HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19740624Bpi( 8 PdGE ~'78 MINUTES GF THE ORANGE COUNTY .
r BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
June 24, 1974
1
The Board o! Cemmiaaionera o! Orange County mat an Mendtly, Juns 24, 1974,
at 8 P.M. in the Cemmiaaionera Room at the Courehause in Hillsborough.
• Mpmbern PrA~sAnts Ghdirmen C. trormen Weaker, send CemmiaaionorA Henry 9.
Walker, t'lora Garrett, Richard Y,'. Whittnd, and Melvin Whitfield.
Members Absent: None.
S. M. Gatos, County Administrator, and Hetty dune Hayas~ Clerk to the
Board, were also- present. `
The Public Hearing on the Budget had been scheduled for tha Commiaaionera
Room, however, the room would not accommodate the number o! persona who were
present so.the meeting place was moved to the Superior Court Room.
Chairman Walker called the meeting to order and announced that this was
the time foz the Public Hearing on the proposed 1974-1975 Orange County
Budget. He requested that those present first speak in behalf o! their
support for the areas of interest they were representing.
Mary Scrogga, Chairman of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Hoard, apoka in
behalf of both school unit budgets. She requested that the Board fund in
total both budgets for she was of the opinion the programs were vital to each
unit if, they were to meet the needs of the respective areas.
• Phyllis Sockwell outlined the steps that the School Hoard had planned for
the site that would house the vocational school. She stated the School Board
planned first for an athletic field and parking area and later for the construe-
. Lion of. an Arta and Cultural Building. _
Irma Kirkpatrick, Executive Secretary of the Drug Action Committee, spoke
• in behalf of the funding of the Orange-Chatham-Person Mental Health Center.
She outlined the cooperation that existed between the two agencies.
Catherine Coolidge, the mother of a handicapped child, urged for :the strong
consideration of the funding oP the Orange-Chatham.-Peraen Mental Health Centar.
Dan Jacobs, a third year Medical Student, training at the Menial Health
'' Center, recited from a statistical report the number of murders and sucides
that were .occurring in Gaston County and he staked this county did not make
available any Mental Health Facilities. Ke said he had been impressed by
what was being accomplished by the local staff and staggered by the long
waiting list of those seeking help.
'. Steve Cole, representaeive for the Hillsborough Jaycees, stated he had
seen the results for the Activity Center and that he was encouraged by what
he had witnessed, therefore, he was present to speak in behalf of the Activity
Work Center.
Margaret Berry stated she had a daughter at tha•Work Activity Center and
.that she was present to speak for the continued support of the Orange-Chatham-
• Person Mental Health center.
Bertha Collins stated she had a handicapped son who worked in the Sheltered
Workshop in Durham. She reviewed the affects that his employment had had on
him and his .family. She stated °If were going to help anybody, I feel we
ought to help those who can't help themselves": '
Martha Baldwin stated she had a son in the Work Activity Workshop and
'she-urged the Board to fund the Orange-Chatham-Person Mental Health CenteF as
much as they could see possible.
• Walter McDade of Efland spoke in behalf of the Mental Health Budget.
.Herman Strayhprn stated he had a thirty-three (33) year old mentally retarded
son .and that he had been for ovkr one year taking.he and other persons to work
at the Sheltered Workshop in Durham. He stated he wished to speak in behalf
_ of the support of a local workshop for the retarded and handicapped children of
the community. '
Chairman Walker recognized.A. T. (Sandy) `Hadtaon. Mr. Davison identified
himself as one of the Trustees far the Confederate Memorial Library. He
stated Lhat the library officials had discovered today that three (3) of the
four (4) columns that were supporting the porch of the library had rotted ends '
and were swinging free. From an estimate that had been received it was going
to cost approximately 53,000 to make.the needed repairs, therefore, he was
revuesting that the budget that had been submitted by the Library be amended to
include the additional 53,000.
3'~~
Peggy Pollitzer of Chapel Hill, President of the High School P.T.A., spoke
of the need of extending the athletic facilities of the Chapel Hill-Cazrboro
School Unit.
Roger Evans of Chapel Hill, stated that last year he had made the statement
"there's not going to be a better day" and that he was present to again make the
same statement. He cited the ever increasing cost of materials and equipment and
the fact that inflation was a way of life. He urged the Board to fund the entire
school budget.
Chairman Walker inquired if there was anyone else whp wished to -speak in
support of any budget item. Na one else apse tp sneax.
I
~ Chairman Walker inquired if there was anyone who wished to speak in Apposition
to a budget item.
Mitchell Lloyd of Rt. 3, Hillsborough was recognized. Mr. Lloyd stated Shat
he hoped the Board was npt weak enpugh tp pay for the bus passes that was being
requested by the Town pf Chapel Hill. He stated that i£ the County had any money
left over it should go to them (he gestured towards the parents of the handicapped
and retarded children) "l don't have a handicapped child", he said, but my sympathies
are with them.
No one else appeazed to speak either for or against the proposed 1974-1975
Budget.
There being np further business to come before the Boazd the meeting was
adjourned to meet again on Tuesdzy, June 25, 1974, at 8 p.m;
~~ ~~/Ci~~~i~
C. Norman Walker, Chairman
Betty June Hayes, Clerk