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APPROVED 10!212001 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION March 13, 2001 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Stephen H. Halkiatis and Commissianers Moses Carey, Jr. Alice Gordon, and Barry Jacobs COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Margaret Brown COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant Caunty Manager Rod Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. 1. Leaislative Matters - Huntina Resolution Chair Halkiotis said that the purpose of this resolution was to seek authorization from the State legislature to authorize Orange County to regulate the use of alcohol and other impairing substances while hunting with firearms, and to prohibit hunting near government buildings in Orange County, primarily schools. The second piece of the resolution is to empower the Sheriff with the necessary tools to deal with negligence. Once the authorization for an ordinance is given to Orange Caunty, there will be meetings with the Hunting Committee, Chief District Court Judge, and the District Attorney to have an understanding that there will be no tolerance for anyone hunting with a firearm that is impaired by alcohol or drugs. County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill said that this enabling legislation would allow the County to have an ordinance that will have zero tolerance for drinking and hunting with a rifle. Alco-sensors will be used to test any passible offenders. Commissioner Carey verified that the reason the Board was considering this tonight was that the legislative delegation asked the Board to take formal action. Chair Halkiotis asked Geoffrey Gledhill if this item would be part of a public hearing on the next agenda and Geoffrey Gledhill said that the hunters would have the opportunity to speak tonight and that would suffice. Chair Halkiotis asked for a list of the members of the Hunting Committee that attended the three meetings. At this time Kenny Ray came forward and discussed the resolution. He said that the Hunting Committee has been meeting in the last month and has heard some concerns from citizens about hunters shooting around government buildings and using alcohol while hunting. He said that the Hunting Committee has supported the idea of a County ordinance. He said that the wildlife enforcement officers would have to define "an act of hunting." He added that there were not that many instances of citizens that have a problem with hunting issues. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Hunting Resolution as stated below and send it to the Legislative Delegation.