Board Meeting Update - September 2021
CONTEST IS NO LONGER OPEN. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Retired Deputy and SEBA Member Paul Franklin pictured with his son, Shane Franklin.
For Paul Franklin and his family (pictured above), search and rescue and serving our local community is a family affair.
When 64-year-old Peggy Faulk went missing during a hike to the top of Mount San Gorgonio a few months ago, SEBA Member Paul Franklin received the call to assist with the search and rescue efforts.
Paul (pictured left), who retired from the Sheriff’s Department in 2019, is no stranger to the mountains. He joined the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team in 1987 as a reserve deputy and retired as the Resident Deputy in the mountain community of Barton Flats, where he served for 12 years.
From late night recoveries in steep rocky terrain surrounded by snow and ice to hoist rescue extractions of motorcyclists falling over the side of a cliff, Paul has assisted with well over a 100 search and rescue missions. He attributes his success to experience, training, fitness, repetition and working cohesively as a team.
“I know our mountains, the drainages, where people have a tendency to be drawn into,” Paul said. “When you look at the time frame, you get a pretty good idea of where they may turn up.”
That’s exactly what happened when the search for hiker Peggy Faulk didn’t yield immediate results. Paul, who now spends most of his time working as a volunteer in the command post, told the other members of the search and rescue team that he had a “good idea" where the missing hiker was located.
“The problem was, nobody else knew how to get there,” Paul said. “So, I was able to talk them into letting me go.”
The Search and Rescue Team set off and worked through the rough terrain and sweltering June heat. After nearly 48 hours missing, Peggy Faulk was found safe and was reunited with her daughter.
“You train and stay physically fit because one day someone will need your help,” Paul said. “Of course you feel good about being able to rescue someone who is either injured or lost, but it’s more about fulfilling an obligation I feel to serve others.”
It’s a lesson that Paul learned as a child, and one that he passed along to his two sons, Shane and Jake, who—along with Paul’s wife, Barra—have all served on the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team.
Thank you for your service to our community Paul, and congratulations on being this month’s SEBA Member Spotlight.
Below: Paul Franklin pictured with Peggy Faulk shortly after she was rescued.
In this month's update, SEBA President Grant Ward covers COVID-19 vaccinations, political endorsements, this month's Member Spotlight and how to get free NASCAR tickets.
LABOR UPDATES AND INFORMATION
On August 23, 2021, SEBA met with County HR officials to discuss the impact of two California Department of Public Health Orders. These orders will directly impact our members that work in the jails and juvenile halls. SEBA voiced its concerns regarding the mandates and voiced its absolute opposition to mandatory vaccinations. If you, or anyone you know, is disciplined as a result of these mandates, contact SEBA immediately.
Effective August 23, 2021: Verification of COVID-19 Vaccination Records
Per the State, impacted facilities are required to verify the vaccination status of all workers. The County will provide an online form for workers to privately submit proof of vaccination, which includes the upload of a digital copy of any of the following approved documentation:
COVID-19 Vaccination Report Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO Yellow Card); or
Documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider (e.g. vaccination record)
Workers who decline to provide proof of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated until proof of vaccination is provided. Human Resources will review the records submitted in a private and confidential manner. Workers who are fully vaccinated will be provided an identifying sticker to display on their County-issued ID badge. Human Resources will distribute these stickers to County Departments once vaccination status is verified.
Effective August 23, 2021: COVID-19 Testing
Workers who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated will be issued a COVID-19 test at a frequency determined by the work location. The impacted County workers will receive take-home COVID-19 test kits (including a Step-by-Step Guide) to meet the state-mandated testing requirements. As part of the process, each impacted facility will have an assigned Point of Contact (POC) who will document the receipt of the test. Employees will take the test privately and are asked to notify a supervisor of a positive test.
A second State Public Health Mandate was sent to all counties requiring full vaccinations of all members who fall into the outlined sections. For SEBA members, it will affect those who work in the jails and juvenile halls. The order requires full vaccinations by October 14, 2021, however, county HR officials have not sent SEBA the language of any communication they intend to send to employees. SEBA voiced its concerns regarding the second Public Health Mandate and, again, emphatically opposed mandatory vaccinations. HR has assured SEBA that employees who have medical or religious exemptions will be able to assert those liberties.
We are currently waiting for a response from HR regarding the second public health order and how they intend to message it to County employees.
2ND ANNUAL SHOP WITH A COP - BACK TO SCHOOL TEACHER’S EDITION KICK OFF!
This year, SEBA Charities is back at it with another edition of our Shop With A Cop - Back To School Teacher's Edition. The purpose of this event is to reward terrific teachers in San Bernardino County for their selfless commitment to the children they serve. We kicked off this year's event in Highland and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.
Over a two-week period in September we will be traveling across the county to 10 more schools to distribute over $25,000 in gift cards to deserving teachers. Each teacher, selected by each site principal, will receive $250.
Once again, thank you to all those teachers and school resource officers making a positive impact in our community.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
FREE NASCAR TICKETS!
We have a limited number of NASCAR tickets available for our members for the upcoming NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoff Race in Las Vegas on September 25th. All you have to do is call the office at (909) 885-6074 to reserve your tickets. Limit: 4 tickets per member.
BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
With theaters opening back up we are seeing an increase in the number of members stopping by the SEBA office to purchase discounted theater tickets.
We currently offer discounts from all of the following theaters: United Artist Theatres, Regal Cinema, Edwards Theatres, Harkins Theatres, Cinemark Theatres and AMC Theatres.
For a list of prices, login to the SEBA MEMBER PORTAL at www.seba.com
AM I REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A “FITNESS FOR DUTY”?
The employer may have a policy or practice that requires employees in similar job positions who take leave for similar health conditions to provide a return to work, or “fitness-for-duty,” certification from the employee’s health care provider showing that the employee is able to resume work. The employer may request a fitness-for-duty certification only with regard to the particular health condition that caused the employee’s need for FMLA leave. If the employer will require a fitness-for-duty certification, it must provide notice of that requirement and whether the certification must address the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of his or her job with the FMLA designation notice.
In general, a fitness-for-duty certification may not be required for each absence taken on an intermittent or reduced leave schedule. However, if the employer has a reasonable belief that the employee’s return to work presents a significant risk of harm to the employee or to others, the employer may require a fitness-for-duty certification up to once every 30 days.
As long as the employer has provided the required notice regarding any fitness-for-duty certification requirement, the employee’s return to work may be delayed until the fitness-for-duty certification is provided. An employer may contact an employee’s health care provider to clarify or authenticate a fitness-for-duty certification, but cannot delay the employee’s return to work while making that contact. An employer may not require second or third opinions for a fitness-for-duty certification. The employee is responsible for paying any cost of obtaining the fitness-for-duty certification. If State or local law or collective bargaining agreement governs an employee’s return to work, those provisions must be applied.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Grant Ward, President
Phil Jonas, Secretary
Danny Rosa, Vice President
Tom Mabry, Treasurer
NEXT MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 6, 2021 FROM NOON TO 2 PM