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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 082117MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 21, 2017 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY:August 21, 2017at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT:Tamara Dempsey-Tanner,Ann Wilkerson,Pat Garavaglia GUEST:None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERSABSENT:Earl McKeeand Susie Enoch. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Duston Lowell, Program Manager; andRajkumari Sukhnandan, Research Analyst. I.Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, called the meeting to order at 4:10pm. II.Board Comments None. III.Public Comments None. IV.Agenda Changes Nancy Coston would like to add a discussion of the Social Services Institute to the agenda. V.Action Items On a motion byPat Garavaglia,the Board approved the minutes of July 17, 2017.Earl McKee seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI.Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1.Social Services Institute The Social Services Institute will be held in Hickory, NC October 18th-20th.Nancy Coston told the Board she wouldsend out information concerning the deadline of the conference and the agenda once it becomes available.Board members interested in attending can let her know. 2.Fresh Bucks Presentation Rajkumari Sukhnandanpresented an overview of a federal grant program in partnership with Weaver Street Market for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) that would create incentives for recipients of FNS to increase purchases of fresh foods at farmer’s markets and Weaver Street Market. Following the presentation, board members expressed both their encouragement for the projectand concerns. Tamara Dempsey-Tanner voicedconcern about the criteria for those receiving incentives, transportation barriers for clients,and sustainability. Earl McKee also MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 21, 2017 2 expressed concerns about sustainability as well as the impact on local farmers. Nancy Coston assured the board that the planningstages have just begun and these concerns will be addressed. Commissioner McKee addedthat perhaps staffshould reach out to Economic Development for further feedback. 3.Organizational Changes Nancy Coston informed the board that Crystal Mitchell will be joining Duston Lowell as another Program Manager inchild welfare. She will assist with the transition to NC FASTand share other supervising duties. 4.Timeline for House Bill 630 Nancy Coston informed the board that an RFP designed to study Social Servicesand its mandatory programs will soon be posted. 5.Director’s Work Plan Nancy Coston noted that there should be an official policy on infant and substance abuse coming out shortly and she will share that with the Board once she receives it. Given the opioid epidemic the state is asking social services departmentsto makereferralsto county health departments when appropriate. One a motion by Pat Garavaglia the Board moved into closed session to discuss the Director’s evaluationpursuant to§ 143 318.11(a)(6).Tamara Dempsey-Tannerseconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VII. Announcements Tamara Dempsey-Tannermoved to adjourn the meeting at 5:56p.m.Ann Wilkersonseconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by: Nancy Coston DSS Director Tamara Dempsey-Tanner Chair