Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
The Board authorized the allocation of $27,000 from the Human Services Safety Net Reserve to <br />provide a time extension of two months for the In-Home Breastfeeding Support Program/Expanded Food <br />and Nutrition Education Program. <br />VOTE ON CONSENT AGENDA: UNANIMOUS <br />ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA: <br />8-e. *Budaet Amendment #7 <br />The Board considered approving budget ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2003-04. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she had a question about the Orange County Schools <br />middle school #3. She saw that the Orange County School Board discussed this at the <br />December 1St meeting. She would like this report. She thought we were at the site selection <br />stage and that it would last a little while longer. She thought the County Commissioners were <br />going to discuss which part of the site would be the school site. She has no problems moving <br />ahead with it. She asked what kind of engineering and design was going to happen and when. <br />It was her understanding that the site is not known yet. <br />Assistant County Manager Rod Visser said that this discussion is going to come in late <br />January ar early February. The OCS has already engaged an architectural firm. The staff is <br />trying to make sure that there is an appropriation in place and that the OCS has the money to <br />pay the architects. There is no building architectural design going on yet. <br />A motion was made Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />approve the attached budget ordinance amendment and capital project ordinance for the <br />Health Department, Planning Department, and Orange County Schools Middle School #3. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />REPORTS <br />10-a. Whitted Human Services Center- Update on Renovations and Space Allocation <br />The Board considered updated information an the progress of renovations at the Whitted Human <br />Services Center (Buildings "A" and "B"), and a diagram of interior space allocation for when the center is re- <br />occupied and provided feedback to staff. <br />John Link said that the Board had asked for an update on the space allocation that is being <br />planned once renovations are completed. He made reference to the diagrams in the packet with the <br />"before" and "after" renovations. He said that all departments would get more space because the <br />Department on Aging is moving out voluntarily to the Meadowlands. <br />Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones said that OPT has moved to the Public <br />Works area in a modular unit and the Department on Aging liked their place at the Meadowlands so much <br />that they would like to stay there permanently. She said that this frees up the basement in the Whitted <br />Building. These areas have been reallocated to Housing and Community Development. The library will <br />have some staff people in the area that was previously the Nutrition Office. Department of Social Services <br />will occupy the area that was previously used as the arts and crafts roam. The family counseling space will <br />let go of their lease downtown and will move into the basement. The Department of Social Services will <br />take over the space that was used by Housing and Community Development an the third floor. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that there was a concern that the library space has been reduced. <br />Pam Janes said that the library space has not been reduced. They have picked up 572 square feet <br />downstairs and the area they thought they would lose in the audiovisual room has not been lost. <br />John Link said that until the last week or so, the library was not going to get additional space until <br />he met with all department heads to discuss space needs. He made the decision that created space far the <br />library downstairs that was originally planned for a common area for employees to work on projects. It <br />seemed the priority was higher to provide additional space far the library. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he gat an email today from the Friends of the Library saying that they are <br />losing significant shelf space by the way this is configured. Jahn Link said that as of today, the staff did a <br />walk through and it was determined that there is certain shelf space that would not meet code. <br />