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• Dec 2009 EPA Grant Application draft is submitted to State Construction Grants & <br /> Loans section for review. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Sam Giabora commended the Board for taking a look at this issue again. He said that <br /> it is appreciated that the Board is looking at it with fresh eyes. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz asked how many customers were on this system and Craig <br /> Benedict said about 215. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the Engineer did not include the upgrade to the pump <br /> station for Richmond Hills. Also, he would like to see how the current rates and the rates over <br /> a four-year period compare to the rates for Mebane, OWASA, and Hillsborough customers. <br /> 8. County Manager's Report <br /> Frank Clifton said that OCS will be closed again tomorrow and CHCCS are on a two- <br /> hour delay. The County offices are operating regularly. He said that the Governor is <br /> considering a statewide declaration of emergency. The County would recoup some of the <br /> costs related to the weather if this declaration is made. <br /> He said that this was a tough budget year, and when he was hired as Interim Manager <br /> he began to take steps to address some of these issues and they have taken actions to <br /> contain the budget this year. He said that Orange County has approximately 900+ authorized <br /> positions and there are now 145 vacancies, but hiring has been delayed and some may remain <br /> vacant. He said that the analysis that is being done will generate a $2 million savings this <br /> fiscal year. However, there is still a $3-4 million deficit going into 2010-11 based on anticipated <br /> lack of growth and the Board's verbalization of the desire not to increase taxes. He said that <br /> there are still some hurdles to climb through for the budget process, and he is looking at a lot <br /> of internal reorganizations. He said that the County will be doing business differently and no <br /> single element will be singled out. <br /> He said that the Chair received a letter from the Town of Chapel Hill on how the <br /> County will participate in the funding of the Chapel Hill Library. He said that he thought that he <br /> was charged to come back with a recommendation. He recalls laying out the parameters of <br /> that recommendation and he has shared this with the County Commissioners. He can do this <br /> and bring it forward in a formal sense if the Board desires. <br /> Chair Foushee said that she has not seen this letter from the Town yet, but this was <br /> the charge that the Board gave the Manager. <br /> 9. Board Comments <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz— none. <br /> Commissioner Hemminger said that she has received a lot of calls about public meeting <br /> space and the policy of the County. She formally requested that this be brought back for <br /> discussion about what the policy is going to be regarding the public use of County facilities. <br /> This was in the form of a motion and Commissioner Jacobs seconded, with the understanding <br /> that there be a facility use policy. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that N.C. has received $545 million in ARRA funds for high <br /> speed rail. This could be significant for Orange County in terms of how it would be spent here. <br /> The Transportation Advisory Committee took up the question of Elizabeth Brady Road and <br />