Minutes 05-01-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Susan Attermeier said she is here to speak in support of the living wage, and she is on the steering committee of the Orange County Living Wage. She said there is some discussion about employing custodial and cafeteria works within Orange County schools, or outsourcing the job. She said these jobs are in the low wage job group, and presented a handout. She said when people are paid a living wage, they pay more income tax, need less government support, and purchase more goods and services. She said the Orange County Living Wage has worked hard to get employers to raise the wages of their lowest paid workers, and these efforts have lead to increases totaling $600,000-$700,000. She said these funds come back into the community, and leads to a positive cycle. She referred to an article in the NY Times on this topic. b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members Commissioner Burroughs said she continues to be moved to discuss her views on the history of the confederacy, and she read an excerpt from the PBS article, “The Weeping Time”: “In March of 1857, the largest sale of human beings in the history in the United States took place at a racetrack in Savannah, Georgia. During the two days of the sale, raindrops fell unceasingly on the racetrack. It was almost as though the heavens were crying. So, too, fell teardrops from many of the 436 men, women, and children who were auctioned off during the two days. The sale would thereafter be known as "the weeping time." The owner of the slaves, Pierce Butler, had inherited the family's Georgia plantations some twenty years earlier, along with his brother John. But Pierce had squandered away his portion of the inheritance.” Commissioner Burroughs said Pierce Butler was one of her forebearers, and there is nothing of which to be proud. Commissioner Jacobs said at the next meeting he would like a status update on the projects with the mobile home park communities. Commissioner Marcoplos had no comments. Commissioner Rich said the Visitors’ Bureau (VB) met last weekend, and is having an ongoing conversation about AirBnB’s, and asked if John Roberts would look into what options are available for the County regarding these businesses. Commissioner Rich reviewed activities from the weekend: Northside block part at the Jackson Center; sold out National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Banquet; and the 21st Community Dinner. Commissioner Rich thanked the Human Relations Commission (HRC) for putting on the discussion about the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and the proposed changes that may be forthcoming about the flag. She said this was not a conversation, but mostly people making statements back and forth from opposing sides. She said it did not feel that anything changed, and, while it was a good first step, more needs to be done. Commissioner Price said she attended the first Orange County conversation about opioids, which had a host of attendees from the State and the County. She said the next day was the inaugural local Re-entry Council Program. She said she attended the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) District meeting, and each county reported