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12 <br />C. Gaps between "Starting from Scratch" and Existing Resources <br />Combining the theoretical and existing resource assessments, a large <br />majority of the department's needs could be met from Planning Department <br />staff. Even so, there are a few possible "gaps" for the new department that <br />may need to be addressed: <br />1. The one area where existing resources do not cover department needs is <br />in the area of resource acquisition and environmental science background <br />for the identification and prioritization of resources. Meeting these needs <br />will require a new position with land acquisition and environmental science <br />background. <br />2. Further information will be developed for an interim and long -term <br />acquisition program, as specified in Section 1.13 and Appendix A, so that a <br />program with the ability to meet specific needs for resource land <br />acquisition can be implemented. Questions regarding the entity to serve <br />as a "land trust" (County, Triangle Land Conservancy, Soil and Water <br />District) will need to be addressed. <br />3. The Planning Department has an existing Administrative Assistant that <br />provides board and staff support, but re- assignment of this position to the <br />ERCD would leave the Planning Department without support for the <br />boards that it would retain, not to mention daily administrative functions. <br />4. In terms of equipment needs, most could be acquired through the transfer <br />of resources from Planning. However, a new printer and ARC -View <br />software will be needed (not available for detachment from Planning), and <br />office equipment for any new positions would also need to be acquired. <br />IV. Recommended Personnel and Equipment Needs <br />Upon completion of the evaluation of the mission, tasks and resource needs of <br />the new department, the Administration recommends the following program to <br />initiate an Environment and Resource Conservation Department. <br />A. Personnel <br />As previously stated, a considerable proportion of the mission and tasks for <br />the new department are a reconfiguration and expansion of efforts and <br />projects currently handled by existing staff in the Planning Department. <br />Based on the assessment of resources, the Administration recommends a <br />combination of existing and new personnel for the new department. Two <br />permanent positions and 1.5 project- funded permanent time - limited positions <br />