Orange County NC Website
Attachment 1 <br />Orange County <br />Commission for the Environment <br />DRAFT Meeting Summary <br />November 9, 2015 <br />Orange County Solid Waste Administration Building, Chapel Hill <br />PRESENT: Jan Sassaman (Chair), Sheila Thomas - Ambat, May Becker, Peter Cada, Tom <br />Eisenhart, Loren Hintz, David Neal, Bill Newby, Jeanette O'Connor, Rebecca <br />Ray, Gary Saunders, Lydia Wegman <br />ABSENT: Lynne Gronback, David Welch <br />STAFF: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis, Brennan Bouma <br />I. Call to Order — Sassaman called the meeting to order at 7:31 pm. <br />11. Additions or Changes to Agenda — Shaw asked to present the draft memo on the <br />County's use of herbicides and pesticides at the beginning of the Updates and <br />Information part of the agenda. Sassaman agreed. There were no other changes. <br />111. Minutes — Sassaman asked if there were any comments about the meeting summary for <br />October 12 meeting. Wegman noted O'Connor's name was misspelled on page 2. <br />Eisenhart motioned approval as amended; seconded by Cada. Approved unanimously. <br />IV. Green Building Incentives — The CFE continued its discussion of potential incentives <br />for energy- efficient construction. Neal introduced a draft CFE resolution asking the <br />BOCC to develop a green building incentives program that would rebate permitting fees <br />for new commercial and residential construction, modeled after the program adopted by <br />the Town of Chapel Hill for the Ephesus - Fordham planning district. <br />Neal said he would like to add a "Whereas statement" that recognizes Orange County's <br />efforts to reduce energy usage at its County buildings and facilities. He offered to work <br />on draft language with help from Bouma. Wegman suggested minor edits to the 5th <br />Whereas statement and the final "Resolved statement." <br />Hintz asked if the CFE would include with the resolution the Ephesus - Fordham district <br />FAQs that was included in the CFE materials. Neal said he would like to include only a <br />summary paragraph that describes the Town of Chapel Hill's pilot project. <br />Bouma and Neal presented two alternatives for an additional "Whereas statement." CFE <br />members chose the first alternative: "WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to <br />reducing the energy usage of its own buildings and has invested in several successful <br />energy efficiency projects to lower long -term costs and reduce environmental impacts;" <br />Hintz motioned to approve the resolution as amended and send to the BOCC for <br />consideration and further action: seconded by Eisenhart. Approved unanimously. <br />Sassaman thanked Neal for drafting the resolution and moving this issue forward <br />