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3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Jacobs thanked Chatham County for allowing Mary McDowell to continue to assist <br />Orange County in our efforts regarding CP&L and the expansion of its fuel storage at its Shearon Harris <br />plant. <br />Commissioner Jacobs also asked for a list of companies with which Orange County does business. <br />He stated that there may be companies and/or countries we may not want to transact business. He stated <br />that there are companies and countries which violate either environmental laws or human rights and he <br />would like to see Orange County become aware of these concerns when selecting firms for goods and <br />services. Commissioner Jacobs asked that we add to our agenda a list of continuing items that need to <br />be addressed to ensure that all pending matters are dealt with in a timely manner by establishing a <br />schedule for implementation of each request. <br />Chair Gordon stated that she had spoken with the manager several weeks ago on this matter and that <br />the manager is working on a process for follow-up items. <br />Manager John Link stated that on the morning after each board meeting, staff meets to allocate <br />responsibilities to ensure follow-up on agenda items. Manager Link asked whether the question pertained <br />to carrying forward all the pending items from one agenda to another, and if so, it will take some <br />coordination with the Clerk's office to accomplish this task. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis stated his support for Commissioner Jacobs' request and said that he would <br />like to see a system implemented to ensure proper follow-up on all items by keeping a list of these items <br />that is revised as the items are addressed. Commissioner Brown also stated that she wants a method <br />established for follow-up on all items discussed by the Board. It was decided that the Manager would <br />establish a system to indicate when items can be addressed based on workload and to ensure a response <br />to all Board concerns. <br />Commissioner Jacobs referred to the next quarterly public hearing. He stated that he would <br />appreciate having the Planning Director research the flexible open space ordinance with the intent of taking <br />amendments to the next quarterly public hearing. He stated he would like to get some remedies to the most <br />egregious portions of the ordinance to present to the Planning Board. <br />Commissioner Brown stated that this recommendation was received from Runyon Woods last <br />December 1998, and forwarded to Geoffrey Gledhill. There were two (2) recommendations from Runyan <br />Woods that would correct two (2) of the loopholes, and these were forwarded on to the Planning Board. <br />Chair Gordon decided not to take action on this item until the new Planning Director, Craig Benedict, was <br />employed. Commissioner Brown suggested having the Planning Director review Runyan Woods' <br />recommendations to determine if they will adequately address these concerns. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to request that <br />Planning Director Benedict review Runyan Woods' recommendations and provide a report to the Board of <br />County Commissioners as to their applicability to addressing the problems with the flexible open space <br />ordinance. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis stated he had visited the Skills Development Center. He praised the staff for <br />taking an old building, using some steelwork inside, and making a wonderful beautiful building. He publicly <br />thanked Pam Jones, as well as Commissioner Brown, who had been committed to making this building <br />functional for the agencies within it. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked John Link to say something about the ABC board motion that took <br />place this date. He asked Chair Gordon to write the Chatham Board, thanking them for allowing Mary <br />McDowell to continue in her present position. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he has not purchased any Exxon products since the Valdez oil spill <br />in Alaska. He would also like to receive a list of businesses with which the County does business. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a-mails he has received from a citizen about an odor <br />emanating from hog farms near her neighborhood. He had asked Jim Hinkley to look into the matter. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis questioned how the system operates, what procedures are in place to act when a <br />concern is noted, and requested an update on this matter.