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Commissioner Brown said that she would like to address these issues. <br />Chair Jacobs said that there is a letter from Ellen Perry (copy} that will be entered <br />into the record and to get a response from Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey. <br />Tara Fikes said that they did close the waiting list in October 2001 because the list <br />had 1,037 persons on it and there was very little turnover. They felt that it was not fair to <br />continue to receive applications when there was such a long waiting list. The wait was <br />sometimes 3-4 years ar longer. She said that they have applied for more vouchers but there <br />has been very little growth in the section 8 program because it depends on federal funding. <br />There are approximately 494 families on the waiting list today. <br />Commissioner Brown said that at the NACo conference in Washington last week, she <br />went to sessions on mental health and affordable housing and she brought up housing for the <br />mentally ill but was told that this Administration is not favoring any increase in vouchers or <br />money far affordable housing. <br />Tara Fikes said that after seeing the proposed fiscal year 2005 budget she is <br />concerned about maintaining the program as it is. <br />Commissioner Brown said that their affordable housing bond has been used very well <br />to make housing available to the disabled, such as Club Nova. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the last time that the County applied for new <br />vouchers and Tara Fikes said 1999. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if there was a formula for when to apply again. Tara Fikes <br />said that they just watch for a Notice of Funding Availability. She said that last year there was <br />an opportunity to apply for vouchers for the disabled, but now they require an extensive amount <br />of support services to come from a local non-profit. <br />Chair Jacobs asked about the waiting list and Club Nova units. He asked if the waiting <br />list could be opened to people who might have mental handicaps. Tara Fikes said that those <br />units were for people with disabilities. She said that if there were no disabled persons on the <br />waiting list, then it would have to be reopened. <br />Chair Jacobs asked Tara Fikes to check the waiting list for disabled people so that it <br />can be advertised that there are openings. <br />Susie Aragona, a Club Nova staff member, asked if they submit written feedback by the <br />April 15th deadline, if it will be incorporated into the plan. She wants more details about the <br />process of public feedback. Tara Fikes said all comments submitted would be put in the annual <br />plan and submitted to HUD. The staff will come back after April 15th with all comments as well <br />as the timeline of opening the waiting list. <br />8. Items far Decision--Consent Agenda <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordan, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />approve those items on the consent agenda as stated below: <br />a. Minutes <br />The Board approved minutes from November 5, 2003, November 18, 2003 and <br />January 31, 2004. <br />b. Appointments -None <br />c. Housing Rehabilitation Contract Award <br />The Board awarded one housing rehabilitation contract far the HOME Program <br />Housing Rehabilitation Program at 420 Northside Dr., Chapel Hill for $22,375 to Silver Fox <br />Enterprises. <br />d. Budget Amendment #9 <br />The Board approved budget ordinance and school capital project amendments for <br />fiscal year 2003-04 for Arts Commission, Department on Aging, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City <br />Schools High School #3, and Governing and Management -School Collaboration Facilitation. <br />e. Change in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule <br />This item was revised later in the meeting. <br />