Minutes 10-14-2014 Early Comm. for Environment

Browse Search

APPROVED 11/18/2014 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JOINT MEETING WITH COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT October 14, 2014 5:30 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a joint meeting with the Commission for the Environment on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jacobs and Commissioners Mark Dorosin, Alice M. Gordon, Earl McKee, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price, and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County Manager Clarence Grier, Cheryl Young and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jan Sassaman, Vice Chair Loren Hintz and members May Becker, Peter Cada, Steve Niezgoda, Jeanette O'Connor, David Neal, Rebecca Ray and Donna Lee Jones COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MEMBERS ABSENT: William Newby, Lydia Wegman, Clifford Leath, David Welch, Gary Saunders, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE AND PARKS AND RECREATION (DEAPR) STAFF PRESENT: Dave Stancil, Rich Shaw and Tom Davis Welcome/Introductions and Openinq Remarks Chair Jacobs called the meeting to order at 5:43 p.m. Jan Sassaman said this is an auspicious time to get together with the Board of County Commissioners, as the Commission for the Environment (CfE) presented the 5th edition of the State of the Environment report last weekend. He said he would like to get the Board of County Commissioners' feedback on this. Introductions were made. Chair Jacobs said the fact that the Board has not previously met with the CfE does not diminish their importance to the County. 1. Oranqe County State of the Environment 2014 Report (Attachment 1) Jan Sassaman said this report was given on this past Saturday at their Summit. He said this report has come a long way in its evolution, and he showed a comparison of the first report to the current one. He noted that as of this weekend the report is online. Jan Sassaman said this edition of the report is dedicated to Commissioner Gordon, who has served Orange County for 24 years as a County Commissioner. He expressed appreciation for Commissioner Gordon and said the CfE owes their existence to her, as she played an integral part in its creation. He said she also played an integral part in creating the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR). Commissioner porosin arrived at 5:50 p.m. Jan Sassaman said the report is included in attachment 1, and it raises many critical issues. He said the report is divided into sections that highlight different areas. He reviewed the following issues as outlined in the abstract materials: