Pubdate: Mon, 11 Aug 2003
Source: Daily World, The (LA)
Copyright: South Louisiana Publishing 2003
Contact:  http://www.dailyworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1740

SWC TO REVIEW UPDATED DRUG POLICY

The St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission will review an updated drug 
policy for its employees at its monthly meeting tonight.

It will also consider a new criteria for pulling bins in the recycling 
program among other administrative decisions at the meeting scheduled to 
start at 6 p.m. in the commission office in Beggs.

Under the new drug policy, employees will be given two opportunities for 
rehabilitation if they test positive for drugs.

Under the first offense, an employee will be given a three-day suspension 
without pay and a two-year probation with regular drug testing. An employee 
can utilize hospitalization insurance to participate in a voluntary 
rehabilitation program.

If the second offense occurs within five years of the first offense, an 
employee will be required to submit to a drug rehabilitation program at 
their own expense and submit to mandatory drug testing for two years. But, 
if the employee is caught a third time within a five year period, that 
employee will be subject to automatic termination under the proposed policy.

The proposal was recommended to the commission from the adminstrative 
committee as a way for dealing with Solid Waste District employees who may 
have substance abuse problems.

The commission will also vote on updated job descriptions for its 28 
employees. Commissioner Edward Brisco suggested changes to the descriptions 
presented last month. The descriptions, along with suggested changed will 
be presented to the committee for review.

During the adminstrative committee meeting it was also recommended that the 
contract for Executive Director Gary Bonvillain be extended for three years 
beginning Aug. 15 and his annual salary be increased by $3,600 each year.

At the monthly meeting the commission will also consider allowing 
Bonvillain to apply for a burn permit and later purchase an air curtain 
burner to dispose of wood debris in the landfill.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart