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11 <br />water resources, natural and cultural resources, other environmental <br />areas, as well as strong interpersonal and presentation skills. <br />In evaluating current resources, it is apparent that, with one notable <br />exception, all of the tasks for the new department are currently housed in <br />the Planning Department to the degree that they are dealt with. Transfer <br />of the duties and work tasks outlined above would involve shifting relevant <br />personnel and equipment to the new ERCD. <br />Fortunately, because many of these tasks are currently being addressed, <br />there are staff members in the Planning Department that have sufficient <br />background and experience in many of the areas listed above. One <br />Administrative Assistant in the Planning Department has experience <br />providing support to existing staff members working on these projects, <br />and with advisory boards that deal with the new department's subject <br />areas. Two GIS Project Coordinators are currently on staff that are <br />knowledgeable about environment and resource - related coverages, and <br />have strong knowledge of the ARC -Info system. The current Special <br />Projects Planner position has significant expertise with historic <br />preservation and farmland issues, as well as previous background in <br />natural resources. Finally, the current Land Use and Environmental <br />Planner has significant expertise in water resources, open space, <br />sustainability and other environmental issues - as well as supervisory and <br />budgetary experience. <br />2. Equipment <br />Similarly, the equipment needed for the new department is currently <br />located with the personnel listed above. All of the staff members have <br />personal computers and existing office furniture and storage space. Three <br />GIS workstations and three digitizing tables are currently in the Planning <br />Department. Existing telephones and computer networking arrangements <br />are in place, if the new department stays in the Planning and Agricultural <br />Center. <br />3. Space <br />Space needs constitute an area that would need to be addressed. No <br />available space in other buildings exists at this time. Reconfigured space <br />in the Planning and Agricultural Center would be the recommended short- <br />term solution to space needs. <br />If existing staff were transferred from the Planning Department, the <br />Planning budget would need to be adjusted to reflect the personnel, <br />operating and capital expenses that would be shifted to the new ERCD. <br />