HRC minutes 111317 - Laserfiche WebLink

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moving to the Department of Human Rights and Relations, and that the Intake Specialist position will also be filled. 1. Mr. Scott Goldsmith asked if the HRC's shift with the new department would change the HRC's role in fair housing cases. a. Ms. Hammersley explained that it would not change. 2. Dr. Stroman asked about the other two advisory boards housed in the Housing department. a. Ms. Hampton explained that the Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) and the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) would both remain with staff from the Housing and Community Development Department. 3. Dr. Stroman asked if splitting the departments would affect the budget. a. Ms. Hammersley stated that the Human Rights division receives its own funding which would switch over to the new department. 4. Dr. Stroman asked if the news of HUD's assessment was public information. a. Ms. Hammersley stated that she sent a letter to the BOCC, but that it was not public with HUD. C. Ms. Hammersley explained that a number of the items that received negative review from HUD had already been an area of focus for the Human Rights division before Ms. Hampton came to Orange County in August, but were not completed during the time period that was reviewed during the on -site assessment. She further explained that the items HUD requested within 15 days have been responded to. Ms. Hammersley reiterated that the regional HUD representatives from Greensboro provided positive feedback on the decision to move Human Rights to its own department. She explained that Ms. Moore's background is in Human Rights and Relations and that she was previously the Director of Human Rights and Relations when it was its own department and that she had also worked in the field in Virginia. She stated that HUD was pleased with Ms. Moore's experience in the area. Ms. Hammersley also explained that one of the concerns was that the FHAP was included in a department where the director had other areas of focus also, and it wasn't a priority. She stated that when she first came to Orange County as County Manager four years ago, she questioned why Human Rights had been "buried" in the Housing and Community Development Department and had been working towards a split. She explained that when she interviewed Ms. Hampton, she told her that this was something she wanted to do in order to give more exposure to the fact that Orange County has a FHAP agency and a department focused on Human Relations, but that the process was sped up due to HUD's review. Ms. Hammersley clarified that her recommendation is not a reflection on Ms. Hampton or anyone else and stated that if she had been Manager during the recession when the departments were merged she likely would not have done it the same way. She commended the members on the HRC for their dedication and the Commission's work and stated that the people of Orange County deserve to know that we are paying attention to this topic. 1. Dr. Stroman stated that some of the HRC members have mentioned wanting more autonomy and prominence for the board. She also clarified that she wanted to know if the information was public so that members did not say something if it was meant to be internal. 3