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1. Hire a consultant from funds provided by the Chapel Hill — Orange County Visitors <br /> Bureau to prepare a more detailed plan and do research including: <br /> a. Surveying and making a recommendation on available facilities; <br /> b. Analyzing collections in the County to determine what items would be <br /> appropriate to be housed in the Heritage Center collection; <br /> c. Analyzing and listing needed equipment; <br /> d. Analyzing staffing needs; <br /> e. Developing a proposed budget; and <br /> f. Identifying potential private and public funding sources. <br /> 2. Assess the interest, intentions and requirements of the Board of Directors and <br /> administrative staff of the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County <br /> about adding Heritage Center functions to its current offerings; and <br /> 3. Charge the 2009 Heritage Center Work Group to report on the findings of the <br /> consultant and make further recommendations before May 2010. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that this is the 41h time that a work group has looked at this <br /> issue and asked if this is the first time a consultant was proposed. Barbara Baker said that <br /> she does not think that a consultant has been hired to talk about the archival issues. There <br /> was a consultant to talk about library issues, but not specifically the archival and sensitive <br /> materials issues. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he served on two of the four committees, and this issue <br /> of the Heritage Center, while this was discussed, it was done only briefly. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the County needs a comprehensive approach to a <br /> library and/or museum. She made reference to the financial models and how a model would <br /> compare to the way the ArtsCenter is funded and how it works. She said that a non-profit <br /> could take the lead. She asked for elaboration on the public/private partnership. <br /> Barbara Baker said that the work group came to a point in the discussions where they <br /> realized that they did not have the expertise or the knowledge to deal with the details. The <br /> thinking was that if there was public/private partnership, that the private agency or the non- <br /> profit could take the lead in getting grant funding. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked that the various models include what has been successful <br /> in Orange County. <br /> Frank Clifton said that this is the second group that has mentioned surplus County <br /> properties and he is not aware of much free space, because the county has a space issue. He <br /> suggested that before the Board makes any decisions about properties that it will look at <br /> County needs first. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that people have convinced him that there is a need for this <br /> type of facility and that this might have some economic development potential. He said that he <br /> does not see any private entities that have offered to put money on the table for this venture. <br /> He said that if this public/private partnership is done, it needs to be done through a 501(c)3 <br /> and he is afraid that this will end up being funded by the public factor. He said that he is not <br /> inclined to support spending $5,000 for a consultant. <br /> Barbara Baker said that it is too early in the process to get any commitments yet from <br /> the private sector. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he would feel more comfortable with this if the $5,000 <br /> were split between the private and public partners. <br />