Smith against consultant updating drug policy

Jackson County commissioner Dwain Smith supports enforcing the drug policy, but he is opposed to hiring a consultant to update the document.

At the board of commissioners meeting Monday night, Smith questioned human resources director Melanie Thomas about the $6,500 price for the consultant to do the update.

“I can’t see us wasting that kind of money for something we can do ourselves,” Smith said. “We are having to penny pinch on everything else and I feel like we can do this ourselves…I’m for a drug policy, but I just don’t see us spending that kind of money on a consultant. I’m for drug testing 100 percent.”

Smith said the Association County Commissioners of Georgia has a drug policy that the county could use as a guide.
“I question why pay $90 an hour for a consultant to write up a policy,” he said. “I just can’t see spending that kind of money on a consultant.”

No action was taken on the recommendation from Thomas to move forward with the update. The item will be on the agenda for a vote when the BOC meets at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 19, at the courthouse.

Comments

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#1 Mr. Ives on 04/07/10 at 12:11 PM [Reply]

Well done and thank you, commissioner Smith.

#2 Bert Salom on 04/08/10 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

I will write it for $1500.00 Here is the questions I will ask before I begin.

1. What is the purpose/goal of your program?
2. Who will be covered by your policy?
3. When will your policy apply?
4. What behavior will be prohibited?
5. Will employees be required to notify you of drug-related convictions?
6. Will your policy include searches?
7. Will your program include drug testing?
8. What will the consequences be if your policy is violated?
9. Will there be Return-to-Work Agreements?
10. What type of assistance will be available?
11. How will employee confidentiality be protected?
12. Who will be responsible for enforcing your policy?
13. How will your policy be communicated to employees?

Call me Dwain!

#2.1 Emeline on 05/20/11 at 08:07 AM [Reply]

No more s***. All posts of this qauitly from now on

#3 about time on 04/09/10 at 08:26 PM [Reply]

It's about time Mr Smith started looking out for the citizens. If I recall he is one of the two Commissioners that is responsible for the 2 million dollar fire training center, and one of the two who voted to spend over 2 million dollars renovating the old Courthouse.

#4 "O"no on 04/11/10 at 12:58 AM [Reply]

YES ...well done commissioner Smith. What I want to know is where can we get 3 more commissioners like you and a chairman yet to boot. District 3 is looking for a commissioner this November. Hopefully Mr. Yates is also in support of your idea! If not can you suggest a like minded individual in distric 3 that we can fill his seat with? Hopefully the rest of the commissioners will not allow this kind of $$$ seepage to continue!!!!!

In response to Mr. Bert Salom - I'll do you one better. I'll write your drug policy for FREE...please see below:

NEW JACKSON COUNTY DRUG POLICY:
All Jackson County employees will be required to submit to random drug screenings. Employee's tested positive for use of illegal substances will have their employment with Jackson county terminated immediately!! Employees may be eligable for further assistance to aid in counsiling &/or rehabilitation. Eligability for assitance will be determined on a per case basis and is subject to the review of H.R. & the area manager.

Further more I would also have to question Mrs Thomas's logic in justifying this expenditure and want to look much closer at other areas she is in control of!

#4.1 you forget on 04/12/10 at 02:11 PM [Reply]

You forget we get better decisions during Election Years.

#5 illegal on 04/12/10 at 01:25 PM [Reply]

It is illegal for Jackson county government to drug test and there CDL policy is also flawed.
Case law on CDL and drug testing:
19 Solid Waste Dept. Mechanics, 156 F.3d 1068 (10th Cir. 1998): Affirming the lower court ruling, the Tenth Circuit ruled that the city policy requiring city employees to consent to a drug test before receiving a commercial driver's license violated employees' Fourth Amendment rights. The court decided that the testing scheme at issue, which did not rely on individualized suspicion, was unreasonable. Even though public safety and employee health were legitimate government interests, defendants had failed to demonstrate a special need for the particular testing scheme. That is, defendants failed to show that the program was well-designed to detect drug use among employees and that it had a deterrent effect. The court reasoned that the lack of reliance on individualized suspicion and the failure of the defendant to show that the testing program would be effective outweighed any legitimate government interest in public safety.

Jackson BOC needs to check the Georgia handbook for employers and check on random drug testing for government employees they have extra rights under Georgia state law...take a peek Mrs.Thomas or you might just get Jackson County tax payers in a law suit

#5.1 OH YEAH on 04/27/10 at 04:43 PM [Reply]

I personally don't have a problem with drug testing County Employees. They drive around in new Police Cars and very expensive Ambulances everyday. But, what tthe Heck, I read in the paper that Mr Smith voted for the money to hire the Consultant anway. Got his name in the paper anyway.

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Smith against consultant updating drug policy

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Smith against consultant updating drug policy

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