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of the Board of County Commissioners}. She does not think that the reorganization is a positive move <br />because there is no funding in order to be creative. The County is going to be responsible for taking <br />care of the mentally ill in the next 5 years. She spent the summer visiting sites within the counties - <br />group homes, nursing homes, the club for mentally ill and schizophrenic citizens, etc. and tried to <br />understand all of the services that OPC provides to this vulnerable population. She thinks that the <br />reorganization will require a lot of meetings with other entities, {i.e., UNC, hospitals, health departments, <br />social services, churches, etc.}. She said that one piece that it is extremely troubling is the history that <br />has gone ahead of us and what happens to these vulnerable people. Many of these people end up living <br />near and around courtrooms and jails. She thinks that we need to do whatever we can to prevent this. <br />Housing is going to be one of the big challenges. The other piece is the nursing homes and adult care <br />facilities for these people to go to. Her understanding is that many of the people that are going to be <br />released will go to nursing homes and adult care facilities. <br />Chair Jacobs thanked Mr. Maynard and Mrs. Truitt. He said that we are fortunate that <br />Commissioner Brown has made such a commitment to representing the interests of the citizens and this <br />Board in this process. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he took a tour of Umstead Hospital. He said that he really <br />does not know why any mature, responsible adult would venture dawn a road that has a map that is <br />missing so many identification points. He is not really sure that people at the State level comprehend <br />where they are going. He does not understand why the State plan requires that the LME {Local <br />Management Entity) not provide services. He thought that one of the richest components of OPC was <br />that it was always generating new opportunities to assist citizens. He said that the state seems to be <br />divesting itself of its responsibilities as State government. He is not convinced that this is a smart move. <br />He said that nobody uses the word "privatization" in all of this, but it smells like privatization. He would <br />like to see some openness on who is pushing this at the State level and what the vested interest is. <br />Commissioner Brown said that there has been several court cases on community care. She <br />said that that people have misused the community care idea to mean that all the funding is supposed to <br />come from the community. She thinks that the state has deliberately used it as a way to put the financial <br />burden on the local level. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the Orange County Commissioners are not the only ones in <br />the State concerned about this issue and that the NCACC has not embraced this program yet but they <br />are concerned. His question is whether the committee is going to make one recommendation on the <br />LME options or if it would present the pros and cons of each. <br />Tom Maynard responded by saying that the decision at the outset does not have to be the <br />final one. Some of the other options could continue to be studied and reviewed. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if the Board would hear some responses to some of the <br />questions in the agenda abstract at some point in the near future. Tom Maynard said that these issues <br />would be presented at the public forum. <br />Jahn Link said that they would come back with the pros and cans of the three models <br />available. They will come back during October to each of the three Boards of Commissioners and get <br />some collective direction on the governance issue. He thinks that, in order for this to be successful, the <br />County Commissioners need to be in charge. County Commissioners have demonstrated throughout the <br />State the ability to adapt to new programming, change, hurricanes, disasters, etc. This is an opportunity <br />to show Raleigh what the Board of County Commissioners can da and how they can respond for those <br />that cannot speak for themselves. <br />Chair Jacobs suggested inviting the legislators to the October 8, 2002 Forum and to look at <br />where we might want to suggest changes to the structure of the law. If there are glaring flaws, then the <br />Board can make the case to try and get it changed as quickly as possible. Orange County will go the <br />extra mile and with UNC Hospital it will make Orange County a mecca for other counties. <br />Commissioner Brown said that the Commissioners are in a good position to make this work <br />and it is up to the County Commissioners to provide for our citizens. It is our legislative and community <br />responsibility to take care of our citizens. <br />Chair Jacobs said to John Link that we need to think about creating some time for the Board <br />to find another evening to discuss these issues because it is a significant matter. <br />Commissioner Brown suggested that the invitation process for the October 8t" forum be wide <br />open so that everyone is encouraged to attend. <br />