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c. Per Section 20.3.2(e) of the Zoning Ordinance, the approval of the Zoning Atlas <br /> Petition would carry out the intent of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. <br /> Specifically, the approval of the petition would cause the reconfiguration of an EC-5 <br /> zoning designation to include an existing non-residential land use. By approving <br /> the petition, the existing non-residential land use would be property zoned and, <br /> therefore, would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. <br /> The motion also includes approving the Statement of Consistency (Attachment 3) and <br /> Resolution of Rezoning Approval (Attachment 4). <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 6. Regular Agenda <br /> a. Creation of County Attorney Department and Authorization for New <br /> Paralegal Position <br /> The Board considered approving the County Manager's recommendation to make <br /> changes to the Orange County organizational structure by creating the County Attorney's <br /> Office reporting to the Board of County Commissioners; to approve a new position of <br /> Paralegal; and to amend the County's Classification and Pay Plan. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that with the hiring of John Roberts as the in-house attorney a <br /> County Attorney department had to be created. She referred to the organization chart in the <br /> packet. The paralegal pay grade is at 14. The attorney has reviewed this job description and <br /> approved it. She said that the County used to have an outside attorney with a full house of <br /> attorneys and support staff. It is difficult to predict what will be needed. <br /> John Roberts said that the paralegal position is necessary and an in-house legal <br /> department will result in significant cost savings in the long run. He asked the County <br /> Commissioners to approve this position. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner <br /> Pelissier to approve the County Manager's recommendation to make changes to the Orange <br /> County organizational structure by creating the County Attorney's Office reporting to the Board <br /> of County Commissioners; to approve a new position of Paralegal; and to amend the County's <br /> Classification and Pay Plan. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> b. Efland Sewer Low-Income Rate Assistance <br /> The Board considered information on assistance options for low-income customers of <br /> the Efland Sewer System. <br /> Engineering Specialist Kevin Lindley said that in December 2008, the County <br /> Commissioners approved a four-year increase to the sewer rates. The Board also asked the <br /> staff to investigate the potential for assisting low-income customers. Engineering staff met <br /> with Staff Attorney Annette Moore and representatives from the Tax Office. The two major <br /> findings were: <br /> - It would not be legal for the County to offer sewer bill assistance to low-income <br /> Efland Sewer customers exclusively. If sewer bill assistance were to be offered to <br /> low-income Efland Sewer customers, then every income-eligible resident of Orange <br /> County would be entitled to the same assistance. <br /> - It would not be legal for the Efland Sewer fund to offer a discount rate to low- <br /> income Efland Sewer customers. <br />