HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19961207APPROVED MAY 5, 1997
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DECEMBER 7, 1996
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES RETREAT
AT THE
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY CENTER
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for their annual retreat on Saturday, December 7,
1996 at 8:30 a.m. at the Homestead Community Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair William L. Crowther and Commissioners Margaret
W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis.
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Rod
Visser and Albert Kittrell and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be
identified appropriately below)
Chair Crowther called the meeting to order. He reviewed the agenda for the day indicating that
they would be discussing the present goals and creating and adding new ones as necessary. Several
changes were made to the agenda and they are incorporated below.
COUNTY FISCAL POLICY CONSIDERATION AND FORECASTS FOR 1996-97
1. Revenue Trends and Projections
Budget Director Sally Kost reviewed the revenues and expenditures. In summary she made the
following points:
1. The growth in the tax base will increase from an estimated 4.1 % in 1996-97 to an estimated
23.2% in 1997-98 with the new revaluation.
2. The impact of revaluation on the general fund tax rate will be a decrease in the rate to an
amount of between 14.75 cents/per $100 valuation to 17.75 cents/per $100 valuation.
3. After revaluation, one cent on the General fund property tax will yield $612,000 to $620,000.
4. They had budgeted the growth in the tax base to be 3% and now expect it to be 4% which
will be an additional $400,000
5. Sally Kost projects a 3% growth for the one cent sales tax which is collected here in the
County and a 6% growth for the 112 cents collected statewide and distributed to the County on the basis
of population.
6. Sally Kost noted she is not concerned about the $200,000 drop in sales tax revenues
because she feels that it will be received when sales tax revenues are received for the last quarter.
7. Other revenue sources should remain the same except for the charge for services when the
new jail opens.
8. There will be no dramatic increase in the intangibles tax.
9. Earnings on investments are up to $870,000 and they estimate receiving in 97-98 $950,000
to $1,000,000 for investment earnings.
10. The fund balance is at 10.4% which means they may want to appropriate more fund
balance than they did last year.
Sally Kost will let the County Commissioners know about the fund balances for the two school
systems as soon as she receives their audits.
School enrollments figures were reviewed. The current per pupil cost is $1,782.
John Link noted that the Human Services Advisory Committee will be reviewing the allocations
to outside agencies and also the present and projected outcomes for these agencies. He suggested and
asked that the Board discuss considering OPC Mental Health as a department of the county instead of
an outside agency.
Commissioner Gordon suggested using an outcome based performance evaluation for County
Departments as well as for outside agencies.
Commissioner Carey noted that the County could cut funding for mental health and for the
Orange County Health Department and fund only the basics which are required by law.
2. Impact of Bonded Debt Retirement
Sally Kost mentioned that they have been using interest to pay for debt service - mainly on the
$52 million bond. However, interest will not be available in the long term.
3. Government Operations and Finance - Brief updates on:
a. Impact Fees
Sally Kost distributed information on the impact fee and stated that it is extremely difficult to do
projections.
b. New Efficiency Initiatives
John Link indicated that these will be forthcoming with the first one on automation.
ADDED ITEM
c. Legislative Initiatives
Commissioner Gordon noted that she wants to move forward at this time with the impact tax
and the real estate transfer tax. She suggested setting up a meeting with the local legislative delegation
as soon as possible after the first of the year.
Chair Crowther noted that the NCACC is supporting a statewide initiative for a land transfer tax.
The Board of Commissioners will discuss legislative initiatives at their next regular meeting.
Commissioner Carey also suggested moving forward with local legislation to include sexual
preference in their Human Rights Ordinance.
Commissioner Brown stated her support for the real estate transfer tax and impact tax and
would like to discuss inclusionary zoning. She also asked about the possibility of local legislation for
deferring taxes until the sale of their land for the elderly and those who are on a fixed income or receive
low income. After further discussion, it was decided that receiving statewide support for this initiative
was not very promising at this time.
4. Policy Implications and Direction on Payment for Certain County Services
Goals and Principles - any changes?
SOURCES
Property Tax
Fees (Impact/user)
Service Districts
Other
USES/SERVICES
Recreation
EMS Services
Library
Water and Sewer
John Link said that the task force studying coordination of services for recreation and parks and
library services will be presented at one of the Assembly of Governments meetings in 1997.
5. New Goals/Policies - IF ANY
none
PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE POLICY
1. Reaffirmation of Goals and Direction
a. Avoiding urban sprawl
b. Preservation of protected watersheds and groundwater resources
c. Preservation of environmental, cultural and historical areas
d. Encouraging bicycle and mass transit transportation in and between
urbanizing areas
e. Protection and preservation of farm land and open space
f. Development of an appropriate mix of residential and non-residential
(including commercial) development in Orange County
g. Promoting and encouraging the joint use of and co-location of school,
community and recreational uses and programs
ADDED h. Promote integrated long range planning
With reference to item "d", a letter was received from the Carrboro Board of Adjustment
recommending the development of a comprehensive transportation plan, including a traffic plan, that
emphasizes the interconnection of present and future neighborhoods. They also noted that they will be
considering an ordinance amendment for rules governing swimming pools and will share that with the
County. They also cited concerns about the shape of some subdivision lots approved by the county in
Carrboro's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Commissioner Brown asked how the County could be sure that developments built next to each
other are connected either by a bicycle trail or by other means. Planner Gene Bell said that it would
probably require an ordinance amendment.
Commissioner Gordon suggested that interconnections could be road, pedestrian or bicycle
connections. These are provided for subdivisions in Chapel Hill.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that this was tried and it was called greenways. This should be
looked at but no matter what it is called, it will be perceived as people walking through people's back
yards.
Commissioner Gordon said that she feels Carrboro is talking about roads and not greenways.
With reference to the added item "h", Commissioner Gordon said that this topic may need a
work session. The Board decided to have a work session on an integrated long range plan and to add
GIS to this work session. She will work on a future goal for an integrated long range plan.
John Link asked that the County Commissioners let him know what outcomes they hope to
achieve from the GIS. He will then report back on where the County is now and where they plan to go --
the level of service that is reasonable for this County.
2. Status Questions related to County Protects - IF ANY
a. Cooperative planning with Hillsborough
b. Economic Development Districts
c. Joint Planning with Chapel Hill/Carrboro
d. Falls Lake Watershed Study
e. Ground Water resources study
f. Open Space Design Workbook/APES Study results
g. Water and Sewer Service Area Designation plans
h. Sustainable Communities Planning (Shaping Orange County's Future)
1. Flexible Development Ordinance
ADDED j. Analysis of the impacts of growth and development
ADDED k. Discussion on Affordable Housing
Commissioner Gordon made reference to the status report on item "e" Ground Water resources
study and indicated her support for phase II of this project. County Engineer Paul Thames said that the
report is an outline of the recommendation from the committee. He summarized the report. There was a
consensus of the Board to continue this project.
Planning Director Marvin Collins said that there is a GIS software package that will enable them
to look at integrated planning including fiscal impacts. All the possibilities for a parcel of land and the
constraints would be identified.
Rod Visser noted that one of the major aspects of the strategic automation plan will be the
capability to integrate between the mainframe, personal computer and the GIS information.
With reference to Economic Development Districts, Economic Development Director Ted
Abernathy said that they will start discussions with Mebane after the first of the year. In answer to a
question from Chair Crowther, Ted Abernathy said that there is a fair amount of disagreement on his
Board as to the County Commissioners' support on economic development initiatives. The Board would
like to know how the County Commissioners feel on specific initiatives. The Economic Development
Districts are being promoted by the Research Triangle Partnership. However, Ted Abernathy noted that
prospective businesses will first look at places which have water and sewer.
John Link said that he would like to know the Board's perspective in participating in the
extension of water and sewer.
Chair Crowther said that he feels the planning for extension of water and sewer needs to be
done so that when funds are available, there will be no delay.
Commissioner Carey questioned when the County would be notified about the grant for
extension of water and sewer in the Efland area (Habitat for Humanity Project), and if the Board needs to
review the current Water and Sewer Policy to see if changes need to be made. Ted Abernathy made
reference to the money in the CIP for extension of water and sewer for economic development and noted
that there is a balance of $35,000.
Commissioner Gordon noted that the cost of extending water and sewer has increased to $4
million dollars and said that she would like to go slow and not made a commitment of additional
resources.
Commissioner Brown expressed a concern that if water and sewer is extended into the Efland
area that growth will be encouraged. Ted Abernathy said that zoning does prohibit some uses from this
area.
Paul Thames clarified that the project will cost $1,127,000 and the County has applied for
$850,000 in grant funds. This extension of water and sewer will not have any Economic Development
implications. The $4 million dollars would include the Economic Development District.
John Link noted that the County Commissioners may want to discuss how the public health
issue is interrelated to the Economic Development Districts.
Commissioner Gordon brought up the equity issue of providing water and sewer for the Efland
area and not for some of the other areas in the County, including those in Chapel Hill, which have failing
systems. She said this issue has come up in discussion of the Water and Sewer Boundary Task Force.
Commissioner Carey feels that the County Commissioners need to discuss the implications of
extending water and sewer and the equity issue.
In answer to a question about cooperative planning with the Town of Hillsborough, Ted
Abernathy said that Hillsborough will start the process of revising their 2010 Vision Plan in January and
that cooperative planning would probably be discussed after that revision is finished. This will be added
to the County Commissioners joint meeting with Hillsborough in April.
John Link made reference to a report on the problems with annexation in the State. One of the
major recommendations is that there needs to be structured joint planning between cities and counties to
discuss or set annexation guidelines with focus on joint planning aspects of annexation. He will share
this report with the Board.
Commissioner Carey said that the issue has not been resolved. The cities in the League of
Municipalities are adamant in that they do not want requirements from the citizens for annexation or
approval from the county.
John Link suggested that this needs to be part of the joint planning process in the future --
courtesy review for the extraterritorial area. He will talk with the other managers about this possibility.
Geoffrey Gledhill said that the County has not agreed to any extension of extraterritorial
jurisdiction and that for the most part Chapel Hill has developed most of its extraterritorial jurisdiction
and so has Carrboro. The major remaining area the towns can develop will be in the Joint Planning
areas.
Commissioner Gordon made reference to the added item -- analysis of the impacts of growth
and development and asked that the County proceed with developing this analysis for all new
development.
Marvin Collins said that the County Commissioners need to make decisions about the inputs
into this analysis. He still would like the Board to look at the integrated system and how it can be utilized.
Commissioner Gordon made reference to the added item -- discussion on affordable housing --
and asked when the County Commissioners will receive a recommendation on how to address current
issues related to providing reimbursement of impact fees. John Link said that this recommendation will
be in January or February. Tara Fikes said that this recommendation will also include how the County
will treat nonprofits and other kinds of development.
John Link said that he will be asking the board if they want to seek local legislation on
considering an actual exemption for a certain type of housing for the elderly. His reason for requesting
this exemption is that this housing does not generate any children. Commissioner Carey supports this
idea. Commissioner Gordon said that Mark Royster, Chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School
Board, has emphasized that the houses that are vacated may have families move into them with
children. She feels this change may undermine the rationale of the impact fee. She would rather have
an impact tax.
Commissioner Carey feels that this issue needs to be discussed because the taxpayers are
going to pay for school facilities and this would be an opportunity to support affordable housing through
exemption of paying the impact fee.
Geoffrey Gledhill noted that if the County Commissioners have an impact tax, there would be
more flexibility in exemptions from paying the tax.
Commissioner Carey asked for an update on what the County is doing in providing affordable
housing. This will be done at the Assembly of Governments meeting in March.
Geoffrey Gledhill noted that Orange County is the only jurisdiction that does not discriminate
against housing types in its Zoning Ordinance, thereby allowing mobile homes to locate anywhere stick-
built houses may be constructed.
Commissioner Brown expressed an interest in developing attainable goals on affordable
housing and supports coordinating this effort with Carrboro and Chapel Hill. She would like the Board to
broaden their view of what is affordable.
With regard to conservation easements, Marvin Collins said that a report will be presented to
the County Commissioners in February and they can discuss this in detail at that time. Until the land
trust is created, the County Commissioners or another agency have the opportunity to serve as the
holding agent. It may be that the Conservation Trust of North Carolina can accomplish the same thing
until the County Commissioners create a land trust.
Commissioner Brown will work on a goal for setting up such a program.
With reference to the item about Water and Sewer Service Area Designation plans,
Commissioner Carey said that a report from the Water and Sewer Boundary Committee would be given
at the County Commissioners' first meeting in January.
3. Brief update and future direction: county jurisdiction solid waste options -
roadside pick-up or convenience centers, or others
4. Clarification of County role in countywide solid waste management and
management of future landfill
New Goals/Policy - IF ANY
Commissioner Brown said she is interested in discussing the skills development center and it
was decided to discuss this immediately after lunch. It was also noted that items 3 and 4 will require a
work session. With regard to the collection program, the County Commissioners will need to discuss
whether or not they want to keep the convenience centers or go with a universal system of waste
collection. If they keep the convenience centers, they need to decide if they are going with compaction
and how to pay for this service.
Commissioner Carey said that his understanding of what happened at the last Assembly of
Governments meeting was that the governing boards agreed upon a set of principles. The managers
are to meet and make a recommendation to their individual boards.
Chair Crowther requested an update on the revisions to the Master Recreation and Parks Plan.
Recreation and Parks Director Bob Jones said that a committee is in place and they will meet in January
They will add new locations for elementary schools for both school systems.
Chair Crowther said that they are almost finished with the Stoney Creek small area plan and the
Board may want to initiate another small area plan in another area.
Commissioner Carey asked about the plan that OWASA is working on for the use of the area
around Cane Creek Reservoir. Marvin Collins said that OWASA has finished their watershed study for
Cane Creek and they are now working with the citizens in that area to address their concerns.
12:00 NOON LUNCH
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
John Link explained that they are now working on the floorplan. Albert Kittrell is working with
the appropriate agencies to ensure the outcomes they want. In answer to a question from Commissioner
Brown about the budget, John Link said that they are trying to obtain federal funds and that there may be
other funding. They are hoping to receive $238,000 from funds being drawn down for Hurricane Fran.
There is some money in the CIP for upgrading the building and they will need additional funds for
operational expenses.
In answer to a question from Chair Crowther about the Employment Security Commission,
Albert Kittrell said that three or four of their employees plan to move into the building and that they will
pay rent for their space. They expect to receive some funding from the JOBS Program. The only
agencies that will not pay for their space will be Durham Tech and JOCCA. .
Commissioner Brown asked how they will know if their goals will be accomplished and
suggested an advisory board. Commissioner Gordon agreed with this suggestion.
Commissioner Carey suggested developing a permanent structure for this advisory board since
this is a County owned facility.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would be glad to give up his representation on the LOG to
serve on the Skills Development Center Committee.
John Link will develop a proposal and bring back to the next meeting for the Board's
consideration.
SCHOOLS
1. Student Population protections update
Sally Kost said that she received student population projections but they were incorrect. She
will include the correct figures in a managers memo. Commissioner Halkiotis said that these projections
can be done in-house and he will work with Roscoe Reeve in Land Records to provide these within the
next couple of months.
2. Review of 10 year school capital plan adopted by Board of County Commissioners
and decision on next steps
John Link made reference to the information on the Capital Funding Policy from the October 15,
November 19 and December 2 meetings. At the December 2 meeting, the County Commissioners
decided to delay their decision on this policy until today. John Link stressed that when considering all
the actions they have taken and points they have considered in the last 8 to 10 months, they have come
a long way at looking at the needs based on need and not student population. He stressed that the CIP
is good for one year and he recommended that the Board adopt the policy that included those changes
the County Commissioners made on October 15.
Chair Crowther suggested that this could be an agenda item for the next meeting. He supports
this policy and feels that it will move the process forward and they can review it for possible changes in
the upcoming years.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that the County has taken care of the upcoming school needs and
he wants the County needs addressed. It still bothers him that there may be a tax increase in two years.
John Link said that as they go through the needs process, they will hear additional needs that
have not been identified or included in the past. They hope this needs assessment committee will be
finished by April.
Commissioner Gordon feels that the Board should put in place policies that will accommodate
the needs and that this is a good policy.
Chair Crowther asked about the money that will be left at the end of the time and John Link said
that the formula will generate a surplus which could be used to address the needs in whichever system
needs it.
Commissioner Halkiotis said that both systems have a problem with the surplus left at the end
of the plan because they are comparing it to what they have had in the past. He wants to be sure
county employees are taken care of including the buildings and citizens who visit those buildings.
Commissioner Carey suggested adopting this new Capital Funding Policy and then look at the
needs in the future which will dictate how the formula will be changed and how existing resources will be
used.
Superintendent Neil Pedersen said that they support the new policies and the formula being
used.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to adopt the
capital funding policy known as option 5B as presented on December 2, 1996. An amendment to
delete the reference to a tax increase was included in this motion.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
3. Review Operating Definition of Equity for changes - IF ANY
Rod Visser said that the definition of equity uses the per pupil amount from all funding sources.
If that figure is within 3 to 4 percent they consider that equity has been achieved. They have not looked
at this issue for the last 2 or 3 years. Commissioner Gordon feels that they need to know what equity is
if they want to achieve equity and feels it can be measured by using benchmarks like square feet per
pupil.
John Link noted that he can see how equity can be achieved on the capital side. However,
when talking about operating equity, they are talking about two different philosophies of education and
different goals of the two school boards.
Commissioner Gordon feels the Board needs to make a decision on the district tax. It would
help the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board if they knew when the County Commissioners were
going to allow a district tax increase and when they are not going to allow it.
The Board discussed equity and the problems of achieving it. Commissioner Carey feels it is
important to continue to look at equity to see if the spending per pupil is within 5%. It would be difficult to
develop a policy for the use of the district tax because the Board does not know what is going to be
requested from year to year. He feels they need to discuss the use of the district tax since it has been
expanded to include capital and especially if one system wants to pay for a building which is above the
minimum standards.
John Link recommended that they come back in March or April with a snapshot on equity and
see where they are and go from there. He noted that when they put into the formula the cost for the new
schools they added 5% each year for inflation. There may be a case where the County Commissioners
will say that there is a certain dollar amount available for a school and if the school system wishes to
build only the base tier school to save money, then the school system could take the remainder of what
was included in the CIP for the new school and use it for other capital projects.
Commissioner Carey said that County projects should use the same 5% increase per year for
inflation. If there is extra money, this needs to be brought back to the County Commissioners for
consideration.
Neil Pedersen said that they are trying to stay within their budget regardless of the tier. They
did use the higher tier standards as guidelines but have designed the school to stay within the budget.
He does not feel that there will be a problem of having surplus money.
Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board Chair Mark Royster said that the higher standards allow
them to provide some community services that probably would not be provided with a level 1 or tier 2
school. When asked about after school programs and recreation space, Mark Royster said that their
Board needs to address this issue. This will be put on the agenda for the Commissioners' joint meeting
with the schools.
4. Year Round schools - no discussion
5. Coordinated Schools and Land Use Council to review future school sites
Commissioner Gordon distributed information on the formation of a Schools and Land Use
Council -- one per school district. The purpose of this Council would be to advise the Board of
Commissioners concerning growth and land use issues relating to schools. The handout listed the
charge, the membership composition and the implementation and is included as page of these
minutes.
proposal.
Commissioner Halkiotis and Commissioner Brown both endorsed Commissioner Gordon's
Commissioner Gordon would like to ask the jurisdictions if they want to participate and if they
do, to move ahead to develop a coordinated plan. It was decided to put this on a future agenda for
further discussion.
Commissioner Carey questioned the implications the creation of this board may have for the
planning board role.
Marvin Collins noted that there are two issues with the biggest issue being the location of future
school sites. The second issue deals with amending legislative authority or have the school boards
designate sites.
CAPITAL NEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Information was included in the Managers memo on this proposal. Commissioner Gordon also
provided information on the charge for this committee. John Link said that this committee will be
appointed to review County and school capital needs prior to the planned November 1997 bond
referendum.
Commissioner Carey emphasized that he knows the Board would like not to have a tax
increase but if the needs indicate that they need to increase the bond amount which would mean a tax
increase, then they should do it.
A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approved
the formation of this committee.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
John Link will present the charge and timetable for this task force at the next County
Commissioners meeting. Appointments to this Task Force will be made on January 16, 1997. After this
committee finishes its work, a marketing committee will then take over for preparing educational material
about the bond issue.
John Link said that there are three County needs -- county automation, major repairs to county
facilities and recreation and parks. This does not include another major county building.
ORGANIZATION AND EFFICIENCY OF COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
1. Boards and Commissions
a. Composition
b. Redundancies/Gaps
c. Other
Chair Crowther made reference to a handout and his proposal to coordinate and consolidate
some of the County boards and commissions. He recommends reorganizing and renaming and putting
in categories as listed below:
BOARD - Mandated by State Legislation
COMMISSION - Mandated by County Resolution (1/Department)
COMMITTEE - Created to address Long Term Issues (2 years +)
TASK FORCE - Created to address Short Term Issues (-2 years)
COUNCIL - Inter Local Agreement Workgroup
Commissioner Carey cautioned against combining boards to the point where they became so
large and unwieldy, and dilute their charge or mission, that they become something different.
Commissioner Brown also feels that boards need to have training - like the Planning Board.
Commissioner Gordon also said that the boards need to be looked at to see whether there is a
necessity of having a County Commissioner serve.
Commissioner Gordon presented a new goal for communication, namely, to promote more
effective communication between and among the Board of Commissioners and Orange County citizens
(including county boards and commissions and related groups), and the Board of County Commissioners
and other local officials in Orange County. Also to promote more effective communication within the
Board of County Commissioners itself.
A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to add a
new goal for Communication.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
2. Township Advisory Committee
Commissioner Gordon said that she and Commissioner Halkiotis have decided that working to
reactivate the TACs could best be accomplished through communication with the citizens and they will
work on it from that context.
Marvin Collins said that they have two TACs which are active -- Chapel Hill and Bingham. They
have talked about holding their Planning Board meetings in different townships to generate some
interest. This would give the citizens an opportunity to ask questions of the Planning Board and get the
citizens involved with specific issues and projects in their township.
Commissioner Brown said that there is no reason to have the townships the way they do and
wondered if they could reconfigure to encourage participation.
BOARDS AND COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Written reports were received from the following boards and commissions:
Advisory Board on Aging
Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health Board
Orange County Agricultural Districts Advisory Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Orange Water and Sewer Authority
Human Relations Commission - Quinton Baker
Orange County Commission for Women
Orange County Recreation and Parks Advisory Council
Orange County Planning Board
Orange County Economic Development Commission
Carrboro Board of Adjustment
Youth Services Advisory Commission
Human Services Advisory Commission
Water Resources Committee
Quinton Baker, Chair of the Human Relations Commission, reviewed their priorities for next
year. He said that as of today they have received 51 discrimination complaints. They want to be able to
continue to implement the education and outreach strategies for the Human Relations Ordinance but
they have no time to do it. They want to do preventive measures and promote nondiscrimination
because they feel it important to become proactive to circumvent the tensions as new citizens move into
Orange County. He emphasized that they cannot do this alone. They need the Board's endorsement
and support in the preventive and promotion area. He asked that the County Commissioners consider
adopting as one of their your goals to build and foster a relationship with the community that focuses on
education and the prevention of bias and discriminatory acts, and on the promotion of healthy inclusion
of all residents into the fabric of our community.
Commissioner Carey said that originally the intent of the ordinance was to have a healthy dose
of education. It doesn't surprise him that there are a lot of complaints that will consume the time that
would be used for prevention and a more proactive stance. He is interested in knowing how we stand on
the implementation of the ordinance. He suggested that the HRC bring back a resolution related to the
goal that Mr. Baker just mentioned.
Commissioner Gordon made reference to the Commissioner for Women priorities and said that
she understood that they were going to identify ways in which the status of women in Orange County
could be improved. She asked when that would be ready. Lucy Lewis said that she sees the
recommendations as ongoing. Commissioner Gordon would like for them to bring forth a
recommendation on how to improve the status of women in Orange County. Commissioner Gordon also
asked if the equity report done by Verla Insko had been updated and was told that they have talked
about updating that report. Commissioner Gordon mentioned that she and Commissioner Brown are
interested in both of these items.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PARTICIPATION
Commissioner Gordon will serve as alternate on the Human Services Advisory Commission
and Commissioner Brown will serve as alternate on the Board of Health. A motion was made by
Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve the appointments to the Boards
and Commissions as presented and amended at the December 2, 1996 meeting and as amended
above. Chair Crowther will serve on the Landfill Owner's Group.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
FUTURE WORK SESSION SUBJECTS
1. Welfare Reform Task Force
2. Healthy Carolinians 2000
3. Agricultural Districts Advisory Commission
4. Economic Development Strategic Plan
5. Senior Citizens Center Development Plan
6. Abuse and Neglect - DSS presentation
ADJOURNMENT
With no further items to discuss, Chair Crowther adjourned the meeting. The next regular
meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. in the OWASA Operations Center in
Carrboro, North Carolina.
William L. Crowther, Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk