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6 <br /> 2. The continuing gap between the Chapel Hill Township and the rest of the County <br /> seems to be-widening. The Task Force recommends that the Board study and <br /> implement ways to bridge this "us vs. them" mentality for the benefit of all our <br /> citizens. <br /> CHARGE: WHAT CHANGES ARE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE FAIR AND <br /> EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION? <br /> Response: According to Joseph Ferrell of the Institute of Government, the present <br /> system of electing county commissioners is legal and therefore not in violation of the <br /> Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended. Further, the general laws of North Carolina do not <br /> prescribe any the number of members, term of office, or method of electing boards of <br /> county commissioners. The structure of the Orange County Board of Commissioners is <br /> prescribed by Chapter 439 of the Session Laws of 1953. No changes in the structure of <br /> the board have been made since 1953. Ferrell also stated that if a new system is created, <br /> it will need to follow the law and the one-person, one-vote rule. <br /> Recommendation: Based on this information and the group discussion of all the issues, <br /> the following recommendations were made if the current system is changed. <br /> 1. The Orange County Board of Commissioners should be expanded from five to <br /> seven members. <br /> According to Joseph Ferrell of the Institute of Government, this can be <br /> accomplished by one of the following methods. <br /> a. The County can petition its legislative delegation for introduction and <br /> • passage of a local bill embodying a specific plan requested by the board. <br /> The Orange County delegation's practice is to require that any such <br /> legislation have the unanimous support of the delegation. <br /> b. The County Home Rule Act can be changed by using the following <br /> procedure: <br /> i. The Board of County Commissioners adopts a resolution modifying <br /> the structure of the board within the parameters allowed by the Act. <br /> ii. The resolution is submitted to a vote of the people at either a special <br /> election or at the same time as an already scheduled election. <br /> iii. If approved by the voters, the new plan takes effect for the next <br /> primary and general election cycle. <br /> 4 <br /> • <br />