Orange County NC Website
I am here to protest the proposed closing of the Carrboro Branch Library and the <br /> reallocation of its staff and resources to Hillsborough. The wording of the draft copy which <br /> appears on the BOCC website listing the service impact of the proposed closure understates the <br /> value of the Carrboro Branch library to the 35,000 people living within its catchment area. Only <br /> open 26 hours a week does not take into account all the families and public patrons who use that <br /> facility on a nightly and weekend basis to take care of their lives. For example, during a 14-day <br /> period over the Christmas break, the facility witnessed 2,000 checkouts. Over the recent eight <br /> day school vacation, there were close to 1,000 checkouts while during the month of March — a <br /> regular month —there were close to 5,000 checkouts at the facility. If this is an underused facility <br /> and a community deserving the loss of its branch library of 16 computers and 22,000 books, <br /> please tell me why there is a proposed southwest Orange regional branch included in the CIP <br /> with a price tag of 3 million dollars which would, in essence, replace the Carrboro Branch Library <br /> and Cybrary. <br /> In closing, I would like to know what is the County Manager's rationale for closing the <br /> Carrboro Branch Library with its huge population base and moving all the resources to the center <br /> of the County where there are fewer people. If we are doing it simply to meet State Library <br /> requirements, that is not a good enough answer for denying southwest Orange citizens an <br /> ongoing and comprehensive library service which they are paying for heavily with their taxes. <br /> Thank you." <br /> Dale Morgan said that she is a working artist in Chapel Hill and she has shown at the <br /> Carrboro Library at least once a year for art shows for the last four years. She hopes that the <br /> library will stay there for the citizens. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations - NONE <br /> 4. Consent Agenda <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner Yuhasz to <br /> approve those items on the consent agenda as stated below: <br /> a. Minutes <br /> This item was removed and placed at the end of the consent agenda for separate <br /> consideration. <br /> b. Appointments <br /> (1) Arts Commission — Reappointments <br /> The Board reappointed Robert Kintz, Lauri Alexander, Wendy Gellert, Leah Rade, Shannon <br /> Jackson, Rachel Lillis, Geoffrey Hathaway, and Charles Hochman to terms expiring March <br /> 31, 2012 to the Arts Commission. <br /> (2) Transportation Services Board — Reappointments <br /> The Board reappointed Amelia Strope, Karen Lincoln, Jerry Passmore, Nancy Coston, Ardra <br /> Webster, and Donna Musson to terms expiring March 31, 2011 to the Transportation <br /> Services Board. <br /> c. Motor Vehicle Property Tax Release/Refunds <br />