587  The joint meeting oft the Amelia County Social Services Advisory Board and the Administrative Board convened at 8:30 a.m., May 15, 2024, in the County  Administration Conference Room.  Advisory Board Members Present: David Felts, Chair Stanley Wilkinson, Vice-Chair Rose Mastracco, Debra Adams, Administrative Board Taylor Harvie, (member ex  officio of Advisory Board)  Advisory Board Members Absent: James Foster Assistant II, Lynn Murphy, Family Services Supervisor  Staff Present: Audra Morris, Director, Heather Dalton, Administrative Programs  Agenda Item I. Call to Order  Mr. Wilkinson called the meeting to order with a quorum present.  Agenda Item II. Approval ofMinutes 2024, meeting minutes.  On ai motion made by Mrs. Mastracco and carried, the Board approved the March 20,  Agenda Item III. Introduction ofNew Staff  Mrs. Murphy, Family Services Supervisor, introduced LaChelle Spencer, the new Family Services Specialist II. Ms. Spencer comes from Powhatan DSS with previous experience at Franklin City DSS. She has a wide range of experience having beena a Benefit Programs Specialist previously, as well as current experience in APS and CPS. Mrs. Mundy introduced Kasey Estes, the new Human Services Assistant III.  Agenda Item IV. Administrative Board Report B. Mr. Harvie had no other items to report. Agenda Item V. Director's Report A. Unit Updates Admin Unit:  A. Mr. Harvie filled in with administrative business such as signing checks for bills as well as giving personnel guidance until the new. Director started on April 16.  Ahead of projected base costs for FY24 due to turnover/staffing shortages during the year. Not foreseeing additional vacancies like we had last year, Received VDSS preliminary budget for FY25, no drastic changes. Received $6,330 for the PIPP (Percentage Program Payment Plan) -NO: LOCAL MATCH. Funding for a 3% COLA for state-supported local employees was included in the base allocation & the budget is approved by the governor. Waiting on approval of the county' s budget to submit Comp Plan to the State.  however that can be unpredictable.  Benefits Unit:  One BPS-I starts 6/1/24, still one vacant BPS position. PIPP program is only available to customers ofDominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company. Designed to limit the electric utility payments of    588  households' participating in certain public assistance programs and is based on a o $253,343 SNAP benefits issued in April (908 households, 1,677individuals) 051741500f5174875 in childcare funds authorized for FY24, $225,048isthe 057instances Emma. Snowden, BPS IV provided nterpretation/tronsiction services for the agency from. January through April.  percentage ofincome. Benefits issued to customers:  0$10,205 TANF benefits issued in April. approved. budget for FY25.  Services Unit:  Mrs. Murphy informed the Board the Family Services unit is fully staffed and working on required trainings. Mrs. Murphy provided some statistics: Out of 322 CPS calls, 129 were accepted. Received 74 APS complaints with 50 of Mrs. Mastracco asked what the chiefc complaint for APS calls was and Mrs. Murphy indicated the main complaint is financial exploitation.  those complaints accepted.  B. Comp Leave  Mrs. Morris explained state policy allows employees to earn and carry over up to 240 hours of compensatory leave while the county allows employees to carty over 40 hours. Mrs. Morris would like to align the policy with the county poliçy and potentially pay current employees with compensatory leave for hours employees have earned, which is less than $1,000. Mr. Harvie worked with Mrs. Morris and agrees with the potential compensatory leave payout. Effective June 1, 2024,employees will decide ift they want to earn approved compensatory leave for actual hours worked over 40/week; otherwise, they will There are two Benefit Program workers approved to work up to 5 additional hours per week through June 30, 2024, to catch up the backlog of fraud cases. Mrs. Morris requested assistance from the Board on staff wellness and appreciation which could include having the Board provide breakfast, or advocate in the community for fundraising to be used for staff weliness/appreciation/kitchen fund, etc. Mrs. Morris is meeting with individuals, isi in the process ofrevamping the staffs shout board, as well as starting mental and physical breaks during the day. Employees need to feel appreciated and séen Mr. Felts was in support; however, requested detailed documentation be maintained with regards to any funding received and expended. Mrs. Morris Ms. Adams suggested the Board might be able tol help find people willing to donate financial assistance to go towards staff building events. She also suggested the Board participate with staff to get to know them and show  be paid overtime for such hours.  C. Staff Wellness and Appreciation  and small things can go a long way to boost morale.  assured Mr. Felts and the Board off full accountability.  appreciation.    Mrs. Morris also informed the Board the State has clarified employee break and meal policies. State policy maintains employees may be given two paid 15- minute breaks and will be provided a 30-minute unpaid lunch break ifthe employee works ai full day. However, the two 15-minute breaks are not tol be  589  used in conjunction with their 30-minute lunch break. Agenda Item VI. Administrative Bills March 2024 and April 2024 The administrative bills were reviewed and approved by Mr. Harvie. Agenda Item VIII. Schedules of] Board Actions March 2024 and April 2024 The Schedule ofBoard Actions was reviewed and approved by Mr. Harvie.  Agenda Item IX. Date of Next Meeting  The next meeting will be held July 17, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in the County Administration  conference room.  Agenda Item X. Adiournment  As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned.  5  Chair  Executive Secretary OD 8ls/24 Date  4/16/24 Date    590