HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19810518oo~
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MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMI55IONERS
MAY 18, 198].
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The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session
Monday, May 18, 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, Richard Whitted and Don Willhoit. '
Commissioners absent: Commissioner Norman Walker
The purpose of the meeting was to receive public comment on the
use of the Old Courthouse located in Hillsborough. Commissioner Barnes
presided over the meeting and introduced Commissioner Whitted who gave
a brief description of the process the County had gone through in the
previous six years (since 1975) regarding the facility study undertaken
by architect Joe Nassif. Following his recap, Commissioner Whitted
turned the meeting over to Commissioner Barnes.
`-Commissioner Barnes clarified the architect's recommendation on -
renovation of the Old Courthouse to return it to its original..use as
a courthouse, noting that the intention of the Board was to maintain,
preserve and enhance the historic character of the building.-
Commissioner Barnes asked for the names of those who wished to speak
regarding the Old Courthouse and asked that they speak into the microphone.
Mayor Fred Cates, Town of Hillsborough: Mayor Cates read a state-
ment sum:~iarizing the founding of Hillsborough from the original land grant.
Mayor Cates said the County did net have title to the land the Old Court-
house occupies and consequently does not have title to the. Old Courthouse
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either, therefo:^e, he contended, the public meeting was out of ordar.
t+lr. Wade Barbour, District Attorney: Mr. Barbour said the present
facilities were inadequate and the County needed mare Court facilities. --
Dr. Blake, of the Museum Board: Expressed gratitude to the Town of
Hillsborough Board of Commissioners for its contention that Orange County
does not own the Old Courthouse; he agreed with Mayor Cates that this was
an improper proceeding.
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Ms. Henrietta Auman: Noted the number of visitors to the h1useum in
the past month and asked the Board of Commissioners to renovate the down-
stairs courtroom. She asked that the Board not disturb the huseum's pre-
sent location.
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Mr. Lunsford Long, President of the .Orange County Bar Association and
speaking for that group: Noted the inadequacy of the court facilities in
Orange County and urged the Board to supply the additional roam for Court.
He reminded the Board,that the State mandates the Counties to Supply space
for court facilities. Mr. Long reviewed the present Courts' meeting schedule
and the number of cases heard in one year. He emphasized the need for space,
privacy and quiet in which to conduct proceedings.
Ms. Betty Eidenier: Said that the Old Courthouse had forced the same
complaints in her father's time that she heard the attorneys saying tonight,
i.e, it would be noisy too. She suggested the third floor of the present
Courthouse be renovated as additional court space. She voiced fears that
the Museum would disband if forced to seek other shelter for its treasures.
Judge Stanley Peele: Emphasized the need for appropriate quarters
_.:,• court proceedings.. He said it was noisy, too small and disgraceful
in the courtroom downstairs. He cited the need for at least three addition-
al courtrooms.
Ms. Josephine Barbour: She questioned the cost of the renovation oi'
*.he Old Courthouse and its structural soundness. She suggested a new
°••ilding or renovation of some of the schools.
qtr. Fox, the Assistant pistrict Attorney: Said the citizens were
talKinn as though it were a question of either the Museum or court
F•~cilities. +le said it didn't have to be a question of either or; at
present the use of the Old Courthouse as a Museum underutilized that
facility. He said it was not a question of whether Orange County needed
a Courtroom but where.
hir. haul Carr: He suggested the Board seek other alternatives since
the County, according to Mayor Cates, doesn't Darn the Old Courthouse. He
contended it would require too much renovation to make the Old Courthouse
acceptable as a courtroom again.
Or. Robert Murphy: Also suggested the Board seek another location
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y for :additional court facilities. He questioned the expense of the pro-
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~~ Mr. Jim Johnson, an Attorney: Emphasized Judge Peele's opinion of
the present facilities in the basement. He also feels another jury --
~; facility is necessary.
Mr. Marshall Cates: Felt that the noise level in the Old Courthouse
would be greater than expected after the proposed renovation.
y Mr. An Little, an Attorney: He supported the views of the preceding
attorneys and wished to impress upon the Board the desperate situation
with regard to Caurt facilities in Orange County. He suggested that
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Museum. It was Mr. Little's opinion that as a Courthouse it would em-
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_ -' body the spirit of and remain a monument of history.
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- Pir. Clarence Jones: (Mr. Jones arrived late and requested per-
- _ mission to speak, which was granted) He said that in the 1940's the same
- arguments were ..used against the Old Courthouse as a court facility that
_ ~:~ were now being used against the New Courthouse, i.e., it's noisy, no pri-
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- ~~ vacy, inadequate. He urged the Board riot to take the Museum out of the Old
Courthouse and to search out other sites for court facilities.
- There being no one else who wished to be heard, Commissioner ,
=• Barnes thanked the audience for its input and declared the meeting ad-
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jvurned.
-- Anne Barnes, .Chair
•- - Paulette Pridgen-Pond, Clerk
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