HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19820609 4
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MINUTES
JUNE 9, 1982
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on
Wednesday, June 9, 1982, at 7:30 P.M. in the Commissioners' Room, Orange
County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Commissioners present: Chairman Richard E. Whitted, and Commissioners
Norm Gustaveson, Shirley E. Marshall, Norman Walker and Don Willhoit.
Chairman Whitted presided over the meeting which was a budget work .
session,on Public Works, Capital improvements, Planning and the Manager's
departments.
The Board began its work session by discussing economic development
and the advisability of placing this office in the:.Planning Department.
There was a consensus to place aside $35,000 for economic development and
to decide later where to place the office and what its proper function/goals
should be.
Planning Department: The Board reiterated its desire for a "how to"
informational pamphlet. In addition, Commissioner Gustaveson listed three
other major goals for the Planning Department: 1) extension of zoning into
all sections of the County; 2) sign the joint planning agreement; and, 3)
revision of the Land Use Plan.
Chairman Whitted asked Mr. Polatty, Planning Director, to comment on the
appropriateness of assigning the economic development office to the Planning
Department. Mr. Polatty said there were two components to economic develop-
ment: 1) planning--to locate appropriate sites for industrial development;
and, 2) industrial recruitment (taking clients around to sites). Mr. Polatty
said if number one was in place, assuming an "infrastructure--water, sewer, etc.,"
number two would follow. He responded to questioning, that yes, present staff
could accomplish economic development.
Manager's budget: The County Manager, Kenneth Thompson, elaborated on
his plan to bring the Energy Coordinator into his office as an analyst. He
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said he needed liaison on Board appointed committees, someone to carry out
r special projects, and someone to administer the Cable T.V. Franchise (now
handled from the Attorney's office). The energy department would be subsumed
under the auspices of the Public Works Department.
Commissioner Gustaveson said that the Human Services Advisory Commission
(HSAC) Steering Committee had discussed staffing needs and anticipated needing
about 45% of the staff person's time.
The Manager said he foresaw this analyst/liaison positron as just that--his
liaison to committees%commissions; the staff person would, follow up reports and
serve as the Manager's vehicle to reply to proposals from those Committees/com-
missions. Assignments would come from the Manager, not the HSAC.
Commissioner Gustaveson said that differed from his understanding of the
proposal. Commissioner Marshall asked the Energy Commission Chair, John Bernard, .
what the Energy Commission's needs for staffing were. Mr. Bernard. said .that 50%
of the Energy Coordinator's time would be a compromise on. the part of the Energy
Commission; the Commission anticipates 30 hours a week on the weatherization pro-
gram alone. He added that the weatherization program was in "jeopardy" without
staff support. Commissioner-Willhoit noted that weatherization was one of JOCCA's
major programs and he questioned whether or not JOCCA was actually doing it in light
of the Energy Commission's statements. The Manager said there were two questions
here: 1) Does an advisory committee get into program implementation; 2) Does an
advisory committee remain an advisory body?
Some members of the Energy Commission said they had decided they wanted to
be a working commission and wanted "Energy Coordinator" to remain part of this
staff position's title. Discussion continued and the Energy Commission members
were thanked for their comments.
The Board resumed deliberations following a five minute break; all members
were present.
The Board and Manager discussed the Capital Improvement Plan, the Public
Works budget, repair and maintenance account. There was some discussion that a
different system of tracking capital expenditures should be developed. The
Board felt that capital needs of both school systems and the County should be
discussed; the Board expressed a desire to resume that joint planning process.
There was a consensus that County capital needs should be listed even if the
money is not available.
Commissioner Willhoit moved to adjournzar the no econei
ad-
journed by consensus.
Wh tted,
( Paulette Pr idgen-Pond, Clerk