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11 <br /> <br />Commissioner Rich said there is a group of women entrepreneurs out of Piedmont Food <br />and Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP), and the Coordinator is helping to connect these <br />women with neighboring counties. <br />Commissioner McKee said the proposed coordinator position is contingent on funding <br />from partnering governments, and asked if all these entities are committed. <br />Travis Myren said the Town of Carrboro has approved its contribution, and Chapel Hill <br />has not taken the vote yet. <br />Commissioner Rich said it is in the Town of Chapel Hill’s budget. <br />Commissioner McKee said the Food Council needs to do a better job of reaching out to <br />farmers. <br />Commissioner Rich said she would like to coordinate with Commissioner McKee on this, <br />and she has met with farmers and outreach is taking place. She said if Commissioner McKee is <br />aware of farmers who have been missed, she would be keen to get their names so that contact <br />can be made. <br />Commissioner McKee said he would like the Food Council to come down from its 30,000 <br />feet view to more of a 3 feet view. He said there are many people that are not receiving meals <br />and food, and unless the Food Council can show him that more food is being put on the table <br />for people, he will not support it. <br />Chair Dorosin suggested that Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Rich get <br />together and have this discussion. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the coordinator position already exists. <br />Commissioner Rich said there is a part-time a coordinator. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said a full time person would result in being able to expand the <br />scope and reach of the Food Council. <br />Chair Dorosin referred to the Partnership to End Homelessness, and said it does not <br />provide direct services, but coordinates all of the providers to make sure areas of the County <br />are not being missed, or having duplication of services. He said it also helps to coordinate <br />information from the state and federal governments. <br />Commissioner Rich said the part-time Food Council coordinator researches and applies <br />for grants, which would continue should this position become full-time. She said the Food <br />Council also partnered with UNC last year, and graduate students worked on special food <br />projects. <br />Commissioner Price said this position is worthwhile, but she still has concerns about <br />people actually getting food. She said most providers do not provide food on holidays and <br />weekends. She said there were several requests for outside agencies funds from agencies that <br />provide actual meals, which were denied due to a tight budget. She said these budget cuts <br />equate to meals being cut as well, and this concerns her. She said she is not opposed to the <br />coordinator position, but if there is a finite amount of money, she would rather see meals being <br />put on the table. <br />Chair Dorosin said Orange County’s portion of the coordinator position would be <br />$27,000. <br />Commissioner Price said if the Board approves this position, would the County proceed <br />without the funds from the other governmental entities. <br />Travis Myren said no, the recommendation is clear that the position is contingent on the <br />participation of all entities. <br />Commissioner Price asked if the current part-time coordinator would stay on, if this <br />position is not approved. <br />Commissioner Rich said no. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the City of Mebane was approached to contribute to <br />any of these types of programs.