Minutes 06-05-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Brenda Bartholomew said no. Commissioner Gordon asked about the delays for open positions. Cheryl Young said there are 6 month delays for open positions, but staff can ask for a waiver for critical positions. Commissioner Gordon said there were efforts not to cut positions during the recession, but to save money with the delays. She asked if this is still the case. Cheryl Young said yes. She said the six month hiring delay resulted in a savings of approximately $2 million this year. She said the furlough is a voluntary program, and it is estimated at $30,000. Chair Jacobs referred to page 326 and asked if turnover data is normally tracked or if this is a special effort. Cheryl Young said staff does keep up with turnover data and patterns are noted. She said there are some positions that have a higher turnover. She said the economy is improving and thus some positions are leaving for higher pay. Chair Jacobs said he would like to see that data. Cheryl Young said she can provide that information. Michael Talbert said the recruitment and hiring process has been improved, and the staff is within one or two positions of being full. Chair Jacobs said it would be helpful to see areas of greatest turnover. Commissioner Pelissier asked if exit interviews are done with employees. Cheryl Young answered yes. • Solid Waste Department, Pg. 420 (Including fee schedule change requests, Pg. 508 and Non-Departmental Items, Pg.344) Darrell Butts said some information is out of date due to changes made earlier tonight. Darrell Butts said the net change is a total decrease of$333,000. He said this is largely within operations and capital outlay. He said there is one non-departmental item for this department, and this is the County general fund contribution to sanitation, which is a decrease of$12,593 in this budget. He said the largest drivers are the landfill closure, recycling, and vehicles. He said the sanitation department has a large $2.4 million project for the construction of the improved Eubanks solid waste convenience center. He noted that tipping fees have gone up by $2. He said the fee schedule is no longer valid. Commissioner McKee asked how the capital outlay of$2.42 million for the Eubanks Solid Waste improvements is being paid for. Gayle Wilson said this will be paid for through debt service. Commissioner McKee said he is starting to question whether to move forward with Eubanks renovations before there is a solid waste and transfer station plan in place with the town partners. He questioned whether it might make sense to site a transfer station adjacent or on the same site as a convenience center. He wonders if there might be a savings in the current year. Gayle Wilson said it would depend on which transportation site he is talking about. He said the site most recently discussed by Chapel Hill would not have enough space to co-locate a convenience center. Commissioner McKee asked if there would be a savings and money in the general fund to re-allocate if the County did not go forward with the convenience center renovation. Gayle Wilson said the money has already been borrowed, and the debt service is obligated. He said no operating costs for the new Eubanks center were included in next year's