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Commissioner Gordon said there needs to be an emphasis on a partnership with the <br /> towns. She does not want to send a unilateral message. She feels it is important to sit down <br /> face to face with the towns at the AOG meeting in November. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked if this is the majority opinion. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she likes the idea of a letter, as it means the County is reaching <br /> out. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she feels the letter should be sent, and then it can be <br /> discussed at the AOG meeting. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said other letters have been sent, but he sees no reason not to <br /> send another one. <br /> Chair Jacobs said issues have been raised that warrant further investigation, including <br /> the fiscal ramifications of using the General Fund. He said there are also still equity issues <br /> with regard to rural curbside collection. <br /> 3. Affordable Housing Follow-Up Discussion <br /> Members of the AHAB (Affordable Housing Advisory Board)joined Tara Fikes at the <br /> table. <br /> Tara Fikes said information was provided in the packet regarding follow up on the March <br /> 12th joint meeting of the advisory board and the Commissioners. She reviewed some of the <br /> background information. <br /> She said the board spent a lot of time talking with Community Trust Director Robert <br /> Dowling about the organization needs, and specifically the HVAC needs at Greenbridge. She <br /> said the request for $75,000 to service these HVAC needs was approved by the Board of <br /> Commissioners, but none of this money has been spent yet. <br /> She said there were also conversations regarding the Live/Work and First Time <br /> Homebuyer programs. She said that this bond money and non-profit funding is provided only <br /> for first time home buyers and people who have lived and worked in Orange County for one <br /> year. She said the Community Home Trust asked for a waiver of these restrictions after 90 <br /> days, and the Board approved this. <br /> Tara Fikes said that just one house had been sold to a person from outside of Orange <br /> County since this waiver was approved. <br /> She said the board also brought a proposal for an affordable housing clearing house, <br /> which would be a referral porthole for County residents interested in information on housing <br /> opportunities. She said work is being done to formalize this proposal, and she asked James <br /> Stroud to give an update on this. <br /> James Stroud said a lot of individuals are seeking affordable housing, but don't know <br /> where to go. He said this clearing house would provide information on available affordable <br /> housing. He said the Land Trust and Habitat are often called but these entities do not always <br /> know what resources are available. <br /> He said this type of clearing house would have served residents well during the flood at <br /> Eastgate Shopping Center during the summer. He said the goal is to create a hub for all <br /> affordable housing partners to provide management of getting information out to the public. <br /> Commissioner Rich asked if this would be under the committee. <br /> James Stroud he is the executive director for the Center for Home Ownership in <br /> Hillsborough. He said he is HUD approved, and he has been doing housing for 18 years. He <br /> is willing to spearhead the project to bring this to Orange County. He said he has realized that <br /> no one outside of the industry knows what is offered in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. <br /> Commissioner Rich clarified that this will be on the Orange County website. <br />