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28 <br /> met at the courthouse. Part of what will affect the temperature is what is happening outside of <br /> Orange County. <br /> In response to Chair Dorosin's earlier remarks about the Board's meetings not being as <br /> engaging to the public as they could be, Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board could <br /> consider changing its meeting agendas. The first part of our meeting could be externally <br /> oriented. Then in the middle we could have a presentation from one of the Departments. We <br /> could leave the dais at that point and turn the podium over to the staff. And then we would come <br /> back for the more internally oriented agenda items after that, such as procedures for advisory <br /> boards or appointments, for example. Just like they have moved public hearings up to the front, <br /> because that is what is of interest to most people in the public, they could identify the items that <br /> most people in the public do not care about, and address them later. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs asked the Manager if her intent is to have the monitoring and <br /> evaluation document distributed today serve as a living document; that over time items would be <br /> added or removed, and updates shared with the Board. She asked how frequently would the <br /> goals be revisited. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said as long as they continue to look at the goals as they have <br /> done today then they will be fine, but when they start to lose interest in the goals then it will be <br /> time to reconsider them. Right now they are fresh and new, and they have not yet accomplished <br /> what they wanted to accomplish. Some of these will fall off as priorities because they will have <br /> them underway. They will amend them according to how the Board wants to amend them, until <br /> they all think they are ready to redo them —and maybe there will be new Commissioners who <br /> feel that way. But they will amend them as often as the Board wants. <br /> Commissioner Price said that her own personal approach to communicating with the <br /> public is to get out into the community. The staff could be our ambassadors, telling their own <br /> personal stories about working in the County. A lot of people don't understand that an issue is <br /> going to affect them directly until after the fact. Consider what they did in Efland on emergency <br /> preparedness. They formed an emergency preparedness group that met over and over. They <br /> created a booklet, and were able to keep each other informed. They made connections with <br /> County and State staff. That's how you get the word out: you make it personal, so people <br /> understand. <br /> Commissioner Rich said a lot of that personal connection happens within homeowners <br /> associations. We have an emergency phone tree in my neighborhood. They were able to keep <br /> informed about trash collection schedules during the recent snowstorm, for example. It is about <br /> personal touch, and getting the community involved. The staff might reach out to homeowners <br /> associations to develop those relationships. <br /> Commissioner Price said what impressed her was that the residents in Mebane met <br /> proactively, and repeatedly, and face to face, before any storm was coming, to figure out what <br /> to do when any kind of emergency occurred. They even practiced CPR. <br /> Chair Dorosin said that communications goes in both directions. They need to figure out <br /> how to get their message out, and also how to get information from the community. County staff <br /> has direct contact with residents, but different Departments have different kinds of interactions <br /> with the public. Planning, Emergency Services, Aging, Animal Services, and the Sheriff's Office <br /> have direct interactions. They're good resources for getting information back. Commissioner <br /> Price's point also is a good one about us getting out there too. They need to be able to say how <br /> their work within the County is touching residents, and they need to be able to listen for the <br /> things that they are overlooking. <br /> Commissioner Rich reiterated that they should be open all the time for what the County <br /> might be missing. <br /> In reply to a question from Commissioner Jacobs, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board, said <br /> the public does not call the Clerk's Office as much as it used to. Also, emails from the public go <br /> directly to Commissioners. They get calls about taxes, or an agenda item before a Board <br />