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He feels that people need to learn to live within their needs and that special interest groups should not <br />dominate the spending. <br />Joe Capowski, member of the Chapel Hill Town Council speaking as a citizen, said that he is <br />concerned because of the questions of equity between the south and the north in the amount of the <br />bond package with more money per capita being spent in the northern part of Orange County. Also, he <br />asked what is being sacrificed so that these projects can be funded if the County is not increasing the <br />tax rate. He knows of other situations where people have sewer problems that need to be corrected. <br />Rita Gray, President of the InterFaith Council, presented a letter from her Board supporting the <br />$1.8 million designated for affordable housing. She listed in her letter some of the projects in which <br />they have been involved in an effort to provide subsidized housing and housing for the elderly and <br />handicapped. They also operate the Community House shelter for homeless individuals and families <br />and supply rent and utility assistance through their loan and grant program. <br />Leo Allison spoke in support of the entire bond issue. In particular, he supports the parks and <br />recreation facilities and the bond for the Efland sewer system. <br />Roy McAdoo spoke in support of the sewer system for Efland. He feels that people need to know <br />what this bond issue will provide so they can understand how many people it will help throughout the <br />County. <br />David Laudicina said that he feels that the bond issue is based on needs. Continued growth <br />means that services must be provided. He feels that this bond issue reflects a balance and encourages <br />the County Commissioners to maintain this balance as they make final decisions. <br />Ann DiGiano spoke on behalf of Habitat for Humanity. She said that they plan to build 50 homes <br />over the next five years. They are now building their 51 st home. She thanked Orange County for their <br />past support. As a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for five years, she has become increasingly <br />aware of the need for affordable housing. There are 8,600 households who earn half of the median <br />income who are living in substandard housing. The average price of a home is $200,000 which is out of <br />reach for most people. She emphasized the need to have decent safe homes in the reach of all our <br />citizens. They actually need $4 million over the next five years to meet the needs. Since the amount for <br />the bond cannot be increased, they ask that the County allocate from their Capital Improvement Plan <br />$2.2 million over the next four years for affordable housing. <br />Chrishawn Fuller said that he supports the park for the Efland Cheeks School and community for <br />senior citizens and for the children. He said that there are also other programs for which they could use <br />the park. <br />Alice McAdoo spoke in support of the sewer system bond issue for extension of the Efland sewer <br />system. <br />Mark Marcoplos who lives in Western Orange County made reference to an energy efficiency <br />report from a County committee in 1976 and noted that the goals have not been followed. The County <br />has not built schools which are energy efficient. He said that energy efficient buildings would more <br />than offset the additional cost because the materials used would be better. He will not support these <br />bonds unless a performance system is put in place to guarantee that these buildings will be energy <br />efficient. <br />Alison Weiner, member of the Orange Community Housing Corporation, noted that the $1.8 million <br />could be used to purchase land, secure second mortgages and build rental housing developments. She <br />asked that the County amend their current budget to allow an additional $2.2 million for these projects <br />and that the County Commissioners hold affordable housing as a high priority for the County. <br />Marty Mandell said that this bond has something for everyone in it. She feels the bond for parks is <br />very important. The plan that has been developed by the Efland Cheeks community is something to be