As previously reported, Finance Director Harry Weatherly will retire on December 1. Therefore, the County will be conducting searches for both the Finance Director and the Director of the Park and Recreation Department this fall.
 
Currently, we are reviewing the qualifications for professional search firms. We will use such a firm to recruit and screen applicants. Using a professional search firm offers many advantages, including national exposure and the ability to reach qualified professionals with experience in both the private and public sectors. The assistance of an expert search firm enables us to cast a wide recruiting net and to generate an abundant pool of qualified applicants.
 
Over the next few weeks, we will be finalizing the additional steps in these two hiring processes, which will include seeking ample input from key stakeholders. In the case of the Finance Director, this will be similar to the process used for hiring other recent Board-appointed positions, such as the Health Director. Once we have these process steps finalized, we will communicate these to the Board and public. 

 

 

In 2003, Mecklenburg County began the automation of key human resource functions as part of pursuing the Board's desired scorecard results of "Increased Employee Access to Information" and "Improved Technology-Related Capacities."  This included an investment in a new human resource management system we call "MyHR." This system, developed for the County by Peoplesoft, was spotlighted recently in publications as an example of how Mecklenburg County has used technology to enhance and streamline its business processes. MyHR has allowed Mecklenburg County's human resources department to transition from a paper-laden, transaction-based operation relying mostly on manual labor, to a highly automated operation that relies on employee and manager self-service for human resource transaction (such as entering and approving work time, enrolling for employee benefits, and recording employee performance evaluations and merit increases). In addition to having access to MyHR while at work, employees also can access it from home or other off-site locations. This enhances the functionality of the system by making it convenient for employees and managers to update information or access information when and where they need it most. This transformation also has allowed the Human Resources Department to reorganize and focus its resources on more important functions that contribute directly to recruiting and retaining a diverse and qualified workforce.

 

Several system enhancements are planned for MyHR over the next few months. This includes implementing the ePerformance module that will link employee performance data to balanced scorecard data. We also will integrate ePrism software to manage the vast volume of data on position market rates and job classifications to ensure we remain current with changes in the employment market.

 

 

On Thursday, August 3, the Health Department was awarded full accreditation by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board. Recommendation for accreditation was unanimously approved by the Accreditation Board.

 

Health Director Dr. Wynn Mabry attended the hearing in Raleigh where he expressed to the Accreditation Board our appreciation for its leadership and praised our site visit team.
 
The team of four, from other local health departments and the North Carolina Institute of Public Health, was in Charlotte in May. The team spent several days visiting various Health Department sites and talking with employees to learn more about the scope and quality of the work being done within the Department. The entire process began in April with a self-assessment provided to the Accreditation Team.
 
North Carolina is the first state to mandate accreditation for its local health departments. The purpose of the process is to assure the same basic level of capacity and services in each of the local departments across the state. Since the process began two years ago, 16 of 87 health departments have been accredited.

 

The Accreditation Team Chief reported that one of Mecklenburg County Health Department's strengths was its strategic plan based on the 10 essential services of public health and the extensive knowledge of the plan among the general staff.
 
Also noted was the high level of knowledge of local community health issues and Health Department activities exhibited by members of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.
 
In addition, the Health Department was cited for its successes in demonstrating the need for and obtaining additional school health nurses, and developing partnerships with community support functions such as United Agenda for Children and agencies such as the Charlotte Junior League.
 
The Health Department will be honored in September with a plaque presented at a public ceremony at the Health Department location on Billingsley Road.