Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
APPROVED 4/7/2015 <br /> MINUTES <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> Legislative Breakfast <br /> March 23, 2015 <br /> 8:30am <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a breakfast meeting with the Orange County <br /> Legislative Delegation on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 8:30am at the Solid Waste Administrative Offices in <br /> Chapel Hill, N.C. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark Dorosin, <br /> Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, and Renee Price <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Penny Rich <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Assistant County Manager Cheryl <br /> Young, Clerk to the Board Donna Baker, Interim Finance Director Paul Laughton, Assistant to Manager for <br /> Legislative Affairs Greg Wilder (All other staff inembers will be identified appropriately below) <br /> LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION PRESENT: Senator Valerie Foushee, Representative Verla Insko, <br /> Representative Graig Meyer <br /> Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 8:50 a.m. and said that Commissioner Rich would be unable to <br /> attend due to illness. <br /> Chair McKee distributed a draft resolution that Commissioner porosin brought forth at the Board of <br /> Commissioners' meeting on March 17th meeting, and which the Board adopted, stating that the Orange <br /> County Board of Commissioners is opposed to, and urges the General Assembly to reject any legislation, <br /> that seeks to exempt any government employee or agent from fulfilling their constitutional duties, including <br /> but not limited to guaranteeing the right to marry for same-sex residents of North Carolina; and that if this <br /> discriminatory legislation should pass, the Orange County Board of Commissioners directs the County <br /> Manager and County Attorney to collaborate with other governmental entities and community partners to <br /> directly participate in any litigation seeking to challenge such legislation. <br /> Senator Foushee said that the Clerk to the Board had forwarded this resolution to the Legislative <br /> Delegation. <br /> Chair McKee asked on behalf of the Board for the Delegation to support this resolution going forward. <br /> Commissioner porosin said he thought it was important that the Board get out in front of this issue since <br /> the Senate had already approved it; and if it comes to litigation then Orange County would support <br /> litigation. <br /> Chair McKee said the Board had prioritized their legislative items and referred to their agenda package <br /> with their priorities listed and discussion ensued on the various issues. <br /> PRIORITY DISCUSSION TOPICS <br /> EDUCATION <br /> • Smart Start and NC Pre-K <br /> Representative Insko suggested that staff look at best practices and evidence based programs. She said if <br /> they put more money in smart start then they would need to take money out of other programs and that all <br /> of these types of funding are in danger of being cut. It is currently underfunded now <br />