Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 200610053 APPROVED 611 212 0 0 7 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS October 5, 2006 6:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, October 5, 2006 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs, and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Valerie P. Foushee, Alice Gordon and Stephen Halkiotis COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Donna S. Baker, Clerk to the Board OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Mercer, Consultant NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. 1. Opening Remarks The BOCC had dinner prior to the beginning of the meeting 2. District Election Education Committee - BOCC Member Appointments Commissioner Carey volunteered to be one of the BOCC representatives on this committee and Commissioner Foushee said she would also volunteer to be on it. 3. Closed Session A motion was made by Commissioner Carey seconded by Commissioner Gordan to go into closed session at 6:23 p.m. far the purpose af: "to consider the qualifications, competence, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee ar prospective public officer or employee" NCGS § 143- 318.11(a}(6}. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Clerk did not stay for the closed session. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with Jim Mercer of the consulting firm of The Mercer Group, Inc. to hear his evaluation of the County Manager candidates and to discuss the candidates qualifications for the jab. RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION A motion was made by Commissioner Carey seconded by Commissioner Gordon to reconvene into regular session at 7:45 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Board discussed the possibility of holding a public hearing in reference to the proposed county campus. Since Commissioner Gordon had formally requested that a public hearing be held on October 17 for the entire CIP and debt issuance schedule, Commissioner Jacobs wanted to get the Board's input. Commissioner Gordon said it is best to hold public hearings for the public to comment on debt issuance issues as part of open government. She said that she is concerned that if the Board does not hold a public hearing for the entire CIP and not just the county campus, that citizens will feel as if they had no say in how much is being spent and what the funds are being spent for. And it would be good public relations for the County. Chair Jacobs said that he has proposed to put the entire $92 million CIP document as part of the agenda packet. That way it will be public and will be available to all citizens, though the Board is mainly focused now on the county campus portion of the CIP. Commissioner Gordon asked about the matrix and workbook materials that were handed out at the September 14th BOCC work session and she would like to see this information included as well for the public to comment on. Both Commissioner Foushee and Commissioner Halkiotis said that the Board has already had two work sessions on this proposed $92 million CIP and both work sessions have been productive and open to the public. Commissioner Gordon said that the public does not usually comment during work sessions and citizens may not feel inclined to speak at meetings where they normally would not be allowed to comment. Commissioner Foushee said that all of this information has been out there -both in the agenda packets in the Clerk's Office as well as an the County's website. She said the public has had opportunities to review this information and to let the Commissioners know of any feedback. Commissioner Carey said that the focus for the proposed public hearing should be on the county campus and to just include the other materials as information only. Commissioner Gordon said when would be the best time to hold a public hearing on the CIP if not now? Chair Jacobs said that the Board will find an appropriate time to hold a public hearing on the entire CIP, most likely after the county is made aware of how much money it will, or will not, receive from lottery proceeds. Then the Board can adopt a capital policy and hold a public hearing. He suggested that all the CIP information be put in the agenda packet for the public hearing on the county campus (later October or early November} and Commissioner Halkiotis agreed. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the Town of Chapel Hill's request for more funding from Orange County for Southern Park. He expressed concern that Chapel Hill elected officials are apparently looking to the County to be the only funding source far the Southern Park especially at a time when the County has significant capital needs. By consensus the Board agreed that the staff should put all of the CIP information both in the agenda packets and to past on the website, when the time comes for the public hearing on the county campus. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made Commissioner Carey by seconded by Commissioner Foushee to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Barry Jacobs, Chair Donna S. Baker, CMC Clerk to the Board