BC 1992 03 16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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495 UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPON MOTION of Commissioner Payne, seconded by Commissioner Simmons and unanimously carried, the Board adopted the following Cost Containment Program. Cost Containment Program for Cabarrus County Statement of Purpose: 1. It is the intent of this program to maintain or improve the level of service to the residents of Cabarrus County but at a reduced cost for the delivery of those services. 2. While the program is intended to create cost savings it is also expected that this program will generate ways to improve the quality of our service. 3. This program is secondary to the individual's particular job duties. At the same time it is considered a given that seeking ways to improve the service delivery to the public should always be paramount with all County employees. Organization: 1. Cost Containment Teams/ Quality Circles (ccts) will be organized within departments. The team concept is strongly encouraged. However, in some situations ccts may not be practical. If ccts are not created or an individual is not on a cct but has a cost saving concept, then individuals may also submit ideas. (The remaining text discusses ccts although individual submittals are also encouraged.) 2. The number of teams and their organization is left to each department with the following suggestions. Teams should include between 5 and 8 members. For large departments, teams could be organized across line functions and across division lines. This will encourage a broader range of ideas. Where there are not enough persons within the different lines (eg. secretaries, level I, level 2, ... division supervisors), divisions could serve as one structure from which the teams are established. Still smaller departments could establish their team from those who wish to serve on it. Generally supervisors should not be on the team, but should be encouraged to form their own teams within the department. Each cct must also identify the supervisor to which the cct has been assigned to. Depending on the cost saving concept there may be a different supervisor involved with the cct. This is because only the supervisor of the area or division from which the program is implemented is considered a member of the team for that concept. If there is no supervisor short of the department head then no supervisor is included in that cct for the particular idea. Department heads are not a part of the ccts and are excluded from any awards. 3. A list of the cost containment teams will be submitted to the County manager and shared with all departments. Where more than one team per department exists, the ccts may specify their area of concern or expertise. 4. Cost containment teams should schedule their meeting times so as to not interfere with normal job duties and with the prior approval of their immediate supervisor. The meeting time is considered work time. In these meetings (which should not need to last more than 90 minutes one to two times per month) the team will discuss (1) ways to cut costs in existing programs, (2) ways to improve office, department, county government efficiency without compromising effectiveness. 5. This program shall begin July 1, 1992. Guidelines on ideas: 1. Submitted ideas shall describe the proposal, explain how service is improved or at least maintained, estimate the cost savings over a 12 month period and show the basis for computing this (to the degree that this is possible), and provide your team's name or members (including the supervisor if non-department wide). If savings will not be recognized within the first 12 months; or, if the savings are temporary for a defined time only then the submitted idea must explain the reason(s) that the program is not a continuing savings. Ideas that will result in staff reductions may be included and submitted as a cost containment program but shall include a plan for job placement in order to be treated as such. If there is a negative result to an