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3 <br /> <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said Mark Chilton, Orange County Register of Deeds, is an <br />historian, and has just completed a project on slave genealogy. He asked asked if Mark <br />Chilton has been brought into this discussion. <br />Town Commissioner Ferguson said she is not sure, but this seems like a logical match. <br />She said the museum is aware of Mark Chilton. <br />Mayor Stevens said it is evident that the current status quo cannot continue, as there <br />are insufficient resources, and the building is not worth restoring. He said there is no definite <br />plan, but there is a lot of opportunity, and there may be other potential partners out there. He <br />said the goal is for this to be a community process and project, and that is why this topic was <br />brought forward. He said history is important to them all, and this topic cannot be kicked down <br />the road for much longer. <br />Commissioner Burroughs said she took a tour of the Register of Deed’s office, and <br />Mark Chilton showed her historical documents. She encouraged his inclusion in these <br />conversations. <br />Commissioner Rich said she spent a year on a work group that focused on what a <br />museum looks like in a town, within her role as BOCC liaison to the Visitors’ Bureau. She said <br />a report was completed and asked staff if this report could be forwarded to the Town of <br />Hillsborough. <br />Chair Dorosin asked if the Town currently has a fiscal relationship with the museum. <br />Margaret Hauth said the Town maintains the building, and makes it available to the <br />museum at a rate of $1 per year, which is never collected. She said maintenance of this <br />building ranges from $5,000-$15,000 per year. <br />Commissioner Rich asked if the Town does fundraising to pay the museum staff. <br />Town Commissioner Ferguson said it is not the Town’s museum. She said their <br />salaries and operations budget are all fund raised; and the Town contribution is the building <br />and the maintenance of the building only. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said the County supports the museum through the yearly outside <br />agency funding process. <br />Commissioner Price said the museum is a good resource, an asset to the Town, and <br />for all of Orange County. She said she is supportive of any help that Orange County would <br />like to provide the museum. <br />Chair Dorosin said it is important to think of this as a countywide museum, and asked if <br />there is a timeline. <br />Mayor Stevens said the Town received a presentation last fall from the museum board, <br />which highlighted their needs. He said the goal tonight was to bring awareness to both <br />boards, and he is not sure of a specific timetable. He said the museum wants to engage the <br />whole community, and the Town and the BOCC are part of that engagement. He said he <br />wants to see the two boards make a commitment of interest, and allow staff to continue the <br />conversations. <br />Town Commissioner Bell said he would like to see a commitment to socialize a variety <br />of ideas. <br />Commissioner Price said he spoke with Ernest Dollar, Museum Director, a few months <br />ago, and he wanted to know if the County had any interest in being a partner with the <br />museum. She said the building has been in dire condition for a long time, and has been shut <br />down on various occasions. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said he has some ideas, and asked if there is a way to <br />transmit them. <br />Bonnie Hammersley said staff will take notes, and assign County staff to move forward <br />with Town staff.