Minutes 10-01-2019 Regular Meeting

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2 Riley Ruske said he petitioned the Board last month to recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to each meeting, and asked if there is a reason that it has taken so long to have action. Chair Rich said that the Board’s process for reviewing petitions is very long and goes through several levels, and the Board anticipates having it on the upcoming regular meeting. 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 Dorosin petitioned the Board to set up a committee to look into the possibility of establishing a universal Pre-K program in Orange County. He said this topic has come up at numerous meetings, and but has never been researched; that is, to get a good scope of the underserved children in Orange County, and the costs, facilities, etc. that it would take to have a program. He petitioned to set up a committee that would meet for 6-12 months to come up with some ideas. Chair Rich asked if Commissioner Dorosin had particular committee members in mind. Commissioner Dorosin said that would be part of the discussion. He said any groups could be represented, but it should be a small committee with expertise, such as child care agencies, Smart Start, the schools, and other experts who are looking at this concept in other communities or at the State level. Commissioner Price petitioned the Board to support a collaborative effort between the Orange County Health Department and UNC Medical regarding the opioid epidemic. She said this is a follow up to a forum held last year at the library, and Quintana Stewart, Health Department Director, has come up with a one-page description of what they would like to do. Commissioner Price thanked the Health Department for its recent program, “Be the Light”, which was a suicide prevention walk. She said the number of shoes displayed at the event has gone up, but it is still important to pay attention to this concern and the needs of others in the community. Commissioner Bedford said she and Chair Rich met with Representative Insko and Deputy Secretary Kinsley from the NC Department of Health and Human Services last week to talk about care and constituent concerns with the MCOs. She said it was a successful meeting, and many changes are expected at the State level, and impacts on accountability, financial consistency and other government issues, which is a good start. Commissioner Bedford said the local Community Family Advisory Council (CFAC) will be hosting a Peer Support program on Friday, where she will be giving the opening remarks and Deputy Secretary Kinsley will speak about Medicaid transformation. Commissioner McKee said he has no petitions, but he heartily endorses Commissioner Dorosin’s concept of a universal Pre-K program. He said if these children are not caught up to speed in their first years of public education, it will be a lifelong problem. Commissioner Marcoplos said the first meeting of the Orange County Climate Council occurred last week. He said over 20 people attended, and it was a great first meeting. He said the first area of focus will be to share what each agency in local governments already do for sustainability and climate action, and how all can best collaborate. He said there are a lot of members with varying areas of expertise in the group. Commissioner Marcoplos said an information sheet was provided about the solar charging stations, and highlighted that there will be a solar charging station that will provide energy for three on-demand vans in the County’s transportation system. He said it will be a couple of months to get this off the ground, and when it does, the County needs to highlight this project.