Minutes 05-27-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The total budget is just under$1.4 million. The budget has been reduced by about $266,000. The biggest contribution is to the Chapel Hill Library of $249,000 (same as last year). The Cedar Grove branch will be closed beginning August 1 st, transferring materials, computers, and staff to the main library branch. The Cybrary in Carrboro will be eliminating one position and reducing operating hours from 44 to 20 per week. This will be done in coordination with the McDougle branch so that Monday-Friday there will be services in Carrboro at two different locations. Regarding the Carrboro branch, there is a reduction in non-permanent personnel, a reduction in the materials purchased, and reductions in administrative support. Regarding the main branch, there is a reduction of $166,000. There are reductions in non-permanent personnel, reductions in materials purchased, reduction in support for staff (travel, training, printing, and mileage), and reduction in maintenance and repairs. Commissioner Nelson said that there are charts in here with data about circulation but nothing about Cedar Grove. Library Services Director Lucinda Munger said that it is in the green handout and includes a history of usage since its inception. Frank Clifton said that one of the issues of the Cedar Grove library is one of security since two people are needed there at one time. Commissioner Nelson said that they worked very hard to get library services in the rural areas, but in closing this branch, it means that libraries will most likely not come back to the rural areas in the future. He said that there were conversations about co-locating libraries with the schools at one time. He suggested restarting these conversations. Lucinda Munger said that this was a very painful decision for her to close this branch. She plans to explore other ways to serve these areas. Commissioner Jacobs said that he thinks Pathways Elementary is designed similar to the way they use McDougle for a library. This is a little closer to the northern part of the County than the main branch library. It is designed so that people can get into the library when the school is closed. He said that there are stores in the rural areas that could be used as electronic libraries in order to keep a presence in these communities. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the two Carrboro libraries and said that there are disproportionate cuts between these and the main library. Lucinda Munger said that the budgets are structured very differently. The main library had to take the largest hit because she zeroed in on operations. • Orange Public Transportation (OPT) -Section 27 Michael Talbert said OPT is in the process of being transferred over to Planning and Inspections. OPT services are more popular and the usage is up a little bit. About 60% of the budget still comes from state and federal money. The budget is being reduced by $81,653. All of this is in personnel services. An Administrative II position is being eliminated (April 2010). There is a recommendation of the elimination of a vacant OPT Driver position. There was an agreement to keep the retiring director's position vacant for the next six months. Frank Clifton said that there was discussion about contracting for transit services with Chapel Hill Transit or Triangle Transit. He said that the availability for the $10 tag fee is out there and this would generate about $1 million a year. Commissioner Gordon reminded the Board that when they were given the financial model for the county transit plan, it included the %2-cent sales tax and this $10 vehicle registration fee. It is important to have a transit plan before the Board enacts the fee. Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board has not agreed to the $10 tag fee. Frank Clifton said that it is the Board's option to enact the fee at any time.