NS ORD-1998-015 Living Wage Ordinance

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1 J' 35 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he sees this thing getting watered down and does not like it. Regarding day care salaries, he said that there is a problem nationwide with low pay and high turnover rates. Chair Margaret Brown said she talked with three bankers who are interested in providing money for the County's loan pool. They are against the County's setting a living wage and this stipulation being included in the loan pool guidelines. She feels that the low pay for daycare workers needs to be addressed by the daycare providers. She made reference to nonprofit agencies and asked that a letter be sent to each one encouraging them to provide a living wage for their employees. She would like to encourage a discussion on why they don't pay their employees $8.00 an hour. This may be a project that the Human Services Advisory Commission (HSAC) may want to consider doing. Commissioner Halkiotis asked for a copy of what Durham's ordinance covers. After further discussion, the County Commissioners decided to pursue three options in lieu of adopting an ordinance at this time. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the amendments to the Orange County Personnel Ordinance which establishes a living wage for employees of Orange County as County policy and shall reflect the same through the salary schedule and pay plan which it may adopt as part of the annual budget process. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to adopt a public policy that strongly encourages vendors with whom the County contracts for services to pay their employees a living wage, which is currently defined to be $8 per hour; and direct the Manager and Director of Purchasing and Central Services to ensure that language to this effect is incorporated into request for proposals for service contracts which the County may consider. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Board agreed by consensus that other concerns centering around a living wage for child care providers and nonprofits be referred to the Human Services Advisory Commission and Smart Start requesting them to pursue a dialogue with these entities and provide additional information back to the County Commissioners on the current situation and what can be done to encourage a living wage for the employees of these businesses. User Fee Review Finance Director Ken Chavious reviewed the fees as included in the proposed budget. The fees for erosion control is not included but will be added later. He distributed some comparables from surrounding counties. Chair Margaret Brown asked if it would be possible to do some kind of fee scale for doing multiple lots. Geoffrey Gledhill said that a fee schedule needs to show some logic when determining the fees. Erosion Control Officer Warren Faircloth said that a large development with high density takes a considerable amount of staff time especially when the entire tract of land is graded and then individual lots must also be graded. In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, Warren Faircloth Said that for the Meadowmont development, one inspector will spend one day a week at the site at the beginning of the project and at least one half day a week at the site for a period of time and then as more development occurs, they will spend as much as one and one half to two days a week at the site. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Chair Brown to approve the fees as presented changing the percent of recovery from 70% to 100% for all Erosion Control fees and the ( percent of recovery for Recreation and Park Fees and Aging's Orange Public Transportation fees from 50% to 70%, effective July 1, 1998. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT