T&E for Health/Nursing Titles:

                •              Question: Why can’t there be a decentralized or Training and Experience (T&E) exam for health/nursing-related titles?

                •              Answer: Attendees were advised to consult their Personnel Officer or Commission to determine whether the titles they were concerned about could be appropriate for a T&E exam.

                3.            Union Representation in Employment-Related Matters:

                •              Question: Our CSEA Union states that we are required to offer an employee union representation when discussing employment-related matters (non-disciplinary). Is this true?

                •              Answer: It depends on the specific Union Contract. However, employers must allow a CSEA employee to have union representation in any meeting where disciplinary action is possible. For meetings related to non-disciplinary employment matters, such as issuing a Memorandum of Counseling or general employment conversations, the employee is not automatically entitled to have union representation present.

A Message to NYSACHO Members

NYSACHO Executive Director, Sarah Ravenhall, highlighted the significance of the Summit as a unique platform for public health leaders to develop leadership skills, network, and explore solutions to chronic and emerging public health issues. She acknowledged the challenges local health departments face within the civil service system, particularly around staffing, infrequent exams, outdated position requirements, and long hiring timelines.

The invitation extended to Kerry Brennan and the NYSAPCSO was an opportunity for NYSACHO members to gain insights into best practices for navigating these challenges. Kerry and Nicole provided valuable guidance on advocating for civil service modernization and shared the ongoing efforts of their association in areas such as the NY HELPS Program.

For further questions or continued discussion on civil service matters, members were encouraged to reach out to their Personnel Officer or Commission, reinforcing the importance of collaborative problem-solving to ensure local health departments are adequately staffed and supported.

Conclusion

The presentation by Kerry Brennan and Nicole Yaggle was well-received by NYSACHO members, who appreciated the practical advice and advocacy shared by NYSAPCSO leaders. As the public health landscape continues to evolve, the collaboration between civil service officials and health departments remains crucial to ensuring communities are well-served by their local health departments.

President Brennan wanted to extend another sincere thank you to Executive Director Ravenhall for the opportunity. NYSAPCSO is excited to continue the partnership with NSYACHO to further strengthen the relationship between personnel and public health officials.

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