Orange County NC Website
WHEREAS, the Board has been in consultation with its Human Relations <br />Commission on the definition and development of a Social Justice Goal to include a vision <br />of a-society that is equitable, whose members are physically and psychologically safe and <br />secure, and where the marginalized, disenfranchised and oppressed are included in <br />developing solutions to the issues that concern them; and <br />WHEREAS, the Board charged Olver, Inc., with advice and assistance from <br />County management, to propose a schedule of special (and public) meetings that many <br />aggressive timelines for deliberations and decision-making on siting criteria and site <br />options, along with comprehensive outreach and notification, information/feedback <br />sessions, and special presentations within and among impacted individuals, <br />neighborhoods and the community at large; and <br />WHEREAS, the Board on February 5, 2008 amended its regular meeting schedule <br />to incorporate additional dates consistent with the philosophy of public education and <br />engagement, and providing that such meetings be televised, with the understanding that <br />further meeting dates will be added and advertised widely~as the siting process proceeds; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that the vision of Social Justice can only be <br />developed synergistically, as both process and goal; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners has set forth these actions and this statement as strong indicators of the <br />Board's desire to ensure a fair, open, and fundamentally sound siting process for a <br />transfer station; <br />AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board invites and encourages local <br />media, municipalities, civic organizations, and residents from everywhere in Orange <br />County to engage and participate fully in this siting process as all are equal stewards for <br />the environment of Orange County; <br />AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board will reserve far public comment <br />the last fifteen (15) minutes of each of the meetings that are part of the Board's schedule <br />of meetings which meetings are committed to identifying and evaluating alternative sites <br />for locating a solid waste transfer station. This Resolution takes effect immediately. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Board of County Commissioners continues to be <br />in consultation with the attorney, and what the County Commissioners are <br />hearing from the public is resonating and has for a long time. He said that the <br />Board of County Commissioners was the entity that initiated the social justice <br />goal and not the Human Relations Commission. He said that the County <br />Commissioners represent the interests of Orange County, which includes any <br />kind of legal vulnerabilities based on what is said. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that when these meetings were added it was <br />so the public could be invited for participation and education. The meetings have <br />been scheduled to begin at 5:30, and in order for the County Commissioners to <br />maximize the amount of business that can get done, it is incumbent upon all to <br />