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.a PAGE 1 ` `~ APPROVED 12 19 89 , ~,~ MINUTES - -• ~~ ORANGE GOUNTY BOARD OF GOMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 1989 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held a Special Meeting on November 14, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Gourtroom, Hillsborough, North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting was to receive public comments from individual citizens, non-profit agencies, and other local government bodies concerning program and budget priorities for the next fiscal year which runs from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1991. BOARD MEMaERS PRESENT: Chairman Messes Carey, Jr., and Gommissioners Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell, Shirley E. Marshall and Don Willhoit. STAFF PRESENT: Gounty Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Albert Kittrell and Ellen Lim ton, Deputy Glerk to the Board Kathy Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Purchasing Director Pam. Jones, Budget Officer Rad Visser and Budget Analyst Donna Wagner. Chairmari'Moses Carey explained the proceedings for the meeting and opened the meeting for comments. He explained the meeting was held at this time of the year to allow citizen input into the priority setting process at an earlier time of the year than at the budget public hearing in June. The budget represents the priorities that the Board feels are in the best intexest of the citizens of Orange County. All suggestions will be given consideration by the Board at their woxk session scheduled for December 9. The following is a list of speakers and a detailed summary of their comments. GEORGE ESSER, Chairman of the JOCCA Board, stated concern for three kinds of poverty that are increasing in the County and in the society. The first is the elderly, the second is the working poor and the third are young people who must be equipped with talents and skills so many are not getting if they are to compete successfully in the economy of the future. With respect to the elderly, he recommended that there be a facility for poor and moderate income people similar to Carol Woods and Carolina Meadows but which can be done within existing budgets for the care of the elderly. In this community, there is an increasing number of people who are earning simply too little income to live in the community. He feels the Commissioners can be an advocacy force. for dealing with these problems especially in being sure that the pay for Gounty employees is comparable to pay of other public employees in Orange and Chatham Gounties. He expressed concern with the economy of the future that obviously is not going to permit young people without a high school education or without the skills to compete in a technological society. An increasing emphasis must be placed not only an those who are going ahead with college but those who are stopping at high school but must compete in tomorrow's economy and therefore find ways to ensure they can find jobs that provide a decent income and a decent career. (A copy of the complete text of JOCCA's presentation is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office)