AGENDA #5c
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Patricia W. Thomas, Human Resources Director
SUBJECT:20 Year History of Town Positions and Services
DATE: August 27, 2001
In a budget working session Council Members requested information on the growth in the numbers of Town positions during the last 20 years. Attached are various charts providing details in answer to this question, along with data about changes in programs and the populations served in the last 20 years.
Since 1981-82:
· Chapel Hill’s population had increased 49% without the recent annexation, 58% with the newly annexed areas considered. Since 1981 the square miles have increased 51%, and the number of households has increased 75%
· The number of General Fund positions has increased 49%, the number of Transportation Department positions has increased by 53%, and the total number of position in all funds has increased 57%
· New facilities have opened, including the addition to Town Hall, the new Chapel Hill Public Library, Northside Gym, Homestead Park, 2 Fire Stations, the downtown parking deck, and police substations; additional positions have been added for grounds and facilities maintenance such as Fordham Boulevard and several additional parks facilities and greenways.
· A variety of new programs are being provided for citizens and to support Town services, including:
- stormwater management services
- traffic engineering services
- traffic signal maintenance
- GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping
- zoning enforcement
- technology services (e-mail, internet access)
- law enforcement services in the schools
- alternative sentencing program for first-time drug offenders
- human services grants monitoring
- direct services to housing authority residents
- tree protection and urban forestry program
- recreation services for special populations
- cost accounting services
- supervisory training and safety training for employees through in-house training and safety officers
· Changes in the way in which services are provided have included:
- law enforcement and fire protection services are now provided through separate departments (instead of through a public safety program with dually-trained Public Safety Officers )
- the Chapel Hill Housing Authority, formerly a separate agency, is now a part of Town government
- responsibility for the landfill and recycling services was transferred from the Town of Chapel Hill to Orange County
- responsibilities for recreation services and human services for senior citizens were both transferred to Orange County
- solid waste / sanitation services are being changed to provide curbside collection instead of rear yard collection
- responsibility for animal control services, formerly performed by the Police Department, has been transferred to the Animal Protection Society
- information and communication services, formerly provided through law enforcement officers, are now provided by civilians
- grounds maintenance and landscape work, previously spread between the Parks and Recreation Department, the Housing Authority, and Public Works, have been consolidated in the Public Works Department
· Some services have been abolished, including:
- jail and detention services at the Chapel Hill Police Department
- bookmobile services
- outdoor recreation programs
- risk management services through a dedicated position
- direct Town provision of human services (through Human Services Department abolished in 1983)
1. Chart with Statistics reflecting changes in Town services and demographics (p. 3).
2. Chart of Town positions for all departments over 20 fiscal years (1981/1982 through 2001/2002) (p. 5).