THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, February 7, 2000
9:00 A.M. Worksession
AGENDA
1. Conduct Health and Human Services Delivery System Study
In February of 1999, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved
the following goal for fiscal year 1999-2000:
"To complete a comprehensive study that identifies and recommends
best practices for delivery of health and human services to all citizens
of Durham County."
To accomplish this goal, the County Manager assembled a Leadership Team
consisting of Department Heads from Public Health, Social Services, The
Durham Center, Criminal Justice Resource Center, Cooperative Extension,
Youth Coordinating Board, Library, and the County Attorney to develop recommendations
that best meet the above-referenced Board goal. The Leadership Team recommended
the use to a consultant to gather information upon which to formulate their
recommendations to the County Manager.
As a result, a competitive process was initiated on November 18, 1999
with a one-month acceptance period for responses to a Request for Qualifications.
Based on the work plans and responses received, the Leadership Team is
recommending Public Consulting Group Inc. (PCG) to conduct the analysis
and delivery system study. Consultants from PCG, along with input from
the Leadership Team, developed the following revised scope of service to
be performed in a six- to eight-week period at a cost of $50,000:
"To evaluate what service improvements and management goals could
be accomplished through an organizational restructuring of the health and
human services system, including the departments of: Social Services, Public
Health, and MH/SA/DD. This will include establishing criteria for the evaluation,
projecting the major cost considerations each would involve, and clarifying
the opportunities and risks inherent in each organizational restructuring.
The organizational models to be considered are: a) the county model used
by Mecklenberg County; b) the human service model used by Wake County;
and c) the board model currently used by Durham."
The Boards direction and guidance is being sought as to whether the Leadership
Team should proceed with the recommendation to enter into a contractual
agreement with a consulting firm to gather information for conducting a
health and human services delivery study. (The funds have been budgeted
in the County Managers cost center to cover the cost of the contract.)
Resource Person(s): Carolyn P. Titus, Deputy County Manager
County Manager's Recommendation: Accept the progress report from
the Health and Human Services Delivery System Leadership Team. Provide
direction and guidance as to whether the team should proceed with recommending
that a contractual agreement be entered into with a consultant for the
purposes of meeting the Boards FY 1999-00 Goal.
2. Update on the Activities of the Upper Neuse River Basin Association
At the April 27, 1998 Board of County Commissioners Regular Session,
the Commission approved a resolution to provide financial support to the
Upper Neuse River Basin Association. This contribution is in the amount
of $7,927 and has reoccurred on an annual basis for the association since
1998.
The mission of the Upper Neuse River Basin Association is to preserve
the water quality of the Upper Neuse River Basin through innovative and
cost-effective strategies, and to constitute a forum to cooperate on water
supply issues within the Upper Neuse River Basin by:
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Forming a coalition of units of local governments, public and private agencies,
and other interested and affected communities, organizations, businesses,
and individuals to secure and pool financial resources and expertise;
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Collecting and analyzing information and data and developing, evaluating,
and implementing strategies to reduce control and manage pollutant discharge
and to manage water resources; and
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Providing accurate technical, management, regulatory, and legal recommendations
regarding the implementation of strategies and appropriate effluent limitations
on discharges into the upper portion of the Neuse River.
Lisa Martin, Executive Director, Upper Neuse River Basin Association,
will brief the Board on the recent activities of the association and discuss
the importance of the association to Durham County.
Resource Person(s): Lisa Martin, Executive Director, Upper Neuse
River Basin Association
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager recommends that
the Board receive the report and reference the resolution which was adopted
by the Board of Commissioners on April 27, 1998.
3. Unified Child Care Subsidy System
Durham County Social Services (DSS), Durhams Partnership for Children
(DPfC) also known as Smart Start, Child Care Services Association (CCSA),
and Operation Breakthrough (OBT) have worked since May 1996 on a new Unified
Child Care System which will operate as a collaborative venture between
these four agencies. The purpose of the project is to improve access to
quality child care for all Durhams children by combining all of Durhams
existing child care subsidy programs into one process in one location.
Funds for the project are furnished through a grant from the State through
Durhams Partnership for Children (DPfC). A leadership team composed of
representatives from the above agencies will govern the project. A director
will be hired to manage the project, coordinate services, and oversee staff
from the collaborating agencies.
DSS staff along with representatives from Durhams Partnership for Children,
Child Care Services Association, and Operation Breakthrough will be present
to apprise the Board of the project and outline its goals and implementation
plan. In addition, staff will highlight future Board action that will be
necessary to support project implementation.
Resource Person(s): Dan Hudgins, Director, Department of Social
Services, and Arnold Dennis, Assistant Director for Family Self-Sufficiency,
Department of Social Services.
County Manager's Recommendation: Accept the report and provide
input to the planning team on the collaborative efforts of agencies designing
and implementing the Unified Child Care Subsidy Project.
4. Scheduling a Walking Tour and a Meeting to Discuss the Space Needs
Analysis and the Facility Master Plan
This item is a request for the Board of County Commissioners to schedule
a meeting to discuss the Durham County Space Needs Analysis and Facility
Master Plan project. The meeting would begin with a tour of the East Main
Street area followed by a presentation of a facility scenario, which incorporates
the Boards input from the December worksession.
The purpose of the Space Needs Analysis and Facility Master Plan project
is to identify the space needs of Durham County Government for the next
20 years and develop an implementation plan to meet the needs of the involved
departments and agencies. On September 1, 1999, the project consultant,
OBrien/Atkins Associates, PA in conjunction with GSA, Ltd., provided an
update to the BOCC prior to development of the facility plan component.
The update highlighted the data collection process, interviews, projections,
and determination of future needs. On November 1, 1999, the project consultant
presented four facility configuration concepts which meet Durham Countys
facility needs. Following input and direction from the BOCC, an additional
scenario that includes a Human Services facility on East Main Street was
developed and presented on December 6, 1999. The most recent scenario has
been modified to incorporate comments by the Board at the December worksession.
Upon receiving direction from the Board, a final plan will be prepared
for adoption.
Resource Persons: Glen Whisler, County Engineer, Sandra Phillips, Director
of Purchasing, Kevin Montgomery, OBrien/Atkins Associates, PA, Howard
Geisler, GSA, Ltd.
County Manager's Recommendation: The County Managers recommendation
is that the BOCC schedule a meeting to include a tour and project update.
Possible dates include February 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2000.
Completion of the Space Needs and Facility Master Plan project will allow
needed facility projects identified in the Master Plan to be incorporated
into Durham Countys Capital Improvement Plan. The Board may consider having
a meeting on this issue at the Health Department after this tour.
5. Receipt of the Durham Transportation Demand Management Plan and
Setting a Public Hearing for February 28, 2000 to Receive Comments on the
Commute Trip Reduction Program
On January 3, 2000, the Board of County Commissioners received a briefing
on the development of a Durham Transportation Demand Management Plan. This
Plan has been prepared under the guidance of a Durham TDM Committee cochaired
by Commission Vice-Chairman Ellen Reckhow and Kennon Borden. The main objectives
of the TDM Plan are to:
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reduce the number and length of commute trips;
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shift additional commute travel to off peak hours;
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encourage walking, cycling, public transit, and carpooling as alternatives
to driving;
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provide better integration of land use and transportation planning; and
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reduce air pollution and the number of ozone alert days.
The TDM Plan proposes a set of action strategies to help achieve these
objectives. One of the strategies is a Commute Trip Reduction Program.
The purpose of this program is to promote a reduction of commute trips
to work through telecommuting, carpooling, vanpooling, transit usage, flexible
work schedules, and other trip reduction strategies.
Resource Person(s): Ellen Reckhow, Commission Vice Chairman;
Kennon Borden, TDM Committee Cochair; Mary Clayton; Parsons Brinckerhoff;
Chuck Kitchen, County Attorney; Mark Ahrendsen, City of Durham Transportation
Division; Bonnie Estes, City-County Planning Department; and Alden Jackson,
City-County Planning Department.
County Manager's Recommendation: Receive the Durham Transportation
Demand Management Plan and Commute Trip Reduction Program and set a public
hearing for February 28, 2000. The purpose of the public hearing is to
receive comment on the Commute Trip Reduction Program and to consider adoption
of the TDM Plan and Commute Trip Reduction Program.
6. CIP Review Criteria
The Board originally scheduled to meet January 20 to discuss the review
criteria for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process. Although time
is allocated on the regular worksession to the address the review criteria
and ranking process, additional time will be needed to complete the discussion.
Staff requests one additional meeting to discuss the CIP review criteria
and provide an overview on the FY2000-01 budget process. Below are proposed
dates for this meeting.
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February 10 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 11 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 16 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 17 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 21 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 24 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
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February 25 9:00 12:00; or 1:00 4:00
Resource Person(s): Claudia Odom, Budget and Management Services
Director
County Manager's Recommendation: Inclement weather delayed the
originally scheduled Board discussion on the CIP review criteria selection.
Placement of this item on the Board's regular worksession agenda allows
the dialogue on the CIP review criteria to begin. Staff will need additional
time from the BOCC to finish the CIP discussion and address the FY 2000-01
operating budget process.
7. Substantial Equivalency
The North Carolina State Department of Human Resources (DHR) employees,
namely, those employed by the Public Health, Mental Health, Social Services,
and Emergency Management departments are covered by the State Personnel
Act (NC GS 126). This means these employees follow state rules for recruitment,
selection, salary administration, and dismissal. The State requires the
use of competitive recruitment and selection procedures as a condition
for the receipt of funding. Substantial Equivalency refers
to the establishment of a local personnel system for DHR employees that
approximates the State system and allows for the administration of personnel
actions at the County level.
Currently, the Durham County DHR agencies operate under a dual personnel
system, the Countys and the States. The Durham County Human Resources
Department administers both of these systems with the final decision-making
authority reserved for the State regarding the agencies mentioned above.
The Durham County Human Resources Department provides for uniform recruitment,
compensation, benefits, training, and performance management for all County
employees. However, DHR employees operate under state classification, pay
and appeal procedures.
In an effort to quickly meet the recruitment and classification needs
of the DHR agencies and localize personnel functions, staff is recommending
that the BOCC petition the State for Substantial Equivalency.
Resource Person(s): Jackye Knight, HR Director, and Tony Noel,
HR Manager
County Manager's Recommendation: Endorse efforts to apply for
Substantial Equivalency and move to formal agenda for approval.
8. Closed Session
The Board is requested to adjourn to closed session pursuant to G.S.
§ 143-318.11(a)(6) in order to discuss a personnel matter and consider
the appointment of a public officer.
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