|
NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS EMPLOYMENT MONTH
<br /> WHEREAS, Congress, by Joint Resolution, has designated October of each year as "National Disability
<br /> Awareness Employment Month", and
<br /> WHEREAS, This month provides the opportunity for all Americans to recognize the tremendous value and
<br /> potential of people with disabilities, and to recommit the tremendous value and potential of people with disabilities,
<br /> and to recommit and dedicate ourselves to the empowerment, employment and full inclusion of everyone of our
<br /> citizens with disabilities, and
<br /> WHEREAS, People with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest pool of talented, skilled,
<br /> knowledgeable and hard working persons, they are diverse—encompassing the full spectrum of race, religion,
<br /> national origin, age and gender. Small business and industry leaders, labor leaders and community leaders have
<br /> called for a diverse, capable work force to propel our economy into the next century, and
<br /> WHEREAS, It is important for the municipalities in Orange County and the County of Orange to move
<br /> purposefully toward diversity in the workplace and elsewhere in society not only because it is right and just, but
<br /> also because it is economically sound. We have learned that people with the severest disabilities can learn, work,
<br /> pay taxes, buy goods and be self-supporting if given the appropriate opportunities, and by employing persons with
<br /> disabilities in North Carolina, we can help reduce the alarming 75 percent unemployment rate in this segment of
<br /> our population, and
<br /> WHEREAS, disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals
<br /> with disabilities to live independently, enjoy self determination, make choices, contribute to society, and experience
<br /> full inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of American society, and
<br /> WHEREAS, family members, friends, and members of the community can play a central role in enhancing the
<br /> lives of people with disabilities especially when the family and community are provided with necessary support
<br /> services, and public and private employers are aware of the capabilities of people with disabilities to be engaged in
<br /> competitive work in inclusive settings, and
<br /> WHEREAS, the goals of the County include providing individuals with disabilities the opportunities and support
<br /> to make informed choices and decisions, live in homes and communities where such individuals can exercise their
<br /> full rights and responsibilities as citizens, pursue meaningful and productive lives, contribute to their family,
<br /> community, state and nation, have interdependent friendships and relationships with others and achieve full
<br /> inclusion in society,
<br /> NOW THEREFORE, do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby proclaim October, 2002 as
<br /> NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS EMPLOYMENT MONTH in the County of Orange, North Carolina and call
<br /> upon all citizens of Orange County to observe this period with appropriate programs and activities, and furthermore
<br /> encourage all citizens to seek counsel and input from any person or group with knowledge and expertise in matters
<br /> concerning disabilities.
<br /> This, the 15th day of October 2002.
<br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS
<br /> d. Resolution Levying the Third One-Half Cent Local Government Sales and Use Tax
<br /> The Board considered approval of a "Resolution Levying the Third One-Half Cent Local Government
<br /> Sales and Use Tax and Prescribing the Method of Distribution of the Proceeds Within Orange County."
<br /> John Link spoke on this and said that this past 12 months we have been in a budgetary crisis and that
<br /> the Governor took$700,000 from the County. Also, $3.1 million of revenue was withheld from the Governor. This
<br /> revenue represented a replacement of inventory and intangible tax revenue that the towns, counties, and cities
<br /> have been receiving for years until 1990. At that time, the Governor and the General Assembly promised this
<br /> replacement of revenue in the form of reimbursements. Toward the end of the assembly session, they did allow
<br /> the municipalities to enact the additional % cent sales tax ahead of schedule, prior to July 1, 2003. The County
<br /> Commissioners already held a public hearing on this matter in the spring. There needs to be another resolution
<br />
|