Minutes - 20090512 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Metadata

Thumbnails

Annotations

Commissioner Jacobs asked that the staff try to recruit volunteers and schedule more departments than the Board might get to instead of getting done early. Commissioner Nelson asked for more information on which library programs were to be expanded with the move from the old to the new library. Commissioner Pelissier asked if funding would be lost if the main library is not open at least 40 hours a week. The current proposal is 50 hours a week. She asked if the main library could be open only 40 hours a week to allow the other branches to be open. Library Services Director Lucinda Munger said that a full service main library includes services to children and adults and is usually open the longest. An average main library is open between 60-64 hours a week. According to state regulations, the library has to be open to the public for 40 hours a week in order to receive state aid and to receive the databases that are supplied by the State, called NC Live. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there was something other than the 50-hour proposal and Lucinda Munger said that a lot of this is driven by the floor plan itself with multiple floors and service desks. Lucinda Munger said that there are still costs whether the library is open or not, such as rent on copiers, internet service, phone service, materials ordering, periodicals, etc. Laura Blackmon said that even closing the two branch libraries still does not give the library the necessary four FTE positions. Commissioner Yuhasz said that the savings must be more than $37,000 for closing the two branches. Commissioner Gordon asked clarifying questions about the savings and Laura Blackmon said that they would be utilities, maintenance, leasing, personnel, etc. Commissioner Yuhasz said that to keep the other two libraries open, $250,000 would be needed. Commissioner Nelson said that one of the key priorities of the budget was to look at the services and programs that may no longer be needed. He said that this one cut does not fall in there anymore and he will not be able to vote for a budget that closes the libraries. He said that this is a good exercise for budget cuts, but the closing of the libraries is not one of them for him. He said that the County Commissioners need to step beyond the turf issues. Commissioner Yuhasz said that the library issue has raised a lot of concerns in the community and if the libraries are going to be kept open, the Board needs to discuss the burden. Commissioner Jacobs asked Lucinda Munger to do some priority cutting for when the County Commissioners meet with the department directors. Commissioner Gordon asked about the recommendation for closing dental offices at Carr Mill Mall. Laura Blackmon said that it would be more expensive to move out of Carr Mill Mall and make room in the Whitted Building. The County will continue to stay in Carr Mill Mall until the lease expires in 2011. Chair Foushee asked about the potential savings related to employees and positions. Particularly, she asked about Solid Waste and the potential proposal for changing how the convenience centers operate, and making people work every Saturday. She would like to know how vacations would be facilitated. A representative from Solid Waste said that there will be some temporary funds remaining and collectors can staff the convenience centers if an employee is gone. Chair Foushee wants to be careful not to over-burden these employees. Commissioner Jacobs said that he does not like the proposal to close convenience centers on Sundays. He would like to see the breakdown of users every day, for morning and evening. Commissioner Yuhasz said that people use the SWCC on Sundays. Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson said that if Sunday were added back in it costs about$34,400.