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community. Some of her best friends are people that she has met at the library. She is able to <br /> access resources close to her home. She said that she reads books at her child's preschool <br /> and children are anxious to hear her every week with books from this library. She echoed that <br /> this space is needed in these economic times for books and computers. She said that the <br /> library transcends class and there is equal access. <br /> Aliya Suayah said that she has been going to the library for six years — since the age of <br /> 2. She said that it is one of her favorite places in town. She said that if this library closed she <br /> would feel that a piece of her would be missing. She loves browsing her favorite sections. It <br /> would be a great loss to Carrboro if the library were to close. <br /> Ismail Suayah said that he came to this country 30 years ago. He said that when he <br /> lived in an impoverished environment there was a public library. He said they would find <br /> children gathered around one book back then. He said that public space should be created in <br /> hard times and not closed. <br /> Desiree Goldman is a Director with the Greater Chapel Hill Association of Realtors. <br /> This organization is part of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition. She said that <br /> the coalition wants to thank the County Commissioners for taking the time to meet with the <br /> organization earlier this year. They look forward to working with the County Commissioners, <br /> Planning Board, and staff in support of the mutual interests in promoting a path to <br /> sustainability that balances environmental health, social equity, and economic prosperity. The <br /> Coalition supports the County Commissioners' decision to rank Comprehensive Plan <br /> Implementation and Economic Development District planning among their highest priorities for <br /> fiscal year 2009-2010. The Coalition also agrees that consolidating the County's land use <br /> ordinances and regulations into a single, unified development ordinance is a prerequisite for <br /> successful Comprehensive Plan implementation. Therefore, the Orange County <br /> Comprehensive Plan Coalition recommends that a work plan and timeline be approved for <br /> creating a unified development ordinance, implementing the Comprehensive Plan, developing <br /> plans for economic development districts. <br /> Chris Moran said that he also represents the Coalition and the InterFaith Council. He <br /> also supports including the Carrboro Library. He said that he supports what Desiree has said <br /> and he also supports the implementation schedule. He thinks that it will be truly successful if <br /> the Board works hard with its advisory boards and includes working with other local <br /> governments and agencies. He thinks that the Comprehensive Plan can help plan <br /> developments that will include ample caregivers for people that may experience domestic <br /> violence, loss of income, death, and other socioeconomic problems. This is also about <br /> sustaining services in Orange County. He asked the Board to be creative with its process and <br /> figure out new ways of sustaining and amplifying services for all that are dependent on those <br /> services with a lack of safety net at the federal level. The InterFaith Council now serves 2,191 <br /> households in the food pantry just in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. This is a 67% increase from <br /> last year at this time. <br /> Allen Rosen is a member of the Village Project and also a member of the Orange <br /> County Comprehensive Plan Coalition. He said that they have been involved in the <br /> Comprehensive Plan process for two years. He said that they are presenting a proposed work <br /> plan and timeline. The Coalition also supports the development of plans for the three <br /> economic development districts. He pointed out the second recommendation on the handout <br /> from the Coalition: <br /> 2. As per section 1.5.2 of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan — Plan Review and Evaluation <br /> — each Element Lead Advisory Board —with the assistance of County staff and working in an <br /> interdependent, integrated fashion — be tasked with <br />