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