Orange County NC Website
~~ <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he felt this plan could have <br />good benefits for the County and that the County should take advantage <br />of this opportunity. <br />Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner <br />Willhoit, it was moved and adopted to adopt the Resolution authorizing <br />the County's participation in a State Energy Conservation Program, and <br />that the Resolution be forwarded to the appropriate State Agency. <br />The County Manager proceeded to comment upon the cutback in the <br />consumption of energy in the County Office Building. He stated that <br />consumption of energy should be cut by 35 percent, and that thermostats <br />had been reduced to 62 degrees and less at night. He added that the <br />providers of coal for the Grady Brown Buildings had indicated that they <br />could continue to provide the County with coal as needed. The County <br />Manager suggested that the hours of operation in the Recreation Depart- <br />ment be reduced to 5 days a week, with Friday as the day to not operate. <br />He suggested that in other county agencies, that to conserve energy, the <br />thermostats would be turned back. xe added that a Gas Company did have <br />a person spot checking building to see that thermostats are turned back. <br />Commissioner Pinney stated that he did not feel there would be <br />sufficient saving at the Recreation Department .to warrant a S day week. <br />Commissioner Walker suggested that all County Offices go on a 4 day <br />week with extended hours. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he would like <br />to know what the State intention is concerning the 4',day week and that he <br />was interested in knowing what the per person consumption of energy is. <br />He stated that unless there were corresponding changes in other institu- <br />tion, he could not see Orange County going to a 4 day week. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that this was not a short term matter, <br />that thermostats would have to continue at 62 degrees. He asked that the <br />concern of energy be moved up on the agenda of the the Commissioners and <br />that the Board look at the long term problem of the consumption of energy. <br />Upon motion of Commissivner.Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner <br />Pinney, it was moved and adopted to accept the County Manager's recom- <br />mendation that offices remain on a 5 day schedule, with the thermostats <br />set at 62 degrees, and reject the recommendation of the County Manager <br />that the Recreation Department change from a six to a five day workweek. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson suggested that'~ahe County Manager appoint <br />someone to keep close check on the County Buildings to know what is needed <br />in terms of thereto-efficiency and to make an energy inventory of the avail- <br />ability of heating fuels in the area. • <br />Item 13: The Manager requests the Board's comments upon a proposed <br />budget time table. <br />Chairman Whitted suggested that the Board not require budget narra- <br />tives from each agency. He stated that this was quite time consuming <br />and expensive, and is not needed again this year. The Finance Director <br />passed out additional budget information to the Board. The County Manager <br />suggested that the Board review the information and that comments be made <br />at the February 15th meeting. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he would like to have each <br />department or agency state what their program is `about, so that he could <br />get a real sense of the programs and services involved in relating to <br />cost. ~He added that this was needed for the public's information and <br />as a comparison for the Commissioners from one year to another. <br />The Board scheduled March 15, 1977, as the date for the pre-budget <br />public hearing concerning the use of Revenue Sharing. <br />Chairman Whitted referred to Item 14: The. County Attorney will advise <br />the Board of Commissioners of the procedures to follow when naming members <br />to the Board,of Trustees of the Dogwood Acres Sanitary District. <br />The County Attorney stated that the problem is that the entire Board <br />of Trustees to the Sanitary Board is vacant. The Commissioners must <br />appoint each member to the Board. He added that there was little, or no <br />business of the Sanitary Board going on. The appointment made to the <br />Sanitary Board would be in effect until the next general election. <br />Discussion ensued concerning the notification to the Board of Election <br />