Minutes 05-08-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Board considered allocating funds from the Social Justice Fund to be used to support child care for low-income families in June 2014. Nancy Coston said staff talked previously about the critical need for child care and then diligently cleared the waiting list, which caused high spending. She is asking for consideration of allocating funds from the Social Justice Fund to be used to support child care for low-income families in June 2014, to avoid starting off with state allocations behind the curve next year. She said she is trying to maintain the people being served. She said this won't keep them from ever having a waitlist, but there are currently no working families on the waitlist. She said having the social justice money for the rest of this year will be helpful. Commissioner Gordon said she feels this is a good use of the fund, and the Board should do it Commissioner Pelissier said she supports this, but she questioned whether there will be any money left in the social justice fund as allocated. Nancy Coston said this would be it. Commissioner McKee said he feels the funding should be used. Commissioner Rich questioned whether there would be any need for money that falls under the social justice fund. Nancy Coston said she has talked to the health director and there should be no more need. Chair Jacobs asked the manager for the proposed funding for next year. Michael Talbert said the social justice fund will be a little less, but there will be increased funding to social services to help offset that. Chair Jacobs said he is also supportive, but he would like to see some creative flexibility in addressing affordable housing issues. He said if this requires some of the social justice fund to encourage people to provide more housing, he would hope there is sufficient flexibility next year to do that. Commissioner Dorosin said the elimination of the waiting list was laudable. He said this is an important step forward in addressing issues of poverty and child poverty. He is encouraged that this will help that continue. He asked how many of the original people on the waitlist were helped. Nancy Coston said it ended up being about 400 people, and about a third of the children were served. Commissioner Dorosin said there was some back and forth with funding because of the government shutdown, and he does not want to see this happen again. He wants staff to communicate in advance of this happening, so that the Board can help. Nancy Coston said that was a learning experience A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to authorize the DSS Director to utilize existing budgeted funds and $150,000 from the Social Justice Fund for childcare expenses in June 2014. VOTE: UNANIMOUS f. Issues and Funding Options for Orange County's Recycling Programs (9:50- The Board discussed issues and funding options for Orange County Recycling Programs. Chair Jacobs this item was preparatory to a work session to make sure the items were listed successfully from previous discussions.