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their supervisors, EMS Telecommunicators and their supervisors, and EMS Paramedics <br />and their supervisors. This includes 114 employees (77 in the Sheriff's Department and 37 <br />in EMS). <br />2) Career Ladder concept. This will provide more career advancement opportunity to non- <br />supervisory employees. The proposed career ladders will be brought back for the Board's <br />consideration if the Board approves the concept. <br />3) Take an interim step and recognize Deputy Sheriffs that are certified as field training <br />officers and classify them as Deputy II. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this report was in response to a concern from the entire Board when the <br />Sheriff and the EMS Director brought to the Board's attention the retention and recruitment problems. He <br />said that the Board wanted to expedite the study and to support the departments, which are considered <br />superior departments. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis thanked Elaine Holmes for the data she gathered for this report. He <br />said that the same thing is happening in the school systems. He said that the work of the Sheriff's <br />Department is very dangerous work and they should be paid accordingly. He thinks that more should be <br />done for both departments. <br />Chair Jacobs pointed out that some of the Sheriff Deputies were not being paid a sufficient <br />wage to be able to afford to live in Orange County. He also commended Elaine Holmes. <br />Commissioner Carey commended all of the people who worked on this report. He said that the <br />same results could probably be found in other areas of employment in County government. <br />Commissioner Brown questioned the residency requirement. Sheriff Pendergrass said that he <br />feels like the citizens would not be served as well as they are if the deputies lived outside of Orange <br />County. He said that because deputies take home their cruisers, they are in the neighborhoods living <br />inside the County, which helps them to get to know the people they serve. The response time can be <br />shortened tremendously if his employees live within the County. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis also made reference to the residency requirement and said that <br />deputies fit into the affordable housing category. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if there is any kind of survey or reference to employees in terms of <br />race, sex, age, etc. Elaine Holmes will provide this information. <br />Tim Pressley, former Orange County Deputy Sheriff, was signed up to speak to this item. He <br />is now a Lieutenant with the Chapel Hill Police Department and he intends to run for Sheriff this year. He <br />commended the Sheriff for attempting to obtain a raise for his employees. He said that during his <br />research in getting ready to run for office, he discovered some things. In the Orange County Sheriff's <br />Department there is only one person topped out and that is the Sheriff at $93,000 a year. Four years ago <br />there were two -the Sheriff and his Major. He is suggesting that the Board look into this. He also <br />recommends spending $3,500 to assess why people left the Sheriff's office. He found that they did not <br />leave because of salary. He said that Orange County handles about 15% of the reported crime in this <br />County. The Chapel Hill Police Department handles about 47% of the reported crime. The Orange <br />County Sheriff's Department has 131 employees and the Carrboro Police Department has 37 for the <br />same percent of reported crime. Also, regarding the residency requirements, he does not see a problem <br />with outside residency for employees of the Sheriff's Department. He also noticed that there are no <br />female investigators or females on patrol. He does endorse the career ladder program. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to adopt <br />the Manager's recommendation of the retention salary increase, career ladders, and other fitness and <br />benefits options. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Brown asked how many state highway patrolmen work in Orange County and <br />Sheriff Pendergrass said 15. They are allowed to go anywhere in the district. <br />c. Appointments to the Economic Development Commission <br />The Board considered three appointments to the Economic Development Commission. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to appoint <br />