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6 <br /> 19. Place Board meeting items outside meeting room (1) <br /> TOP THREE PRIORITIES: <br /> The Board then discussed and further clarified the top nine priorities, deciding to <br /> combine items 3 and 7 above into one item. Board members were also given the <br /> opportunity to advocate for one or more of the priorities on the now "top eight" <br /> list. Each Commissioner was then provided with three sticker dots to vote on their <br /> top three priorities. The Board's collective vote on the eight priorities is <br /> summarized below. The Orange County Board of Commissioners' top three <br /> priorities for communications are noted in bold. <br /> 1. Hire a PIO (6 votes) <br /> 2. Expand live-streaming video of Board meetings (including possibly <br /> creating a permanent Commission meeting room in Hillsborough with full <br /> technology capabilities) (6 votes) <br /> 3. Push agenda and highlights out before and after meetings (by the <br /> following morning) (not just links to the agenda but summaries and links <br /> to more information) (4 votes) <br /> 4. Decide whether or not to use social media tools (2 votes) <br /> 5. Educate the public about how to access County information and live- <br /> streaming videos (2 votes) <br /> 6. Examine tools to reach rural citizens (2 votes) <br /> 7. Expand e-service offerings (0 votes) <br /> 8. Use technology to be clear about meeting action items (e.g. motions on <br /> screen) (0 votes) <br /> After the top three communications priorities were identified, the Board <br /> expressed an interest in seeing a breakdown on what the County and its <br /> departments currently spend on all communications. Also, when the <br /> Commissioners discussed a possible PIO implementing these priorities, such as <br /> social media, they were concerned about how some rural residents, for example, <br /> would or would not access the tools. <br /> County Manager Frank Clifton informed the Board that, should it wish, staff could <br /> begin gathering information needed to start the hiring process for a PIO. There <br /> was consensus among the Board that staff could begin this process now. <br /> 8. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLANNING <br /> • Review of Current IT Expenditures (Capital and Operating) <br /> Strategic IT Planning Consultant Shannon Tufts reviewed current information <br /> technology (IT) expenditures and noted a severe lack of staff capacity to execute <br /> projects. Orange County's IT department has approximately half of the staff and <br /> budget levels of similarly sized counties across North Carolina. The <br /> Commissioners agreed to the premise that any new technology efforts/project <br /> would require more funding for staff and technology. Ms. Tufts reminded the <br /> Board, though, that technology is just a tool where underlying business <br /> processes need to be strong before applying IT. The business processes should <br /> be subject to change so that they align with and support technologically driven <br /> changes. <br />