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2 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 <br /> 3 2. Public Comments <br /> 4 <br /> 5 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 6 Riley Ruske said he has several hopes for the Board of County Commissioners <br /> 7 (BOCC) this coming year: it would uphold its oath of office to support and maintain the <br /> 8 constitution and laws of the United States and North Carolina; rescind all resolutions <br /> 9 supporting illegal immigration as well as those that infringe on citizen freedoms; and to <br /> 10 publicly discuss and vote on any public petitions. He closed his comments by reciting the <br /> 11 Pledge of Allegiance, inviting the Board and staff to join him, many of whom did not do so <br /> 12 the last time he recited the pledge at a meeting. <br /> 13 Seamus O'Neill said he would like to ask the Board of County Commissioners to <br /> 14 repeal the sales tax that was installed 10 years ago to support the light rail. He said this <br /> 15 sales tax is one of the most regressive taxes and most strongly harms those that are <br /> 16 least able to pay for it. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 19 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda <br /> 20 below.) <br /> 21 <br /> 22 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> 23 Commissioner Dorosin said he attended the ABC Board meeting last week, and one of <br /> 24 the issues being discussed is increasing the living wage. He said this board is currently paying <br /> 25 the living wage, and it is now time for an increase and there is concern about compression. He <br /> 26 said the last time it was done, the overall cost was around $100,000, including compression. <br /> 27 He said the board is concerned that if it does the updated adjustment, it would want to include <br /> 28 the compression costs again. He said the board asked him to take a proposal back to the <br /> 29 Board of County Commissioners proposing that the amount the ABC Board contributes to the <br /> 30 general fund be reduced by the same amount as the increase needed to cover the living wage <br /> 31 increase. He said he would be in favor of discussing this compromise, given the BOCC's <br /> 32 support of the living wage. <br /> 33 Chair Rich said this topic can be added as an agenda item at a future meeting for <br /> 34 further discussion. <br /> 35 Commissioner Marcoplos said Durham County has stopped purchasing plastic water <br /> 36 bottles with county funds, and he petitioned that Orange County do the same. <br /> 37 Commissioner Greene referred to the green sheet at the Commissioners' places, and <br /> 38 said the portrait in the County Courthouse of Thomas Ruffin has come down. She said Senior <br /> 39 Superior Court Judge Fox made this request after having a conversation with former Public <br /> 40 Defender James Williams. She said James Williams made this request as new information <br /> 41 about Judge Ruffin has come to light regarding his personal life. She said the North Carolina <br /> 42 Supreme Court is also considering removing a portrait of Judge Ruffin, which sits prominently <br /> 43 behind the Chief Justice. She petitioned the Board to issue a statement informing the public <br /> 44 about this decision and why it was made, which can be sent to Judge Fox and Chief Justice <br /> 45 Cheri Beasley. She sent the following email to the BOCC: <br /> 46 <br /> 47 As a result of conversations that former public defender James Williams has had with Judge <br /> 48 Fox—bringing forward new information—Judge Fox requested the removal of the portrait of <br /> 49 Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin that had been hanging in the courtroom of the historic Orange <br /> 50 County Courthouse. My understanding is that Travis has honored his request by seeing to the <br />