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Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board Approved Meeting Summary: September 18th, 2019 Environmental &Agricultural Center—Food Lab 306 Revere Rd., Hillsborough, NC 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Anderson, Compton, Dawson, Finley, McAdams, McKnight, Saiers, Shambley, Woods Members Absent: Redding, Parker, Vanhook Guests: Beth Myers and Jeff Sykes, applicants for prospective membership on APB Staff: Gail Hughes, Resource Conservation Coordinator-DEAPR-Orange Soil and Water; Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator; Mike Ortosky,Ag Econ. Development; Chris Hirni, Land Conservation Manager. 1. Call to order: Acting chair McAdams called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. 2. Chair Comments/Introductions: McAdams recognized the guests and asked them to introduce themselves. Chris Hirni also introduced himself as the new Land Conservation Manager. 3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: Hughes noted that there is one additional parcel to be considered for enrollment in the VAD, owned by Portia McKnight. Sandbeck asked to add the matter of recommending new members to the agenda. 4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: May 15th, 2019 (Attachment 1): Shambley noted that she should be added to the list of members who were present; staff noted this correction. Compton moved to accept the minutes/summary as corrected; seconded by Saiers; motion carried. 5. Discussion Items: a) Election of Officers: McAdams asked for nominations from the floor. McKnight nominated Redding for chair, seconded by Dawson. Shambley moved to close the nomination, seconded by Saiers. Members selected Redding as chair by acclamation. McAdams asked for nominations for vice chair. McKnight volunteered. Shambley moved to close the nomination for vice chair, seconded by Saiers. Members selected McKnight as vice chair by acclamation. b) VAD Breakfast, Nov. 141h, 2019: Hughes gave an update to confirm the date. It will be held at the Grange. She plans to use the same caterer. Members discussed topics for the agenda. c) Ag Trust Fund Proposal next steps: Ortosky provided a brief overview of how the tax penalty for taking land out of Present Use could be used to promote farm preservation. Discussion followed about the timing for initiating this effort as a budget request in light of current county budget challenges.This will have more weight if the APB and Food Council both express their support. d) Ag Economic Development Grant Subcommittee: new APB member: Ortosky explained that one of the two APB members has rotated off, creating a vacancy. Dawson and Saiers both volunteered in August. Discussion followed. Saiers agreed to serve as the APB representative.