HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-03-1997 - 8e 1
Orange County
Board of Commissioners
Action Agenda Item Abstract
Meeting Date: February 3, 1997
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-p-,
Subject: Orange Public Transportation Position Realignment
Department: Personnel and Aging Public Hearing: Yes No X
Budget Amendment
Needed: Yes No X
Attachment(s): Information Contact:
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director
Extension 2550, Jerry Passmore,
Department on Aging Director,
Extension 2000
Telephone Number:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
Purpose: To consider position changes in Orange Public Transportation to
meet continuing contract obligations by:
• Increasing the hours of four permanent part time driver
positions to full time (40 hours),
• Increasing the hours of the transportation scheduler position
from permanent part time (25 hours) to permanent full time
(40 hours) and
• Establishing a new permanent part time (32 hour) driver
position.
Background: Orange Public Transportation (OPT) has continued to expand
contractual services to Orange County's human services
agencies in response to increasing demand for such services.
Since 1993 OPT has implemented the following new or
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expanded contract services:
• Service to the Orange County Middle School Afterschool
program on Monday through Thursday of each week,
• Operating a second route for Orange Enterprises on Monday
through Friday of each week
• Operating a fourth route for the northern Orange Head Start
program on Monday through Friday, and
• Staff to cover growth in the demand medical transportation
program by about a 33 percent increase in trips per month;
that is, from an average of 460 trips per month to 610 trips or
an additional 150 trips per month.
In this same period OPT lost the staff services of four part time
staff employed through the National Center for the Black Aged,
Inc. because of cutbacks by that agency. These workers helped
staff the daily permanent Senior Center routes throughout rural
Orange County.
Currently Orange Public Transportation has nine permanent
driver positions. Of these, five are part time: one at 32 hours,
one at 34 hours, one at 37 hours and two at 38 hours.
Initially to cover the workload from the additional and on-going
contract obligations, OPT had expanded its use of temporary
staff. However, since these are on-going obligations, the use of
temporary staff has not met the staffing needs. This arises from
several circumstances. Under the Personnel Ordinance,
temporary employment beyond one year is limited to 15 hours or
less. These on-going commitments require more hours than
this. Moreover, temporary employment does not enable OPT to
recruit and retain on an on-going basis the trained drivers
needed.
In response to the staffing needs and issues, the Budget
Director and the Personnel Director have completed with the
Department on Aging Director and OPT staff a comprehensive
assessment of OPT permanent positions and staffing. This has
included analysis of the routes, scheduling, demands and
workloads. As a result of this review, several staffing
realignment needs have been identified as follows:
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1. To shift staffing for on-going, continuing transportation
commitments such as Orange Enterprises, Middleschool
Afterschool program and Burlington dialysis medical
transportation from temporary staff to permanent staff.
2. To use the current permanent scheduler position to provide
back up driver coverage to assure driver availability for
scheduled routes and free current drivers from duties such as
transporting vehicles to the motor pool.
3. To provide additional permanent staff coverage for the daily
Cedar Grove Nutrition and Head Start routes now covered by
temporary staff.
4. To use temporary staff for short term agreements, special
trips and some back up coverage rather than for on going
commitments.
To accomplish the above it is proposed that:
Four permanent part time driver positions be increased a
total of 15 hours per week or about .375 full time equivalent.
The current scheduler position be increased from permanent
part time 25 hours per week to permanent full time (an
additional .375 full time equivalent).
• A new permanent part time 32 hour or .80 full time equivalent
position be established to cover on going contractual
commitments.
These staffing changes can be funded from within already
approved transportation service contracts and do not require any
additional County funds.
Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board approve:
1. Increasing the hours of four permanent part time driver
positions to full time.
2. Increasing the hours of the permanent part time scheduler
position to permanent full time.
3. Establishing a new permanent part time (32 hour or .80 full
time equivalent) driver position.