Orange County NC Website
52 <br />that group produced a report with 13 recommendations for potential cost savings and <br />streamlining of organizational structure and operations. That group, or a newly appointed <br />successor committee, would review the results of the 1996 study and identify other <br />opportunities for operational innovation and efficiency, consistent with a new charge to be <br />developed by the Board of Commissioners. <br />The 1996 study involved many hundreds of staff hours to support the I &E Committee in its <br />work. Given that experience, and the County's current heavy workload, it would be <br />important to provide additional resources to ensure that the Committee could complete its <br />charge in a timely and thorough manner. Existing staff would naturally provide technical <br />assistance to the committee as it reviews various departmental operations. However, there <br />would need to be a dedicated entity that would handle the administrative and logistic support, <br />including the necessary organization, coordination, writing, and production of the <br />committee's working materials and final report and presentation. This support function <br />could be provided by: 1) outsourcing; 2) a new position (with this and other responsibilities); <br />or 3) a combination of outsourcing and additional County staff. <br />If the outsourcing approach were chosen, the effort might be similar to that undertaken by the <br />recently engaged Y2K Coordinator. A qualified firm or individual, with extensive <br />experience in organization, coordination, and technical writing, would serve as the principal <br />liaison to the I &E Committee, and keep the project on time and on track. The cost of this <br />effort would depend on the scope of work required to assist the Committee in carrying out its <br />charge. It would be reasonable to expect that the hourly cost of this type of support would <br />run in the range of $75 -$150 per hour. <br />Alternatively or in combination with the above, the County could consider adding a new • <br />position that would likely be housed in the Personnel Department, but which would also <br />work very closely with Budget staff. The position would handle the I &E coordination <br />function, both with the reconstituted I &E Committee, and on an ongoing basis after the <br />Committee completes its charge. In addition, during the annual budget process, this position <br />would evaluate new position and position change requests, under the joint direction of the <br />Budget Director and Personnel Director. For the remainder of the year, the position, under <br />the direction of the Personnel Director and with the input of the County management team, <br />would: <br />❑ Follow through to support operating departments to implement recommendations <br />resulting from the I &E and new position processes (e.g. outsourcing, staff realignment, <br />internal system changes). <br />❑ Complete systematic evaluation of vacant positions to assure the most effective use of <br />County resources and recommend realignment or other alternatives when identified. <br />❑ Develop guidelines for outsourcing and provide enterprise -wide technical assistance to <br />departments that are pursuing outsource support. <br />❑ Complete organization and staffing studies including assessment of the organization, <br />functionality and efficiency of positions /programs such as solid waste. • <br />❑ Through focus groups and brainstorming session with department heads, employees and <br />work groups, identify employee ideas for improved efficiency and follow through to <br />