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Commissioner Jacobs offered a substitute as follows: "A detailed description of the effect on promoting equal opportunity for children in the entire community associated with a possible merger." Commissioner Gordan said that we need a general overall pros and cons. There should be something about the benefits and negative impacts for children in the community. John Link said that the negative impacts would relate to financial terms. There will be no evaluative or judgmental descriptions. He does not expect it to be received unanimously. The staff will just be bringing the facts and information. Public Comment Michael Kelly, a resident of Orange County and a parent of children in Orange County Schools, said that he recognizes the inequities that do arise from unequal resources being committed to two different school systems. He asked the Board of County Commissioners to commit to a public referendum on this issue. This would lower the anxiety for the citizens. He said that the appearance of the County Commissioners being hesitant to a public referendum is that they may commit to a merger without public input. Etta Pisana said that she fully supports a careful study of a merger. She thinks that the community will support this if it can be convinced that it would be good for our children. She said that the community would not be easily convinced. The questions are "Why do this?" and "What's in it for the kids?" The question is not about dollars. She supports a referendum and believes that it will ratchet dawn the emotion if the Board commits to a referendum and lets the citizens decide. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon to add an objective two under Task B, which would read, "If the Commissioners believe merger should be pursued, hold a binding public referendum on the question of whether merger should occur." There was no second. The motion failed. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to Etta Pisano's comment and said that nobody is contemplating a November referendum. Etta Pisano said that she thought Commissioner Gordon said for 2003. Commissioner Gordon said that her motion deleted a time frame. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to adapt the goal of a school merger study as amended with the substantive additions (to make sure that the staff comes back with specific facts). The staff will come back with the amendments. Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the document be in strike and delete format. He would like this to not be lost in staff analysis for months. He would like to receive periodic updates. Commissioner Carey said that we should make sure bath school boards get the updates. Chair Brown said that she expects that the school boards will help them generate information. VOTE: Ayes, 4; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon -she believes in increased collaboration and equity in funding but she thinks that we should promise the public that there will be a binding public referendum.) b. Southern Community Park Actions The Board considered four actions related to the approval and construction process for Southern Community Park. Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil said that this would be funded from the proceeds of the Orange County bond referenda in 1997 and 2001. He made reference to page three and the recommendations for actions. He read the four recommendations as stated in the agenda abstract. Chair Brown gave background on this item. This came up in the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group and the goal was far the County and the Town of Chapel Hill to work together on this park. A motion was made by Chair Brown, seconded by Commissioner Carey to: 1. Approve the Southern Park Conceptual Plan, with a condition of relocating the planned third full-size soccer field along US 151501 South and away from the Dogwood Acres subdivision.