Minutes 08-17-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Earl McKee congratulated the Board for holding the line on spending and avoiding a property tax increase. He said that in June, there was a meeting where $401,000 was spent on 14 items not included in the Manager's Recommended Budget. He said that this money should have remained in the fund balance because next year it will probably be even more difficult than this year. Even more disturbing to him was that no mention was made about the County employees. There has been no cost-of-living increase in two years and the County contribution to the 401(k) plan has been suspended. He said that there should have at least been some discussion about this. He said that the discussions this fall will set the stage for the budget. Robert Dowling, Executive Director of the Community Home Trust, thanked the County Commissioners for their continued funding to the Community Home Trust, particularly in this current fiscal year. He said that they sold 42 new currently affordable homes into the Home Trust in the 2009-10 fiscal year. There are now 184 homes and half of the owners of those homes are public sector employees. The Home Trust has also taken on property management without increasing staff costs. b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda below.) 3. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations a. Statement on the Impact of Human Trafficking and September 1, 2010 Conference The Board received a statement on the impact of human trafficking and information on a September 1, 2010 regional conference on human trafficking. Patricia Witt said that this is a topic of such greatness that is impacting our area. She said that human trafficking is modern day slavery and is a crime and a violation of human rights. She said that there is a federal law that defines it. This is such a concern because there are about 27 million in slavery today and 80% of them female, and over 50% of those victims are under the age of 18. She said that over 100,000 American children are subject to this sexual exploitation, in particular. She said that this occurs in every country in the world and N.0 is ranked in the top 10 in the nation in human trafficking. There is a conference proposed on September 1, 2010 and more information is in the agenda packet. She thanked the Triangle J Council of Governments for co-hosting this event. b. 2010 International Energy Code Final Action Hearings The Board considered support of the energy efficiency modifications to the International Energy Code Council by sending a voting delegation to a meeting in Charlotte. Planning Director Craig Benedict said that this council will be held in Charlotte and the Sierra Club will be making a presentation on this. Some of his staff will be attending this conference. Travis Hargett, Volunteer Coordinator for the Sierra Club, made the presentation. Leading the Nation: Why North Carolina Government Representatives Want to Be in Charlotte This October R. Christopher Mathis President