Orange County NC Website
Geof Gledhill said that if you nominate by districts, you have to redistrict periodically. If you <br />have a pure residency district, you do not have to redistrict. Commissioner Gordon asked Geof <br />Gledhill to write a brief statement on how the amendment would work and what the choices are. <br />Chair Carey made reference to the maps and said that the Board is not making any decision <br />an whether the nominations will be for districts or at-large at this point. <br />The first two proposals are maps that are variations on the theme of the option that he put <br />forward. The first one has the smallest variation. He was trying to minimize the extent to which <br />either of those dipped into the urban areas of Chapel Hill or Carrboro to draw the district lines. He <br />said that he would probably select proposal #2. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that his preference is for proposal #3, which is Commissioner <br />Jacobs' proposal of seven County Commissioners. He thinks this broadens the opportunity for <br />greater citizen participation. He thinks that having three at-large County Commissioners <br />becomes the insurance package that the majority will always prevail. He is against district <br />nomination. <br />Commissioner Jacobs thinks that by having more commissioners, they will be giving more <br />people an opportunity to have more of a voice in the government. <br />Chair Carey said that he would not support aseven-member board. He said that, with any of <br />the proposals, the voters at large get to elect all of the County Commissioners, and in some of the <br />proposals, they get to nominate the majority of the County Commissioners. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked for information about how many seven-member and five- <br />member boards there are in the State. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that this merits bringing forward to the public and it gives every <br />single person in every district the opportunity to choose a majority no matter what system of <br />nomination is chosen. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that proposal #3 is her preference for the reasons stated by <br />Commissioner Jacobs, but also because it would make the work more manageable. She said <br />that this option allows for philosophical needs to be addressed and shows that the Board has <br />listened to the concerns that have been brought forward. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she would prefer afive-member Board. She suggested <br />taking three proposals forward for comment: #2, #3 and either #4 or #5. <br />Chair Carey suggested bringing forward proposals #2, #3, and #5. The Board agreed with <br />bringing these three proposals fonrvard, along with the principles as revised. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that out of 100 counties that are in North Carolina, there are 32 <br />seven-member boards, three six-member boards, and one three-member board. Most are five <br />member boards. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />adjourn the meeting at 10:211 p.m. <br />UOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Moses Carey, Jr., Chair <br />Donna S. Baker <br />Clerk to the Board <br />