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~s MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JANUARY 10, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Monday January 10, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough. Members present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners _ Norman Gustaveson, Jan Finney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. --' Others present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, Neal Evans, _ Finance Director, and Agatha Jahnson,Clerk to the Boad. Representatives from Caswell County were R. L. Honeycutt, John B. Woods, Bobby Aldridge and Maud Gatewood. Representatives from Chatham County were Perry Harrison, Gus Murchison, Jr., Earl bark, Earl Thompson and R. E. Beauchaine. From Lee County were representatives Gordon Wicker, Frank Wicker, and Elvin Buchanan. Representatives from Person County were Roy L. Lowe, J. B. Oakley, C. W. Hughes, and George Jackson. Also present were Dr. CoroDon Fuller and members of the District Health Department staff and members of the Orange County Community Health Task Force. Chairman Whitted stated that the Orange County Board of Commissioners had decided at their January 4, 1977, meeting to gather information of the effects of Orange County withdrawing from the district arrangement as it currently exist. He stated that the question of whether the district arrangement was the best method of health delivery for Orange County citizens had been consider over the years and the Commissioners had decided in December of 1976, to look at the entire issue of health services in Orange County. Chairman Whiffed recognized Mr. John Perkinson from the Division of _ Health Services in Raleigh. The Chairman stated that his concern in withdrawing from the district is the effect of funding which counties receive from the State and Federal sources and the feasibility of such __ a move and how this move would effect the delivery of services in Orange County. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he felt it was important to in- form the people present from other counties that Orange County basically feels that health needs of the county are not being met through the pre- sent arrangement, and that this meeting tonight is a fact finding meeting of the implications, should Orange County decide to withdraw. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that Orange County needed the wisdom from the Division of Health Services as to what is involved in withdrawing from the district arrangement. He added that he would like to hear of other counties who have made similar moves and the problems involved as well as the consequences. He pointed out that Orange County was concerned for the other counties within the district and would like to look at some of the problems they would face by Orange County withdrawing. He added that he was hopeful that Mr. Perkinson would help the County to come to some good policy decision at same later point. Mr. Perkinson stated that this district had been the largest district in the State for a number of years, and perhaps the oldest district in the State. He added that the Board would need to talk further with representa- -- fives from the Division of Health Services as well as representatives from the Southeastern Regional Office in Fayetteville. He introduced to the Board Mr. Tom Johnson, Director of that office. - Mr. Perkinson stated that in the area of delivery of services, Orange County would have to look at the individual needs of Orange County as compared to the individual needs of other counties within the district. He stated that Orange County may have health needs which did not exist in some of the smaller counties. He added that in general, the Division of Health Services supported the concept of district affiliation, however, this is not a hard and fast rule for delivery of services. He said that smaller counties had more to gain with affiliating with larger counties because smaller counties do not have the large tax base.