Minutes 06-11-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Rich said it has been a year, and the agreement does not seem to be working. Commissioner Dorosin said it is a bigger question than just RENA. He said two other community centers are coming on line and having conversations is prudent. He said the funding of RENA now is not mutually exclusive to renegotiating the County's agreement with them. Commissioner Dorosin said he brought up helping RENA through the Social Justice Funds several months ago and was assured the needs would be addressed via Outside Agencies funding. Commissioner Rich said at that same time she reread the agreement between the County and RENA and was struck that there are some changes needed in the agreement. Commissioner Pelissier agreed with Commissioner Rich. She said a non-profit should be funded from the community, and not primarily from the government. She said she would be comfortable giving the money to RENA, if there was a contract with them. Commissioner Jacobs said the Board agreed that it would not be the funders of this organization. He said it looks as if the Board is moving to a different model that decentralizes government oversight and supports community operation in upcoming Community Centers. He said he would like to re-visit Rogers Road in this new light and re-negotiate the contract. Commissioner Dorosin is not sure that RENA's fund request is for operations. Bonnie Hammersley said it was not for operations. She said the request is for RENA's back program, a community garden and a summer camp. A motion was made Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to provide $15,000 funding to the RENA. Commissioner Rich said she feels strongly that these funds are a band-aid, and that the agreement with RENA must be reviewed. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Bonnie Hammersley said going forward the County will look at this Center as part of all of the community centers and will review the current agreement. She said the County is taking care of facility maintenance. Commissioner Jacobs Orange County Schools $35,200 Commissioner Burroughs asked if Commissioner Jacobs means to give funds to Orange County Schools (OCS) as though they are an outside agency running the programs previously run by Communities in Schools (CIS). Commissioner Jacobs said yes. Commissioner Jacobs said this is a cut for OCS because they are taking on an outside program. Chair McKee said it was the decision of OCS to cut CIS. He said giving funds back to OCS brings up the issue of Fair Funding. He said he understands CIS will serve as many students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). Commissioner Jacobs said OCS lost confidence in CIS and OCS has taken on the work of CIS. He asked if it was fair to punish OCS financially for making a decision based on maintaining their integrity. Commissioner Price asked if it was permissible to give outside agency funds to a school system. Paul Laughton said the funds do not have to be in the outside agency process but could be a non-departmental budget item as is done with school nurses.