Agenda - 06-18-2002 - 8q - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 UNC School i f Public Health behind the Planning and Agricultural Center to address recent additions in staff to both Environmental Health and Environment and Resource Conservation. The modular unit, which would house some Environmental Health staff, has proven to Ire too expensive to be feasible at this time, leaving a soon-to-be-immediate shortage of available office space, with all of the positions now hired. To address this situation —and to maintain a physical presence at the Blackwood house— the Manager and staff propose to locate three staff members from ERCD to the Blackwood she,on an interim basis only. The benefits of this action would be tc 1)add a physical presence at the she(an active alarm system is in place and would be utilized after hours and on weekends, augmented by periodic weekend site checks by public safety and other staff): and 2)to allow staff that would be involved in the eventual design of fire park, and evaluation of the historic farm buildings,to be present at the site. The personnel to be located on an interim basis at the Blackwood house include the Open Space Design Specialist,the Preservation Planner It hours per week, a split position with PlanninglEROD), and the ERCD graduate intern. At Ue J.H. Cate House(Chapel HIII Township Park), additional HVAC work is needed prior to placement of a caretaker, and specifications for this work are being developed. Once the funding far those upgrades is idai and work completed, the attached process could be followed to place someone at the She. Discussions with Durham County are gentling regarding a third house—the potential relocation of one Heritage Hills house to LiHle River Park. To date,the concept of an actual site caretaker has been proposed. That issue will need to be addressed later by both the Orange County and Durham County Boards of Commissioners. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds for basic utility service at the Blackwood house are in the current and FY 2002-03 budgets. At such time as a lease agreement Is developed with a caretaker, the agreement would specify the red to be paid, based on existing and reasonable market rates. Any rent set offs for caretaker Services (limited maintenance and upkeep of the property)would be addressed through a separate caretaker agreement—as iterated In the attached proposed process. It is anticipated that rent set-offs would fully fund the cost of compensation for caretaker services. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board 1. Author¢a the County Manager to lease the habitable dwellings on County-owned properties, for terms of 12 months or less based on existing and reasonable market rates, and 2. Provide for caretaker agreements in conjunction with these prapadies (as may be allowed under applicable law and policy),for terms of up to 12 months, and 3. Allow the placement of the above-identified existing ERCD staff at the Blackwood house . on an Interim basis, pending review by the Board of alternatives to the Space Needs Study,which would address the situation et the Planning and Agricultural Center.