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a. Budget Amendment #4 <br />This item was removed and placed at the end of the consent agenda. <br />b. Census 2000 - New Construction Program Liaison <br />The Board appointed a new construction liaison to participate in the final review opportunity <br />offered by the U.S. Census Bureau. <br />C. Moratorium on Executions <br />The Board approved a resolution endorsing a moratorium on executions as stated below: <br />A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS <br />WHEREAS, Throughout the ages, society has sought to use appropriate penalties for crimes committed <br />against citizens; and <br />WHEREAS, In 1972 the United States Supreme Court has ruled in Furman v. Georgia that the <br />procedures used to implement the death penalty were unconstitutional thereby halting executions in this <br />nation until 1976 when the Supreme Court ruled in Gregg v. Georgia that the use of the death penalty <br />could be utilized subject to safeguards for the protection of the rights of the accused; and <br />WHEREAS, The use of the death penalty as a capital punishment for the willful, deliberate, and <br />premeditated killing or killing while committing another felony has been deemed appropriate by the people <br />of North Carolina and all of those currently awaiting execution in North Carolina were convicted and <br />sentenced under the state's revised capital punishment law which became effective June 1, 1977; and <br />WHEREAS, Since the reestablishment of the death penalty in North Carolina there have been <br />technological advances, such as use of DNA testing, to assist in the determination of guilt and the <br />enhanced ability of the accused to receive the necessary legal assistance to defend their rights as <br />provided under the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of North Carolina; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, Even with these advancements, recent events have shown that circumstances do exist in <br />which people convicted of capital crimes have been wrongly accused and sentenced to death even though <br />innocent; and <br />WHEREAS, Further discussion and deliberation of this contentious issue in light of these factors is merited <br />and the need to review the laws of this State and the various court proceedings and rulings affecting the <br />use of this punishment should be undertaken as expeditiously as possible due to the fact that <br />approximately 197 persons in North Carolina are awaiting execution; and <br />WHEREAS, the Senators Eleanor Kinnaird and Howard N. Lee, have sponsored a bill in the 1999 Session <br />of the General Assembly (Senate Bill 1102), establishing a moratorium on executions in North Carolina; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the Senate has referred the above mentioned bill to the Judiciary Committee II, for further <br />study; and <br />NOW, THEREFORE, THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLVES: <br />Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners calls on Governor Hunt and our state legislators, <br />President Clinton and our legislators in Congress, to enact and adopt legislation imposing a moratorium on <br />executions--at least until this state and the nation implement policies and procedures which: <br />• Ensure that death penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially, in accordance with basic due <br />process; <br />• Minimize the risk that innocent persons may be executed; and