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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 197705172~9 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW MAY 17, 1977 The 1977 Orange County Board of Equalization and Review convened on May 17, 1977, in the Commissioners' Room of the Orange County Courthouse. -- Members present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan ,Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. The Board resolved a number of appeals of 1977 property tax valuations heard at earlier sessions by adopting appropriate orders increasing the valuation appealed by Benjamin F. Swalin (Chapel Hill Township, Tax Map 116, Parcel 12, Tract 5462) from $66,000 to $67,600; reducing the valuation appealed by Emery B. Denny, Jr., for Mary Alice Danziger (Chapel Hill Town- ship, Tax Map 32, Block D, Parcel 17, Tract 602) from $x}8,700 to $40,000; confirming the present valuation for those properties of Mebane Lumber Company, Inc. identified as Cheeks Township, Tax Map 12A, Block C, Parcel lA, Gheeks Township Tax Map 128, Block D, Parcel 8, Cheeks Township, Tax Map 12C, Block D, Parcel 9; reducing the valuation of those parcels :of Mebane Lumber Company, Inc. in Cheeks Township identified as Tax Map 12B, Block B, Parcels 5,6,7,8, and 9 by fifty percent to account for topo- graphical inferiority to produce the following new 1977 valuations: Tax Map 125, Block B, Parcel 5 - $2,600 Tax Map 12B, Block B, Parcel 6 - $1,500 Tax Map 12B, Block B, Parcel 7 - $1,500 Tax Map 128, Block B, Parcel 8 - $1,500 Tax Map 12B, Block B, Parcel 9 - $1,500 The Berard by appropriate order confirmed the 1977 valuation appealed by J. Herbert Holland (Chapel Hill Township, Tax Map 85, Block L, Lot 30; - reduced the 1977 valuation appealed by J. Herbert Holland for property identified as Chapel Hill Township, Tax Map 85, Block M, Parcel 15 (Rosemary Street Apartments) from $219,100 to $169,500; reduced the valuation - appealed by Murry W. Holland (Joseph I. Moore, Jr., Counselor) (Chapel Hill Township, Tax Map 89, Block D, Parcel 8, Tract 2779).from $629,600 to $549,300. The Board of Equalization and Review adjourned. ~~ ~ ~~ - -; Richard E. Whitted, Chairman Agatha Johnson, Clerk MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY 17, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, May 17, 1977, at 7:00 p.m., in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Finney, Norman Walker, and Donald Willhoit. Other present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance Officer, Jeffrey Gledhill, County Attorney, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk. Chairman Whitted referred to Item 1: Persons not on this agenda having business to transact with the Board of County Commissioners should make their presence known. No one came forth. 2~0 The Chairman asked that two items be added to the agenda. Item 6A - A Resolution regarding the establishing of Advisory Councils. Item 6B - Extension of six months to the Commission on the Status of Women. Mr. Whitted referred to Item 2: Minutes of the Board meetings of May 2, May 10, and May 11, 1977. The May 2, 1977 minutes were reviewed and certain corrections were pointed out. Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Wi.llhoit, it was moved and adotted that the minutes of May 2, 1977 be approved. -- The May 10, 1977 minutes were reviewdd and upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, it was moved and adopted that the May 10, 1977 minutes be approved. The May 11, 1977 minutes were reviewed and corrections indicated. :. ,, Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Whitted; it was moved and adopted to approve the minutes of May 11, 1977. Item 3: The Manager recommends the Board grant a "Permit to Discharge Fireworks" to the Chapel Hill Kiwanis Club for its Fourth of July celebration. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Pinney, it was moved and adopted to grant a Permit to Discharge Fireworks to the Chapel Hill Kiwanis Club. Chairman Whitted asked that a letter be written to the Chapel Hill Kiwanis Club and the American Field Service requesting that additional security be available at the fireworks program to handle any potential problems that might arise with the fireworks program. Item 4: The term of J. F. Minnis on the Orange County .Council on Aging expires June 30, 1977. Discussion ensued as to whether Rev. Minnis would be willing to continue serving an the Council on Again Board. The Clerk was requested to talk with Dr. Charles Martin, Director of Council on Aging and to make this determination. This item will appear on the June 6th agenda. Item 5: The Tax Supervisor will recommend action by the Board of Equalization and Review. See Board of Equalization and Review Minutes of May 17, 1977. Chairman Whitted referred to Item 6: Jack Stone - representing the Durham-Orange Employment Training Service, will review a report of agency activities in Orange County during the past fiscal year. Chairman Whitted recognized Jack Stone, and Mr. Stone introduced to the Board Larry Julian, a Federal Representative for the Consortium from the Department of Labor, out of the Atlanta Office. Mr. Stone presented to the Board a Program status of the Durham-Orange Consortium as of September 30, 1976 and a follow up report of a report which was presented to the Board last Fall regarding adult participa~xt~s in the Consortium Training Program for July 1975 through June 30, 1976. The Consortium receives monies through four Titles, Title i, Title I2, Title 222 and Title IV. Title I is the basic training program of un- skilled, uneducated individuals. Title II and Title IV are aimed at employing individuals, and Title 222 is the Summer Youth Employment Pro- gram for economically disadvanaged youth people. Title I Program brings the bulk of the funds to the Consortium and involves the majority of people. ~%~i Mr. Stone reviewed a breakdown' of Orange County participants by the different Title Programs. Under Title I, of the 556 people served, 139 or 25 percent were Orange County residents. The Title II Program, of the 172 people served, 39 people or 22.7 percent were Orange County residents. Title VI, o f the 160 people served, 35 people or 21.9 percent were from Orange County. The total people served under these three programs were 888 people. From this number, 213 people or 24.0 percent are Orange COunty residents. Mr. Stone then presented a breakdown of each Title program showing Orange County participants by activity and a review of the characteristics of Orange County participants as compared to all participants in the program from Durham and Orange Counties. This breakdown showed that over 40 per- cent of these participants receive some kind of public assistance. About 70 percent of the participants are female and 82.9 percent are Black. Commissioner, Pinney referred Mr. Stone to the Title III Program where figures showed that 775 people were served and of that number 757 were from minorities races from the two counties. Mr. Pinney stated that there were 18 white people served in the two counties. He asked if AFDC recipients had the first opportunity at these jobs. He added that he had problems with the fact that only 2.6 percent of white people were served by the Title III program. Mr. Pinney suggested that all AFDC recipients in Orange County be sent application forms and proper instructions for filling out the form be sent along with their AFDC check to attempt to enlist more white people in that program. He asked Mr. Stone to see that this is done. Commissioner Willhoit asked if this follow up of the programs would be continued. Mr. Stone replied that this was his intention. Commissioner Willhoit suggested that an indication be made to provide figures of the income of participants before and after enlisting in the program. This information would also indicate the number of persons earn- ing more than the minimum income rate. Mr. Stone informed the Berard that additional Title xV Public Service jobs would provide Orang e County with a share of the 2.3 million dollars will be $560,000. Thirty-three positions are currenly funded through Title IV and with these additional funds this is expected to increase to about 62 positions. Mr. Stone will be in contact with the County Manager regarding recommendations of these positions. Chairman Whitted referred to Item 6A: A Resolution regarding the Establishing of Advisory Councils in the different Townships. This resolution was approved and passed by the Orange County Planning Board on May 15, 1977. The request from the Planning Board is that the Commissioners accept the Resolution and thereby authorize the establishment of the Advisory Councils. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that when priorities were set in December, it was established that the primary purpose of the Advisory Gountils would be to assist the Planning Board and the Board of Commissioners in developing the Land Use Plan and the Zoning Map. This was done to limit the scope at this time of the Advisory Councils. The time- table for Zoning in Bingham Township is scheduled for the middle of June, and to accomplish this, the Advisory Councils must see their responsi- bility as a single task to help with the Land Use Plan and the Zoning Maps. He stated that he was concerned about endorsing this resolution which has an opened ended task. Commissoner Walker stated that he disagreed with Mr. Gustaveson's comments. That mare citizens input is needed in the Zoning of Townships. Lindsey Efland stated that his interpretation of the Ordinance to establish a Planning Board did not limit the scope of the Advisory Boards. He added that the Planning Board was attempting to do their job and con- sidered citizen's input as important. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he had no problem with this resolu- tion, however, the Board could reaffirm the work plan which was adopted in December. Discussion ensued concerning the resolution to establish Advisory Councils. 212 The County Attorney, Jeffrey Gledhill, stated that the language of the Planning Board Ordinance reads that the establishritent.of the Advisory Councils is done by the Board of Commissioners upon recommendations of the Planning Board. He added that this is really a question of policy on the part of this Board. The Board agreed to deer this item until the May 26th meeting. The Planning Staff was instructed to proceed with scheduling a meeting in Bingham Township for the first week in June. Item 6B - Extension of six months to the Commission on the Status of Women for completion of their survey and for final report. - Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Wzllhoit, it was moved and adopted to extend the time limit for the Commissioner on the Status of Women to September, 1977. The County Attorney presented to the Board a Notice of Meeting re- garding the inclusion of certain areas in the South Orange Fire District. The Notice requiaes the Chairman to the Board's signature. Chairman Whitted referred to Item 7: Budget Hearings. The first agency to present a budget to the Board is that of OASIS. Mel Woodard presented to the Board a budget request of $1,000 for the Chapel Hill Oasis, Inc., which is a new private, non-profit organiza- tion that provides free drop-in child care service, a parent resource center for parent education and child development, and an opportunity for interested citizens to volunteer to help their community. Oasis operates an a budget of $5,675, the majority of which comes from private contribu- tions. B. Rescue Squads - Chairman Whitted recognized Bennie Cecil of the Orange County Rescue Squad. Mr. Cecil stated that Orange.'County Rescue Squad had asked for a sufficient increase in this year's budget in the areas of salaries, from $24,447..62 to $33,500; in the area of vehicle maintenance, approximately $5,000; Equipment, a request of $6,000, and in vehicles, a request of $10,000 for a crash vehicle. Mr. Cecil added that 20 percent of the requested amount of $104;527.81 could be expected from private contributions and from the Ladies Auxiliary. The actual amount requested from the County for 1977-78 is $83,622. The anticipated fund balance as of June 30, 1977 will be between $4,000 and $•5 , 0 0 0 . zf this proposed request cannot be made, Mr. Cecil indicated that the Rescue Squad would have to reduce the monies allocated toward vehicles. The County Manager informed the Board that the South Orange Rescue Squad was requesting the same amount of dollars as appropriated to them for 1976-77. New Hope Rescue Squad - Chairman Whitted recognized Bruce Davis of the New Hope Rescue Squad. Mr. Davis stated that New HOpe Rescue Squad was requesting their largest increase in the area of salaries, to increase their employment to three persons. An appropriation of $18,720 is re- quested for salaries. Other increases are equipment/vehicles, a request of $6,000; educational supplies and equipment - $2,760. The total budget request for New Hape Rescue Squad is $35,665. Mr. Davis stated that $1,000 can be anticipated from other sources. C. Fire Districts - Efland Fire District - Chairman Whitted recog- nized Bobby Efland and George Whitted of the Efland Fire District. They requested that the fire district tax rate remain at .04/$100. This pro- posed budget is for increases in the areas of utilities, radio maintenance, vehicle maintenance, insurance and toward the purchase of equipment and vehicles. The present fund balance of .the Efland Fire District if $16,000. Eno Fire District - The Chairman recognized Mr. J. G. Flowers. Mr. Flowers presented a budget request for $31,600 and requested that the fire district tax rage remain at .08/$100. This proposed budget is to provide for increases in the areas of utilities, radio maintenance, vehicle maintenance and insurance. Twenty thousand dollars is requested for the purchase of equipment and vehicles. z~3 New Hope Fire District - Mr. Whitted recognized Mr. Lewis Freeland with the Fire District, who presented a proposed budget request of $28,430 and requested that the fire district tax rate be reduced from .10/$100 to '. .08/$100. The .OS tax rate will produce $24,400. It was pointed out that the New Hope Fire radius entends to the Chapel Hill City limits. Orange Fire District - The Chairman recognized Chandler Cates for that Fire District. Mr. Cates presented a budget request of $26,100 and re- quested that the fire district tax rate remain at .04/$100. Orange Grove•Fire District - Chairman Whitted recognized Charles Snipes of that Fire District who presented a budget request of $22,300 an d requested that the fire district tax rate remain at .08/$100. Commissioner Pinney raised the question of replacement reserve on the proposed budget of the~Orange Grove Fire District. Information will be provided concerning this replacement reserve on the proposed budget. Chandler Clates inquired if the proposed EMS system would relieve the various fire departments of the use and cost of the wX numbers. The County Manager stated that this would be left to the discretion of the fire departments:. D. Orange County Board of Education. Chairman whitted recognized Mr. A. C. Crowder, Assistant Superintendent of the Orange County School. Mr. Crowder introduced School Board members James Freeland, Emma Sue Loftin, Paul McAllister and Chairman Oscar Compton. He also introduced Dan Lunsford, Director of Instructions and Tom Rickman, Finance Officer. Chairman Whitted reminded the two Boards that the appointment of J. Temple Gobbel had expired to the A.B.C. Board. He suggested that the appointment be made at this time, and he asked for nominations to the Board. Commissioner Pinney moved that Mr. Gokibel be reappointed to the A.B.C. Hoard. Commissioner willhoit seconded the motion. Chairman whitted asked if there were other nominations, and no other names were offered. The Chairman called for the vote an the nomination anal all members of the two Boards voted aye. J. Temple Gobbel was reappointed to serve a three year term to the A.B.C. Board. Tom Rickman reviewed the format of the proposed budget. He stated that the budget requests were prepared based on the assumption of con- tinuing the on-going programs of the School system at their increase cost levels, with new or expanded costs separated from the basic budget cost. The current expense request represents an increase in per capita county appropriation from $1,392,981 to $1,858,922. This increase is due largely to .the following factors: (1) Annual salary step increases together with across the board salary increases (totaling an estimated 10 percent). (2) Anticipated inflationary increases in supplies, materials, utilities, and purchased services. (3) Local compensation for the loss of eight state-paid teaching position due to a reduction in enrollment. (4) An addition of four and one-half new teaching positions necessary to achieve desired educational goals. (5) The introduction of an early elementary testing program, an increase in instructional supplies to all pupils, and th elimination of instructional fees paid by the elementary students. It is also proposed that $85,000 be established as an unappropriated fund balance necessary for cash flow and investment purposes. Proposed revenues for the school system are anticipated as follows: State Allocations Federal Grants Fines & Forfeitures Miscelleneous Local Revenue Interest on Investment Indirect Cost Budget Carry Over Gounty Appropriation $4,343,900 242,565 60,000 (Rental,Fees) 2,500 4,000 3,000 25,000 1,858,922 Total Revenues ;6,539,887 X14 Mr. Rickman proceeded to review with the Board the format of the 1977-78 Capital Outlay Request. The Proposed Expenditures are broken into four categories. Category 1: Acquisition of Real Property; Construc- tion, Enlargements, or Renovations of Buildings - Cost of $322,548 Cateogry 2: Acquisition ar Replacement of Furnishings and Equipment - Cost of $148,929. Category 3: Acquisition of School Buses, Activity Buses, and other Motor Cehicles - Cast of $63,800. Category 4: Contin- gency Appropriation - Cost of $20,000. The Total Expenditures is $555,277. The proposed revenues for the Capital Outlay Request are anticipated as follows: State Categorical Allocations $ 4,195 Interest on Investments 4,000 Disposition of Fixed Assets 32,000 Budget Carryover 105,000 County Appropriation 410,082 Total Revenue $.555,277 Dan Lunsford reviewed the 1977-78 Budget Request highlighting each program. Discussin ensued concerning the loss of eight state-paid teaching positions due .to a low projection in the number of students. This projec- tion was made by the State Board of Education and is based on the average daily membership of pupils. Mr. Lunsford stated that in 1975-76 the enroll- ment of the County School was high, therefore, the projection was high. This year, the enrollment dropped, and the State anticipates another decrease for 1977-78 and therefore has projected an enrollment of 4,739, which is pro- bably less than what the actual enrollment will be in September. Mr. Lunsford stated that there is an adjustment period the first ten days of a new school year, and if the enrollment is over sixty, two addi- tional teacher positions will be added. Mr. Lunsford stated that if the enrollment at the beginning of September is 4,850, as anticipated, the School System would get three additional teachers. The Board was informed that there are presently eight combined classrooms in the Gounty School system. xn the Capital Outlay Request, Mr. Lunsford stated that each of the particular projects listed are projects which teachers and principals have petitioned the School Board for, except for Item #5 under Category 1. Project #5 is a request for a Library Building at A. L. Stanback School. Construction contracts and all related costs for the new facility is cal- culated at $150,000. Other major expenses listed are: Eight Tennis Courts at Orange High School at a cost of $36,000; a cafeteria cooler and Jani- torial storage area at Orange High at a cost of $11,000; the vocational project house at a cost of $30,000. Other items of major expense listed under Category I were Projects 10, 11, and 12. These projects requested $25,000 each for undesignated expense to school buildings. A major expense item in Category II is Project #3 which requested $52,650. for equipment . and furnishings for instructional use. Ttem #10 is a request for $30,000 for furniture and equipment for the new building that is to be constructed. Category ITI was a request for $63,800 for the purchase of buses and vehicles. Mr. Lunsford stated that the Schaal Boardtwas hoping to start letting contracts in duly of this year. Actual construction will take between 11 and 12. months. Chairman whitted stated that last year when the Board fo Commis- sionezs met with the School Board, the discussion was to present a main- tenance budget for capital outlay for the next three to five years for County Schools. He stated that the Commissioners indicated at that time that the County had projecte to get underway, and with the passing of the bond referendum, the schools should keep their capital outlay request from the County moderate. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that since there is a good amount of bond monies available that the projects listed in Category 1 should be funded from that money. Mr. Lunsford estimated that the 3 million dollars bond. money would be Bsed as follows: 1.8 million for construction of the Efland-Cheeks School 2f5 $175,000 for renovation at Cameron Park, $500,000 for the Cultural Arts Building at the High School, Stanford Junior High School $150,000, furnishings are estimated at $50,000 and the maintenance facility at $36,000; These estimates total $2,711,000. Chairman Whined stated that the 3 million dollars is what the School Board will have to work with'for the next 3 to 5 years. Commissoner Willhoit asked of the programs in the schools to correct occupation safety and health conditions. Mabel Gordan stated that there were Safety Committees in each school -- which met monthly. The schools are surveyed for safety and two years ago magnetic starters and guards were installed on all shock equipment. Dust _ collectors are being installed in the different shop areas and safety lights will soon be installed. The Chairman stated that the Board of Commissioners would be meeting regularly between now anti June 21, 1977, and that a representative from the Schcol Board would be welcome at these meetings. The meeting was then adjourned. /~' J .' Y/ ~ r ,~. .~ . ~~ i7ichard E. Whined, Chairman Agatha Johnson, Clerk ORANGE COUNTX BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY 19, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Thursday, May 19, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Commissoiners' Roam of the Courthouse in _.. Hillsborough, N. C. to continue budget hearings for 1977-78. Present were Chairman Richard Whined, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance Director, Joe Bradshaw, Administrative Assistant, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk. Chairman Whitted read to the Board a letter from Major James Wallace, Mayor of Chapel Hi11, requesting that a member of the Commissioners be appointed to a Human Services Committee. Commissioner Gustaveson was asked if he would be willing to serve as the Board's representative and Mr. Gustaveson did so agree. The Clerk was instructed to inform the Mayor's Office in Chapel Hill of this appointment. Chairman Whitted stated that the"'first agency to present a budget request is the Historical Museum. The Chairman then introduced to the Board, Mrs. Glenn Auman, Secretary of the Historical Museum. Mrs. Auman presented to the Board a Statement of Income and Expendi- tures far the calendar year of 1976. She requested from the Board an - allocation 6f $4,000 for the next fiscal year. The anticipated expense which Mrs. Auman spoke of is for salaries to replace the present curator who will soon be quitting. There was some discussion of tying the telephone of the nuseum into the County Telephone system to reduce the cost of telephone service. The Finance Director stated that the museum probably had a present fund balance of between $2,000 and $3,000. He suggested that a $2,000 allocation be made to the museum in July to take care of their operating expenses. Commissioner Walker suggested that the Administrative staff assist the museum staff in preparing the proper budget for next year. The County Manager presented to the Board a Deed to Otis Wright for sale of a vacant lot in the Town of Hillsborough and situated on the East side of Nash Street. Orange County has forclosed for taxes this parcel