AGENDA #9b

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

FROM:            Kathryn Spatz, Parks and Recreation Director

SUBJECT:       Special Olympics Recreation Specialist Position

DATE:             April 27, 2005

This memorandum is in response to the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation that the Special Olympics Recreation Specialist position be funded full-time.

Special Olympics is an athletic-based program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The program is administered by a state office, with program offices representing counties housed in various cities and counties.  The Parks and Recreation Department houses the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program, which serves all of Orange County.  By policy, the Special Olympics program cannot charge user fees for participation.

The Town currently dedicates approximately $40,000 for the Special Olympics program, including personnel (one 25-hour per week Recreation Specialist), supplies, and training. The Town’s community-based therapeutic recreation program, separate from Special Olympics, provides a spectrum of cultural activities for individuals with disabilities.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains participant demographics for the Special Olympics program. During the current fiscal year the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics program has served more than 225 athletes, with the assistance of over 100 volunteers.  Overall demographics of Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics in the school-based and community-based program participants are as follows:

• Chapel Hill                               60%
• Carrboro                                  15%
• Orange County                         21%
• Other                                       4%

Neither the Orange County nor Town of Carrboro governments contribute finances or personnel to the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program.  However, the County has historically made an annual contribution to the Town of Chapel Hill in recognition of non-Town residents participating in Town programs/activities and using Town facilities at the same fees as Town residents do.  In recent years, the County has appropriated approximately $84,000 to the Town for this purpose.  Conversely, the Town appropriates approximately $48,000 to the County for operation of the senior center located in Chapel Hill and $30,000 to the Friends of the Senior Center.

Orange County and the Town of Carrboro offer some programming for special populations, including seniors, at-risk youth, teens, and individuals with disabilities.  Both departments offer monthly special events, such as dances and field trips, and some classes specifically designed for individuals with special needs.  In addition, the Carrboro Department funds two inclusion specialists for its summer day camps.

The additional personnel costs that would be required to upgrade the position total approximately $16,000 (this includes salary and benefits).

At its March 7 meeting, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Foy to send correspondence to the Chair of the County Board of Commissioners, requesting that Orange County provide $16,000 to increase the Orange County-Chapel Hill Special Olympics Recreation Specialist’s position to full-time status. A copy of Mayor Foy’s March 15 letter to Board of Commissioners Chair Moses Carey and Mr. Carey’s March 30, 2005 reply is attached.

Also attached is your April 13 letter to County Manager John Link, requesting equitable County funding for the Town’s Public Library and Parks and Recreation Departments.

On April 11, Board of Commissioner’s Chair Moses Carey wrote Mayor Foy, offering the additional “people power” from the County Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Carey also indicated that he believed the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department might be able to do the same. A copy of Mr. Carey’s letter is attached. On April 18, I wrote the Directors’ of both the Orange County and Carrboro Recreation and Parks Departments. I asked how many hours each week of their special populations staff person’s workload  they could dedicate on a continuing basis. I have not heard back as of yet from either Department.

ATTACHMENTS

1.  Mayor Kevin Foy’s March 16 letter to Board of Commissioners Chair Moses Carey (p. 3).

2.  Orange County Commission Chair Moses Carey’s March 30, 2005 letter to Mayor Foy (p. 5)        

3.  Town Manager’s April 13 letter to County Manager John Link (p. 6).

4.  Orange County Commission Chair Moses Carey’s April 11 letter to Mayor Foy (p. 8).