2006-04-06 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

Home

option they have kept open. They found out from consultants that with the better solutions, the companies invariably want public funding, because the DEM as a government agency has access to cheaper money than the private sector. This ties up the private sector's funds. The DEM had a hard time convincing the Council that it works for private companies to use the government's borrowing ability, but they may finally understand that. The Chair asked whether the DEM has any other ideas on how its operations can be made more efficient. He said that might be with the discipline issue regarding sick leave, and Mr. Ho said yes, the union contracts need to be realigned. He knows the Civil Service Department has that as an ongoing mission, with contracts as they come up for renewal. They always check with the departments as to what sections need changing. The problem is that contracts are valid state -wide, so the other counties have to be taken into account. Ms. Nicholson suggested that after the COGC agreed on a draft letter, it also be sent to those departments that appeared before the COGC, for a two -page response. She wanted to have a record of a response. Ms. Stremski agreed. Motion and Vote: Ms. Nicholson moved that once they have agreed on the form for the letter to departments, the COGC send one to the DEM for their response, too. Ms. Stremski seconded the motion. All members voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Joseph said he had two questions, out of curiosity. Does the County ever attempt to find the registered owners of abandoned vehicles? Mr. Ho stated that is standard procedure. The Police Department does that part. They have to make an attempt, and only after that can a vehicle be labeled abandoned. Mr. Joseph asked if there was a wholehearted attempt, and what the percentage was of registered owners of abandoned vehicles they found. Mr. Ho said he did not know the answer and would try to get the information. Mr. Joseph asked who writes grants for the DEM, and Mr. Ho said they have several people doing that. Their recycling coordinator has written several grants. Mr. Joseph asked if there were people in the DEM who were specifically to write grants, and Mr. Ho said no, that it was ancillary to all their other duties. He stated that the chief of the Technical Services Section has applied for grants, and that it is in addition to his other duties. He said Research and Development is heavily invested in grant writing and that on one of the DEM's grants, Research and Development signaled them about it and helped work with them to get the grant. But no, the DEM does not have a full -time, dedicated grant writer. Mr. Joseph asked if that would help the DEM be more efficient, and Mr. Ho said he thought it would help. It would help to secure funding for more programs than they can do now. However, he was not sure if the director would want to go that route. The Chair thanked Mr. Ho and Ms. Bauman for coming, and they left at 11:40 a.m. 13