Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> Mayor Tom Stevens commented that Hillsborough's staff had put the meeting together, and that <br /> Town Clerk Donna Armbrister would be taking the minutes. He asked that when speaking that <br /> people identify themselves for the record. Mayor Stevens stated in the past these meetings had <br /> been underachieving and they were jointly accountable for that. He asked that they all use their <br /> time together wisely and be responsible for getting the most out of that time by discussing issues <br /> of importance. <br /> Mayor Stevens stated the agenda had been designed to talk about those subjects of interest to all, <br /> as well as to talk about the themes of tonight's meeting, which was water and affordable housing. <br /> He stated they would begin with some brief reports, each under five minutes, and then have some <br /> significant discussion time on water and affordable housing. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs recognized Commissioner Mike Cross from Chatham County, and invited <br /> him to sit at the table with the other elected officials. <br /> 2) QUICK REPORTS <br /> INFORMATIONAL <br /> a. Orange County Organizing Committee <br /> 7:41:06 PM Mark Davidson, Pastor of the Church of Reconciliation in Chapel Hill, stated he <br /> was speaking on behalf of the OCOC. He explained that the OCOC was a broad-based, grass <br /> roots organization working for change in the community, and represented the concerns of <br /> thousands of Orange County citizens. Mr. Davidson stated they were interfaith, multi-racial, and <br /> non-partisan and took no government or corporate money, and were therefore self-sustaining <br /> through dues. He stated that social justice, the common good, care of the earth, and loving their <br /> neighbors were their key principles, and all of their work derived from a bedrock commitment to <br /> human flourishing and the realization of each person's God given potential. <br /> Mr. Davidson stated over the last year they had held numerous meetings and focus groups to <br /> determine the issues that affected people directly and impacted their lives. He said from those <br /> meetings six issues arose as priorities: affordable housing, health care, living wage, education, <br /> environmental justice, and the treatment of immigrant families. Mr. Davidson stated those <br /> priorities were currently guiding their work, and they would partner with community <br /> organizations and coalitions already working on those issues. <br /> Mr. Davidson said the OCOC strongly supported the Rogers Road neighborhood in their demand <br /> that Site 669 be removed from the list of potential sites for a waste transfer station. He stated <br /> they were also partnering with Glen Lenox residents to support the issue of affordable housing. <br /> Mr. Davidson stated the OCOC wanted to lay the groundwork for a good working relationship <br /> with each government within Orange County as they cooperated on issues of concern to them all. <br /> He stated the elected officials would soon be receiving an invitation to attend their next delegates <br /> assembly scheduled for October 29th at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, to be <br /> 2 <br />