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ill be incorporated in these minutes in the minute book.~Q~_~ <br />D. RESOLUTIONS OR PROCLAMATIONS <br />1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY <br />Motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by ,,.~„~ <br />Commissioner Willhoit to approve the resolution as printed below: <br />A RESOLUTION URGING MAXIMUM LOCAL AUTONOMY <br />IN SETTING SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina has a national reputation for its strong and <br />effective county government; and <br />WHEREAS, that national recognition includes an acknowledgement of the <br />large amount of home rule afforded counties by the North Carolina General <br />Assembly; and <br />WHEREAS, the National Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental <br />Relations in a recent survey ranked North Carolina among the top states in <br />the nation for the amount of home rule afforded counties and cities; and <br />WHEREAS, recent actions of the General Assembly have restricted this <br />local autonomy in that the General Assembly has enacted special mandated <br />retirement systems for law enforcement officers and most recently <br />registers of deeds; and <br />WHEREAS, at a recent meeting of the Social Services Study Commission, <br />the Social Services Association in testimony before the committee <br />recommended mandatory salaries for social workers; and <br />WHEREAS, it is not in the best interest of an effective and strong <br />county government system for continued deterioration of home rule relating <br />to county employees salaries and fringe benefits be continued. <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners that: <br />1. The General Assembly of North Carolina is commended for the high <br />degree of local autonomy which has been granted to county government in <br />North Carolina. <br />2. It is desirable for this high degree of local autonomy to be <br />continued. <br />3. Deterioration in this local autonomy such as was evidenced in the <br />recent law enforcement and register of deeds retirement action is of great <br />concern to county government. <br />4. The General Assembly is urged to refrain from additional <br />restraints and restrictions so that the strong tradition of county <br />government autonomy may continue to serve the citizens of North Carolina. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS. <br />2. JTPA ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION METHOD <br />The presentation was made by Commission for Women member Anne <br />Johnston. Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by <br />Commissioner Hartwell to approve the resolution as printed below: <br />WHEREAS, because of the exceptional circumstances of the lives of <br />persons aged 55 and over with regard to employment, particularly for women <br />in this age group, and because Congress has given states the flexibility <br />to shape the Job Training Partnership Act to meet their unique social and <br />economic conditions, the Orange County Board of Commissioners urges the <br />North Carolina Job Training Council to change the state's guidelines for <br />determining income eligibility for this group. <br />WHEREAS, an action that allows persons 55 and older to exclude <br />their spouse's income would prevent women, especially, whose average age <br />at widowhood or poverty strikes before enjoying the training and employ- <br />ment opportunities offered by the JTPA Older Workers Program. Such a <br />change would positively address needs identified in the Chapel Hill- <br />