2006-04-06 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Mr. Ho said that in the Solid Waste Division, they used to privatize by hiring security guards to watch what the public is dumping into the transfer stations. They were needed under state law, to make sure of what was going into the landfill. However, they are now going away from privatizing the guards and looking at hiring employees that would have more functions than just interacting with the public. Rural transfer stations are a problem, because they don't have a steady stream of customers. So they are looking at have one person cleaning a facility and maybe checking on the next transfer station and rotating between the two. They are looking into giving the position more responsibility. They used to receive complaints about security guards allowing things to be thrown in that shouldn't have been. Ms. Bauman said that regarding the vehicle disposal fund, the majority of the program is privatized. The processing of the grant is the biggest cost, which is contracted out, as well as towing services. The coordination and administration is handled by the County. The Chair asked if they could address the other questions on the agenda, such as "f," how could the DEM's operations be made for efficient? He asked if there were suggestions other than combining the water and sewer bills. Ms. Bauman said having additional positions would help them in reducing the overtime. The Chair asked if the new positions were presented in the budget to the Council, and Ms. Bauman said yes. She believed the Finance Committee reviewed it but it was not yet voted on. The Chair asked question "b" on the agenda, if there were any way to eliminate duplication of activities and functions, and Ms. Bauman said that aside from the billing, she did not see a lot of overlap. The Chair asked question "c" on the agenda, if there were any way to consolidate services, activities, and functions of a similar nature. Ms. Bauman said they already did, by creating the Technical Services and Business Services Sections, which allows the accounting staff to get more technical insight into the accounting aspects and pull the resources together more. The Chair asked question "d" on the agenda, whether there are any services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of government that could be eliminated. Ms. Bauman said that there are lots of meetings, which may not always be efficient but are necessary. The Chair asked question "e" on the agenda, whether privatization could help. Mr. Ho said Ms. Bell had responded that the DEM already utilizes private consultants in its planning and will continue to do so. The Chair asked about Solid Waste, and Mr. Ho said they rely extensively on businesses to help with the recycling services. The Chair asked about the new sort station, whether the DEM was going to go down the avenue of waste to energy. Mr. Ho said they are headed there and that privatization is an 12