Orange County NC Website
Memorandum <br /> TO: County Commissioners <br /> From: Laura Blackmon, County Manager <br /> RE: Proposed Reorganization Plans <br /> Date: November 18, 2008 <br /> There is probably not a governmental entity in existence that is not considering ways to <br /> streamline operations and utilize limited funding to the max. Since November 2006 when I was <br /> hired as the Orange County Manager, I have explored options for more efficient county <br /> operations. The County's departmental organization was noted as an area where changes <br /> and consolidation could bring greater efficiency and better service delivery to the residents. <br /> Such changes are already in effect in the Financial Services Department, which consolidated <br /> Budget, Finance and Purchasing; and in the merger of GIS into Information Technology and <br /> Land Records into the Tax Assessor's office. The purpose of this memorandum is to outline <br /> my recommendations which continue reorganization of departments and functions which <br /> acquire, develop, manage and preserve the County's many and varied assets. <br /> Mission of Proposed New Department <br /> Discussions among department representatives of the ERCD, Engineering, Public Works and <br /> Purchasing and Central Services Departments over the past several months have yielded a <br /> consolidation plan that would carry out the following mission elements: <br /> 1. Acquire, maintain and sustainably manage the public assets of Orange County <br /> government, including lands, facilities and grounds, and vehicles. <br /> 2. Promote and coordinate efforts for the conservation, preservation and stewardship of <br /> the County's environmental and cultural assets, including land resources, water <br /> resources, air/climate and agriculture. <br /> 3. Monitor and assess the County's progress towards sustainability, both in terms of <br /> internal County operations and for the County as a whole, developing <br /> recommendations, implementation measures and reports (such as an Annual <br /> Sustainability Report Card) to address needs. <br /> 4. Oversee, implement and coordinate County goals for environmental protection and <br /> natural and cultural resource conservation, including periodic assessments of <br /> environmental protection efforts (such as the State of the Environment report and <br /> open space reports). <br /> 5. Plan, conduct and implement the construction of all County capital projects and <br /> facilities, including project administration and management. <br /> 6. Develop, implement and coordinate a County deconstruction program to ensure its <br /> long-term viability and continued marketability of the recovered inventory. <br /> 7. Acquire land in keeping with adopted plans for conservation of natural and cultural <br /> resources (Lands Legacy), as well as for County facilities and grounds. <br /> 8. Maintain a comprehensive database (GIS and tabular) of natural and cultural <br /> resources in the County, as well as all County facilities and landholdings. <br />