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Home My WebLink About02.24.26 HRC Approved Minutes ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS&CIVIC LIFE Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC) Regular Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: February 24, 2026 Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm Location: 306 Revere Rd. Suite B, Hillsborough, NC 27278 Minutes Prepared By: Heather Bolduc, Administrative Support II 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:08pm by Chair Rhian Carreker-Ford. 2. Roll Call-Establishment of Quorum Commissioners Present • Co-Chair Rhian Carreker-Ford • Co-Chair Tonya Jones • Jenn Sykes • Josh Ravitch • Shane Lukas Commissioners Absent • Wendy Calvin • Corey Hogans Staff Present • Paul Slack, Chief Civil Rights Officer • Courtney McLaughlin, Community Engagement&Outreach Coordinator • Shanelle Harvey, Civil Rights Investigator • Heather Bolduc, Administrative Support, II Guest(s) Present • Margaret McConnell, County Attorney Quorum was met. 3. Purpose& Role of the Human Relations Commission Page 1 of 6 The Chair provided a brief overview of the Human Relations Commission's purpose and advisory role. 4. Approval of Agenda Vote Result:Approved Vote Count: 5 For 5. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes Minutes Reviewed:January 27, 2026 Vote Result:Approved Vote Count: 5 For 6. Public Comment Public Comment Guidance & Disclosure The Chair reminded attendees that public comment should not include confidential information, personal identifying information, or details of active complaints or investigations. The Chair noted that sensitive matters may be redirected to the appropriate staff or complaint process in order to protect due process and confidentiality. Speakers ■ Margaret McConnell, County Attorney: Ms. McConnell spoke to the Commissioners about the rules for open meetings and gave a mini-refresher on open meeting laws. Legal Authority ■ N.C. Gen. Stat. §153A-76 (authority to establish advisory boards): BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) may create, change, abolish . . . boards [and] commissions of the county government to promote orderly and efficient administration of county affairs ■ N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 143, Article 33C (Open Meetings Law): o 143-318.9:Whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative, policy- making, quasijudicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the people's business, it is the public policy of North Carolina that the hearings, deliberations, and actions of these bodies be conducted openly. Page 2 of 6 o 143-318.10: (a) each official meeting of a public body shall be open to the public and any person is entitled to attend. (b) HRC is a public body(d) official meeting: meeting, assembly, or gathering together at any time or place or the simultaneous communication by conference telephone or other electronic means of a majority of the members of a public body for the purpose of transacting the public business. However, a social meeting or other informal assembly or gathering together of the members of a public body does not constitute an official meeting unless called or held to evade the spirit and purposes of this Article. o 143-318.16—Injunctive Relief—a court can enjoin HRC from threatened violations of the open meetings laws, recurrence of past violations of open meetings laws, or continuing violations of the open meetings laws. o 143-318.16A—Any person may file suit in Superior Court alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Law, and a judge may declare actions taken in violation null and void. o 143-318.16B—Court may award reasonable attorneys fees to be paid by the County OR any individual member of the public body found by the court to have knowingly or intentionally violated the open meetings requirements 7. County Updates County Staff Presenting: Mr. Paul Slack, Ms. Courtney McLaughlin- Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life ("OCRCL") Summary of Updates: o Board of County Commissioners ("BOCC") updated policy for HRC members attendance. If a member of the HRC misses 3 meetings in a 12-month period they will be terminated from their position on the Board. o At the March HRC meeting, Mr. Paul Slack will have the final quote selection and pricing, for the Blackwood Farms monument. There will be a vote determining final options for the monument. OCRCL will take the vote decision and handle the fabrication, and scheduling of placement. o Commissioner Krista Caraway resigned, leaving 5 positions open.We have three applications for review and can discuss at the end of tonight's meeting. o Ms. Courtney McLaughlin discussed timelines for OCRCL's support of HRC programming, Defining the Core Purpose,Target Audiences & Demographics Page 3 of 6 a) ADA& Language Access- high priority for accessible venues, and we have the ability to have American Sign Language &other language access at events b) Community Partnerships; Are these partners that we have previously established relationships with?We want to ensure alignment with the vision of the County, and the BOCC. c) Are there sponsorships or stipends or honorariums involved? d) OCRCL will approve any organization or speaker, and will reach out on behalf of HRC to schedule and discuss any bookings and financial details; HRC does not discuss anyfinancial details, OCRCLwill handle all fiscal details for the HRC. e) OCRCL will handle visibility details for events and programming, such as small or large programming, post-event surveys 8. Commission Updates 8.1.Community Events & Programs Summary of Discussion: o Pauli Murray Awards on May 17t" ■ Speaker is Jesse Huddleston ■ April 151" Deadline for PMA Nominee Applications to be received o March 3, 2026: Raise Your Voice Youth Summit ■ Hannah Preston of Influence NC is Speaker ■ HRC will choose a Community Champion; Winner will be announced at the Pauli Murray Awards on May 171" Action Items: o Choose Community Champion based on posters completed at March 3rd event. ■ Assigned to: HRC ■ Due: Before P.M.A. Awards 8.2.Outreach & Engagement Summary:The Commission discussed progress and upcoming engagement opportunities. 8.2.1. Partnership Outreach Discussion Summary:This is tabled until Sub-Committee members can facilitate the outreach. 8.2.2. New Member Outreach Page 4 of 6 Discussion Summary: Review current applications and vote at the end of tonight's meeting. ■ Vacancies noted, 5 vacancies Decisions or Motions(if applicable): Motion to Approve applications for board membership for Cassie Rice,Andrew Drain, and Brandon Loor Intriago. o Motion:Jenn Sykes o Second: Shane Lukas o Vote Results: 4 Approved / 1 Abstained 8.2.3. Tabling and Community Presence Discussion Summary: ■ Hog Day ■ Mildred Council Community Dinner 8.3.Community Conversations Summary: o Event recap on Conversation on Resilience on February 21 st o What do future events look like for these conversations? o Value created by setting the table for folks to come together to share resources with each other o If there is a big issue impacting the community the ability to get a Requested Conversations: ■ Mental Health ■ Teen Mental Health 9. Emerging Issues/Community Concerns Commissioner shared the following emerging issues: o Immigration and Custom Enforcement ("ICE") o Social Justice Issues Potential next steps discussed: o Community Conversation on ICE in Our Community; Late Summer o Social Justice Conversations 10.Announcement/ Reminders • Mildred Council Community Dinner on April 26, 2026 • Pauli Murray Awards on May 17, 2026 • Proclamation for Women's History Month Finalized • Proclamation for Arab American Heritage Month Page 5 of 6 Decisions or Motions(if applicable) o Motion: Shane Lukas o Second: Jenn Sykes o Vote Results:Approved Unanimously Action Items: o Draft Arab American Heritage Proclamation ■ Assigned to: Jenn Sykes ■ Due: March 7, 2026 • Proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month Decisions or Motions(if applicable):Approve Proclamation o Motion: Shane Lukas o Second: Jenn Sykes o Vote Results:Approved Unanimously 11.Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 pm. Motion: Co-Chair Rhian Carreker-Ford Second: Commissioner Shane Lukas Vote Result:Approved Unanimously Next Meeting: March 24, 2026, at 306 Revere Rd. Hillsborough, NC, 27278 Page 6 of 6