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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19980616APPROVED 5/18199 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION JUNE 16, 1998 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on June 16, 1998 at 4:00 p.m. in the Board room of the Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a budget work session. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Margaret W. Brown, and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis. COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Rod Visser and Albert Kittrell and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONTINUATION OF COUNTY DEPARTMENT BUDGETS Health Health Director Rosemary Summers distributed information and said that the health educators will expand their services to include a focus on teens in cooperation with the Youth Council and other youth agencies in the County. She said that there will not be any duplication of services. In answer to a question from Commissioner Carey on how the Health Department will pick up the immunization program that Cooperative Extension is dropping, Rosemary Summers said that they plan to have a countywide effort in cooperation with other providers. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon about the positions that Rosemary Summers requested for the Health Department, she said that they have two practitioners. One is currently at 314 time and she is asking to increase this position to full-time. The other nurse practitioner is part-time and she is asking to increase this position to full-time. They have a need for this position to be full-time to provide coverage in their clinics now that they have full-time clinics in both parts of the County. This person will also be able to do some additional parenting classes and new birth classes. Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension Director Fletcher Barber said that they will hold the line on their budget. He spoke about the expansion in their 4-H program. He would like to increase a 314 time position to full-time. This will enable them to increase enrollment and outreach in their middle school program. This position would also provide them with a full time 4-H agent and also a full-time assistant. Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation Director Bob Jones said that his department's budget holds the line. The only major outlay would be for a portable PA system and a new van. The Senior Games cost of $4,000 is offset by revenues in that amount. He explained that the municipal support funds are used to assist with certain programs that each recreation and parks department provide. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that the County not fund this $5,000 for municipal support funds and have a meeting with the Mebane Town Council. It was agreed that John Link would talk with the Mebane Town Manager. Commissioner Carey said that it is okay to talk with the Mebane Town Manager but that he does not want to hurt our citizens Library Director of Library Services Brenda Stephens explained her request for a new position. This new position will be a Library Assistant I position and be financed by State funds. She has temporary personnel working at the desk right now but with automation she would like some consistency. This position was approved by the regional board and by Caswell County. It was decided that Chair Brown will ask the Town of Hillsborough for a contribution for the library. Department on Acing Department on Aging Director Jerry Passmore said that he is requesting a new position which will help to provide 150 Work First participants and also non-Work First citizens transportation to get to and from work. He clarified for the County Commissioners that any citizen can request help for transportation to get to their job. This position will be funded with $15,000 from state funds for Work First and the remainder by County funds. Commissioner Gordon asked how the County would make use of the mobility specialist that the TTA has hired. Jerry Passmore said that they will work together. He explained what the Orange County person would be doing which will include identifying the resources available within the County and targeting a community approach. Commissioner Carey said that he feels both positions will be fully utilized and he wants the County to take advantage of this position. Child Support Director of Child Support Janet Sparks said that her department collected $3.1 million this year for child support. Her department generally has one of the highest collection rates and last year they were 7th highest in the State. Because there are fewer welfare families to collect child support for, her department will receive less funding from State and Federal sources. They only receive funds for collecting for welfare families. Their caseload is 3100. They have been drawing down reimbursements for serving summons. In answer to a question from Chair Brown about their computer system, Janet Sparks said that some parts of the AX system are good and some are terrible. Public Works Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo said that he is requesting the addition of two custodians to address the new facilities. The other increases in his budget have to do with the increased cost of utilities and operating County facilities. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the information he received on motor vehicles. He asked about the services they have contracted out which total about $100,000. Wilbert McAdoo explained that they have contracted out a lot of services because of computerization and also vacancies that they have not been able to fill. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is not convinced that it is in the interest of Orange County to have a facility for repair of vehicles and still contract out. Wilbert McAdoo said that they mostly contract out specialty jobs like replacement of windshields, transmission work, etc. Commissioner Halkiotis asked for a daily list of what is being done in the garage. Visitors Bureau Executive Director Shelly Green introduced Joe Blake as the acting director since she has taken another job. John Link said that the highlight of this budget is an expansion of two new positions. The Visitors Bureau does have offsetting revenues from the occupancy tax. Shelly Green said that their number of inquiries has increased by 700% over the last two years. They are handling close to 1200 calls a year. Commissioner Halkiotis commended Shelly Green for her efficiency and organization. He wished her the very best. 11-A and 11-B Non-Departmental Albert Kittrell was available to answer questions. Commissioner Gordon noted that the non-department budgets increased by 11 % and the overall county increase was 6.8%. John Link said that the capital requests for non-departments have been added to this area instead of including them in the County Capital budget. The outside agencies request is all in one place in the budget instead of separating out capital items. These capital items were removed from the Capital Investment Plan so they would not be funded from the County's 112 cent sales tax. Commissioner Gordon noted that the amount allocated in the budget for the Red Cross was not approved by the County Commissioners. Commissioner Halkiotis feels we need to hold the allocation designated for the Red Cross until we have further discussions with them. Chair Margaret Brown asked about Day Care Services' request of $80,000 and the recommended allocation of $40,000 for their operations. John Link feels that this is okay because they have several revenue sources. The Board agreed to hold the I&R monies of $20,000. Regarding capital items, Commissioner Gordon asked how allocations are decided and John Link said that they review the requests and look at the other revenue sources that the agencies have contacted. Chair Margaret Brown asked about performance agreements with all non-departmental agencies and Albert Kittrell said that they do have performance agreements with all of the non-departmental agencies where they agree on specific outcomes expected from these agencies. Commissioner Gordon said that she feels we need to watch what we allocate to these agencies. Commissioner Carey said that he did not agree with the entire I&R report. He agrees that we need to watch what we allocate but they are serving people who are in the greatest need in this County. Commissioner Gordon feels we need to talk about the I&R report because she thought that we agreed to hold the line to a certain percentage. If you take out the capital items the increase for the non-departmentals is 7.8%. The County Commissioners decided to leave the money in for the Red Cross but to have a discussion before this money is allocated. Housing and Community Development - Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that her entire operation is paid for from State and Federal funding. She highlighted her major accomplishments for last year. New Positions Requested Engineering Associate {County Manager} Chair Margaret Brown suggested that this position be contracted out. Commissioner Carey suggested putting it on a time limited basis. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he feels a better definition of what this position will be doing is needed. John Link suggested that prior to advertising for this position he will bring back to the County Commissioners a job description for the Board's input. County Engineer Paul Thames said that once the Efland system is designed and construction is on the way, he wants to use this person for energy management for County facilities. Also, Paul Thames needs a backup when he is out of the office. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve this position as a 2-year time limited position. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Library Assistant I (Library Services) Tax Collection Clerk (Tax Collector) A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve a full-time position for Library Assistant I and a full-time position for Tax Collection Clerk. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Transportation Coordinator (OPT) A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Chair Brown to approve a part- time position to be funded from Work First. VOTE: AYES, 3; NOS, 2 (Commissioners Carey and Crowther) Custodians (2) (Public Works) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the two New custodian positions as requested in the budget. VOTE: AYES, 3; NOS, 2 (Commissioners Halkiotis and Gordon) Income Maintenance Investigator (DSS) A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve the Income Maintenance Investigator position. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Sales Assistant and Publications Coordinator (Visitors Bureau) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the two positions, sales position and publications coordinator, as requested by the Visitors Bureau. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Assistant to the Clerk (Board of County Commissioners) A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Crowther, to approve the part- time position in the Clerk's office. VOTE: UNANIMOUS PC Support Specialist (Information Systems) Regarding the request for a full-time PC Support Specialist, Chair Brown said that she does not understand how this job would work in terms of long range needs. The job could change. She would like to see this function outsourced. A motion was made by Chair Brown, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve outsourcing the functions of this PC Specialist position. VOTE: AYES, 4; NOS, 1 (Commissioner Crowther because he did not support outsourcing this position) Emergency Medical Technicians (2) (Emergency Medical Services) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the two positions as requested in the budget. VOTE: AYES, 2; NOS, 3 (Chair Brown and Commissioners Gordon and Halkiotis) Deputy Register of Deeds I (Register of Deeds) Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the discrepancy in the revenues for the Register of Deeds Department. Finance Director Ken Chavious explained that some of the money collected by the Register of Deeds goes to the State. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve this position. VOTE: AYES, 2; NOS, 3 (Chair Brown and Commissioners Gordon and Halkiotis) NOTE: Commissioner Halkiotis said that in the future we should not offset positions by revenues generated. He does not want to see this in future budget documents. Human Rights and Relations Specialist (Human Rights and Relations) A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve this position. VOTE: AYES, 2; NOS, 3 (Chair Brown and Commissioners Gordon and Halkiotis) Health Educator (Health) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve this full-time position in the Health Department. VOTE: AYES, 2; NOS, 3 (Chair Brown and Commissioners Gordon and Halkiotis) The Board then considered positions which will be moved from partially grant funded to 100% funded from the General Fund. The grants are planned to end on June 30, 1997. Senior Public health Educator (Health) formerly a Senior Public Health Educator in the CHAP Program A motion was made by Commissioner Carey to approve moving the Senior Public Health Educator position from partially grant funded to 100° funded from the County's General Fund. NOTE: MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND The Board considered changes in hours to existing positions. Information Specialist (Board of County Commissioners) A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Chair Brown to approve increasing this position by 0.50 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Deputy Director (Board of Elections) A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Chair Brown to approve increasing this position by 0.25 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Administrative Assistant I (Finance) A motion was made by Chair Brown, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve increasing this position by 0.25 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Administrative Assistant II (Register of Deeds) A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve increasing this position by 0.25 FTE. VOTE: AYES, 4; NOS, 1 (Chair Brown) Family Nurse Practitioner I (Health) Family Nurse Practitioner II (Health) A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve increasing the Practitioner I position by 0.50 FTE and the Practitioner II position by 0.25 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Community Health Aid (Health) A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve increasing this position by 0.02 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Cooperative Extension Program Assistant (Coop Extension) A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve increasing this position by 0.25 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Driver (OPT) Driver (OPT) A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve increasing one Driver position to 0.15 FTE and one other Driver position to 0.20 FTE. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Board considered deleting from the position classification and control two grant related positions. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve deleting from the position classification and control the Immunization Coordinator at 0.50 FTE and Deputy 1 from the COPSFAST program. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Erosion Control Officer (Planning Department) A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the addition of 1.0 FTE for Erosion Control Officer in the Soil and Erosion Division of the Planning Department with salary and benefits of $40,884, and $16,000 for a vehicle. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to adjourn this meeting to 5:30 p.m., June 22, 1998 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Margaret W. Brown, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk