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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19690303boob x' "iu s/b MINUTES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS March 3, 1969 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, met in regular session at the County Courthouse in Hillsborough, the regular place of meeting at 10:00 o'clock A.M., on March 3, 1969. Members Present: Chairman Carl M. Smith, and Commissioners Harvey D. Bennett, William C. Ray, Henry S. Walker and Ira A. Ward. Members Absent: None Minutes of the previous meetings were read by the Clerk and approved by the Board. Norman Long, Zoning Officer, requested that the Board set a date, time and place for the public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for Chapel Hill Township. Discussion ensued. The Board designated Tuesday, March 25, 1969, at 8:00 o'clock P.M., in the courtroom at the Courthouse in Hillsborough as the time and place for the public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for Chapel Hill Township. Mr. Long further advised the Board that the term of Lemuel R. Cheek, on the County Board of Adjustments, did expire on February 28, 1969. Upon motion of Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Ward, it was moved and unanimously adopted that Lemuel R. Cheek be re-appointed to the County Board of Adjustments.for a three year term. The following letter addressed to George Stockbridge, Executive Secretary, Health Planning Council for North Carolina, was read by Chairman Smith: "The Orange County Board of Commissioners would like to reaffirm to you its designation of the Health Planning Council for Central North Carolina as the official hospital planning agency for Orange County. Yours very truly, /s/ S. M. Gattis S. M. Gattis County Administrator Orange County SMG/kp" A letter from Clarence Jones, Chairman, Orange County Human Relations Council, was read by Chairman Smith. Said letter advised the Board that James Bumpass would be unable to serve on the Orange County Human Relations Council because of his employment. Upon motion of Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Rayy, it was moved and unanimously adopted, that Mrs. Winston Strayhorn of Route #2, Chapel Hill, be appointed to fill the term of James Bumpass on the Orange County Human Relations Council. Chairman Smith instructed the clerk to insert the following letters as a part of the March 3, 1969, minutes: "February 4, 1969 Mr. Carl Smith, Chairman Orange County Board of Commissioners 408 Westwood Drive Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27524 Dear Mr. Smith: At its regular meeting on February 3, 1969, the Chapel Hill School Board voted to request a $100,000 appropriation from the County for the construction of the Grey Culbreth Junior High School. The School Board would want to receive these funds only on the condition that such an appropriation would not jeopardize its 1969-70 capital outlay budget as presented last summer. The School Board will request an appropriation for 1969-70 of approximately $600,000. Most of this money would be used to build an addition to the Chapel Hill Senior High School. P 30K i f"m 7L i !, The issue is the construction of four classrooms and toilets at the Culbreth School. This space is needed so that the sixth grades can be adequately housed at Culbreth and Guy B. Phillips thereby providing some relief to the overcrowded elementary schools. These four classrooms are included in the bids for Culbreth as alternates. The School Board has until February 20 to accept or reject these alternates. We would, therefore, hope to receive- s decision from the Board of Commissioners by that date. Chairman Roy Lindahl and I will be glad to discuss this with the Commissioners at the earliest opportunity. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely yours, /s/ Wilmer S. Cody Wilmer S. Cody Superintendent WsC:jt co: Dr. Lindahl County Commissioners Mr. Sam Gattis" "February 14, 1969 Dr. W. S. Cody Superintendent, Chapel Hill Schools Chapel Rill, North Carolina Dear Dr. Cody: The Board of County Commissioners has asked me to write you concerning our meeting last Monday evening. The Board is keenly aware of the space problems in the Chapel Hill School System. They feel it is good planning and encourage your Board to proceed with the four extra rooms proposed at Grey Culberth School. They are presently not in a position to make cormaittments of next years budget. However, after hearing the proposals you made concerning the timing of your next few construction projects, they believe that between the funds you have on hand, the funds that can be raised and proper preparation of contract documents these projects can be accomplished within the time schedule you mentioned. The Board members wants to assure you they will make every reasonable effort possible to help your system acquire all the space needed to satisfactorily operate its program. Yours very truly, /s/ S. M. Gattis S. M. Gattis County Administrator Orange County SMG/kp" Chairman Smith instructed the clerk to forward to Dr. Cody copies of all the correspondence revelent to the railroad crossing of the State University Railroad located west of the Chapel Hill High School on secondary road #1777. Chairman Smith advised the Board that in a letter from Sohn Morrissey, '-, Sr., General Counsel for the North Carolina Commissioners Association, that the total potential county share of Public Welfare cost will be $62.3 million, an increase of sixty-one (61%) percent over the present biennium. Discussion ensued relative to the one cent (1¢) sales tax being proposed on a Statewide bill and relative to the position Orange County should take on said legislation. buui, , r;GE 1f6 The Board agreed that they would endorse an effort to secure a Statewide one cent (1¢) sales surtax for Local Government use, however, that if it becomes evident to those men representing Orange County in the General Assembly that the statewide bill would not be enacted then a local bill would be introduced which would allow Orange County to levy a one cent (1V) sales surtax for Local Government use. Upon motion of Commissioner Ward, seconded by Commissioner Walker, it was moved and unanimously adopted, that the Clerk be instructed to notify the two members of the House of Representatives and the two Senators, who represent Orange County, of the endorsement of the Orange County Board of Commissioners relative to the one cent (1g) sales surtax. The clerk was further instructed to notify all Chairmen of the adjoining counties Boards -of Commissioners of' the endorsement of the Orange County Board relative to said legislation. The following road petitions were filed and the clerk was instructed to forward same to the State Highway Commission: SR #1937, Mangum Road and Highway 70 and 86. Chairman Smith advised the Board that the three (3) million dollars in County Bonds were sold on February 18, 1969, at a rate of 4.67% and that delivery on the bonds were expected to take place sometime around the middle of the month. The County Administrator submitted the following bids which had been received on the property tax mapping of four townships. They are: Aero Service Corporation $65,625 Capitol Air Surveys 47,403 Allen Appraisal Company 46,000 American Air Surveys 37,082 The County Administrator advised the Board that it was the recommendation of the tax department that the County accept the low bid of American Air Surveys and that the Board authorize Chairman Smith to sign the contract for said mapping survey upon its receipt. Upon motion of Commissioner Ray, seconded by Commissioner Walker, it was moved and unanimously adopted, that the County accept the bid of American Air Surveys and that Chairman Smith be authorized to sign said contract upon _ receipt of same. Quentin Patterson reported that the Resources, Conservation and Development Program had developed a priority arrangement for soil surveys in Orange County. This program would allow soil survey work in Chapel Hill Township and in an area one mile wide along either side of I-85. Mr. Patterson stated that it was his opinion additional survey work should be performed in other areas of the county and he proposed that the County assume fifty percent (50%) of the cost of a progressive soil survey and that the Board should further request that the Conservation Service accelerate this program in Orange County as a need for such service was acute. Upon motion of Commissioner Ray, seconded by Commissioner Walker, it was moved and unanimously adopted, that the Board of Commissioners would urge the Conservation Service to accelerate their progressive soil survey in Orange County and that the County would assume fifty percent (50%) of the coat of this survey. Discussion ensued relative to reservoir sites, which had been previously discussed, with the Resource, Conservation and Development Committee. It was agreed that a meeting would be scheduled for Monday, March 10, 1969, at 7:30 P.M. for the purpose of meeting with all agencies concerned relative to the establishment and/or designations of proposed reservoir sites. The County Administrator was authorized to secure plaques for the Health and Welfare Building and for Lake Orange. The following persons were present to recommend that Cyrus Green be appointed as Chairman of the Orange County Extension Service. They were: Bunn Pope, Oscar Compton, George Wagoner, Billy Pope, Howard McKee, Knox Woods, Melvin Ward, Howard Pope, Richard Roberts, Manley Snipes and Hugh Wilson. Chairman Smith advised the group that he was in receipt of a petition signed by interested citizens who wished to go on record in support of Cyrus Green as Chairman of the Orange County Extension Service. Chairman Smith explained the position of the Board of Commissioners in this matter and read the following letters: b006 " r;,LL i /j "February 24, 1969 Dr. George Hyatt, Jr. Director, Agricultural Extension Service North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 Dear Dr. Hyatt: The Orange County Board of Commissioners, which feels it should be responsive to the wishes of Orange County citizens, is under heavy and constantly increasing pressure, to name Mr. Cyrus Green as County Extension Chairman. If the Extension Service does not intend to recommend Mr. Green to the Board for this appointment they ask for you to so advise them and recite specific reasons why the Extension Service will not make this recommendation. I will await your reply. Yours very truly, S. M. Gatti a County Administrator Orange County SMG/kp CC: Orange County Commissioners" "February 26, 1969 (Letter dictated on Feb. 25 but not transcribed.) Mr. S. M. Gattis County Administrator Orange County Hillsborough, North Carolina Dear Mr. Gattis: This is to-acknowledge your letter of February 24 and to express our appreciation to you and to the members of the County Board of Commissioners for your interest and concern in connection with the appointment of an appropriate County Extension Chairman for Orange County. We want to assure you that those of us at N. C. State University will continue to work with the County Board of Commissioners in arriving at the best possible decision for all concerned. However, we cannot now nor in the foreseeable future recommend Mr. Greene for this position. I think you will be interested in knowing that on this date we talked with Mr. Greene in my office and we again indicated to him our reasons for not submitting his name as a candidate for the position in question and I think he now has a better understanding for our actions. Very truly yours, /s/ George Hyatt, Jr. George Hyatt, Jr. Director GH:gah cc: Orange County Commissioners" Chairman Smith then advised the group that the Orange County Board of Commissioners would meet personally with Dr. Hyatt and pursue this matter further. b- 001, 1Cc Upon motion of Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Rap, Chairman Smith was authorized to sign the Aid To The Blind Agenda. AID TO THE BLIND AGENDA March 3, 1969 NEW Name Eff. Date Amount Reason Sadie Koonce Miller 4-1-69 $87.00 Transferred from Beaufort County There being no further business to come before the Board said meeting was adjourned to meet again on Monday, March ..3, 1969, and Monday, March 10, 1969. Carl M. Smith, Chairman Betty June Hayes, Clerk MINUTES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS March 3, 1969 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, met in adjourned session in the courtroom at the courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, March 3, 1969. Members Present: Chairman Carl M. Smith, and Commissioners Harvey D. Bennett, William C. Ray, Henry S. Walker and Ira A. Ward. Members Absent: None This meeting was called for the purpose of conducting a public hearing relative to the matter of establishing a Joint Public Housing Authority between Orange and Chatham Counties. Chairman Smith called the meeting to order and introduced the following persons to the assembled group. They were John Boswell, representative from the Leased Housing Division of the Department of Housing & Urban Development; Paul Guthrie, Assistant Co-ordinator of O.E.O. Programs from the State. Planning Task Force; Paul Alston, Executive Director of the Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action Agency; Mrs. Butler, President of the Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action Agency and Coolidge Porterfield, Assistant Co-ordinator for Housing from the Local Community Action Agency. Chairman Smith reouested that all proponents of the question, relative to the establishment of a Public Housing Authority, present their views at this time. Paul Guthrie spoke in support of the creation of a Public Housing Authority. He stated that outside of Chapel Hill Township, forty (40%) percent of the remaining housing in the county were sub-standard when judged in the light of reasonable housing standards and then filed the following with the Board: 1. A booklet of photographs showing the unsafe and unsanitary housing conditions which exists in Orange County. 2. An abstract from a booklet prepared by the O.R.O. showing a social profile of housing in the county. The abstract showed that for the 1950 and 1960 National Average Orange County was far below the national level. 3. A table listing the location of all Public Housing in North Carolina as of August 1, 1968. 4. A man showing distribution of Public Housing Developments in North Carolina as of April 1, 1968. 5. A table showing Use of Federal Home Financing Incentive and Direct Loan Program in North Carolina in Relation to Estimated Housing Starts, 1962 and 1967. 7 r?- 181 6. A table showing Public Housing 1963 and 1968, United States and Region Served by Atlanta Office, Housing Assistance Administration. 7. Cooy of G.S. 157.2 relative to the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. John Boswell stated that under the Leased Housing Program all housing units would be built under the Free Enterprise System and then leased to the Housing Authority. He stated further that a reasonable profit is allowed any builder who desires to build this type of housing unit. Mrs. Butler, who is a public health nurse in Chatham County, stated that because of the nature of her work, she was frequently in the homes of the poor and that these people needed better housing from the standpoint of health, sanitation and safety. Ira Butler, a member of the Cedar Grove Housing Corporation, stated that his group did endorse the creation of a Public Housing Authority. Mrs. Ruth Shea, a registered nurse on the staff at North Carolina Memorial Hospital, spoke in support of the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. Mrs. Cornelia White stated that persons in the low income groups were tired of sub-standard housing, outdoor toilets and open wells and that these persons were anxiously awaiting some relief from their situations through nublic housing. Bill Flowers stated that poor housing could not be separated from bad health or poor school performance of children coming from such an environment. Rev. A. J. Holman, Minister of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, spoke in support of the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. He stated further that the membership of his church did support the establishment of said Authority. Mr. Tharrington, President of the Sunny Side Group, spoke in behalf of the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. Dick Hutchins, Installment Loan Manager of Central Carolina Bank & Trust Company, read a letter from E. Wilson Cole, Vice President of said bank. Mr. Cole stated "Central Carolina Bank & Trust Company is very much interested in adequate housing for the people of Orange County. We feel that improved housing and the environment surrounding, such a project are as necessary to the welfare of our citizens as food and clothing". Chairman Smith read a letter from North Carolina National Bank supporting the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. Chairman Smith inquired if there were any other persons who desired to speak in support of the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. No other proponents came forward. Chairman Smith then recuested that all opponents of the. question, relative to the establishment of a Public Housing Authority, present their views at this time. Oscar Compton, President of the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club, stated that his area, which was the area being considered for the first housing project, was not a poverty area, but was in actuality a prosnerous farming community. Mr. Compton stated further that those persons who were willing to work for a livelihood could secure adequate housing if they so desired. James Farlow, Attorney from Chapel Hill, spoke against the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. He stated that he was concerned over the economic impact of such housing as he felt that each unit, which would rent for only forty dollars ($40.00) a month, would require a tremendous governmental subsidy. Carl Walters, a resident of the Cedar Grove area, proposed the following ouestions: 1. "Who would maintain the Public Housing units"? 2. "What affect will the presence of a Public Housing area have on the property value of the adjoining and surrounding lands"? 3. "Who would pay the property tax on said units"? Mr. Walters concluded by stating he did not feel that low rent housing units would help the county. / '.'.LAC 182 The following petition, which had been sign®d by forty-three (43) residents of Cedar Grove Township, was filed with the Board: "We, the undersigned residents of Orange County, Cedar Grove Township, North Carolina, do hereby file formal protest in the form of a Petition against the Urban Housing Development Project now before the Orange County Board of Commissioners for study. It is respectfully requested that this petition be weighed, and that same be incorporated as a Dart of the official minutes of the Prange County Board of Commissioners." Chairman Smith inquired if there were any other persons who desired to speak in opposition of the establishment of a Public Housing Authority. No other opponents came forward. Chairman Smith asked if there were any questions anyone desired to ask the Board of Commissioners or if they wished to direct questions to any of the persons speaking as a proponent or as an opponent on the matter of Public Housing. Commissioner Ward asked Mr. Boswell, representative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, if there were any limitations upon the number of housing units that could be built in a designated area. Mr. Boswell replied that there were no actual limits as far as his agency was concerned; however, this was a auestion which the appropriate local housing group would have to pre-determine. Oscar Compton inquired whether or not there were restrictions concerning how far housing units might be placed from certain basic necessities such as hospitals, shopping areas and schools. Mr. Boswell replied, "Yes", the agency does have certain restrictions as those mentioned by Mr. Compton. Joe Ward asked what was considered a sub-standard house. Paul Guthrie replied that sub-standard housing was judged on the basis of the condition of the house relative to plumbing facilities, which would include water and sewerage, dilapidated or deteriorated structure and heating facilities. Mr. Guthrie stated that his previous statement relative to the fact that forty percent (40%) of the housing in Orange County was sub-standard was based upon the standards which had bean set by the Bureau of the Census. Rev. B. A. Mack asked whether or not a certain percent of a tenants income must be allocated to rent payments. Mr. Boswell replied, "Yes". An unidentified person asked whether or not the county would be requested to provide funds for rent supplements to tenants of a housing project. Chairman Smith replied, "No". Mrs. Shea inquired as to whether or not the persons in attendance realized that the people living in any public housing units would be unable to upgrade their own living conditions, because of the lack of education, skills and health. Commissioner Smith replied that the Board of Commissioners were aware of this problem. An unidentified person asked whether or not the County Board of Commissioners were considering the adoption of a Housing Code. Commissioner Smith replied, "Yes". An unidentified person asked what authority the Board of Commissioners would retain over the Housing Authority. Commissioner Smith answered that the Board of Commissioners would have no direct control over the Housing Authority. An unidentified person asked whether or not the Housing Authority would have the authority to regulate a tenants conduct. Coolidge Porterfield replied that the Housing Authority would have the power to enforce reasonable regulations concerning the conduct of its tenants. 7 +,E 183 Chairman Smith advised the group that the Orange County Board of Commissioners could take no action on this matter until the Chatham Counts Board of Commissioners held its public hearing on the question. There being no further discussion to come before this public hearing the Board of Commissioners adjourned to meet again on Monday, March 10, 1969. Carl M. Smith, Chairman S. M. Gattis, Acting Clark MINUTES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS March 10, 1969 The Board of Commissioners of Orange County met in the Commissioners, Room at the Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina, at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, March 10, 1969, in special session. Members Present: Chairman Carl M. Smith, and Commissioners William C. Ray, Henry S. Walker, Harvey D. Bennett and Ira A. Ward. Members Absent: None v -- "T~ The following persons were also in attendance: Pearson Stewart and Ray Lester from the Research Triangle Regional Planning Commission; Tom Rose, of the Engineering Firm of Rose and Pridgen, and Quentin Patterson, of the Orange County Soil & Water Conservation Service. Discussion ensued relative to the acquisition of sites for water storage reservoirs. 'Mr. Stewart and Mr. Rose recommended that the County plan to acquire the necessary lands for the location of reservoir sites. It was agreed that a site on Seven Mile Creek should take priority over the two additional sites which would be located along the northern branch of said creek. The Board of Commissioners authorized Mr. Rose to prepare topographic mapping of all three proposed reservoir sites. It was estimated that the topographic mapping would cost approximately $9,560.00 and that an additional sum would have to be spent for ground control surveying. Chairman Smith designated Commissioner Walker, the County Administrator and the County Attorney as the committee to handle right of way matters for said project''. There being no further business to come before the Board said meeting adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, March 11, 1969, at the Jack Tar Hotel in Durham, North Carolina. Carl M. Smith, Chairman S. M. Gattis, Acting Clerk