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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19860619205 MINUTES BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 19, 1986 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on June 19, 1986 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom, orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the Manager's proposed budget for 1986-87 and use of General Revenue Sharing funds. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Don Willhoit, and Commissioners Shirley Marshall, Moses Carey, Ben Lloyd and Norman Walker. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Kenneth R. Thompson, Assistant County Managers William T. Laws and Albert. Kittrell, Finance Director Gordon Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, Agricultural Extension Director Bill Manious, Public Works Director Wilbur McAdoo, Budget Analyst Donna Wagner, and Director of Personnel Beverly Whitehead. Chair Don Willhoit made opening remarks and stated the purpose of the public hearing. Commissioner Norman Walker asked that a proclamation signed by Don Willhoit be place on the next agenda. After a short discussion on the cf.~estion of whether or not the Chair had the authority to sign a proclamation it was decided that this item would be placed on the agenda 'T~f for June 24. Commissioner walker concurred with Commissioner Marshall that the question in reference to the proclamation is a policy question and that would be the basis for further discussion. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MANAGER'S BUDGET County Manager Kenneth Thompson summarized the budget for the current year and highlighted the proposed recommended. budget for the various County departments, outside agencies, the two school systems along with other expenditures. The total recommended budget of $27,235,404 .represents a 3.1~ increase. PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. PAT LILLIE, President of the. Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, spoke in support of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro enhancement budget for the schools. She stated that children with special needs are not receiving adequate services and are suffering because of it. She asked that the enhancement budget be approved. 2. STEVIE MCNEIL, President of the Board of Directors far the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, thanked the Board of Commissioners for their support and summarized the services provided by the Rape Crisis Center. She outlined the future goals and stressed the need for the services offered by the Center. 3. BILL BRINSON, Treasurer of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels, urged the Board of Commissioners to reconsider their request for funds far the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels Program. He explained the program and the growth they have experienced. There are 50 people in the program at the present time. 20b 4. .MARY ANN KIMBALL, member of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, asked for the Board's support of the Chapel Hill- Carrboro enhancement budget for exceptional children. She spoke about the help her son has received and the need for additional services for, } the handicapped children. `! 5. KATHY KERB, Women's Health Counseling Service, thanked the, Board for their continued support and asked that they support the County Y Manager's recommended budget. She listed the services offered and highlighted their educational outreach program. 6. ANDREW SHORT, Psychologist in private practice, urged .support of the enhancement budget for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. He indicated the-present services are not adequate and are spread too thin. What a child learns at school can greatly improve the quality of life at home. - 7. SUE BAKER, Chair Person of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education, spoke about the responsibility to the future of the community by assuring that the population comprises productive, literate, taxpaying citizens. She stated that the $450,000 recommended for capital is insufficient. She reviewed a survey and highlighted those programs in order of priority that show a need for improvement. 8. VICTORIA SHEY, Psychologist in Chapel Hill, asked the Board's support of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Budget with all the enhancements. She works with children who are disabled or handicapped and is proud that there is help for these children through the school system but stressed that the services are inadequate. She asked that the Board support the budget as requested. 9. DAN LUNSFORD, Superintendent of orange County Schools, asked for consideration of their total request as presented to the County Manager. lo. ELLEN RUSSELL, parent of two children in the Chapel Hill- j Carrboro School District, one of whom is handicapped, indicated the;.:., services are inadequate for the handicapped. She asked for full support~`~' of the total enhancement budget and support of the school tax. 11. HOWARD FRIED, Counselor in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School. District urged the passage of the budget in its entirety. The enhancement budget will not meet all the needs of the exceptional children but will help a great deal. He asked that the per pupil allocation for a college town be compared to other college towns along with the achievements of the standards. He stated that the citizens of Chapel Hill are willing to pay for good schools. 12. SARA CLAYTOR, Co-president of the American Federation of Teachers in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, spoke in support of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school budget and its enhancements. 13. SARAH STEWART, Co-president of the American Federation of Teachers, urged the Board to support the School budget request. She talked about the lack of supplies available for the special needs programs. The enhancements request in the budget are not enhancements but are merely catch-up items. She sited several instances where disabled children are not adequately served by the school system. She emphasized the need for additional reform and better pay for the teachers. She urged the Board to raise the district tax and fully fund the school budget. 14. JUDY JONES, teacher at Chapel Hill High School talked about the repairs needed in .the classrooms. She stressed that the enhancements in the budget are really needs. She expressed the need to maintain the program involving the 1/2 time Substance Abuse Coordinator ,, stating that the drug problem affects everyone and hinders learning. She indicated that the teachers would like to make a salary to enable them to live in the community in which they teach. ~~ 15. DORIS TYLER, teacher at Chapel Hill High School, ask that the budget be passed in its entirely and especially the budget for the exceptional children. 16. MARY GRATCH-ABRAMS, Counselor at Chapel Hill High School, stressed the need for resource teachers and case managers for the exceptional program to see that the educational program is carried out in accordance with the law. She asked that the Substance Abuse Coordinator position be upgraded to fulltime. Children do not learn if their special needs are not met. She asked that the board. fund the entire budget. 17. SUE SMITH, English Teacher at Chapel Hill High School, asked for support of the budget. She stressed the need for resource teachers to give extra help to those students who have been identified as potential dropouts. 18. MARILYN SNOOK, Elementary Teacher of the mentally handicapped in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro system, asked for total funding for the schools and in particular the occupational and physical therapist position. She noted that many people who move into Chapel Hill have expressed a disappointment in the lack of services for exceptional students. She spoke in support of a tax increase to fund what is needed for quality education. 19. JIM TURNER, Teacher of Automotive Mechanics at Chapel Hill High School, stated he also works with the student assistance program which detects those students who may be potential dropouts. He expressed the need for a fulltime Substance Abuse Coordinator. 20. ALAN CROSS, Pediatrician at the University and co-president of the Estes Hills PTA, strongly encouraged the Board to .approve the increased taxes to support the full request of both school systems. He spoke in support of the enhancement programs. He noted that the Substance Abuse Coordinator has been funded by grant funds which expire this year. The money requested in the budget would provide for the continuation of the program. 21. CAROLYN MARTENS, parent of two students at Chapel Hill Carrboro High School, expressed concern that the budget be funded as requested. She summarized the student assistant program and the importance of that program. 22. ETHEL ANDERS, asked that funding be available to fund the position of fulltime substance abuse coordinator. The nonusers of alcohol and drugs are affected as well as those who use the substance. A11 students need education on the dangers of alcohol and drugs. There have been 172 students referred to the program during the last school year. 23. JOEL CARTER, ArtSchool Board of Directors, spoke about the program expansions and the funding commitments received thus far from private and governmental sources. He talked about the growth and importance of the ArtSchool and asked approval of the $10,000 request for FY 1986-87. 24. JACQUES MENACHE, Director of ArtSchool, spoke about the contributions of the ArtSchool to Orange County. Money is still needed to enable the ArtSchool to move to their new location as planned. 25. DOUG CHAMPION, Animal Protection Society, identified two problems and suggested ways to solve those problems. He indicated .that $17,000 to operate the Animal Shelter had been cut from the budget and is desperately needed to operate the shelter. $10,000 is for the spaying and neuter program and $7,000 for a freezer. He further explained the need for these two items and how the funding of these items would save money in the long term. He reviewed the fee schedule and recommended no increases at this time. The APS has contributed all tree money they possibly can. They ask that the County look at the ~~ possibility of raising the animal license fee and also to engage in an active enforcement program. He also asked that consideration be given to enforcing the dog ordinance and increasing the fees imposed. 26. ADELE THOMAS, member of the Board of Director for Coalition ~._...~ for Battered women, reviewed the program and available resources. She summarized the programs offered and asked for full funding for 1986-87. 27. RICHARD WHITTED spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Battered - women. He noted that the services offered assist in the relief of human suffering. Over half of the women and children served last year were from Orange County. The demand far the services increased 47% in one year. He asked full funding of the budget request of $11,000. 28. ROBERT R. REEBER, President of the Frank Porter Graham PTA, spoke about the needs of the schools. He indicated a willingness to pay extra taxes to fund the Chapel Hill-Carrboro requested budget. He spoke about the importance of science education and-the need for science labs. He commended the school system but noted improvements need to be made. 29. PATRICIA VERNE, Past President of the Sewell PTA, spoke in support of a full-time physical education teacher. She asked that the Orange County Board of Commissioners meet the needs of the Chapel Hill- Carrboro system and fund the budget in its entirety. She talked about the crowded conditions in the schools. 30. TOM LANGSTON spoke on behalf of the North Carolina Literacy Council. He noted there are 5,000 residents in the County who cannot read or write. The Council has no funds but is operated with volunteers. The requested funds would provide for expansion of services and paid part- time personnel. 31. MARY BRIDGERS, Orange County Day Care Coalition, noted she is concerned about the day care in this County. The budget for the past few years has been inadequate. At the present time a freeze has been ., ,, put on day care at the State level. If the freeze continues only l50 children will be funded, compared to 288 at the present time. She, stressed the importance of day care and the impact it has on the child `~' ir_ later years. 32. ANNE MURPHY, representative of the Orange County Day Care Coalition, asked that the budget be funded as requested for Day Care. 33. BOB ELLIS, teacher, expressed concern about the cuts proposed by the Gramm Rudman Hollings Bill. One of the cuts would decrease the number of counselors at orange High from three to two. He asked that money be available to fund this vital position. 34. SUE LINER, teacher at Orange High School, spoke about her concern for the cutback of one of the guidance counselors at Orange. High School. She sited several instances in her classroom where the help of the guidance counselor had been invaluable. Orange High School desperately needs three counselors. The students need counseling and she urged the Board to fund the position. 35. KIM COMP'I'ON, former student at Orange High School, stressed the importance of maintaining the three counseling positions at Orange High School. She worked in the counseling office and noted there is no way two counselors can handle the workload. 36. CAROL PALMER, ask that the counseling position at orange High School be reconsidered for funding. 37. KATHERINE EMERSON, Vice President of the League of Women Voters in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, stated that the league supports the budget request of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools. They believe in quality education for all children, adequate pay for teachers and programs for exceptional children. 38. BECKY JAMES, asked that the Board reconsider the request for the guidance counselor at orange High School. 39. DAN HOOKER, parent of two children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro ~~ School District, talked about full funding of the enhancements for the exceptional children to provide the needed services in the schools. He supported a district tax increase. 40. CAROL CANTRELL, spoke as a representative of the Chapel Hill- Carrboro Association of Educators. She noted she believed in public school education, the educators and the people. She asked that the Board and orange County do what is right for the public schools. 41. VERLA INSKO, taxpaying citizen, spoke in support of the budget as requested by the Chapel Hi11-Carrboro Schools. She asked that the officials at the local level take the responsibility to fund the needed programs that the .State has indicated they will not continue to fund. She urged the board to fund the full budget for both school systems. 42. KAY SINGER, member-elect of the Orange County Board of Education, stressed the need for funding the roofing priorities. If the money for financing the roof repairs is taken out the $450,000 allocation for capital needs it will leave only $150,000 for all the remaining repairs. She addressed the topic of removing the internal Capps for the exceptional children programs and the additional requests in the budget for personnel, textbooks, etc. 43. WALTER FAIRBAULT, Member of the Orange. County Board of Education, indicated the proposed per pupil allocation is unrealistic and that the $818 per pupil is needed. He asked for support of both school budgets. 44. NORMAN HAITHCOCK, Member of the Orange County Board of Education, asked that consideration be given to exempt senior citizens from paying any tax increase in Orange County. Orange County is a team working together for the benefit of all children in orange County. 45. STEWART HARBOUR, indicated his desire to see the learning disabled receive .all the help they need and also the counselor maintained at Orange High School. He indicated his preference for a tax decrease of 10~. He asked that all architect and contractors be held responsible and liable for their faulty construction in the schools and the school systems merged. 45. LIBBA WELLS, psychotherapist in Orange county, endorsed the third counselor position at Orange High and asked that funding be made available. She talked about the responsibility of providing an adequate education for the children in Orange County. There are needs that must be met. She spoke of the special district tax and stated her willingness to pay additional taxes to improve the quality of education for the children in the orange County Schools. With no further public comments, the Public Hearing was closed. Don Willhoit, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk