Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> APPROVED 9/1/2020 <br /> MINUTES <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> VIRTUAL LISTENING SESSION ON POLICING AND <br /> RACIAL JUSTICE IN ORANGE COUNTY <br /> July 7, 2020 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Virtual Listening Session on Policing <br /> and Racial Justice on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Rich, and Commissioner Bedford, <br /> Commissioner Dorosin, Commissioner Greene, Commissioner McKee, and Commissioner <br /> Marcoplos <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Price <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager <br /> Travis Myren, Sheriff Charles Blackwood, Criminal Justice Resources Director Caitlin <br /> Fenhagen, Deputy Clerk to the Board David Hunt and Assistant Deputy Clerk II Allen <br /> Coleman (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below.) <br /> Chair Rich called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. <br /> Due to current public health concerns, the Board of Commissioners conducted a Virtual <br /> Listening Session on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Members of the Board of Commissioners <br /> participated in the meeting remotely. Members of the public were able to view and listen to the <br /> meeting via live streaming video at http://www.orangecountVnc.gov/967/Meeting-Videos and on <br /> Orange County Gov-TV on channels 1301 or 97.6 (Spectrum Cable). <br /> 1. Welcome— Chair Penny Rich <br /> Chair Rich said tonight's session is not an open dialogue, but the listening session is <br /> being recorded to help the County Commissioners, Sheriff's Office, Human Rights and <br /> Relations Commission synthesize the information and plan for future actions. <br /> Chair Rich introduced the Commissioners, noting that Commissioner Price is absent due <br /> to a death in the family. She introduced Sheriff Blackwood; Caitlin Fenhagen, Criminal Justice <br /> Resources Department (CJRD) Director; and Frances Castillo, Human Rights and Relations <br /> Commission Chair. <br /> 2. Presentation by Human Relations Commission (HRC) Chair, Frances Castillo <br /> Frances Castillo provided an overview of the Commission's mission. <br /> 3. Listening Session — Public Comment <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Deborah Stroman said the community is too comfortable, and seeks "normalcy". She <br /> read an expert from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. She said <br /> normalcy does not lead to change, and allows for inequities and racism to continue. She said <br />