Agenda - 03-03-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 1 Chair McKee said that is best addressed to the Town of Hillsborough rather than the 2 Board of Commissioners. 3 Don O'Leary said the County is still responsible for the fluoride in this water, and the 4 Board of County Commissioners should be able to regulate what Hillsborough and OWASA 5 charge for water. 6 John Roberts said Hillsborough is statutorily authorized to charge an extra amount on 7 water rates for those residents who live outside the town limits. He said this is to pay for the 8 infrastructure that is required to go outside their corporate limits, and this applies to all towns 9 with water systems. He said this is not something the County can impact or regulate, as it has 10 been granted by the state legislature. 11 Ida Evans Lawson said she is a concerned resident. She said her water bill is about 12 $105 per month, and she used to pay $20 per month at her previous residence. She said she 13 lives in Fairview and lives on a fixed income. She has taken this issue to the town. 14 15 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 16 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 17 below.) 18 19 3. Petitions by Board Members 20 Commissioner Rich asked if the Board had received an answer from the County 21 Attorney about the resolution that was passed in Greensboro on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and 22 Transgender (LGBT) rights. She would like to know if Orange County can create a legal 23 resolution that mirrors that one. 24 John Roberts said he asked Greensboro's attorney to call him, but he has not received 25 any communication yet. He said he also asked one of his staff attorneys to contact the City of 26 Greensboro housing director for the same information on what authority was used in creating 27 the resolution, and he will let the Board know as soon he gets more information. 28 Commissioner Rich said her petition would be to create a resolution once that 29 information is gathered. 30 Commissioner Rich asked for a report on how the County handles jobs for at-risk teens. 31 She noted that Durham has a program that addresses this issue. 32 Commissioner Rich said there is a program called "Just Economics," which is an 33 initiative that started in Asheville and is now being done in Durham as well. She said the 34 program allows local shop owners to go through a certification program on living wages, after 35 which they receive a plaque to let people know that their store pays a living wage. She will 36 forward more information to the Commissioners. 37 Commissioner Dorosin said he is the representative on the ABC Commission. He said 38 the commission annually gives funds back to Orange County. He said it appears that there is 39 no policy as to how these funds are calculated or allocated. He noted that the amount has been 40 around $400,000 for the past 5 years, but there is no formula for how this number was 41 generated. He suggested the creation of a policy to address the allocation of these funds. He 42 said sales are increasing, and there is a cap on how much the ABC Commission can retain. He 43 requested that this be added as an agenda item for discussion. 44 Commissioner Dorosin said these petitions are done at the beginning of the meeting and 45 then Board comments are done at the end of the meeting after the public and the media have 46 already left. He requested that the Board comments be moved up on the agenda. 47 Commissioner Dorosin said the Town of Hillsborough has engaged the School of 48 Government to do a study regarding the options for the Colonial Inn. He feels that the Board 49 should also be engaged in getting information and deciding whether or not there is a role that 50 the County can play.