Agenda - 02-02-1987 - Special Mtg.

Browse Search

Giving the matter a little thought I'm sure you will come to the same conclusion as we that the county couldn 't hope to deliver the services provided through the shelter as it is operated by the APS for the requested budget, much less for the $109,250 suggested by Mr Thompson. Advantages to the county of the operation of the shelter by the APS are many indeed: 1 . The APS provides the shelter with volunteer workers in addition to paid staff. The estimate for this year is 3000 hr. That 's $15,000 worth of work by dedicated and caring people, and very often the nastiest kind of scut work at that. 2. The APS attracts to the shelter donations of many kinds, animal food, professional services, cages and other equipment, computers and computer services. The list goes on and on. 3. The good will that is generated by the APS through its shelter operations (as well as other APS activities that it would like to expand if it had the time and money) is immeasurable. Trees, green places, children and animals have a special meaning for the people of Orange County. How we treat them reflects back on the leadership of Orange County, for good and for bad. I've prepared two graphs to illustrate the steady increase in admissions to the shelter that has been occurring since 1980. The upper one shows actual numbers and the lower one shows the cumulative percentage, a 43% increase since 1980! Imagine what another 5-10 years will bring. Finally, please have a look at Appendix F, the weekly work schedule. Look at the 6 day per week positions that are being paid at a 5-day rate. Look at the Manager and Executive Director schedules, 7 days per week! This is accurate. I can personally vouch for it. How long will it be before we burn everybody out? We need at least one new position (the Assistant Manager, Appendix E). We need decent pay for everyone. Our personnel turnover is much too high, due in no small part to the low wages. What county employees would work 6-7 days per week for these wages? In addition to the new position, we have certain vacancies to be filled which is causing an unconscionable squeeze on our people. Our funding is so uncertain that we can 't do any hiring to help to alleviate the problem. And now we have the threat of massive, relative cuts against which private citizens like me are having to go out and lobby you, the County Commissioners.