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the June 26th agenda to ask the County Commissioners to provide the staff with same direct <br />policy guidance on these issues. <br />Chair Carey said that he did not know Orange County was paying 100%. He said that <br />this is no incentive for employees to get well. <br />Rod Visser said that if changes were made, it would not affect anyone who is currently <br />on workers comp. He said that Orange County needs an effective return to work program. <br />Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones said that workers comp claims <br />across the State have increased considerably, but Orange County is the only one that gives <br />such liberal benefits. She clarified that light duty could be done in any place in the County and it <br />does not have to be done in the same department. <br />Laura Blackman said that there has been some educating of department heads, and <br />there will be a safety and an educational program. <br />6. New Staff Attorney <br />Laura Blackmon made reference to the vacant Communications Specialist position in the <br />County Commissioners' Office and said that her understanding was that this was a position that <br />the Board wanted to keep for the possibility of filling at a future time, but the practice has been <br />not to fill this. She has been in discussions with Clerk to the Board Donna Baker about utilizing <br />this position. There have been discussions about the possibility of moving this FTE to the <br />Manager's Office for either a Staff Attorney ar a Public Information Officer. Laura Blackman <br />said that she has met with Geof Gledhill several times to talk about the types of duties the staff <br />attorney would perform, particularly in light of his pending but undetermined retirement. Since it <br />is an existing FTE, it was not on the list of recommended positions, but she would like to <br />discuss this. She asked far Board direction. <br />Donna Coffey said that there is $100,000 set aside in the Manager's Recommended <br />Budget for this function of staff attorney. This was the estimate in 2004 for salary and equipping <br />the person for work (office supplies, etc.). <br />Commissioner Foushee said that she would like to see the responsibilities that the <br />Manager and the County Attorney have discussed. She said that, knowing that there has to be <br />a smooth transition when Geof Gledhill retires, it is imperative to move towards filling that <br />position. <br />Chair Carey said that the Board was supposed to have a discussion about what is meant <br />by staff attorney and whether the Board would hire it or the Manager would hire it. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that she thought that this was a Manager's position. <br />Laura Blackmon said that the information that she had was that she would do the <br />evaluation and the position would grow into the position of a county attorney. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that this position should be worked out in the fall. She <br />suggested taking one of the FTEs that is not currently filled and assigning the reserve to it. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he thinks this has already been worked out, because he <br />has a recollection of it. <br />Commissioner Nelson suggested working this out after the summer break with the job <br />description, etc. <br />Commissioner Gordan would also like to work out the water resources position ar <br />positions, because there is also a reserve set aside for this function. <br />7. New Staff Proposals <br />