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Commissioner Gordon mentioned that the Village Center of the Northwest Area Plan was the <br />Greene Tract. That issue was not decided during the earlier discussions. <br />Council member Capowski commented that the solid waste decision process needs to move <br />forward before this discussion on the Northwest Area Plan is reintroduced. <br />POSSIBLE LONG-TERM JOINT VENTURES <br />Joint Staff Effort to Focus on Energy Conservation/Usage - Council member Brown introduced the <br />idea of hiring a new staff person who would be employed jointly by Chapel Hill and Orange County to <br />take action to conserve energy. Part of this employee's salary could be paid for by the anticipated <br />savings. <br />There was consensus to request the Town and County Managers to study this issue using <br />County Engineer Paul Thames as a resource. Both transportation and building issues could be included <br />in this study. <br />Joint Ventures on Centralized Purchasing with Emphasis on Recycled Products - It was suggested <br />that the Chapel Hill and Orange County Purchasing Departments work together on a joint venture to save <br />on purchasing items. It was suggested that the school systems be contacted as well. <br />Joint Efforts on Information Systems - Chair Brown mentioned that Orange County has a strategic <br />plan to upgrade the County's Information Systems. It could be an effective way to both save money and <br />share resources to work jointly on some parts of this project. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the Orange County Schools Administration has been <br />working with the Orange County Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Land Records <br />Department to pinpoint growth. He suggested that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro System participate in this <br />way. <br />There was consensus from both Boards to work toward the implementation of a joint information <br />system. <br />Town Manager Cal Horton mentioned that they also have an Information Systems Committee. <br />He suggested that the Town and County Information Systems Committees work together on this effort. <br />Council member Andresen mentioned electronic file sharing as a future option. She also <br />mentioned that she would like to have a discussion about the possibility of merging the Town and County <br />Planning Departments sometime in the future. <br />Blue Cross & Blue Shield - Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that he is very interested in BCBS <br />remaining in Orange County. He requested that both Mayor Waldorf and Chair Brown meet with the CEO <br />of BCBS and discuss their future plans. Mayor Waldorf indicated that she in the process of scheduling a <br />meeting to discuss Blue Cross/Blue Shields' future plans. <br />ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. <br />Margaret W. Brown, Chair <br />Kathy Baker, Deputy Clerk