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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 13, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. Gj <br />SUBJECT: Request for Social Services to Use Facility on Valley Forge Road <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 245-2802 <br />Pam Jones, 245-2650 <br />PURPOSE: To consider authorizing the use of a building on Valley Forge Road, previously the <br />site of Orange Enterprises, for use as DSS program space; and to authorize the Manager to <br />retain architectural services necessary for the upfit. <br />BACKGROUND: In November 2006, the Board received information regarding space needs in <br />County departments and how those needs might be fulfilled. While needs were addressed for <br />most County departments, there was an obvious gap in how needs of the human services <br />departments housed in the Whiffed Building might be met. In January 2007, the Manager <br />provided the Board an update and recommendations regarding the implementation of the plan. <br />This update included a recommendation that the Valley Forge Road building previously <br />occupied by Orange Enterprises be reallocated for use as programming space for the <br />Department of Social Services. This project is being brought to the Board's attention at this.' <br />time in order to meet a June 30, 2007 deadline to draw down DSS funds that are available to <br />help offset upfit costs. <br />As reflected in a memorandum provided as part of the January 2007 update, Social Services <br />Director Nancy Coston indicated the Department would use the building as a training center for <br />Work First clients as well as utilize the space to relieve some of the immediate crowding at both <br />the Whiffed Building and the Southern Human Services Center. Use of this property could <br />provide some immediate relief for the Work First program and would also provide space for <br />some of the client meetings that are conducted by staff in both the Chapel Hill and Hillsborough <br />offices. <br />The Department of Social Services envisions creating. some offices as well as classrooms and <br />meetings spaces at this site. The Department would create office space for eight permanent <br />and ten temporary staff working on the Work First program. Additional space would be made <br />available to staff from Chapel Hill who could then conduct some of their interviews in <br />Hillsborough. There would be at least one meeting room developed that could be used as the <br />Work First. classroom. Other purposes for the facility would include child welfare team <br />