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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19771024L,L ~~ / MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 24, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October 24, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Superior Courtroom of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Members present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman T•7alker, and Donald ATillhoit. Staff members present were S. M. Gattis, County Administrator, Neal Evans, County Finance Director, Joe Bradshaw, Administrative Assistant, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk. Chairman Tahitted referred to Item 1 on the agenda: Persons not on this agenda having business to transact with the Board of Commissioners should make their presence known. Items added to the agenda were: l) A request for a fireworks permit and 2) the County Attorney wishes to request the approval of the Board to an Agreement and Mutual Release of budgetary suzplus and pro- perty awned by the District Health Department. Chairman L•II-iitted explained that the fireworks permit had been re- quested by the Oak Grove Community in Bingham Township for the evening of October 29, 1977. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Pinney, it was moved and adopted to approve the fireworks permit subject to the supervision of the fireworks display by the Efland Fire Department. The County Attorney explained to the Board that the Agreement and -.- Mutual Release had been reviewed by the County Manager and the Finance Officer. Commissioner Willhoit moved and Commissioner Pinnev seconded the motion that the document be executed by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Walker stated that he wished to review the document as well and asked that this item be deferred until the November 7, 1977 meeting. Commissioner Pinney then withdrew his second to Commissioner Willhoit's motion and the Chairman declared Mr. T~Iillhoit's motion had died for lack of a second. This item will appear on the November 7, 1977 agenda. Item 2: Minutes of the Board meeting held October 1$, 1977 are submitted for consideration. The minutes were reviewed and the Clerk was requested to check one portion of the tape of the October 18th meeting. The minutes were deferred until the November 7, 1977 meeting. Item 3: Mr. P4ike Caddis from the State Department of Personnel will review salary range recommendations made by that agency for county department heads. Chairman T^Thitted introduced to the Board P2r. Mike Gaddis, Director of Local Government Section of the State Department of Personnel. P'1x'. Gaddis stated that the work of his department started faith a request from local governing boards and the products of his de_partment's work is a recommendation, however, the recommendations are not binding. He stated that the procedures for the type of study which was conducted for Orange=County is as follows: 1) Identify the positions to be in- cluded in the study. In Orange County's case, these positions were Tax Collector'-,.-Tax Supervisor, Finance Director, Planning Directoz and the Recreation Director. These positions were to be studied and recommenda- tions were to be made. 2) Determine the duties and the responsibilities of these positions. xe stated that in this instance, an updating of work A was required since some history of the positions had been acquired through a study performed in December of 1972. 3) Based on updated job knowledge, examine and re-establish as appropriate all internal level relationships within the jurisdiction. This involves the positions in question and all other significantly related positions in the plan. Factors like difficult of work, responsibility, decision making, independence of action, working relationships, and guidelines, are used to relate jobs by level. Mr. Gaddis stated that the study re- vealed that the responsibilities had not changed and that previous rela- tionships established should be maintained. 4) The major aspect of the study is to collect comparative salary data from other selected juris- dictions, business, or industry having closely similar jabs. For the benefit of the governing body who will be making the final decision on level of pay, the department of personnel attempts to "bracket" the labor market by surveying: a) direct competitors,. b) other jurisdictions in the same geographical region, c) jurisdictions of similar tax base and popula- tian and d) jurisdictions of greater tax base and population which have strong influence on competitive rates wa.thin the region. A survey is made of 10 counties of these types, and an attempt is made to determine on the bases of similar and related positions to the one being studies, what rate is being paid at the time of the study and the time was February, 1977. The informatien submitted to the County Manager was that information of that survey. 5) This information is analyzed and based on that analysis, State Personnel felt that the Berard could soundly consider an increase of from 5 to 10 percent. He stated that his depart- . ment's analysis placed Orange County in a pay rate which was closex' to the mare metzopolitan counties in this region (Durham and Wake Counties, Research Triangle Area, Universities.in the area, and the State of North Carolina). Mr. Gaddis stated that he would answer any questions the members of Board might have. Commissioner Willhoit asked that Mr. Gaddis discuss the difference in the comparison of current salary rates as opposed to range. Mz. Gaddis stated that some jurisdictions operated under a classifi-- cation pay plan which established a minimum salary and a maximun salary to be paid for a particular job. A person working in this position may be at the minimum range, the maximum or anywhere in between. This is a question of individual performance and offers a structured opportunity to give increases between the minimum and the maximum and recognizes relative performance. Some jurisdictions operate by paying a flat rate for certain positions. Surveys of jurisdictions contains a mixture of both pay plans. Ben Lloyd, President of the Land Owners Association, asked why the person performing the State Personnel study, Jeanne Horton, was not present at this meeting. He stated that he had called.Mr. Gaddis' office and had specifically requested that Ms. Horton be present, and Mr. caddis had assured him that Ms. Horton would be present. He charged that someone was attempting to cover up, and that he wanted to know why. Mr. Gaddis stated there was nothing to cover up. He stated that Ms. Horton was a member of his staff. The questions involved in Orange County's study were concerned with policy, protocol, procedure and office policy. He stated that he was responsible for the study done in Orange County. He stated that he had reviewed the study and the recommendations and found them to be valid and sound. Mr. Gaddis stated that it was not necessary to interview all of the Department Heads, but that information was updated from the 1972 study. He added that it, is not always necessary to interview new positions as information is gathered through discussions with the County Manager, through a proposed jab description of duties and responsibilities. Discussion ensued between Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Gaddis concerning the comparative salary data of surrounding counties. Mr. Gaddis informed Mr. Lloyd that his department dealt with the salary range and not with dollars and cents. Recommendations are made on jobs and not on individuals and it is not necessary that State Personnel know the salary of the job. The question of individual pay is a question of performance which is judged by that person's supervisor. -'. Mr. Lloyd stated that he felt the County Commissioners did not act in the best interest of the taxpayers by adopting the 1977-78 budget. He also stated that he felt the people here tonight were deceived, since Ms. Horton was not present. Tony Seaber asked the Chairman of the Board to retract a statement pre- viously made that the County Manager's salary was a recommendation of the State Personnel Department. Chairman Whitted stated he was in error that the County Manager's salary was not a recommendation of the State Personnel Department. In response to a question of Bobby Nichols regarding what action the Board might take following this meeting, the Chairman stated that he would stand behind the 1977-78 budget which was adopted in June of 1977. Mr. Lloyd stated that he would recommend to the Board of Directors of the Land Owners Association that this matter involving State Personnel be taken to the Governor's Office. Following a brief break in the meeting, the Chairman reconvened and referred to Item 4: Appointments. A. Two vacancies, created by the resignations of Vicky Ward and Reverend William Richardson, exist on the County Recreation Advisory Council. Commissioner Walker nominated Giovanni Micol to replace Reverend Richardson, and Commissioner Willhoit nominated Doug Sessoms. Chairman Whitted called for a vote on the nominations. Commissioners Walker, Pinney, and Whitted voted for Giovanni Micol and Commissioners Gustaveson and Willhoit voted for Doug Sessoms. The Chairman announced that Giovanni Micol would replace Reverend Richardson on the Recreation Advisory Council. He then asked for nominations for the vacancy created by Vickey [lard. Commissioner Willhoit nominated Ron Hyatt to replace Vickey Ward. -- Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Whitted, it was moved and adopted to appoint Ran Hyatt to the Recreation Advisory Council. B. Two vacancies, created by the resignations of Susan Forman and Harry Derr, exist on the Youth Services Needs Task Fox'ce. Natalie Hax'xis and Hans Hollingsworth have been recommended to fill these vacancies. The County Manager informed the Board that the recommendation of Natalie Harris was made by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board as the School Board was designated a slot when the task force was created. Mr. Hollingsworth is with the UNC School of Social Work and does have specialized knowledge in counseling and guidance. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit, it was moved and adopted to appoint Natalie Harris and Hans Hollingsworth to the vacancies on the Youth Services Needs Task Force. ' Item 5: The Board should consider the proposal to raise the level of the dam at Lake Orange one foot. The County Manager stated that the involvement is in regard to the State regulations concerning dam safety. There are certain repairs to the dam which need to be corrected immediately. This cost of repairs would be approximately $6,000 without an attending engineer. The raising of the dam would cost approximately $15,000. The Board of Commissioners does not have the authority to authorize the raising of the dam, but must obtain a Dam Safety Permit. Commissioner Walker stated that he would like to ga on record as recommending that the repair work be started immediately. Commissioner [+7illhoit pointed out that it had been suggested that a fee be charged the users of the water. ". f_„ Upon motion of Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson it was moved and adopted to implement the repair work and the engineering work on the Lake Orange Dam and if the waters of Lake Orange are at a safe level, to continue with the construction, if the Lake is not at a safe level, the construction will be deferred until such time. Item 6: The Department of Transportation recommends the roads in Morgan Creek Hills Subdivision be added to the State Road System for maintenance. Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioners Gustaveson, it was moved and adopted to accept the recommendation of the Department of Transportation that roads im the Morgan Creek Hill Subdivi- sion be added to the State Road System. The meeting was adjourned. Richard E. Whitted, Chairman Agatha Johnson, Clerk MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMM25SIONEI2S NOVEMBER 7, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, November 7, 1977, at 10:00 a. m., in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Members present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker, and Donald Willhoit. Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, County Finance Officer, Jerry Robinson, County Health Administrator, Jeffrey Gledhill., County Attorney, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk to the Board. The Chairman referred to Ttem 1 on the agenda: Fersons not on this agenda having business to transact with the Board of County Commissioners should make their presence known in order that an appropriate time for them to be heard might be arranged. The Chairman stated that the Board had received a request from the xyconeechee Regional Library Board that the Week of November 14 through 2q, 1977 be declared Children's Book Week in Orange County. Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, it was moved and adapted that the Week of November 14 through 20, 1977, be declared Children's Baok Week in Orange County. "WHEREAS, Orange County children have available through public and school libraries quality materials that enrich a child's life; and WHEREAS, these materials used early in a child's fife begin a reading foundation that will last through- . out a child's lifetime; and WHEREAS, Children's Baak Week annually renews the emphasis on children's books and reading; THEREFORE, we proclaim the week of November 14 through 20, 1977 CHILDREN'S BOQK WEEK IN ORANGE COUNTY, and commend this observance to out citizens." Duly adopted this the 7th day of November, 1978.