Orange County NC Website
<br /> <br />Paul Laughton, Finance and Administrative Services, said population determines 1 <br />the amount. 2 <br />Chair Rich said she uses the SOG all the time, and it is a valuable resource. 3 <br />Commissioner Dorosin said one can take classes even if not a contributor, and 4 <br />this is a contribution to the University system, and maybe this year it would be wise to 5 <br />cut the amount by $10,000. 6 <br />Commissioner Greene asked if all are sure that one can take courses/training if 7 <br />one is not a contributor. She said she thinks it is a great institution. 8 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said he is in favor of supporting the SOG, but 9 <br />suggested reducing the contribution by $10,000 this year, due to Covid-19. 10 <br />Commissioner Price said it is a valuable program, and the SOG is highly rated 11 <br />throughout the country, and she would be hesitant to cut this funding without knowing 12 <br />what this money is used for before. 13 <br />Commissioner Dorosin said the SOG is a valuable resource, but it is supported 14 <br />by the State, is a part of the University system, and it charges fees for its courses. 15 <br />Bonnie Hammersley said she was sent information from a staff person, which 16 <br />she read, and it defined the County funds as “membership dues”. She said staff can 17 <br />find out more and let the Board know. 18 <br />Commissioner Bedford said, as a new commissioner, she found the orientation 19 <br />very beneficial, and she took another course and felt the same. She said she will not 20 <br />support this amendment. 21 <br />Commissioner Price said the classes that are made available to the BOCC are 22 <br />conducted specifically for elected officials. She said these funds help defray the costs 23 <br />of their resources, and she will vote against the amendment. 24 <br />Commissioner McKee said it is important to focus on the amendment, rather 25 <br />than making amendments to amendments. He said the funding supports the SOG. He 26 <br />said it is done fairly, and he will not support this amendment. 27 <br />Paul Laughton said the Orange County Board of Commissioners does have a 28 <br />contingency amount, and this item could be placed there while staff gathers more 29 <br />information and the BOCC could make a final decision in the fall. 30 <br /> 31 <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Marcoplos, seconded by Commissioner 32 <br />Dorosin to endorse being connected to the SOG, but due to this being a Covid year to 33 <br />defunding by $10,000 and put funds in the Orange County Board of Commissioners 34 <br />Contingency fund and paying the remainder to SOG, while ascertaining if we have the 35 <br />access to their resources, and if need be pay the rest to the SOG. 36 <br /> 37 <br />Commissioner Greene said the funding amount is determined by the SOG’s 38 <br />funding model, and this amendment does not seem equitable. 39 <br />Chair Rich said it is important during this time to find exactly what the funds are 40 <br />being used for. 41 <br /> 42 <br />VOTE: Ayes, 2 (Commissioner Marcoplos and Commissioner Dorosin); Nays, 5 43 <br />(Commissioner McKee, Chair Rich, Commissioner Price, Commissioner Greene 44 <br />Commissioner Bedford) 45 <br /> 46 <br />Amendment 009/010 - Defund NCACC 47 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said he has attended a few NCACC conferences, and 48 <br />would like to know NCACC’s impact on the legislature. 49 <br />Commissioner Bedford said NCACC provides an opportunity to work across the 50 <br />aisles, and this group directly benefits counties. 51 <br />Commissioner Greene said Attorney General Stein was approached about the 52 <br />opioid legislation, and any possible payout, he approached the NCACC for ideas and 53 <br />partnership. She said there is value in this membership. 54 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos pulled the amendment. 55 <br />9