Title
Human Resources recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Make findings in accordance with Ordinance 3.13.030 that a contract for professional personnel investigations and mediation is necessary to protect against a conflict of interest or to ensure independent and unbiased findings where there is a need for an outside perspective;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment I to Agreement 5532 with Municipal Resource Group, LLC (MRG) to increase compensation by $65,000, for a new maximum compensation amount of $275,000, and update the billing rates; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 5532, excluding term extensions and increases to compensation, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Countywide, General Fund and non-general fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Human Resources receives complaints of alleged misconduct in the workplace, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and abusive conduct by County employees. Human Resources may conduct investigations of these complaints in accordance with County policy or rule, including Board Policy E-5 and Personnel Rule 309.4, or as affected department heads deem necessary. The department has contracted with outside vendors when special skills and qualifications are involved in the performance of the work, when it is necessary to protect against a conflict of interest and obtain an outside perspective to make independent and unbiased findings, or when it is otherwise necessary to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation and resolution of the complaints filed. The nature of the work involves temporary, occasional, and urgent services. The County has contracted with MRG since 2014 for personnel investigation services.
MRG has held all currently contracted rates since the contract was executed in June 2021. When Amendment I was addressed, they requested to increase their billing rates as thei...
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