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~ ~A/ a0/~.a. yr ~ ~/ <br />©S~~UG-yo~d <br />`l.~ ' <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there are more vacant positions than this and she <br />asked when these would be considered. <br />Frank Clifton said that there will be more review of positions. He is looking at the <br />retirement incentives. He wants to avoid as much direct impact on services as possible. He <br />said that the Board will have some difficult decisions to make during the budget process. <br />Commissioner Nelson asked about the Public Works Director position and who would <br />take care of these duties. Frank Clifton said that some other positions will probably be <br />restructured. <br />Michael McGinnis said that the function is being handled currently by the Director of <br />Asset Management and Purchasing. <br />Commissioner Pelissier asked about the Visitor's Bureau position and if Orange County <br />would be using 100% of the occupancy tax for the Visitor's Bureau if this position were <br />eliminated. <br />Frank Clifton said that 100% of the occupancy tax would be used for the Visitor's <br />Bureau and County functions. <br />Commissioner Yuhasz said that this is a good first step towards making up the shortfall, <br />but there will be a reduction in all services that the County provides and funds. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Gordon <br />to approve eliminating the 21 positions identified in Attachment 1. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Frank Clifton pointed out that this is roughly a savings of $1.2 million. <br />f. Adiusting the Limits on the Manager's Contracting Authority <br />The Board considered information regarding the contracting authority of county <br />managers in various North Carolina counties in order to compare the information to Orange <br />County and, if appropriate, adjust the Manager's contracting authority. <br />John Roberts said that shortly after he got to the County they discussed efficiencies in <br />the county attorney's office. He gave a suggestion to increase the limits of the Manager's <br />contracting authority from $5,000 and the Board of County Commissioners did increase it up to <br />$25,000. He said that Frank Clifton's probationary status is over now and he recommended <br />that his authority be increased. <br />Frank Clifton said that the Manager cannot sign a contract for any amount of money that <br />is not budgeted and approved by the Board as an authorized expense. He said that he does <br />not care what the amount is set at, but $25,000 is fairly low and sometimes vendors have to <br />wait for contracts to be put on the agenda. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she thought there should be more language, such as <br />protective language, in the specifications of the manager's contracting authority. She said that <br />the amount that seems large to her is in bullet 1, "The Manager may execute contracts for <br />construction or repair projects which do not require formal competitive bid procedures and for <br />which the amount to be expended does not exceed $499,999." She thought an incremental <br />step might be sufficient. She wants to make sure to enter into the record this information so <br />that it is public. She said that the procedures listed here governing the manager's authority are <br />miminal. <br />Frank Clifton said that many counties make it part of the budget ordinance. He said that <br />the real issue is that the County is bound by state statute. He asked the County <br />Commissioners to just pick a number. <br />Commissioner Jacobs arrived at 9:12 pm. <br />