Agenda - 02-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 2 Commissioner Gordon read the following petition: 3 When a closed session item is on an agenda, the appropriate staff will provide the Commissioners 4 with a summary description of the topics to be discussed. This information will be provided as part of the 5 agenda packet if possible, but at least before the meeting is held. 6 7 Commissioner Price said she would like to petition the Board to ask staff to work with Cooperative 8 Extension, inclusive of 4-H, to continue to support these entities. 9 Chair Jacobs said Cooperative Extension's budget has recently been cut significantly. He said the 10 County still depends on 4-H and Cooperative Extension. He said these entities do more than the 11 community realizes. He hopes that future budget discussions will include ideas to better support those 12 efforts. 13 14 Commissioner Price said she would like to petition the Board to look at affordable rentals in Orange 15 County. 16 17 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 18 19 a. Declaration of Tenants' Rights and Obligations 20 The Board considered endorsement of the Declaration of Tenants' Rights and Obligations drafted 21 by the Human Relations Commission, Orange County Justice United, EmPOWERment, and the UNC 22 School of Law's Legal Assistance Clinic. 23 James Davis said this document was collaboratively drafted by Orange County Justice United, 24 Empowerment, the UNC Legal Assistance Clinic and the Orange County Human Relations Commission 25 (HRC). He said the purpose is to provide tenants with concise information regarding rights and 26 responsibilities as a renter, and to provide a list of resources and agencies to navigate these rights and 27 responsibilities. 28 Tish Galu, from Justice United, said the background on the declaration is included in the agenda 29 packets. She said the most important thing to note is that this started with tenants. She said there were 30 serious issues being faced by the tenants in the County. She said this situation was rectified, and the 31 action teams began discussions about preventing this from happening again. She said the team wanted to 32 look at the most important issues facing tenants. She recognized members of HRC, Orange County 33 Justice United, and the UNC Civil Legal Assistance Clinic who assisted with researching and drafting the 34 document. 35 Tish Galu said every item in the document is an issue that has been faced by tenant. She said the 36 document does not provide legal advice, but it does provide tenants and landlords a way to understand the 37 steps necessary to rectify a situation. She said the resource list is also crucial in resolving a situation. 38 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Rich to endorse the 39 Declaration of Tenants' Rights and Obligations drafted by the Human Relations Commission, Orange 40 County Justice United, EmPOWERment Inc. and the UNC School of Law's Legal Assistance Clinic. 41 Commissioner Price asked who pays for lock changes in the case of domestic violence protection. 42 Tish Galu said the landlord would absorb this cost. 43 Commissioner Rich asked who people are to get in touch with in the event of problems. She also 44 asked about the distribution of this document. 45 Tish Galu said tenants are contacting Justice United, Empowerment, UNC's legal clinic and other 46 people on the resource listing. She said distribution is the largest challenge right now. She said this has 47 been given out by mail or email to those who request it, but there is no specific distribution channel yet. 48 Commissioner Rich said the Board can put it on the website, but many people may not have access 49 to the internet. She said it might be a good idea to put it at places of worship. 50 Tish Galu said Justice United has partnered with 22 congregations who are helping with distribution. 51 She said Justice United is also part of a new coalition on affordable housing, so there is another channel of 52 possibility there. She said endorsement from County government will also help with this effort. 53 Commissioner McKee expressed thanks for the efforts to bring this forward. 54