County eyeing four-day weeks
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 19, 2015 1:46 PM
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning are expected to continue reversing an August 2008 policy that switched most county departments to a four-day work week.
Schedules of only three departments, Animal Services, Information Technology and the Department of Social Services, remain to be examined.
County Manager George Wood will make his recommendation Tuesday on Animal Services and Information Technology.
But no changes will be made in the DSS schedule until the office completes the implementation of new software program in February.
Wood will make his recommendations when the board meets on Tuesday.
The meeting will get under way with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. Both are held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
Animal Services personnel work four 10-hour days, except for the office assistant/dispatcher and the administrative assistant, both of whom work five eight-hour days. Those working the four-day work week are staggered, with each having one day of the week off allowing the shelter and enforcement divisions to provide coverage five days per week, Wood said.
Information Technology has most employees working a four-day week, but they are staggered to give five-day service. The department does not provide services to citizens directly, so the public does not have to have five-day access, he said.
"Their customers are our other departments, who rely on them to install hardware and software, and keep it and our network functioning properly," Wood said. "So, their scheduling needs to account for the peak times for internal users."
Wood said he believes those schedules best meet the needs of the public and is recommending the board formally approve them.
Commissioners also will consider zoning amendments to several tracts in the area of U.S. 70 West/Westbrook Avenue/N.C. 581.
The board held a public hearing on the proposed zoning changes during its Oct. 6, session. No one spoke against the changes.
The proposed rezoning includes:
* One parcel of land along U.S. 70 West containing 27.29 acres from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
* Extending an existing zoning area adjacent to Westbrook Avenue (SR 1259) to include an additional 62.22 acres. The proposed zoning for this additional area is Community Shopping.
* Approximately 89.61 acres located on the east side of N.C. 581 North from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
* Three tracts at the intersection of Westbrook Avenue and unnamed service road from Residential-10 to Community Shopping and one tract to Village District.
* Approximately 28.39 acres on the west side of the Walmart development from Outer Horizontal to Community Shopping.
In other business, Wayne County Sheriff's Office Major Tom Effler will update commissioners on the office's high-speed pursuit policy.
Commissioner Ed Cromartie asked for the report during the board's Oct. 6 session.
Commissioners will discuss:
* Various plans that relate to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in housing, employment, procurement and provision of services for Community Development Block Grants.
* Allowing Facility Director Kendell Lee to obtain cost estimates to upfit the former Pinewood Fire Station to accommodate WayneNET and for Wood to proceed with the relocation, if feasible.
* Adopting the National Apprenticeship Week Proclamation.
Commissioners also will consider a motion to cancel the Envirocon contract for HVAC controls in county facilities.
The county facilities department is recommending the cancellation to pursue other options.
Wayne County Health Department officials will make a presentation about flu awareness, and commissioners will view North Carolina Pork Council videos featuring the family of WayneNET Coordinator Nannette Sutton.
Consent agenda items include applications for 2015 Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Exclusion, Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion, Property Tax Exclusion and Present Use Value; denial of a late 2015 property tax application exclusion by Rex Hospital Inc.; and budget amendments.
A public comments section will be held at 10 a.m. Speakers will have four minutes to comment on their topic of choice.