Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> 1 He said masks and other items have been put on restriction, per the CDC, and he said there is <br /> 2 a mechanism in place in case they need to ask the state for access to critical supplies. <br /> 3 Commissioner Price asked if there will be additional sick days for employees. <br /> 4 Bonnie Hammersley said that has not been discussed yet, but the County wants people <br /> 5 to stay home if they are ill, and to bring it to the County's attention if they are lacking sick days. <br /> 6 Commissioner Greene said price-gouging laws are in effect, and citizens can file <br /> 7 complaints with the Attorney General's office if concerns arise. <br /> 8 Commissioner Marcoplos asked if animal services are playing a role in this response. <br /> 9 Kirby Sanders said animal services is on the task force purely to support human <br /> 10 services, and if someone has an animal for which they can no longer care, due to sickness or <br /> 11 quarantine, animal services will offer support. <br /> 12 Commissioner Bedford asked if UNC is involved in this response, and how will students <br /> 13 be handled upon returning from spring break. <br /> 14 Quintana Stewart said her department has been in constant communication with UNC- <br /> 15 CH, and the UNC system at large is determining how to respond to spring break coming to an <br /> 16 end and students returning. <br /> 17 Chair Rich asked if the County will update its website on a daily basis. <br /> 18 Quintana Stewart said yes. <br /> 19 Chair Rich said it is important to have a consistent message throughout the County, and <br /> 20 to encourage people not to get their information from public opinion on Facebook or twitter, <br /> 21 Chair Rich asked if there is a plan in place for someone who has to quarantine for 14 <br /> 22 days, but is in need of food or supplies. <br /> 23 Quintana Stewart said if these situations arise, the County will step in. <br /> 24 Chair Rich asked if people are aware of this aid. <br /> 25 Quintana Stewart said if someone is self-quarantined then the County is in constant <br /> 26 contact with them. <br /> 27 Chair Rich said the County needs to take care of all vulnerable persons. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 2. Public Comments <br /> 30 <br /> 31 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 32 Riley Ruske said about 9 months ago, during the June 11I" budget work session, <br /> 33 Commissioner Marcoplos asked for a % climate tax, which the Board approved, despite lack of <br /> 34 public input. He said at the February 4t" work session, the Commission for the Environment <br /> 35 (CfE) came up with some projects on which to spend this money. He said there was no urgent <br /> 36 or specific need for this tax increase, but it is a permanent tax, and will create an increasing <br /> 37 slush fund each year with the increase of property taxes. He said the Board should rescind this <br /> 38 tax increase starting in the 2020-21 tax year. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 41 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda <br /> 42 below.) <br /> 43 <br /> 44 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> 45 Commissioner McKee said he spoke at a regional meeting of the Soil and Water <br /> 46 supervisors about agriculture and conservation efforts in Orange County. <br /> 47 Commissioner McKee said at the February 4t"BOCC meeting he requested that the <br /> 48 Board discuss the issue of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of BOCC <br /> 49 meetings. He said this petition has been added to an April 23rd work session, and his intent <br /> 50 was to put this on a regular meeting agenda, so that the public can speak on this item. He said <br />