Agenda - 01-23-2014 - 6f - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ORD-2014-004 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 23, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. 6-f SUBJECT: FY 2013-14 Budget Amendment#4-A—Approval of a 0.50 FTE Increase and a General Fund Intrafund Transfer to Establish a 1.0 FTE Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator DEPARTMENT: Economic Development, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Cooperative Extension ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brantley, 245-2330 Carl Matyac, 245-2050 PURPOSE: To increase the full-time equivalent (FTE) for a reclassified Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator from 0.50 FTE to 1.0 FTE and transfer budgeted, contract personnel funds from Cooperative Extension to Economic Development to cover the FTE increase. BACKGROUND: During summer 2013, Economic Development, Cooperative Extension and Human Resources discussed the restructuring of two, part-time vacant positions into one full- time position. The departments agreed to combine a 20-hour-per-week Agricultural Extension Agent in Cooperative Extension with an existing 0.50 FTE Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator in Economic Development to create a full-time Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator position. The Coordinator would solicit agricultural-related businesses to Orange County; assist agricultural professionals with business plan development and marketing fundamentals; workshop coordination; and event planning (e.g. the County Fair, Piedmont Farm Tour). The Coordinator would also assist Cooperative Extension with projects, such as the PLANT @ Breeze training, Agricultural Summit and the Farm-to-Fork program, and lead fundraising efforts for the Breeze Family Farm Incubator Program. The Coordinator's expenses would be budgeted in the Economic Development Department, with office space in Cooperative Extension's building, and the position would report to the Economic Development Director. Cooperative Extension and Economic Development request the Board increase the reclassified position's FTE, by 0.50, to create a full-time Coordinator position (1.0 FTE). Currently, Cooperative Extension's Agricultural Extension Agent has permanent position status and budgeted funds, but no County FTE designation. Cooperative Extension employees are considered State personnel, partially subsidized in Cooperative Extension's budget. The employees are not Orange County employees and do not have County FTE designations. For that reason, the reclassified Coordinator position would need an additional 0.50 FTE to become a 1.0 FTE position.