AGENDA

1. Interviews for Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Candidates

The Commissioners will interview the four Alcoholic Beverage Control Board candidates beginning at 1:30 p.m. The candidates and the interview times follow:

Hugh F. Lecky Jr. 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Nancy L. Miller 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Ernest L. Simpson 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Frank A. Ward 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

2. Citizen-Comment?Ralph McKinney

Mr. Ralph McKinney has requested time on the agenda to make comments to the Commissioners.

3. Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee Report

Ms. Mildred Barnes and Ms. Catherine P. Jones, cochairs of the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee, will present a report to the Board of County Commissioners to address the complaints and concerns that have been recorded in the committee minutes. Remarks will be made concerning the corrective actions being taken.

Ms. Jill Al-hafez, Ombudsman, Triangle J Council of Governments, will be present to assist with the presentation.

4. Presentation on Facility Planning for Durham County Operations

The Board set aside funds in the FY 1999 Budget to conduct a space needs assessment for administrative and operational functions and to develop a master plan to meet the identified space requirements. Included is a draft of a Request for Qualifications for architectural services. Staff is requesting that the Board review the draft and provide input and direction.

The most critical space needs involve Social Services and the judicial system. Staff will review options involving space needs for Social Services with special emphasis placed on the Carmichael and 220 East Main Street facilities. Staff is requesting that a portion (not to exceed $25,000) of the funds the Board set aside in the FY 1999 Budget for architectural design of the Carmichael facility be used for repairs at both facilities.

Chief District Court Judge Kenneth C. Titus will discuss immediate and long-term space needs of the judicial system. To address immediate space needs, staff is investigating the potential lease of the Wachovia Building located downtown in order to relocate Juvenile Services, Guardian Ad Litem, juvenile court and domestic court from the courthouse. Staff is requesting that a portion (not to exceed $50,000) of the funds the Board set aside in the FY 1999 Budget for architectural design of the Carmichael facility be used to hire an architect to develop design plans for occupying the Wachovia Building and renovating vacated space in the Judicial Building. In addition, staff is requesting that the Board officially establish a Judicial Facilities Committee to both oversee the progress of addressing immediate space needs and to develop long-term solutions.

Resource Persons: David M. Powell, Economic Development/Property Management, Glen E. Whisler, Environmental Engineering/General Services, Kenneth C. Titus, Chief District Court Judge

5. Year 2000 Project Update

With all the articles in the news and magazines, everyone is now aware of the problem that may be caused by the century change from 1999 to 2000. Due to the cost of computer space in the past, computer chips and storage have always used only a two digit year--98 for 1998. Date computations have used a year-month-day format. In the year 2000, 00/01/01 (YYMMDD) minus 99/01/01 is not 365 days but an invalid result. Computers and programs that are not corrected will be the cause of many problems such as miscalculated payroll, bad interest calculations, invalid shipping dates, etc. The problem extends to air conditioning systems, microwave ovens, VCRs, elevators, automobiles, wrist watches--in other words, everything that uses a computer chip with a date function.

The Durham County Information Technology Department has been working for approximately 24 months to address the Year 2000 problems. We request time at the September 9, 1998 Worksession to give an update as to what has been accomplished to date and the remaining project plan.

Also, although Information Technology does not have the resources to investigate and address all other possible problems that may be caused by the new millennia, we have been asked to take on a leadership role and to assist other departments in this effort. To accomplish this assignment, we will be starting new initiatives to motivate all departments in the County in addressing their Year 2000 issues.

Perry Dixon, Director of Information Technology; Joe Whittemore, Systems & Development Manager; and George Garland, Senior Systems Analyst, will be presenting this item.

County Manager?s Recommendation: No BOCC action to be taken. Accept as information.

6. Employee Health Insurance

Following an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process to solicit proposals for the health insurance carriers for the next three years, the following recommendations are made: (1) authorize Human Resources to enter into final negotiations with WellPath Select Inc. to become the Point-of-Service (POS) plan provider for the County employees; and (2) authorize Human Resources to enter into final negotiations with Doctors Health Plan Inc. to continue as the HMO plan provider for County employees.

Resource Persons: Jackye Knight, Director of Human Resources, and Donald Sherrod, Benefits Administrator

County Manager?s Recommendation: I have carefully considered the effects to employees when a change in health care providers occurs. I would suggest that before we return to the Board with a final contract that we hold several focus groups with employees to listen to their concerns about the proposed change. I agree overall that WellPath is a richer plan with a lower and more predictable cost increase. I concur as well that Doctors Health Plan has shown a steady turnaround in its financial difficulties which have never affected its service to our employees. I am therefore recommending that you review and discuss with HR your own suggestions and observations about the final negotiation process.