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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19930621 384 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION JUNE 21, 1993 regular session for a The Orange County Berard of Commissioners etal the at the Community budget work session on June 21, 1993 a p.m. Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. , and Commissioners Alice M. Gordon, Verla C. Insko and Don Willhoit. BOARD MEMBER ABSENT: Stephen H. Halkiotis COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr. , Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Rod Visser, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, Human Relations Analyst II Yelena Chandra, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Personnel Director Elaine Holmes, Budget Director Sally Kost, Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo, Department on Aging Director Jerry Passmore, Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass, Health Director Dan Reimer, Child Support Director Janet Sparks, Director of Library Services Brenda Stephens, Fire Marshall Mike Tapp EMS Director Nick Waters, and Budget and Management Analyst Donna Dean. FIRE DISTRICTS Rod Visser listed the volunteer fire departments that requested an increase in their funding. He explained the reason for the new position for the Town of Carrboro and the increase in the hourly rate for fire department personnel. John Link recommended approval of all the requested increases. OUTSIDE AGENCIES Linda Foxworth from KidScope distributed information to the members of the Board. She asked for an additional $7 , 250 which was not included in the Manager's recommendation. This will be used to hire additional staff. There is a potential of serving 500 kids and they are now serving 96. She pointed out the accomplishments of KidScope and their goals for 1993--94 . They want to stabilize their funding so they can hire another staff person. They have been able to accomplish their goal of not sending labeled children to school. p Aggressive and violent behavior is on the rise in this community. This is a cost effective program and their agency is the only one in the County providing these services. By adding a half time person, they will be able to F serve an additional six children. LITERACY COUNCIL { Executive Director Ruth Royster told of two success stories and indicated � they have many more. She emphasized that the Literacy Council needs additional monies to enable them to continue to serve the nonreading citizens of Orange County. She is asking for an additional $750. They are trying t desperately to serve those who don't have public transportation. Two thirds of the population they serve is in southern Orange County but there is a potential to serve many more in the northern part of the County. She asked the Board to reconsider her request for $750. r 385 RADIO READING SERVICE Mario stated that he and his wife are both sightless. They find the., radio reading service to be extremely valuable because it informs them abov, what is happening and they enjoy listening to the different programs. Ha : asked that the county do what they can to keep this service going. Annette Henry stated that they have 40 listeners in Orange County. The . $500 they have requested from the County would be used to increase that number. They have 128 volunteers and are constantly increasing the number of programs available. Their total budget is $73, 000. They broadcast 20 hours a day. TRIANGLE SUBSTANCE ABUSERS Ms. Joyce Kume, Alternative Sentencing Program, and Pat Devine, Assistant Public Defender, asked the Board to reconsider their request of $25, 000. Their total budget is $257,000. They hope to have a facility to house 25 people. After the program is started, it will pay for itself within two to five years. They asked for an amount that will show support for this project. POLICY ISSUES POLICY CONSIDERATIONS (Complete descriptions attached, to these minutes on pages I. Ex and the Coordinated Agency Trans ortation routes CAT In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit, Jerry Passmore indicated that they have not contracted out the administration of the CAT system because no one has come forth that can do it more efficiently This is the first year money is available to enable them to become more publz. oriented. John Link suggested developing specifications on how the County operates the system and, with the Board's approval, pursue the private sector to contract out these services. 2. Discontinue convalescent ambulance transports into and out of Orange County The Board approved this policy.. 3 . Provide that Emergency Medical Technicians be given the authority, based on a detailed set of protocols, to decline the transport of certain Ratients to medical facilities This policy will allow the medical director to make the decision to not transport a patient when appropriate treatment can be rendered at the scene. The Board agreed with this policy. 4. Close all 19 greenbox sites as soon as September 1 1993 and no later than July 1 1994 and re lace them with a consolidated system of 6 or more staffed solid waste collection sites The Board agreed with this policy. 5. Provide $75, 000 in a contingency as a reserve for daycare servic After a brief discussion, the Board agreed to continue wit„ this policy. The Board changed this policy at the June 23 , 1993 meeting. 386 6. Provide a transfer from the Efland Sewer Capital Fund to the Efland Sewer Enterprise Fund This transfer of funds from Capital to operating is necessary to balance the fund. The Board agreed to this short-term solution. 7. Establishment of a "Recurring Ca ital" prodect in the CIP for each School System Commissioner Gordon stated that the entire capital funding for the schools needs to be discussed. She suggested staying with the $750, 000 allocation for recurring capital and to allocate the unanticipated sales tax funds for this year to the schools as part of their capital. The Board agreed to the policy as written for this year and to further discuss the issue of capital and operating funds for the schools. 8 . Provide- financial - support for the Carrboro Library The Special Task Force studying this request made several recommendations to the Hyconeechee Regional Library Board of Trustees. The Board agreed to wait until they receive a response to these recommendations. 9 . Provide a two-party contract with orange County and the Animal Protection Society to provide animal shelter services The Board agreed with this policy. 10. Examine the possibility of "downloading" non_-emeraengy911 calls to the aRpropriate agency After extended discussion, it was decided that during this next year, the Manager would work with the Sheriff's Department to determine the "types of non-emergency calls being dispatched by 911. These call will be downloaded to the Sheriff's Office without dispatch. The Sheriff's Department would make the decision on which ones to dispatch and use this experience in negotiating with the other jurisdictions. Commissioner Gordon suggested having a non-emergency number for citizens to call the County. COMPENSATION PACKAGE The Board discussed the merit options as presented by the County Manager. The majority of the Board agreed to stay with the present merit plan. The ; County Manager will bring back additional options which will include the 20 COLA and a merit and longevity plan. LAND RECORDS F ES DENTAL HEALTH FEES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEES FIRE INSPECTION FEES MISCELLANEOUS EMS FEES Sally Kost distributed a list of fee changes as listed in the budget document. The Board agreed with the recommendations. SUMMARY PAGE ON CAPITAL A list summarizing the Capital - Improvement Projects was distributed. John Link asked the Board's confirmation of the list which included items for 38 ( both school systems. Commissioner Willhoit made reference to a memo about the tornado debris at Fairview Park and stated his desire to correct the situation. John Lir indicated that Albert Kittrell is working with Bob Jones and Wilbert McAdc. to correct the situation to get the park back in operation. Commissioner Willhoit suggested that if funds are needed to clear the park they can be taken from the CIP. ADJOURNMENT With no other items to discuss, Chair Carey adjourned the meeting. The next budget work session will be held on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 : 30 p.m. at North Carolina. the Homestead Community Center in Chapel Hill, Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk i