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<br />This item was removed and placed at the end of the consent agenda for separate consideration. <br />n. Contract for Design Work far Homestead Center Sewer Connection <br />The Board approved an agreement with Corley, Redfoot Zack, Inc. to complete the design of <br />sewer lines at the Homestead Community Center and to coordinate installation of a sewer <br />connection from the Homestead Center to OWASA's sanitary sewer system, at a cost not to <br />exceed $10,000; pursuant to NCGS 143, Article 3D, exempt this work from the selection <br />process prescribed for this type of professional services; and authorize the County Manager to <br />sign an agreement that reflects the content of the attached proposal. <br />VOTE ON CONSENT AGENDA: UNANIMOUS <br />ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA: <br />i. Audit Contract for the June 30, 2006 Fiscal Year <br />The Board considered awarding contracts to Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, Certified Public <br />Accountants, far the provision of audit services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 and <br />authorizing the Chair to sign. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the audit recommendation and why they would <br />solicit bids and recommends staying with the same firm. Finance Director Ken Chavious said <br />that there were some time constraints that kept him from proceeding with this process. It is a <br />long-term process that involves several staff members, and this was a matter of timing. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he has respect for Ken Chavious and the Finance <br />Department but he was stunned to read last week that someone in the Finance Department in <br />CHCCS was able to generate a fake social security number that was having monies diverted to <br />it. He asked haw auditors could not pick this up. This scares him and he does not want to get <br />too comfortable. <br />Ken Chavious said that it is their practice to change auditors every 3-5 years, but they <br />could not give the due diligence that it deserved this time. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to <br />approve contracts with Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, Certified Public Accountants, for the <br />provision of audit services far the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 and authorize the Chair to <br />sign. <br />Chair Jacobs said that next year there should be a different auditing firm considered as <br />part of the rotation. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />L RFP Award -Contract for Conducting Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing <br />Choice <br />The Board considered authorizing staff to contract with Donald B. Eager & Associates, <br />LLC to conduct an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice study for the amount of <br />$7,500; and authorizing the County Manager to execute the resulting agreement, contingent <br />upon final review by staff and the County Attorney. <br />Chair Jacobs asked Human Rights and Relations Director Milan Pham to outline how the <br />County could go beyond this review and do some field-testing. Milan Pham said that this testing <br />is a practice of Civil Rights agencies to discover potential discrimination when there is no one to <br />file a complaint or to stand as a plaintiff. It is used in employment and housing situations. The <br />trained testers, individuals from the community representing all walks of life and protected <br />classes, would approach housing providers and lenders to discover discrimination. <br />Chair Jacobs said that a few years ago an acquaintance of the Board of County <br />Commissioners who is Latino was calling apartment complexes in the community that were <br />advertising vacancies and when she called, she was told that they had just been filled. Then <br />