Minutes - 06-20-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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they probably have a hard time living in Orange County. He said that there was a relationship between affordable housing and the employees on the lower end. He has problems with the Meritorious Service Awards. He also has problems when a lot of department heads are receiving these awards. The department heads should be doing an exceptional job at all times. He does not feel the needs of the whole chain of County employees are being met. Commissioner Halkiotis is in support of all of the new positions, with the exception of the Recreation and Parks position. He is in support of the additional funding for La Fiesta Del Pueblo. He endorses the concept of reducing the Facilities Care Reserve, grounds care maintenance, a limited on- call reserve, and all of the other reductions that Commissioner Jacobs listed in the one-cent tax rate scenario. He made reference to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and said that he has a problem with what this organization does. He concurs with the reduction far Research Triangle Regional Partnership. He has no problem with the additional $5,000 for the Land Trust. He made reference to the rest of the budget items and thanked the Manager for the information that was sent out. He would also like to request afollow-up report from all of the outside agencies that receive County funding. He also has no problem with the fire district tax. He has no problem with the 2.75% COLA. He would like to take the $62,099 and put it in a reserve fund to help those employees on the bottom end of the pay scale. Chairman Carey thanked Commissioner Halkiotis, recognized Commissioner Gordon, and explained what had taken place before she arrived. He said that each Board member represented an opinion and he hoped that all of them could work together. He is concerned about the people on the lower end of the pay scale. He said that, based on Commissioner Halkiotis' comments, the allocation far the Research Triangle Regional Partnership would be cut in half, $5000 would be added to the Land Trust, and the funding for the two museums would be equal. There will be same mare discussion on the COLA. Chairman Carey said that he supported not reducing the funding for RTRP but to question why Orange County did not get a return an the investment. Commissioner Brown made reference to the museums and asked if the funding would be equal. She is not sure of the current status of the Chapel Hill Museum, sa she is not totally committed to funding the two museums equally. She would like to keep the Manager's recommendation for this year and next year discuss this as a policy issue. Chairman Carey said that this was his point at the last meeting. He is concerned about making a policy just because the two museums look alike. The funding should be based on programs and merit. Commissioner Brown also asked about OCIM and if it was going to be a policy that the Board is establishing to fund OCIM and the InterFaith Council equally. She accepts the Manager's recommendation far this year and would like to look at it again next year. She said that things could change and she does not want to be tied to equal funding. Commissioner Brown made reference to the COLA and said that she and Chair Carey wanted the 3°~. She is concerned about the increase in insurance premiums this year and how it would affect the lowest paid employees. She said that the take home pay would be a lot less as a result of the increased insurance premiums. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested putting the money aside that would be saved by having a COLA of 2.75°~ and working on addressing the needs of the lower salaried employees in the fall. Commissioner Jacobs said that the details of the equitable distribution between the lowest paid people needed to be worked out. He agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis' suggestion to set aside the funds and have the staff bring back recommendations in the fall. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the equal pay for equal services issue and said that he asked why the IFC got more than OCIM and did not say that it should be the policy. He wants to treat these two agencies equally. He would like mare information on the programs of the IFC and OCIM. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the two museums and said that $5,000 would not constitute a policy decision. He said that the Chapel Hill Museum was committed to their location. He said that they were trying to get an their feet, and he does not feel that $5,000 is unreasonable. Commissioner Jacobs supports the full funding of the Land Trust. He showed the Christmas Card that was sent from the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and said that it was an