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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 031912MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 19, 2012 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: March 19, 2012 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Valerie Foushee; Claire Millar; and Albert Williams. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: Arthrell Sanders. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Joyce Lee, Business Officer; and Sharron Hinton, Community Services Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:02 P.M. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia passed around a draft letter opposing Senate Bill 433 and asked for feedback. Valerie Foushee added she was pleased to hear support from other Commissioners in opposition of this bill after the meeting last week. Ms. Foushee also stated that she likes the letter as written. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes Nancy Coston requested the addition of a Smart Start proposal discussion to the agenda. Valerie Foushee moved that the agenda be changed to include that item. Albert Williams seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. V. Action Items On a motion by Valerie Foushee the Board approved the Minutes of February 20, 2012. Claire Millar seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Smart Start Proposal Nancy Coston asked the Board to approve the agency’s submission of a proposal to administer Smart Start subsidy for FY2012-13. Claire Millar moved the Board approve the agency’s request to submit a proposal to administer Smart Start subsidy for FY2012-13. Albert Williams seconded the motion. The motion was approved without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 19, 2012 2 2. Budget Nancy Coston presented an overview of the proposed Social Services budget for FY2012-13. There is an increase of approximately $400,000 in the overall budget due to revenue cuts. Significant revenue cuts are adversely impacting the budget. There are a few increases in the budget, but lost revenue for staff costs had the greatest impact. There is still hope that TANF funds will be reinstated and IV-E revenue will increase, but cuts to these funding sources are included. There are few changes to personnel in the budget, although several time-limited positions are eliminated due to ending grant funding. Ms. Coston pointed out that staff members are responsible for over $110 million dollars in benefits for federal programs that are not reflected in the budget. Errors can result in county pay back of these federal funds. Ms. Coston explained several program changes that had budget impacts, including changes in the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). There is an increase in both the expenditure and revenue line items for this program because checks are now sent from the county to the energy vendor instead of from the state to the client. In child and family services, there is a reduction in TANF funding that is currently used to pay for child welfare staff. This comes through the Work First Block Grant and is reduced because the TANF Supplemental Grant that North Carolina receives was left out of the federal budget continuing resolution. This cut to Orange County was $330,000 and would result in the loss of an entire unit of child welfare staff if taken. These staff members are responsible for working with families to protect children at risk of abuse and neglect. More wards are coming to the agency through the changes in guardianship. This will result in increased staff and legal time. Some of these cases require intense time and resources. Medicaid transportation is requiring more staff time and will provide less funding. The Community Alternatives Program (CAP) is also likely to lose funding. The administrative funding for child care subsidy has been reduced from 4 to 3%, resulting in lost revenue. Albert Williams asked for more information about the CAP program and adult care homes. Ms. Coston responded that there are several ways the agency is involved in adult care homes. One of the most sensitive is adult care home monitoring in which staff members investigate issues in adult care homes. The program that is at risk involves providing additional services to enhance the care of adults placed in homes. The state may cut funds for adolescent parenting programs, although these funds are currently included in the budget. Funds for Food and Nutrition Employment and Training are included in the budget but the two associated positions will remain vacant until funding is received. Child care subsidy funds are likely to be reduced next year so a waiting list is likely to emerge. While some funds might remain at the end of this fiscal year, the agency is concerned about having to remove children from subsidy once these funds are reduced. The budget includes funds the county allocates to repay dollars used to subsidize child care for county employees. Only one third of the child care funding is allocated due to the projected implementation of SEEK, the electronic MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 19, 2012 3 child care attendance system. Once this is implemented, the state will pay child care providers directly. The $10,000 in funding for recreation is included as well as the $20,000 in shared funding between Social Services and Aging. The state funds for the adult piece of the criminal justice program administered by the agency will be paid directly to the providers and therefore is not included in the budget. There are some additional conversations that will be held to determine what other justice activities within the county can be coordinated. There is one position change. A time-limited custodial position classified as an Aide will be replaced with a permanent custodian. Ms. Coston noted the first meeting with county management on the budget will be held next week. There is enough lapsed salary to cover the deficit but it is unclear whether that will be allowed to happen. Some counties have position shells that allow them to continuously advertise and hire since there is so much turnover. Valerie Foushee asked where Ms. Coston projects the agency will be in the budget process prior to the next Social Services Board Meeting. Ms. Coston responded that the Board will meet prior to the meeting with the County Manager. Ms. Foushee suggested the Board have some time to craft a message to the Manager after the first meeting with county staff. Pat Garavaglia moved the Board approve the Social Services budget for FY2012-13 and recommend it to the County Manager as written. The motion was seconded by Claire Millar. The motion was approved without dissent. Mr. Williams asked how the maintenance worked on the motor pool. Joyce Lee replied that there are often vehicles out of commission due to maintenance but that there is generally a quick turnaround when a vehicle needs service. 3. Director’s Report This is the time of year the Board will be getting invitations to some of the spring activities like the Adolescent Parenting Program graduation. Staff should have more information at the next meeting. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Hillsborough Commons, Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4pm. On a motion by Claire Millar and seconded by Albert Williams, the Board adjourned their regular meeting at 5:09 P.M. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair