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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19810323_...- - ~_.~~x.. ..• ._. -.•- F • ,' i~ ~~ ...3 nJ MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, March 23, 1981, at 7:30 P.M. in the Superior Courtroom, Orange County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. - - Commissioners present: Commissioner Anne Barnes, Chair, and Com- missioners Norman Gustaveson, Norman Walker, Richard Whitted and Don Willhoit. _ Agenda Item 1: The De artment of Trans~rtation_WiTl Re- view a Pro osed Seconaar Road Pro ram For Fisea Year 1981-198 . Messrs. Watkins, Fleming and Jones of the Department of Transportation :1 presented the proposed Secondary Road Program to the Board (see page ~ a~ of this bobk3. Mr. Watki'ns's.poke far DOTS saying the-usual budget for Secondary Roads State-wide was 150 to 200 million dollars; this year. 10 million dollars is available State-wide. He said he felt sure that more money would be available from the General Assembly after July 1 and DOT would return then with a new list of priorities. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. Watkins agreed that it was a very small list and said Tapp Road was chosen because ii: had been approved last year and funds allocated to it; DOT had just finished acquiring the rights-of- way necessary to begin paving the first half approved last year. He said DOT had selected Tapp Road because it didn't make sense to pave one half of a road. He said maintenance of the existing secondary road system was DOT's priority, not'new construction. Commissioner Gustaveson said he felt the existing roads should be strengthened and not spend the money on one sma19 road. Commissioner Whitted asked Mr. Watkins the budget request for secondary road construction. Mr. Watkins,"Zero." He elaborated--money for maintenance of the system was requested--the same amount as last year and agreed with Commissioner Whitted tf~at it would mean less maintenance. Ms. Lee Ricketts of the Joppa Oaks Subdivision, told the Board and DOT of the unpaved roads in her neighborhood and asked what would be done to pave them. She was told that DOT would not take them over until they were h i k Y ~ ; paved and it was the landowners' responsibility to bring the road up to DOT standards for maintenance_ Other Joppa Oaks residents, Ms. Eleanor Rouseau, Mr. George Carpentier, reiterated Ms. Ricketts' complaints. They feel that it is the County's responsibility to provide paved roads and f __. improve their water and sewer service in their neighborhood. Commissioners Barnes, Gustaveson and Walker told the residents of Joppa Oaks that.the Co'uni~y had not had a road program of its own since 1933, and it did not ~_ provide water or sewer service either. The Jvppa Oaks residents feel that the developer of their subdivision was less than fair in his dealings with them. The Board told the residents that the County Attorney would meet with them after the public hearing and explain their options and procedures for getting their roads paved. ~. Commissioner Willhoit asked Mr..;Watkins about the possibility of getting 3 a variance in pOT's prohibition against landscaped islands in cul-de-sacs. ~ -- _ .. . ~ Mr. Watkins said it was a roblem of maintenance• usuall • P y pavement was weak- er at those points and tended to crack there necessitating repairs. _ ..- Agenda Item 2: Wi1.1 the ~6oard Endo_r_se the 5econdary_, Road Im rovement Program F'ropos_ed By the Depart ment of Tran"sportation? -"' r Commissioner Walker, noting how long the residents of Tapp Road had ~ waited to have their road paved, moved to endorse the Secondary Road Im- 8 provement Program proposed by the Department of Transportation; Commissioner Willhoit seconded the motion. biscussion ensued. Commissioners Whitted, Gustaveson and Barnes voiced concern that the present secondary road sys- tem needed strengthening and maintenance; they felt that with the same amount as last year budgeted far maintenance it would be unwise to spend $110,000 paving one small portion of one small road. Commissioner Willhoit :. withdrew his second. Motion died, Mr. Watkins said the Department of Transportation would not like to '.j __._ pave half of Tapp Road so the County would have $13D,000 available to it `r E which was budgeted last year in addition to the $17,0,00 this year. Mr_ F WAtkins asked the Board to consider the entire program, hot just this year's proposal. The Board requested Mr. Watkins to return on the April 21st agenda with a list of maintenance priorities as determined by DOT. i. r - - - ---,~~~Y~.v.-e=-~ - -- - - - --- - .,~--- s.::r,..~~~_.: __...-~ -- _ . -. ----- ~~a~._~T.r..e 7~;a,'~!~-eya`as.,~~~rs;~~-~~_~s_.~r~r.g__-~~_=.~ ~ - i - '' t :~ • ' .1 ~D ~. i 2~ 3• ~- 5. b. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. lz. 13. 1!}. 1S. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23- 2l~. 25. 2b. 27e 26. 29.. 30. 31. ~~. 33. 3y-. 35. 36. 37. i8. 39. ~o , Commissioner Barnes declared the public hearing to. be closed and declared a ten minute recess while the Board moved upstairs to complete the agenda. The Board reconvened upstairs in the Commissioners' Room with all members.present.except for Commissioner Whitted. Agenda Item 3: Does An Board Member Desire tp Modif This "'- en a? . Commissioner Barnes announced there was an agenda addendum and the • Minutes of November 24, 1980, needed clarification as determined by the County Attorney. - Agenda Item 4: Does An Member of the Audience Desire To r~,,.,,e~+ ..+. A. Matters on this agenda: .• ~~ . The. Joppa Oaks residents will speak to item 6; Mr. Rogerson will speak to •i tem 8. ~ - - B. Matters not on this agenda? There were no comments about matters not on this agenda. Agenda Item 5: The Clerk Submits Minutes of Mee tin s Held ...-. ... arc 2 and~16, 1981, for Board Consi eration. Carranissioner Don Willhoit moved the Minutes of March 2 and 16, 1981, be approved as submitted; Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 4; noes, 0 (Commissioner Whitted not present for the vote). Agenda Item 6: Re resentatives of the Jo a Oaks Homeowners sociatian Wi Ad ress the Boar Concernin A. The lack of fire hydrants in their community. Ms. Ricketts spoke for the Joppa Oaks contingent saying that a few weeks ago they had a fire and two fire trucks passed the road; one fire truck arrived at the proper location. She said the hydrants had un- sufficient pressure. The Board told the Joppa Oaks Homeowners Association that whomever supplied the water lines was responsible for the water press- ure. The Town of Hillsborough supplies water to Joppa Oaks it was de- termined. The Board told the Homeowners Association it should contact -• either Mayor Cates or Ms. 'Agatha Johnson, Town Clerk-, about this situation. • B. A leash law in Orange County for dogs. Ms. Ricketts told the Board packs of dogs with tags were harassing her neighborhood and attacking pets on their individual lots. She felt that .~., w ...,... .~~ ~,_~ ~-.a,. ~. w ~,~:zc~~ ..~ a leash law was necessary. Commissioner Whitted arrived. Commissioner.Willhoit said Heritage Hi11s had a similar problem with dogs and was sending the County Manager a letter defining the situation as a nuisance. Commissioner Barnes asked the staff to do a study on enforcement of a leash law. The County Attorney said defining activity such as chasing cars, joggers, etc., as a nuisance would permit the Animal Control Officer to pick up•those animals. The point is to make it illegal fora person to a1.1ow his/her pet to indulge in those activities; you must make a'good faith effort" to identify and contact the owner of the animal said Mr. Gledhill. Commissioner Barnes asked Commissioner WiTlhoit, the Board's repre- sentative on the Health Board, if. he would bring up this matter to the Health Board.••He said he would do this: Ms. Rouseau confirmed Ms, Ricketts' ouervatians concerning animal behavior. Agenda Item 7: The Mana er Recommends A royal of an Amend- . ment to the Section 8 Existin Contributions Contract T at Awards 37 Additiona Units to Oran a ount Pro ram. The County Manager noted an error in the wording of this item, telling the Board it is not an amendment but and .application for such funds to per- mit the additional units. Mr. Al Stevenson of the Chapel Hill Housing Authority told the Board there would be 27 two bedroom units and 10 three bedroom units on exist- ing construction, not new construction. Commissioner Willhoit moved the Board approve the Manager's recom- mendation regarding the application for the Section 8 Existing Contributions Contract for the additional 37 units; Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: /{yes, 5; noes, 0. Agenda Item 8: Harold Ro erson, Re resentin the Youth Services Needs Tas Force, Wil Discuss Possible GBA Fundin Cutbacks. Mr. Rogerson said he had learned that the CBA program will be funded at the same level as last year, $44,869, and there would be no new money. He said JJDP funding would continue at the same level for two more years, ___f_ ____ ------ - .~.~~ ~. _....... __. _ _. i -- . .. - - ]. - ~~ ~ ~~ $13,504. He said at the last meeting of the Youth Services Needs Task Force the program directors had presented budget requests totalling $117, 000; he has instructed his .directors to cut back and resubmit the requests. Mr. Rogerson said he wanted the Board to be aware of the funding problem. The Board thanked Mr. Rogerson for his presentation and told him it was aware of the budget problems. Commissioner .Willhoit maVed, seconded by Commissioner Whitted, to correct the Minutes of the November 24, 1980, Regular Meeting of the Board to properly reflect the action taken by the Board related to the adoption of the'Standard of .Values and Rules to be used in the 1981 property revaluation. Move the Minutes be corrected to read: Commissioner Willhoit moves that the Board accept,adapt and order the Standard of Values and Rules recommended by the Tax Supervisor to be used in connection with the 1981 property revaluation. (For a copy of adopted Standard of Values and Rules see copy on file in the Tax Supervisor's Office.} Vote: Ayes, 5; noes, 0. Agenda Item 9: The Mana er Recomme_n_ds_. the Board Approve --- - Budget mendments : ~ "^ A. To the CETA Program formally retarding the fund de-obligation previously approved by the Board and adding $13,198 to the YETP program; B. To the Socal Services Budget recording $21,840 additional Day Care funding; C. Transferring $25,013 from the EM5 Capital Projects account to EM5 Personnel, Social Security, supplies and ambulance repair; D. Transferring $2,500 from Contingency to Emergency Preparedness; E. Transferring $2,600 to the Telephone Capital Equipment Account. . Commissioner Whitted moved to approve the budget amendments; Commissioner r Willhoit seconded the motion. Gommissioner'Barnes said she had a problem with' "E;' whereupon Commissioner Whitted amended his motion to approve A, B, C and D; Commissioner Willhoit said his second still stood. Vote: Ayes,'5;noes, 0. The Board asked Mr. Rees what the $2,600 was for. Mr. Rees replied that it was a teleprinter to track and log long distance calls automatically re- cording the correct department for billing. Commissioner Gustaveson so moved to authorize the budget amendment transferring the $2,600 to the Telephone Capital Equipment Account; Commissioner 4lalker seconded the ~.. . . _ . ., •_T..u---. --~--~-~:...~: ~}:~~:4~:-may;- ~~'~- _ . _. ~ __ _.. _ . _ .._ ~ ~ _ .. _ r . e c ~ i 7 ;:a~,~,a ~`. i I motion. Vote: Ayes, 5; noes, 0. •• Agenda Item 10: The Tax Supervisor Presents: A. Petitions for Tax Refunds: Commissioner Whitted moved to approve Mr. Gi1lespie's refund request; Commissioner Willhait seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, 5; noes, 0. The Tax Supervisor said he had na reservations about any of the requests except A1pha~Pi of zeta Beta Tau; whereupon the Board decided to consider all of these refund:srequests as a whole with the one ex- ception of Alpha Pi. Commissioner Whitted moved to approve the all.the refund requests with the exception of Alpha Pi of Zeta Beta Tau; Com» missioner Barnes seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, A~; noes, 0 (Commission- er Walker not present far this vote).._,'~.. The T.ax Supervisor said A1pha...Pi~ had simply stopped listing taxes. He said for 1978 he had taken a. valuation of 20% of the total to de- termine the personal property taxes and since they did not list for 1980 he doubled this amount. Mr. Laws said this is the rnormal procedure. Commissioner Gustaveson moved to make no adjustmei•it in the 1979 tax assessment but to adjust the 1980 taxes to 5% plus the late listing pen- alty; Commissioner Whitted seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, 4; noes, 0 (Commissioner Walker not present far this vote). B. Petitions for Tax releases: Mr. Laws told the Board that Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Dale wish to be de- ferred until they may be present and he wished to defer action on Ms. Selim and Mr. Gilbert until they were able to be present also because he did not feel comfortable about approving their requests for tax releases. The Board asked Mr. Laws if he recommended release the remaining three requests and Mr. Laws replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Gustaveson moved to approve the tax release requests of Mr. Stancell, Mr. Rainey and the Lang Leaf Associates; Commissioner Whitted seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, 5; noes, 0. C. Requests for release of late .l fisting penalty: Commissioner Barnes moved to deny the regests for release of late listing penalties in these cases; Commissioner Whitted seconded the motion. Vote: ayes, 5; noes, 0. D. & E. Petit ions for refund of Carrboro Town Taxes to be repaid by the Town to property owners; Release of Carrboro Town Taxes. Commissioner Whitted so moved to approve the releases and refunds of Carrboro Town Taxes for those persons listed on the agenda attachment. Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, 5; noes, 0. Agenda Item 11: Representatives of the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department~Haye~~~Re uq ested~the County Pre area ewer yisin the -De artment eir P ans to Purc ase a New -Fire ~ru-'Tcc re of Inconsistent !dit Oran a Count s . ire Protec ion Pans. Commissioner Walker moved the County Manager be authorized to write the- •- letter advising the New Hope Ualunteer Fire Department that their plans _ to purchase a new fire truck are not inconsistent with the County's Fire protection Plans; Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: °~ ~ !.'` Ayes, 5; noes, 0. ,. _. - Commissioner Barnes moved to,adjourn the meeting; Commissioner Gustaveson seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes, 5; noes,0. --- - Anne Barnes, Chair --. Paulette pri.dgen-Pond, Clerk t