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Ms. Beck stated that she could not identify any at this time, as it is difficult to <br />eliminate services and not affect the benefit to the community. <br />4. Can privatization help you? If so, in what ways? What would you privatize? <br />Ms. Beck said that they already have contracts for services with private <br />businesses. Privatization continues to help them come into compliance with programs. <br />She added that the purpose of privatization is to increase the efficiency of an organization <br />by having an outside organization take up the services. There might be a problem in <br />privatizing certain services at County facilities, because there may be labor and legal <br />concerns. Labor unions would not be happy about their people losing jobs, so that would <br />be a roadblock. Her opinion, however, is that privatization is a good idea. <br />5. Can you suggest any modernization projects that might streamline <br />operations in lieu of privatizing functions? <br />Ms. Beck said they are looking to upgrade their software for the Solid Waste <br />scales and billing functions, which should provide for some streamlining. She was not <br />given the costs on this. <br />6. Do you have any other ideas on how you can make your operations more <br />efficient? <br />• Providing incentives to employees who perform well would help to motivate <br />them and improve attendance. However, this would require union participation and <br />changes to contracts on a state -wide basis. <br />• Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) is widely used in <br />operational type facilities, such as water treatment plants, and would help to improve the <br />department's efficiency by having the maintenance of facilities and equipment timely and <br />automatically scheduled. If the right software is instituted, the system can reduce overall <br />long -term costs by lessening down -time and energy consumption and by optimizing staff <br />functions, improving productivity, and lengthening the life of equipment. The system <br />would allow them to input manufacturer recommendations, such as when to change <br />generator oil, when to service a pump, etc., into the program, so that there is a timed <br />schedule to do these things, rather than letting them go, to the detriment of the equipment. <br />The Chair asked Ms. Beck if she had any other comments or ideas regarding her <br />department, or any other ideas other than the questions they'd given her, to toss out. <br />Ms. Beck commented that every department has issues to address to make it more <br />efficient. She feels that because her department is new, about only four years old, it is still going <br />through growing pains. Serving the County is a very full -time job, in addition to trying to spot <br />all the things that need correcting. It will take time and needs everybody's cooperation. <br />Everyone needs to be on the same plane of thought, which is not always easy. A large <br />department like the DEM has many different personalities, and sometimes there are people that <br />go off in all directions and react. As an engineer, her tendency is to stay focused and organized. <br />in <br />