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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19780601!Y~ ~ '.1 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 1, 1978 • The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Thursday, June 1, 1978, at 7:30 p.m., in the Superior Court Raom of the Court House in Hillsborough for the purpose of reviewing the proposed budget of the Orange County School System. Those present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioner Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. County School Board members present were Chairman Oscar Compton, Emma Sue Loftin, Rachel Stevens, James Rae Freeland, and Paul. McAllister. Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, Finance Director, Dr. R. Mike Simons, Superintendent of the County School System, Tom Richman, Finance Director for the system, Dan Lunsford, Director of instructions, Frank Pinn, Personnel Director and A. C. Crowder, Assistant Superintendent. Also present were other members of the school system's administrative staff and teachers. Chairman Whitted opened the meeting by recognizing Oscar Campton, Chairman of the Qrange County School Berard. Mr. Campton stated that the budget recommendations had come about through various levels beginning with the different school's advisory boards. These are needs which are seen by the Advisory Board, principals, Superintendent and Board members. Mr. Compton yielded to Dr. R. Mike Simmons, Superintendent of the County School System. Dr. Simmons stated to the Board that the budget was formulated on the premise that "our youngsters desire the best that we can provide for them", and the Board has attempted to compile a budget on that basis. In terms of priorities, Dr. Simmons stated the first priority for any expansiori~is additional teachers in grades 4 through 7. Recommendations shown in the budget are for additional teachers for grades 4 and 5 as the highest priority. Seven additional teaching positions and one aid is requested far grades ~ and 5. The main purpose for this a.dditian is to reduce .teacher-pupil ratio in these grades 4 and 5 and to eliminate combi- nation classes. The eight new teaching positions include one teacher for the in-schacl suspension program, which would mean one teacher at each of the secondary schools, and an existing teacher for the special program now going on at the Junion High School. Two aids will be needed for the in-school suspension program; however, 85 percent of these salaries would be through federal monies. • An additional item in this budget is an appropriation to accomodate cost increases due to inflation. Dr. Simmons spoke of the Capital Outlay special request which includes the expansion of the Orange High School Cafeteria at a cost of $100,000. This renovation includes a covered walkway from the expanded cafeterial area to the Agricultural Building. A second request is for a special reserve fund to be established to meet the costs of improvements in the school facilities made necessary by Section 504: The Handicapped Accessibility Regulations. The request is far $70,000 to be placed in the reserve account for each of the next five years. A third request is that a special reserve account be established to fund new facility site acquisitions purchased by the system. This request is far $20,000 to be placed in a reserve account for each of the next five years. ,.• c~ .. e Dr. Simmons informed the Board of a comprehensive survey of the County Schools facilities which had been conducted by the State. One concern of the School Board was whethex or not the 5tanback School building should be abandoned or renovated. The survey indicates that the building should not be abandoned, but to be made accessible for the handicapped. Copies of this report will be forwarded to the Commissioners as soon as it is received. Dr. Simmons stated the Assistant Superintendent's position would be held open far some time. Monies for this position will be used to reduce the teacher pupil ratio at the elementary level. The school system is moving toward a long range capital im- provement program for the next five to ten years. This is one reaso:: for the recent survey. The school system has a. bond contingency of $225,000. If these funds remain, they will be used for equiping facilities. Dr. Simmons stated the school system is now a part of the State/Federal Energy Conservation Program. Beginning next fall, the system will be on a computer program which is a complete moni-- Loring service of cost per square foot, school by school, by type of fuel and utility. He stated the system is attempting to make significant efforts toward the conservation of energy. The system is hoping to pick up perhaps two additional teachers through the State. This allocation is according to growth and the system will not know until the fall the number of teachers to come to the County. Chairman Whitted asked Dr. Simmons if there was any item in this budget program--wise to implement the Creech Bill or Public Law 94-192. Dr. Simmons' reply tn~as no; however, Mr. Lunsford •wi11 review the special education program. - Dr. Simmons asked Tom Rickman, School Finance Director, to review the proposed budget with the Boards. Mr. Rickman stated that the system began the year with a fund balance of $187,755.14. Of this amount, $126,000 has been appro- priated into the current year's budget leaving a balance of $61,755.1x. It is anticipated that $65,000 will be carried over in current expense'. Of this amount $60,000 has been appropriated into the requested budge° . for next year, leaving $5,000 in an unappropriated fund balance and which will be added back to the 561,000. The system then will go into next year with $66,755.14 in current expense. The Capital Outlay fund balance is $120.34. It is 'anticipated that no more than $1,000 will be carried over in Capital Outlay unappropriated fund balance foz next year. Mr. Rickman reviewed the Summarty of Revenues and Expenditures. The request from the County for Local Current Expense for 1978-79 is $2,068,536 which is $423.88 per child. This amount is a 24 percent increase over last year's request. Under Instxuctional Programs, there is a requested increase of 32 percent due to teacher's salaries, aids' salaries and substitute teacher's pay. This is at a cost of $900,778, and includes the eight additional teachers. An increase of 28 percent is shown for Employee Benefits and corresponds with the new teaching positions. This cost is $147,413. ~~u Mr. Rickman stated the Pupil Support Services had increased 31 percent. The total has increased from $52,499 to $68,901. Under lnstructional Staff Support Services, $70,023 is requested at an increase of 49 percent. Educational Media Services is requesting $63,000 at an increase of 96 percent. The total Supporting Services has increased 17 percent, which shows that the bulk of increases has gone into instruction rather than into support. The proposed allocation for the Contingency Fund for 1978-79 is $10,000. Mr. Rickman reviewed the Capital Outlay Expenditures. Requested for 1978-79 is $315,863 .which is a 44 percent increase over last year's allocation of $220,000. Under revenues, Mr. Rickman stated the system was hopeful of receiving between 8 and 10 percent more in state monies for next year. For other sources of revenues, $153,600 is anticipated from various sources. Mr. Rickman proceeded to review with the Board a detaaled breakdown of expenditures for the school system. Mr. Rickman asked Dan Lunsford to speak of the Special Education Program of the school system. Mr. Lunsford stated there are no new positions in the current expense budget for special education. Four positions had been anticipated; however, they were taken out in order to concentrate on the first priority. Some resources are anticipated from state and federal sources for the exceptional child special education program. Mr. Lunsford stated the system was not addressing the number of needs in special education. Currently, the school system has one teacher and one aide fox Special Education. Regarding the film library, the school system feels it more _ efficient to own films. During the year, the system has talked with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools about the possibility of sharing films and using combined resources. This budget has some monies included to initiate this next year. Dr. Simmons stated his Soard anticipated that the system's chances of obtaining additional funds are better in special education through the federal and state programs than the system's first priority for local funds. Mr. Rickman reviewed with the Board the capital outlay projects for the various schools in the system. The largest appropriation listed is $33,000 for Orange High School which includes third wing renovations, air conditioning units, locker repairs, P. A. System, hot water heaters, farm shed, horticulture storage, athletic storage house and reworking the ball field. Under Undesignated Funds, $15,000 is included for major repairs. Under Replacement of furnishings and equipment, $59,695 is requested for instructional equipment at the eight schools. To - furnish the Cultural Arts Center, the four classrooms at Cameron Park, dressing room at Stanford and the twenty-four classrooms at Efland-Cheeks, $25,000 is requested in County funds. There are same of the largest requests made by the school system. The Total Capital Outlay Expenditures is shown as $135,863 which does not include the special requests for Capital Qutlay Funds of $190,000. ;.., ~:; _ ':.a Chairman ti+lhitted remarked that the Boards must approach the 1978-79 fiscal yeax' with a look toward the future regarding the mandated programs which are coming out of Washington and Raleigh, and their impact on Orange County. He informed the School Board of a proposed meeting with the Congressional Delegation, the two school boards and the Commissioners. Representative Holmes has indicated he could meet with the delegation next Tuesday or Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Members of the School Board and the County Commissioners stated that a time should be scheduled when the most people could attend. The Clerk was asked to attempt to schedule a meeting with Mr. Holmes for this weekend, if possible, before the budget is reported to the full House and Senate. Dr. Simmons stated he felt the educational system was in a dangerous situation. He stated there is a trend in North Carolina to provide education by legislation. Mr. Whitted informed the School Board that an appointment needed to be made to the ABC Board. State Law stated that the School Board, the County Commissioners and the Health Board shall jointly make the appointment. He stated that a mechanism needed to be developed to make this appointment. Mr. Whitted asked the Board of Commissioners to review an Erosion Control matter which will be presented by the Erosion Control Officer, Ray Freeman. Mr. Freeman informed the Board of a dump near Chapel Hill, on the land owned by Jesse Council. Mr. Council is operating a stump, building debris dump in cooperation with a number of building contractors. Mr. Freeman has talked with Mr. Council regarding the situation. Mr. Council is in violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance for two reasons: 1) He does not have a permit to operate this dump, and 2) materials are being pushed into a law point and almost blocking a drainage way. This site is located upstream from University Lake. Presently, not much sed- imentation is accumulating at the site. Mr. Freeman visited the site on May 31st with a representative from the Chapel Hill Public Works; Tony Laws, from the Health Department; and Gordon Lathan for the N. C. Solid Waste Branch. This group came to the following conclusions: 1) Such sites are needed in the County to dispose of such solid waste; however, some degree of protection should be implemented to protect the owner and his neighbors. 2) Dumping casts are high at the land- fill, which is the reason for dumps in different areas of the Gounty. 3) Hauling cost has to be considered. Guidelines are needed to control these types of dumps. Presently, there is legislation pending regarding dumps of this type. Controls which were suggested are: 1) A permit process is needed. 2) inhere is a need to control the type ofmaterial being dumped. 3) Mr. Council must provides for non-blockage of the drain- age..way on the site; and 4) A regular inspection program should be implemented. The Health Department has stated the garbage must be kept out of the dumping site. The Sedimentation pfficer stated he would see that these controls are followed by Mr. Council. ,~ rt was pointed out that the Board .should move to develop regulations regarding the operation of dumps, and to make sure the Ordinance is being enforced. The meeting was then adjour}}ed~ `` !-fl i ',~ ~ ~ C_ L `Richard W/hitt~d, Chairman Agatha Johnson,•Clerk 9 MINUxES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 5, 1978 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, June 5, 1978, at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Room of the Gourt House in Hillsborough. Present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. Staff Members present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager; Neal Evans, Finance Director; Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney; Joe Bradshaw, Administrative Assistant and Agatha Johnson, Clerk to the Board. ,„,. The Chairman referred to Item 1 on the agenda: Does any member of the Board wish to. add additional items to this agenda? Items added were: a road matter to be discussed by Commissioner Pinney, the Board needs to take certain actions not resolved as the Board of Equalization and Review, a report from the Finance Officer in regard to Item 5-B and Ben Lloyd asked that he might address the Board. Item 2: The Clerk submits minutes of meetings held May 8, 16, 22, and 30 for consideration. May 8th - Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, the May 8, 1978 minutes were approved. May 16th - The Clerk was requested to review the tape of this meeting to clarify one portion. These minutes were deferred. May 22nd - Upon motion of Commissioner Pinney, seconded by Commissioner Gustaveson, the May 22, 1978 minutes were approved. May 30th - Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit, the May 30, 1978 minutes were approved. Item 3: David Hughes, Deputy and Crime Prevention Officer a.n the Sheriff's Department, will recommend the Board adopt a County Ordinance controlling door to door soliciting. Mr. Hughes explained to the Board that the proposed ordinance is a part of the "Communities Watch Program" and would require that • people who go from door to door selling goods or soliciting, to fill aut an application at the Sheriff's Department and to obtain a permit to carry on this activity. He requested the County Attorney ba authorized to develop such an Ordinance which would reduce "flim- flam artists" working in the area.