Agenda 10-15-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 2. Public Comments 2 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 3 4 Riley Ruske said he petitioned the Board last month to recite the Pledge of Allegiance 5 prior to each meeting, and asked if there is a reason that it has taken so long to have action. 6 Chair Rich said that the Board's process for reviewing petitions is very long and goes 7 through several levels, and the Board anticipates having it on the upcoming regular meeting. 8 9 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 10 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 11 below.) 12 13 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 14 Commissioner Dorosin petitioned the Board to set up a committee to look into the 15 possibility of establishing a universal Pre-K program in Orange County. He said this topic has 16 come up at numerous meetings, and but has never been researched; that is, to get a good 17 scope of the underserved children in Orange County, and the costs, facilities, etc. that it 18 would take to have a program. He petitioned to set up a committee that would meet for 6-12 19 months to come up with some ideas. 20 Chair Rich asked if Commissioner Dorosin had particular committee members in mind. 21 Commissioner Dorosin said that would be part of the discussion. He said any groups 22 could be represented, but it should be a small committee with expertise, such as child care 23 agencies, Smart Start, the schools, and other experts who are looking at this concept in other 24 communities or at the State level. 25 Commissioner Price petitioned the Board to support a collaborative effort between the 26 Orange County Health Department and UNC Medical regarding the opioid epidemic. She 27 said this is a follow up to a forum held last year at the library, and Quintana Stewart, Health 28 Department Director, has come up with a one-page description of what they would like to do. 29 Commissioner Price thanked the Health Department for its recent program, Viva Life, 30 which was a suicide prevention walk. She said the number of shoes displayed at the event 31 has gone up, but it is still important to pay attention to this concern and the needs of others in 32 the community. 33 Commissioner Bedford said she and Chair Rich met with Representative Insko and 34 Deputy Secretary Kinsley from the NC Department of Health and Human Services last week 35 to talk about care and constituent concerns with the MCOs. She said it was a successful 36 meeting, and many changes are expected at the State level, and impacts on accountability, 37 financial consistency and other government issues, which is a good start. 38 Commissioner Bedford said the local Community Family Advisory Council (CFAC) will 39 be hosting a South African Dance program on Friday, where she will be giving the opening 40 remarks and Deputy Secretary Kinsley will speak about Medicaid transformation. 41 Commissioner McKee said he has no petitions, but he heartily endorses 42 Commissioner Dorosin's concept of a universal Pre-K program. He said if these children are 43 not caught up to speed in their first years of public education, it will be a lifelong problem. 44 Commissioner Marcoplos said the first meeting of the Orange County Climate Council 45 occurred last week. He said over 20 people attended, and it was a great first meeting. He 46 said the first area of focus will be to share what each agency in local governments already do 47 for sustainability and climate action, and how all can best collaborate. He said there are a lot 48 of members with varying areas of expertise in the group. 49 Commissioner Marcoplos said an information sheet was provided about the solar 50 charging stations, and highlighted that there will be a solar charging station that will provide 51 energy for three on-demand vans in the County's transportation system. He said it will be a