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question had to do whether or not the Health Service provided pregnancy counseling. He <br /> was advised by Chairman Carey that pregnancy counseling was provided. He requested <br /> that equal funding be allocated to institutions in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough which <br /> provide similar services. These other institutions, Pregnancy Support Organization of <br /> Chapel Hill and The New Beginnings Crisis Pregnancy Counseling, provide pregnancy <br /> counseling which offered alternatives to abortion. <br /> Mr. Jim Kitchen, a UNC employee, spoke in opposition to the proposal to charge fees <br /> for the EMS services. <br /> Mr. Alan Spalt, a Carrboro resident, spoke in support of the purchase of the <br /> Hazardous Material Team vehicle. He also addressed the school funding proposal. He <br /> favored funding a larger percentage of the expansion budget. <br /> Mr. George Senter, a former member of the South Orange Rescue Squad, stated that a <br /> large part of the success of the EMS service was dependant on citizens calling as soon <br /> as the emergency occurs. He believes that the user fee will be a deterrent to people <br /> calling in. He indicated that he believes the EMS services is an emergency service just <br /> the same as the police and fire service. <br /> Mr. Doug Noell, a paramedic and Chief of the Orange County Rescue Squad, spoke in <br /> opposition to the user fee proposal for the EMS services. He indicated that he was a <br /> paid EMS staff person in Wake County for 5 years and during that period of time he never <br /> became comfortable with asking people to pay. He also indicated that the fund raising <br /> project would be severely damaged if this proposal goes into effect. <br /> Mr. Dan Cowhig, a EMS volunteer, stated that the money the county pays the rescue <br /> squads monthly is not a subsidy, but rather is payment for the use of the building and <br /> equipment by the county. The relationship between the county and the squads has always <br /> been a partnership. He asked that a EMS Task Force be organized and the next year be <br /> spent looking at the entire system. After the situation is thoroughly studied, a <br /> decision could be reached that would satisfy all parties. <br /> Ms. Eugenia Smith, a member of the Orange County Rescue Squad, stated that the <br /> county's cost for EMS service is relatively small considering what the county actually <br /> receives for that service. She asked that we not risk losing the volunteers and the <br /> financial contributions of the citizens in this attempt to institute user fees. <br /> Ms. Kay Singer, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Education, read a brief <br /> statement from Elizabeth Eidenier. Ms. Eidenier's statement requested that the Board of <br /> Commissioners give full funding to the Orange County School's budget request. She <br /> stated that the budget reflects the true needs of the school system. Ms. Singer <br /> requested that the funding for the schools be increased over that requested by the <br /> Manager. Under the current proposal there is no money allocated for expansion and that <br /> is unacceptable to the citizens of Orange County. She commended the efforts of the <br /> Commissions to address the difficult issue of school equity plan. <br /> Mr. Max Kennedy, Vice-Chairman of the Orange County Board of Education, stated that <br /> the school systems' share of the county budget has decreased approximately 1% each year. <br /> He urged the Board of Commissioners to consider the school's need for funds to be at <br /> least equal to that of the county. <br /> Mr. Bill Miller, a resident of Chapel Hill, stated that he has been a diabetic for <br /> 21 years. He suffers several complications from that disease and has used the services <br />