HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19780608A~
f. _,. . d
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JUNE 8, 1978
The Orange County Berard of Commissioners continued budget
hearing on Thursday, June 8, 1978, at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioners`
[zoom of the Court House in Hillsborough.
Present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissieners Jan Pinne_•
Norman Walker and Norman Gustaveson. Commissioner Donald Willhvit
:joined the meeting late, having attended a Health Board meeting.
Chairman Whitted stated that the Board would hear from the
Sheriff, C. D. Knight, regarding his proposed budget for 1978-1979.
Sheriff Knight stated he had asked for four additional patrolmen
to work throughout the County as patrol officers. He stated that
Jots of property is being stolen and he feels he owes it to the
people of the County to provide better patrol services.
He stated that his investigation staff is overloaded. He
had requested two additional men to work as investigators to
relieve some of the work load. He also had asked for two additional
men to work in civil process. ,He added he asked for these two men
last year and the request was not granted, Two men working in
this area would free deputies from these responsibilities. He
stated that a great deal of his time is spent transporting mental
patients and he does not have sufficient staff to relieve officers
to attend. school. Sheriff Knight stated that he had not sent any
of his officers to school this year because of lack of personnel.
[[e added that he was informed this week that 3 of his present force
would be leaving shortly, to seek other employment. This will brine
the vacancies on his staff to 7'~ positions.
He spoke of problems he had encountered with the County Attorney's
office in getting needed assistance regarding civil processes, It
was pointed out that the District Attorney advises the Sheriff
regarding criminal matters, but not civil matters.
The County Attorney informed the Board that some problems
fad existed; however, he could see no difficulty with advising the
Sheriff regarding civil matters. Such requests for counsel should
come from the Sheriff or from the Sheriff's designee.
The Sheriff spoke of the new requirements which stated that
all, new officers must have 240 hours of training, effective
October 1, 1978. He stated that presently his law enforcement
ufficers worked 7 days and are off Z days, they then work another
7 days and are off 2 days, and then work 7 days and are off 3 days.
[[e stated he was unable to grant to his men holidays and sometimes
vacation days are not granted. Most of his men who leave the force
.Leave with between 30 and 40 days of vacation time pending.
Mr. Knight stated to go an a regular `4D hour shift would mean
additional personnel,
Commissioner Gustaveson asked what was the most cxucial
personnel need in the Sheriff's office and the Sheriff responded
that two additional patrol officers could also act as deputies
when needed.
Commissioner Gustaveson suggested that the Board make a
commitment for two additional deputies, but not put the money
into the budget, but to add these with the assumption that
all these positions would not be filled this year.
-~
i
Discussion ensued between the Board and the Sheriff regarding
the transporting of persons under the influence of alcohol from
facilities to facilities to get some agency to admit these persons.
The Sheriff stated that transporting of these persons ties up his
personnel and patrol cars. The Sheriff's Department provides
this service for the Chapel Hill and Carrboro.Police Departments.
Chairman Whitted informed the Board and the Sheriff that the
Criminal Justice Planners from Triangle J have been given a new
directive to involve themselves with providing more services to.
area sheriff offices. He asked the Sheriff if the Criminal Justice
Planners could be utilized by his department in management and
personnel planning. The Sheriff was requested to contact Dave
Ruskin of the Commission for more details.
Mr. Whitted informed the Sheriff that the County planned to go
out for bids for construction of the jail 30 days after the Grady
Brown bids.
Commissioner Willhoit asked the Board about the possibility of
making some changes in the space for Council on Aging at the
Grady Brawn Complex. Mr. Passmore, Director of COA, has suggested
that the Nutrition Program be moved to the Grady Brown building
and that the large conference room on the first floor be reserved
daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. fox this program. Mr. Whitted stated
he felt this could be accomplished with a change order.
Mr. Willhoit further stated that Title V monies are available
and that there is a possibility that this money could be used for
renovation of the Multi--Purpose Center.
Commissioner .Willhoit recommended that the County Manager
investigate the possibilities of applying for these Title V Funds,
which he stated have certain commitments and must be used this year.
The County Manager stated he would talk. with Mr. Passmore
on Friday.
Chairman Whitted informed the Board and the Sheriff that
the Town of Hillsborough had one CETA slat open and asked the
Sheriff haw responsive he would be toward using a CETA employee as
a public safety officer. The position would be funded for 12
months.
The Sheriff stated that he would like to know something about
the person who is hired and would like to have same input into the
hiring of such an employee.
There was further discussion regarding the termination of
the CETA positions. The County Manager stated that project positions
are funded for certain periods of time and are terminated when a
project is completed, while other CETA positions are being terminated
due to a lack' of funds.
The Board turned their discussion toward funding of the 1978-~79
budget. Commissioner Gustaveson asked that members t6 the Board
- explain their feelings about the proposed 8 cent increased tax rate.
He stated again that he would add the Human Services Coordinator
and the CETA conversions to the budget and would propose that the
CETA positions be funded from the Contingency Fund and the Human
Services Cocrdinator to come from various other sources. This is
with the assumption that an 8 cent tax rate is adopted.
Commissioner Walker stated he felt 8 cents tax increase is
too much. He stated he had not studied the budget closely enough
to make any decision on what should be cut and what should not.
r
C1 __ .i
Chairman Whitted stated that the Board needed to decide
on two single items to be added to the budget, that each
Commissioner would not be able to add two items each. He further
stated he would like to see the Lake Orange project included in the
Northside project. That he also felt $ cents increase is too much;
however, at this point he is unable to say how these projects can
be funded.
He stated again that he felt anyone who added items to the
budget should also indicate some mechanism for funding for those
items. Also, those members who proposed a 0 tax increase should
also indicate where the cuts should be made in the budget.
Commissioner Willhoit stated he would like to have a 0
tax increase; however, he does not see how this can be done.
He stated there are about four major cuts which could be made:
(1) The schools budget, but what the school board is saying is
that $396.00 is a maintenance budget. (2) The programs which
are not mandated such as recreation, which would save several
hundred thousand, and the green box program would save some.
(3) Scrap the Grady Brown and jail projects. He stated these
are the only areas in which he ceuld see any significant cuts.
Chairman Whitted spoke of the building fund -- inflation
factor. He stated that the 2 million dollars building fund is
for the Grady Brown and jail projects which will go out for bids
shortly. When bids are received, the Board will know the estimated
cost of the project and the monies are available to start renovations°.
In the following year, the County should have net debt monies of
about $215,000 available in 1979-1980 which can be applied as an
inflation factor. He recommended that the Board follow this
proposal.
The consensus of the Board was to continue with the Grady
Brown and jail projects, and to follow the procedures as the
Chairman has recited.
The other items which the Chairman stated he had asked to
be flagged was municipal support. He suggested that the entire
amount be added back to this item to maintain the current level
of funding.
The Finance Officer informed the Board that municipal support
would have a carry over again this year which would bring the
program to approximately $75,000,
Mr. Whitted then asked that the flag be removed from this
item.
Neal Evans informed the Board that the Town of Carrboro has
requested that they be allowed to use their municipal support
money far staff. The Board agreed that monies should be used by
the Town of Carrboro as they saw fit.
Neal Evans, Finance Officer, in€armed the Board that he
had checked the ABC Audit as of the end of the calendar year and
their position is almost identical with that of last year at that
point. They have about $400,000 more dollars than in previous years,
Surplus is about $550,000 which is made up primarily of properties
and inventory. Profits have not decreased iri the past year_
There being no other ,business to cone b~fore the Board, the
meeting was adjourned. ~~ ~ ~ ~j /~i Gll~~~t
Richard Whited, Chairman
Agatha Johnson, Clerk