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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19871215330 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 15, 1987 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on December 15, 1.987 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the old Post Office, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Shirley E. Marshall and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell and Don Willhoit. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill. STAFF PRESENT: Interim County Manager Albert Kittrell, Assistant County Manager William T. Laws, Interim Assistant County Manager/Personnel Director Beverly M. Whitehead, Management Analyst Pam Jones, EMS Director Bobby Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe and Land Records Manager Roscoe Reeve. A. BOARD AND MANAGER COMMENTS Commissioner Hartwell referred to an Economic Development Commission meeting he attended in which the proposed water and sewer policy was reviewed and he asked that a process be developed whereby their comments as well as the comments from the Environmental Affairs Board are heard and considered by the Board before a policy is presented for public comments. Chair Marshall suggested that Hartwell meet with the County Manager in an effort to update and clarify the policy before it goes to public hearing. Commissioner Hartwell suggested that the CIP public hearing be continued to January 4, 1988 to receive additional comments and the Board,,....; agreed . -- -- Commissioner Willhoit asked for clarification on the process for the CIP and suggested that a series of public hearings and public meetings be held on the issue before determination is made on what the bond package would include. A report on the Efland sewer project was added to the agenda. A discussion was added on the chicken manure situation, and the reclassification of the University Lake and Cane Creek watershed was added as Item G3. - Albert Kittrell removed from the agenda F3 - Bylaws of the Environmental Affairs Board. B. AUDIENCE COMMENTS 1. MATTERS ON THE PRINTED AGENDA Those who have signed up to speak will be recognized at the appropriate time. 2. MATTERS NOT ON THE PRINTED AGENDA Diane Riggsbee spoke on two property tax matters on behalf of Patricia Bains. She distributed a letter which contained key points about the situation. Her main complaint was that the two properties were over assessed and she asked that the Board take appropriate action to resolve the matter. Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to refer this request to the Manager far a report. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. C. MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconde~d31 by Commissioner Willhait to approve the minutes for August 3, 1987 as corrected. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. PUBLIC CHARGE Chair Shirley E. Marshall read the public charge. PUBLIC HEARING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Presentations were made by Interim County Manager Albert Kittrell, Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Gerry House and Superintendent of Orange County Schools Dan Lunsford. Each outlined their proposed Capital Improvements Program and cost for the next five years. The proposed CIP includes: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Major Construction/Renovation Orange County Schools Major Construction/Renovation Orange County Government Major Construction/Renovation Projects and Equipment Recreation and Parks Master Plan TOTAL The Public Hearing was open for public comments. $ 13,355,580.00 S 6,49$,000.00 $ 58,713,289.00 BETTY LANDSBERGER speaking on behalf of the Advisory Board on Aging, commented on those items in the CTP that relate to the facilities <; for senior services and asked that further consideration be given to two items that were submitted but not included in the CIP. The Advisory Board an Aging endorses building the Central orange Human Services Complex and the Southern Orange Human Services Complex which will provide room for the multitude of services and activities which take place in senior centers. The computerized Information and Referral system will help with providing increased attention to health education and citizen access to a variety of services. The JOCGA Efland-Cheeks Multipurpose Center was not included in the CIP. This facility, which is not a senior center and is not administered by the Department on Aging, serves as a community center. She state the building is in poor condition and .asked that further consideration be given far including a center in this area in the budget. (Landsberger's complete statement is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office) . HOWARD FRIED representing. the Chapel Hi11-Carrboro Association of Educators, endorsed the proposed CIP as presented by Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools in its entirety. JUDY JONES , teacher at Chapel Hill High School and parent of three children spoke on behalf of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators and the High School PTSA and on behalf of the children in Orange County. She expressed support for full funding of the proposed CIP. Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools are 325 over capacity in the elementary schools. The buildings are aging and the media centers, cafeterias and other support services badly need expanding to meet the growth and demands and changes in educational philosophy. Many major expansions will be necessary with the changeover to the middle school concept. She asked that the Board consider a bond issue and to do it now. KATHARTNE EVERSON Special Education Teacher for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, stated she has students from all six Projects $ 27,002,409.00 Projects $ 11,857,300.00 ementary schools. The issue is the future and the importance of teachers and students being provided with environments conducive to learning. There is a moral and social obligation to provide appropriate environments for learning for both students and teachers.. She asked that the Board support the entire master plan for facilities. JOHN WASZAK teacher and parent, asked that the Commissioners question if more room is needed in .the Tax and Records Office and if the County needs more parks. However, with regard to schools, the citizens of orange County support wholeheartedly the work of the two school boards and is not an issue the Board needs to question. He asked that the entire CIP be approved. PAUL HRUSOVSKY , member of the Association of the Federation of Teachers, summarized the inadequate facilities he has been subjected to during the last seven years. He asked that adequate bond funding be presented to the voters so that renovation of the schools can take place. SARAH STEWART , co-president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Federation of Teachers, stated that school facilities for both school systems are sadly lacking. She asked that consideration be given to the needs of both systems. She pledged, on behalf of the Federation, to wholeheartedly support the Board in getting a bond referendum passed. She stated, that if a minimal level is funded, that most of the money would go to the High School and that .the needed renovations at the other facilities would not be funded. She asked that the Board members visit each building to review what is being requested. ALLEN SPALT parent and husband of a long-term employee in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System, asked that consideration be given to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district's needs as outlined in the CIP. He expressed concern that the Commissioners may be considering a bond package in the range of $2Q million which would fund less than half of the identified needs, which is not enough. He talked about the overcrowded conditions at Carrboro Elementary and Phillips Junior High and stated that the citizens of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district have been willing to pay;:,; higher taxes for the quality of education they want. He asked that the Board propose a finance package including sufficient bonds to meet the read needs of both systems. SHERRY NORRIS , physical education teacher at Sewell Elementary School, stated that Sewell has had a space crisis for several years. There are no storage: facilities and all the roams are inadequate. She asked that the Commissioners help fund two mobile units which will be used on a temporary basis. This will allow sufficient time for the Board to take to the voters a bond issue which will allow renovations to the existing facilities. RICHARD WARD spoke on behalf of the Orange County Recreation and Parks Council, stated that a public hearing was held on the Recreation and Parks Master Plan and that the Plan is being revised taking into consideration those comments received at the public hearing. He asked that the Board consider the portion of the CIP related to the Plan with the knowledge that the Council will bring to the Board in January a revised master plan. He stated that providing parks and recreation is an investment in the children and future leaders in the County, the well being of all the citizens in Orange County, the economic health of Orange County and an investment in the Orange County School Systems. A good mix of schools and parks and recreation will attract clean high paying industries to Orange County which are necessary for a consistent and stable tax base in the future. GEORGE SMALL , parent of two children, stated that each project needs to be looked at very carefully and prioritized so that funding can be done on a priority basis and not on a money amount for each system. ANN HADLEY spoke about the multipurpose center in Efland. She stated that the center houses the nutrition program for the elderly and is the only program in the area. The lease has expired and although ~3~new facility is desired, she asked that assistance be given with paying the rent until another location can be found. RICHARD ELLINGTON stated that the school children of Chapel Hill and Carrboro deserve better schools. Carrboro Elementary is the most crowded school in the system. The situation could be solved by one of three ways: (1) enlarge all of the facilities to accommodate the current needs and the anticipated growth, (2) redistrict the entire system, or (3) build additional schools where the greatest amount of growth is expected. It is important to provide the very best administrators and facilities for the children in the County. He does support a tax increase. Recent statistics on local support for schools indicated that Chapel Hill Carrboro ranks number 25th while Orange County ranked 61st. He asked that Chapel Hill Carrboro be given the money it needs along with the supplemental tax to make their good schools even better. JULIE BOWEN spoke as a parent and on behalf of the Carrboro Elementary School PTA Board. She urged approval of the capital fund request as presented by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board. She expanded on the inadequate facilities at Carrboro Elementary School. The programs are in place but space is inadequate. MARVIN KOENIG principal of Chapel Hill High School, compared the facilities at Chapel Hill with another facility at which he worked, emphasizing the inadequate facilities at Chapel Hill High School. He asked that the Board place the decision of funding facilities before the citizenry of Orange County. ED CALDWELL ~ JR. , stated that the needs of the schools are real and won't go away. People are moving to the area because of the schools, which will cause the school systems to grow as well as the needs. He asked the Board to support the proposals outlined by both school systems. DERWOOD WINFREE , representing a group of concerned parents at Sewell Elementary School, talked about the lack of proper space at that school. He asked that these needs not be postponed and that all the proposals for all the schools be considered. He pledged his personal support for a bond issue including a substantial portion for education. ALICE MCADOO retired teacher in the Orange County Schools, asked that funds be provided for the needs of the schools. She also spoke on behalf of the senior citizens project in Efland. The Center has outgrown its purpose. Anew building is needed and the money being paid for rent could be used to pay for such a new building. TED PARRISH , Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board Member, pointed out that effective schools with an environment conducive to learning is of upmost importance. He encouraged the Board to support a bond issue. DAVID LINEBERGER , taxpayer, questioned that buildings teach children. He was under the impression that the three cent increase in taxes would take care of most of the capital needs in Orange County. He stated he pays taxes but receives no benefits from the school system. ROY MCADOO , Chairman of the Efland Development Association, asked for assistance in paying rent at the multipurpose building in Efland. The lease expired and no money is available to pay the rent. He asked that $500 be allocated to pay rent. NOTE: Chair Marshall asked Albert Kittrell to investigate this situation to see what assistance the County can offer. STEWART BARBOUR , stated he is against any kind of bonded debt and asked that if the money is going to be spent now that taxes be increased now instead of passing a public mortgage onto the children and grand-children's homes and earnings. He stated that the Eno River Group opposes all power boats and all people on all drinking water reservoirs and feeder streams. He suggested that A-frame roofs be used on all buildings. He questioned the square footage estimates contained in the CTP and the price per acre for the land that will be acquired for the ~arklands. PEARSON STEWART , spoke in support of the parks and recreation and greenways portion of the CIP. The physical environment -- open space -- is vitally important to the welfare of the county -- both its present and future citizens. KATHY YOUNG , parent and part-time aide at Sewell Elementary, stated that the PTA's in all the schools are doing their part in helping to support the schools by providing needed supplies, paying salaries of aides, providing playground equipment, etc. Sewell needs additional space. She asked that a multipurpose center be considered for Sewell. WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. The public hearing was continued to January 4, 1988 at 7:30 for receipt of additional public comments. Commissioner Hartwell stated that although a bond issue is definitely central to raising the sort of money that is required by the CIP, it is not the exclusive source of monies available. In the case of the schools, 19.5 million dollars will be available from other sources in the course of the five year period. D. RESOLUTIONS OR PROCLAMATIONS None. E. REPORTS 1. FIRE MARSHAL REPORT (a copy of this report is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). Emergency Services Director Bobby Baker presented the report. In July, 1987, the Orange County Fire Chief's Council requested funding for a county fire marshal's position. At that time, the Board requested that Baker compile a report to provide additional information. , To determine what other counties were doing, a questionnaire was sent to fifteen other counties with similar needs as Orange County. He summarized the results of this questionnaire. He stated that combining the position with other roles and responsibilities would be the most cost effective and he presented a list of those responsibilities. The cost of $8,988.00 for the position would include salary, housing, transportation and miscellaneous. The employee could be housed in the county emergency services facility and be under the Office of Emergency Services. Ronnie McAdams from the Fire Chief's Council stated that the volunteer firemen do not have the time to extinguish fires, do building inspections and work fulltime jobs. He asked that the Board consider funding this requested position. In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, Tim Bradley, Executive Director of the North Carolina Firemen's Commission, stated that the insurance service organizations rates fire departments nationally and in North Carolina the Department of Insurance also rates fire departments. The ratings start at class 1 (maximum protection) and go dawn to class 10 (na protection). The savings in insurance premiums between 10 and 9 is approximately 38o and from 9 to 8, 18~. Maximum utilization of equipment goes into the rating of a fire district. A fire marshall would be able to maximize the use of equipment and help to improve the insurance rating. He pointed out that state law 115-525 requires that all schools be inspected and it is up to the County Commissioners to appoint someone tc do that inspection quarterly with a report to the school principal and superintendent's office. Commissioner Willhoit pointed out that reducing the class rating on a $100,000 hams from nine to seven would reduce the insurance cost by $100.00 per year. The tax base of the eight volunteer 3~.5ire districts is a little over one billion dollars and the finance officer has calculated it would take faun-tenths of one percent on the tax rate in those volunteer districts to yield about $50,000 which is the size of the requested budget. This four-tenths of one cent an the tax rate would be $4.0o which is a tremendous difference in what would be paid for the insurance. He supported the fire marshal position with funding to came from the volunteer fire districts. Commissioner Halkiotis-agreed with Willhoit. In answer to. Commissioner Hartwell, Baker indicated that some of the startup costs for a fire marshal would not be recurring costs the second year. It was the consensus of the Board that the Manager review this position for the upcoming budget and funding possibilities. In addition, Commissioner Willhoit asked that the Fireman's Association and the Chief's Council consider funding the position out of the budget of the volunteer fire districts. EFLAND SEWER REPORT Assistant County Manager Bill Laws, in answer to a previous complaint, reported that it is necessary to strip the 40-foot easement in order to lay the pipe for the sewer. Because of an area that was solid rock, it was necessary to blast. This caused some of the large rocks to roll into the creek located on Efland Cedar Grove Road. The construction engineer stated that some of the complaints received are to be expected in construction of this type and is normal. Seeding will not be done until the line is tested. SDUIRES COMPLAINT Purchasing Director Pam Jones reported that the Board of Health had notified Mr. Kent Mann of Mebane that further incidents of improper spreading would invoke the 1981 court proceedings. F. ITEMS FDR DECISION - CONSENT AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve the Consent Agenda items as listed below: 1. BUDGET AMENDMENTS To amend the 1987-88 Budget Ordinance by the following changes: GENERAL FUND Appropriation - 4-H and Youth CBA $ 3,190 Project Attend - CBA 1,133 Source - Community Based Alternatives 4,323 Appropriation - Health - Animal Control $ 16,330 Source - Contingency $ 16,330 2. PROPOSAL FOR USER FEE ASSESSMENT To accept a proposal as presented by David M. Griffith and Associates, LTD to conduct a user fee assessment at a cost of $2,500 and authorize the Chair to sign on behalf of the Board. 3. BYLAWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOARD This item was deleted from the agenda. 4. ADDITION OF STREET "A" AND STREET "B" COUNCILVILLE TO THE STATE MAINTAINED ROAD SYSTEM To approve the petition from NCDOT for addition of Street "A" and Street "B" in the Councilville community to the State- z~h maintained Secondary Road System. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. G. ITEMS FOR DECISION - REGULAR AGENDA 1. APPLICATION FOR AIRPORT FEASIBILITY STUDY Bruce Matthews of the N.C. Department of Transportation, Manager of Airport Development, stated that the process far making application for funding of a feasibility study would begin with the selection of a consulting engineer to provide the planning and engineering assistance on the project. He recommended that a management consultant be hired to provide some of the specialized services related to the grant. The Department of Transportation provides matching state funds. to local governmental units to plan airports - 50a matching. Applications that are received in February will be considered for funding by the Aeronautics Council in March. There is a potential for 90~ federal funding. State funds far construction amount to 80~ of the nonfederal share. He urged the Board to proceed with the project. Tom McDowell of McDenco and Associates of Raleigh, NC, stated that the services provided by the firm are administrative and consulting services and assistance to communities looking at the development of a new airport. He received and reviewed the task force report and met with Pam Jones about the praject. The report is general and additional information will be necessary in order to file an application far funding from the State. A feasibility study needs to be. done prior to filing an appli- cation. He reviewed some of the items that will need to be decided before a determination about the feasibility of an airport can be made; (1) how will the airport be operated, (2) who will do the day-to-day work, (3) legal aspects such as leases, (4) accounting - who will set up the books to run the operation, (5) policies for operation of the airport, (6) insurance. Three public meetings are recommended and centered around the environmental aspects of the Facility. McDenco provides coordination services with the cities, county, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, etc. They will assist with filing grants for federal and state aid and to seeking private funds for the airport. The planning process will take one year with the overall development of a new facility taking three to five years. - Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell to approve the designation of McDenco and Associates, P.A. as the consultant to prepare preliminary work for application submission; to authorize County staff to work with McDenco to determine the scope of work for the Airport Management Consultant and bring forward a contract for Berard consideration; and to authorize staff to work with McDenco to gather the data required for application submission. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. 2. HOUSE NUMBERING Roscoe Reeve made the presentation. He made the following points: (1) The house numbering project is to provide a logical and sequential assignment of a number constituting an address everywhere in the County. (2) The creation of the numbering system is done through using suquential numbers over given spaces or distances. (3) The possibility of what can be done with GIS underlines what can be done when once applying a logically and sequential system. The GIS system has 337 lines and points and knows every location and value of the surface and can do the work of identifying entities. (4) By consistently applying the same logic in addressing a road or location, anywhere a vehicle goes -- mail, emergency, etc. -- a time of arrival can be determined and may be life imperative when involving emergency cases. (5) With the 91]. Enhance System, a telephone number will be added to the address and with the GIS system the address will be given coordinate values located on the earth. Discussion ensued with Roscoe Reeve answering questions and clarifying the issues. The Board reaffirmed support for the decision that had been made for numbering all houses in the County. ADDED ITEM RECLASSIFICATION OF THE WATERSHEDS OF UNIVERSITY LAKE AND CANE CREEK RESERVOIR Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Hartwell to support the reclassification of the watersheds of University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir from WSIII to WS1 and authorize Dave Moreau to convey this support at the public hearing to be held on December 16 at 7:30 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. H. APPOINTMENTS The following appointments were made: HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Henry Anderson Alexandra Brownstein John K. Chapman Lyman Ford Bernard Eastman Jacqueline S. Green Lynette Jeffries Gwendolyn Jones Timothy H. Kimrey, Chair Audrey Layden Evelyn Lloyd Elizabeth Mayo Elizabeth Montgomery Cathy Moore-Denton Michael R. Nelson James H. Peace Miriam K. Slifkin Frank Stalfa Joe Straley Dorothy Foster Teer ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS BOARD Barry Jacobs (liaison from the Planning Board) BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS HSAC - Shirley Marshall (replacing John Hartwell) County Advisory Board on Aging - John Hartwell (replacing Shirley Marshall. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by 338 Commissioner Hartwell to go into Executive Session to discuss a property matter. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. Motion was made by Commissioner Marshall, seconded by--~~ Commissioner Carey to convene the meeting into regular session. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. With no further items to be considered, Chair Marshall adjourned the meeting. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, January 4, 1988 at 7:30 in Superior Courtroom, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Beverly A."Blythe, Clerk Shirley E. Marshall, Chair MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 23, 1987 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Wednesday, December 23, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners' Room, Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Shirley E. Marshall and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell and Don Willhoit. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill. STAFF PRESENT: Assistant County Manager William T. Laws, Interim Assistant County Manager Beverly M. Whitehead, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe. Chair Marshall called the Special Meeting to order. She stated the purpose of the meeting is to consider the appoint- ment of a County Manager. Motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit to appoint John M. Link, Jr. as Orange County's County Manager effective February 15, 1988. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. -ADJOURNMENT With no further business to consider the meeting was adjourned. Shirley E.. Marshall, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk STATEMENTS MADE BY JOHN LINK John Link stated "The Orange County Managers job will be a professional challenge. T am extremely grateful, in the confidence the Commissioners have shown in me and I hope to live up to it. It's delightful to be able to come back to Orange County so I can be closer to my family and to be able to offer my immediate family the quality of life that only this area can provide." He indicated he is looking forward to working with the Commissioners, the administrative staff and all those who work for Orange County.