Agenda 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 1 Dewey Williams said he is the pastor of Mt. Bright Baptist Church, and he is representing 2 Orange County Justice United this evening. He said there are issues that are a blatant affront 3 to justice, and he is certain the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) desires to see 4 injustices irradiated. He said the specific injustice that he would like to address is staffing in 5 Orange County Schools (OCS), with the number of black teachers at a 10 year time low of 7%, 6 and the problem is getting worse. He said 23% of students are Hispanic, but there are very few 7 Spanish speaking front office staff. He requested that the Board of County Commissioners 8 grant all equity initiative funding for OCS. He said he assumed the Board read the Indy article, 9 which represents a deeper problem at the OCS. He said if this issue is left to fester this will 10 cause uproar of more voices of discontent. 11 Ashley Nissler said she is also here representing Justice United, as well as her own 12 child. She said the improvement of racial equity training in OCS schools is critical, and she also 13 supports the Manager's recommended per pupil increase, with the understanding that the OCB 14 board of education will fully fund the initiatives it has identified to address issues of racial equity. 15 Mary Winne Sherwood said she represents the Boys and Girls Club of Orange County 16 and Durham, which is a premier standard afterschool program serving kids who are lost. She 17 said there are three clubs in Chapel Hill, and soon there will be a stand-alone club. She said 18 the Boys and Girls Club is requesting increased funding for their clubs in Chapel Hill. 19 Robert Dowling said he is with Community Home Trust (CHT), and thanked the Board of 20 County Commissioners for its continued support of affordable housing. He said he is most 21 grateful. He said the CHT has sold 17 homes this past year, with 3 being new to the CHT 22 inventory. He said CHT home ownership inventory stands at 260 homes, with an additional 59 23 rentals. He said in 2019-2020, CHT hopes to add 9 more homes, with 7 being in the Chandler 24 Woods development off Homestead Road, and 2 more in Northside neighborhood. He said 25 CHT acquired the landings at Winmore in 2018, and is working hard to turn this property around 26 to provide 58 affordable rental units. He said the average annual income at the Landings is 27 $15,000. He hopes this property will be fully stable by the start of the next fiscal year. He said 28 CHT is serving 5 families that are at risk for homelessness. He said the CHT is busy, and 29 serving much wider spectrum of residents. He said CHT is requesting a funding increase of 30 $5,400, which the Manager has included in her proposed budget. 31 Elvira Mebane said she is the President of United Voices of Efland-Cheeks, and she 32 thanked the County staff and Board of County Commissioners for its continued support. She 33 said United Voices is holding the line this year on its budget. She thanked the Manager for her 34 recommended budget for the OCS, and asked for continued support for the OCS administration. 35 Sherry Appel said she is opposed to any tax increase, due to political and economic 36 uncertainties. She expressed support for the living wage increase. 37 38 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos 39 to close the public hearing. 40 41 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 42 43 4. Adjournment 44 45 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos 46 to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m. 47 48 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 49 50 Penny Rich, Chair 51