Minutes - 06-01-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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task farce of citizens and officials in the County to look at the long-term plan for library services in the County and what the County's role should be. Florence Soltys, Chair of the Aging Board, added a few statements that she could not make at the last public hearing. She said that one half of all the people in the world were reaching 65 years of age. She said that North Carolina's aging population would increase by 80°~, which would add one million people over the next 19 years. The projected growth far Orange County with people aver 60 for the next 19 years is 135°l°, while the rest of the Country is projected to grow by 38%. She pointed out an article in the U. S. News and World Report that lists Orange County as one of the five best places to live and retire in the country. Money Magazine and ABC News reported the same thing. She thanked Jahn Link for the work he did on the budget. She said that the total budget for the Department on Aging is less than one percent. She said that the Aging Board was very concerned that the needs of the aging would not be met. Keith Bowles, resident of Orange County far eighteen years, spoke about the severe shortage of soccer fields in Orange County. Currently, there are no soccer fields that are of regulation size for adults. He asked that the Commissioners consider building adult sized soccer fields in the future. Greig Ashurst, band director at C. W. Stanford Jr. High School, asked that the County Commissioners review the entire funding process for schools. He said that the quality of education should not be compromised. He said that it was a shared responsibility of the teachers and the community to give the students the education they deserve. Beth Barba, resident of Bingham Township and past president of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center, said that this group was incorporated to manage, solicit, and provide financial assistance to a senior center in Central Orange. The senior center for central Orange County is currently housed in a County building on Tryon Street. The group is also trying to promote and campaign far new and expanded facilities. They would like to rent same space in the Meadowlands area. She said that the group has also approached Hillsborough to request funding to help pay for the utilities of the senior center. Linda Carver, a first grade teacher in the Orange County School district, spoke in support of additional funds for the new Pathways Elementary School. She asked the Commissioners to reconsider some of the funds for Orange County schools. Ann Wagoner, President of the Board of Directors of Orange Congregations in Mission, said that OCI M supports the entire budget for the Orange County school district. This year the weather has been a major factor in the support dollars received by OCIM. The monetary and in-kind gifts are lower than they have been in several years. She asked that the Commissioners adopt the recommendation far OCIM. Mariah McPherson spoke in support of the Central Senior Center for Central Orange. She said that while the seniors appreciate the space they have, they would like to have nicer facilities. The parking at the Richard E. Whitted Center is not adequate. She is the Treasurer for the Central Senior Center and the center is trying to raise $4,000 to help fund the drop-in center. Bonnie Huskey spoke on behalf of the funding for Orange County schools. She asked for full funding of the Orange County schools budget. Her son is in the reading program and she appreciates everything the teachers have done for him. Kate Melcher, Reading Recovery Teacher at Hillsborough Elementary School, said that she works with children in the first and second grade, teaching them how to read. She thanked the Commissioners for their support for the Reading Recovery Program. She spoke on behalf of the third, fourth, and fifth graders at Hillsborough Elementary School because there is not a reading teacher for them. In the past, the art and music teachers have taught reading to the third, fourth, and fifth graders. This year, only the music teacher will be teaching reading. She asked far the Commissioners to fund the Reading teacher position for Hillsborough Elementary School. Norm Gustaveson spoke about the changes that are going to occur with the senior citizen population during the next twenty years in Orange County. With the current budget, some of the needs will be addressed, but not all. Libbie Haugh, a parent from Grady Brawn Elementary School, spoke about Spanish instruction in the Elementary Schools and presented to the County Commissioners a petition signed by 90 parents. These parents are requesting funding for the school budget in full.