Minutes - 06-13-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon made reference to the two positions in Soil and Water where the state was funding one half and now is only going to fund one quarter. She suggested funding one of the positions completely and half of the other one so that the County could interact more with Soil and Water. Commissianer Jacobs said that it seems that if both positions were funded three quarters as recommended, then bath positions would be mare responsible to the County. The Board was in favor of the recommended changes of existing positions. Alternative Resources Commissioner Brown asked the Sheriff to ga over some of the services of the Sheriff's department related to family violence, rape victims, etc. Sheriff Pendergrass said that there was a proposal with the government's Crime Commission to offset some of the costs of these services. There are three full-time domestic violence workers, and one part-time crisis worker in the high school. The part-time position is funded by the high school. The three full-time positions are funded by the County. The Domestic Violence unit responded to approximately 2,000 cases last year. The average number of cases an a weekly basis is 15-20. The Crisis Unit is averaging around 800-900 cases per year. Commissioner Halkiotis asked if the three people received on-call pay. He said that he would support on-call pay if it would apply to these types of positions. Sheriff Pendergrass answered that the three positions did not receive on-call pay. He said that the three positions did all of the referrals for Carrboro, Mebane, and Hillsborough. Commissianer Brown asked where the money came from for the occasional motel rooms for families when the shelters were full. Sheriff Pendergrass said that the investigators usually would pick up the tab. Chair Carey agrees that the on-call pay should be equitable with all the employees. Commissianer Halkiotis said that the deputies and investigators should be reimbursed for these motel tabs. He would like the Manager to get with the Sheriff and work this out. Chair Carey asked about the vacant positions for Deputy Sheriff I that have been vacant for almost a year. Budget Director Donna Dean said that in last year's budget, the Sheriff received four additional School Resource Officers and four positions were held vacant in order to make up the match. Two of the positions were freed up during the year to provide security for the courthouse. Commissianer Brown asked about the state of crime in Orange County. Sheriff Pendergrass said that major crime figures have not increased much at all. There has been an increase of 31 °lo in service calls, which include neighborhood complaints, house checks, school crossings, etc. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Sheriff was pursuing grant money from the state for the three positions. Sheriff Pendergrass said that they were pursuing same money for at least one full-time Deputy. He will not know about the grant funds until July. 4. County Department Focus f major budget, policy. operational issues, using "review by exception" approachl Community Maintenance Commissioner Jacobs asked why the Commissioner's Contingency was zero. Donna Dean said that the expenditures were reflected in the accounts that have had money transferred from the Commissioners Contingency account. Commissianer Jacobs asked about the hiring of the Deputy Clerk. Beverly A. Blythe said that they have been working on realignment of the department and the information would be forthcoming this week. Commissioner Jacobs flagged the Commissioner's Contingency as something to discuss later. Commissioner Jacobs asked about Soil and Water Conservation easements and said that it was not much in the way of acreage. Kenny Ray said that it was harder in this area to get people to set aside the repairing areas due to the value of land.