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County. She said that this is not as big a change as it seems from what is presently being <br /> done. <br /> Commissioner Carey verified that neither option would frustrate the service model. <br /> Nancy Coston said that foster care workers could work at either site and there should be <br /> public assistance access at both ends of the County. <br /> Commissioner Foushee asked about the Work First training and existing needs. Nancy <br /> Coston said that they had an opportunity to get funds for Work First and they are currently at <br /> Northside. She would not want to relocate this again unless it is going to be "brought into the <br /> fold." She said that one of the principles at DSS is to have two sites where staff can be housed. <br /> She said that the DSS staff is endorsing any plans that moves them forward and the DSS board <br /> was not privy to the Wal-Mart site until yesterday. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about factoring in waiting five years for a new site versus a leased <br /> site now and Nancy Coston said that her board would want to discuss this. <br /> DSS Board Chair Joe Robbins said that the board is not demanding anything, but if they <br /> saw something on the horizon, then they would adjust to five more years. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that there are two options and one option is more expeditious than the <br /> other. Nancy Coston said that the board would need timelines for either option. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said that the DSS board would also want to discuss the interim <br /> process. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that his concerns have been answered as far as the service <br /> delivery model and neither of the options would frustrate the current model. He said that time is <br /> of the essence because there need to be two sites as soon as possible. He would like to hear <br /> from Health Director Rosemary Summers, too. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked if there are other alternatives such as adding to the <br /> existing building at Southern Human Services Center and adding some space on quickly. We <br /> could request expedited review of the permit by the Town of Chapel Hill. She said that the <br /> County has not even tested the assumption that new construction would take five years. There <br /> is now an option of the Construction Manager at Risk, which could reduce the time for new <br /> construction. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked Pam Jones to put in writing an analysis of the options stated by <br /> Commissioner Gordon and also to run it against the debt capacity. <br /> He asked the DSS and Health Boards to give recommendations to the Board by January <br /> 29th <br /> Health Director Rosemary Summers said that the Board of Health agrees that the dual <br /> center model is the one that should be pursued. There are serious space crunches at both <br /> ends of the County and they are not providing best practice services due to space crunches. <br /> One example is that the refugee population has stretched the facilities to the limit. The concern <br /> in retrofitting old buildings is that the buildings may not be able to function the way the <br /> standards dictate. She said that the reserve of 5,000 square feet at the Southern Human <br /> Services Center in vacated space might not leave enough space to move dental there. She <br /> needs more time to review this. She would like to move dental out of Carr Mill Mall. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the Board hopes to have something in writing for the January 29th <br /> meeting. <br /> Link Center Remodel <br /> • Departments tentatively planned for Link: <br /> — Commissioners <br /> • With Commissioner's Board Room for meetings <br /> — Manager <br /> — Financial Services <br />