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APPROVED 10/15/96 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING <br />JUNE 18, 1996 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session on the Manager's <br />recommended 1996-1997 Orange County budget on Tuesday, June 18, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at the <br />Homestead Community Center, Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners <br />Stephen Halkiotis Alice Gordon, Don Willhoit and Bill Crowther. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None <br />STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Assistant County Managers Rod Visser and <br />Albert Kittrell., and Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Kathy Baker. <br />John Link gave a brief report on the budget items to be discussed at this Work Session. <br />Those items were then discussed in greater detail. <br />REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW: The overall <br />breakdown of these figures indicate the majority of County employees receive a rating of highly <br />effective or above. Approximately 63% received Highly Effective and another 6% received <br />Outstanding Achievement. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the State Legislature is discussing the possibility of <br />giving a 10% raise to the top performing teachers in the system. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification on the Performance Review percentages. In <br />particular, she questioned the meaning of "Highly Effective" as a rating when vast majority of the <br />employees receive that designation. <br />There was discussion about the effectiveness of this particular performance rating plan. The <br />issue of "salary compression" was discussed. It was agreed to by consensus that a work session <br />will be held early in the fiscal year to review this plan as well as several others to see if there is a <br />more effective way to evaluate employees fairly and accurately. Whatever plan is chosen needs to <br />make sure that the employees on the lower end of the salary scale are treated fairly. <br />REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF HEALTH INSURANCE & BENEFITS: Elaine Holmes, Personnel <br />Director, distributed the following information for discussion: Participation rates in the Blue <br />Cross/Blue Shield and Healthsource plans, information on health insurance options for 1996; a <br />comparison of the health plans; the estimated annual cost savings information; and plans the final <br />approved recommendation. She indicated that it could be a cost savings to participate in the North <br />Carolina Association of County Commissioners Health Plan; however, they only offer one provider. <br />This issue will continue to be reviewed and new developments will be presented to the Board of <br />Commissioners for information and suggestions. <br />PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES: A listing of all items in this budget category was <br />distributed and discussed. In particular, the issue of reimbursement for medical coverage for