Minutes - 04-30-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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APPROVED 12!1112001 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BUDGET WORK SESSION APRIL 30, 2001 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on Monday, April 30, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiotis and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon and Barry Jacobs COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser, and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff members will be identified appropriately below} NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. 1. FY 2001-2002 Budget Issues Discussion a. Urgent Repair Housing Program County Manager John Link said that recently Robert Dowling with the Orange Community Housing Corporation indicated they were facing a difficult time in continuing as administrator of the Urgent Repair Housing Program. This is an outstanding budget issue for next year. There is not an administrator program for next year and once that is resolved there is na guarantee that there will be funding to carry out the repairs or the program. He asked for the Board's direction on this program. Housing and Community Development (H & CD} Director Tara Fikes said that there are two financial aspects. One aspect is financial support and she made reference to the letter in the agenda. In order for OCHC to continue the program, they would need approximately $47,000. The second item is money to finance the program itself. There will be no new money to apply for until October ar November. The amount that the County could apply far would be determined by the funding level of the general assembly. There is a need to find a source of funding to da the repairs. The present program placed a limit of $5,000 that could be spent per house. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Tara Fikes said that it would take a fulltime person for the County to be able to administer the program. John Link said that one thing that Tara Fikes may not mention is her experience in working with and running the program with the right support. Commissioner Carey asked who does rehabilitation management for the County and Tara Fikes said that she has a Rehabilitation Manager. Commissioner Jacobs questioned if the County added another person to H&CD if that would strengthen the comprehensive program and Tara Fikes said that it would certainly strengthen their program. Chair Halkiotis asked if Tara Fikes had any problem with assuming responsibility for this program and Tara Fikes said that this would be a new experience far them and funds would need to be identified. Tara Fikes said that this program is one that they would need to develop policies and procedures before implementing. Commissioner Carey asked how much has been spent on urgent repairs through state grants and Tara Fikes said that they received money for 1997, 1998 and 1999 and completed 68 projects for a total of $206,000. The administrative casts were covered by $350 ar $400 per unit so this did not cover the entire administrative costs.