Agenda - 12-07-2020; 8-a - Minutes

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14 1 2 3 Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources Director reviewed the item below: 4 5 BACKGROUND: On March 10, 2020, Governor Cooper, by Executive Order 116, declared a 6 state of emergency to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On March 27, 2020, Executive Order 7 121 imposed a statewide Stay at Home Order, which directed people to stay at home except to 8 visit essential businesses, exercise outdoors or help a family members. The Order also banned 9 gatherings of more than 10 people and directed everyone to physically stay at least 6 feet apart 10 from others. 11 12 More Executive Orders followed in connection with the pandemic, which dramatically impacted 13 the manner in which County services were provided and the expectations for how County 14 employees delivered those services. 15 16 • Executive Order 135 issued April 23, 2020 extended North Carolina's Stay At Home 17 Order (Executive Order 121) until May 8, 2020. 18 • Executive Order 141 issued on May 20, 2020 lifted the statewide Stay at Home Order 19 and moved to a Safer At Home recommendation. 20 • Executive Order 151 issued on July 16, 2020 extended Executive Order 141's Safer At 21 Home Phase 2 measures until at least Aug. 7, 2020. 22 . Executive Order 155 issued on August 5, 2020 extended Executive Order 141's Safer At 23 Home Phase 2 measures until at least Sept. 11, 2020. 24 • Executive Order 163 issued on September 1, 2020 revised prohibitions and restrictions 25 that moved the state to Safer at Home Phase 2.5 measures. 26 • Executive Order 169 issued on September 30, 2020 revised prohibitions and restrictions 27 that moved the state into Phase 3 measures. 28 29 During this time, the employees of Orange County have demonstrated creativity, flexibility, and 30 perseverance in the face of uncertainty. 31 32 The FY2020-21 Budget included a variety of austerity measures to preserve the County's 33 financial position. One of these measures was the elimination of a traditional across the board 34 wage adjustment and the suspension of financial performance awards connected to annual 35 evaluations. 36 37 Given the adjustments that all employees have had to make as a result of the pandemic, the 38 County Manager is recommending a one-time Pandemic Response Payment of$100 for each 39 month worked from March 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020. Permanent employees who were 40 actively on payroll during this time would receive a one-time payment of$900. Employees hired 41 during the time of March 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020 will receive $100 for each month 42 employed, and active part-time permanent employees will receive a pro-rated payment. The 43 payment would occur in the last pay period in November. 44 45 The Pandemic Response Payments would be funded through a transfer of reserve funds from 46 the County's health insurance program. This fund currently has a total reserve balance of 47 $3,985,334 as of the end of FY2019-20. As part of the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool, 48 the recommended reserve balance is $981,735 or about 1.2 months of expected claims. As a 49 result, the reserve currently holds reserves in excess of the reserve policy of$3,003,599. Of this 50 amount, $990,000 would be required to fund the Pandemic Response Payments in FY2020-21.