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APPROVED 12/2/2002 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORK SESSION <br /> SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER <br /> 5:30 p.m. <br /> October 9, 2002 <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Wednesday, <br /> October 9, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, <br /> North Carolina. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs and Commissioners <br /> Margaret W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon (arrived at 5:55 pm) and <br /> Stephen Halkiotis <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill and S. Sean Borhanian <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County <br /> Manager Gwen Harvey and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will <br /> be identified appropriately below) <br /> NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE <br /> PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. <br /> Chair Barry Jacobs called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. <br /> 1 a. Review of the Draft Strategic Plan in Response to the State Mandate for <br /> Mental Health Reform <br /> John Link said that this time is exciting for him after hearing from the public last <br /> night and the creativity that was expressed. He said that we should make sure that <br /> important programs continue even if the State does not fund them. He said that we <br /> heard last night that services are basically provided based on revenue streams. <br /> However, this is not the culture that local government is used to doing mental health. He <br /> is optimistic about this mental health reform and that the outcome will be better than it is <br /> now, especially in this County. <br /> Chair Jacobs reviewed the public forum for Commissioners Brown and Carey, <br /> who were not able to attend. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked about the bullets in the handouts and if they reflect <br /> the points that were made by the people in the work groups. <br /> OPC Director Tom Maynard said that every point raised in the groups was written <br /> down and everyone voted on the priorities. <br /> Tom Maynard said that this County is a leader in mental health and that John <br /> Link is one of the premiere County Managers in the State. He disagrees with some of <br /> the assessments and some of the aspects of the plan, but fundamentally he thinks they <br /> got it right and the plan is one way for them to fix the system. The intent of the client <br /> services is to make things more accountable and more effective and efficient. He said <br /> that one of the key things that needed to be fixed in this State is the financing scheme. <br /> Tom Maynard said that last night there were a lot of comments about child and <br /> family services. He thinks that there is a very proactive child service at OPC and he was <br />