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39 <br /> WHEREAS, Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and <br /> Emancipation Day— has become a special day among African Americans to celebrate the day <br /> when all the enslaved sons and daughters of Africa in America realized their freedom; and <br /> WHEREAS, only the State of Texas currently recognizes Juneteenth as an official state holiday; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, in June 2010, Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue proclaimed the observance of <br /> Juneteenth in North Carolina, and on June 19, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed <br /> Juneteenth Day in North Carolina; and <br /> WHEREAS, members of the United States Congress, including Senator Kamala Harris of <br /> California and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, recently have introduced legislation to <br /> recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners hereby designates Juneteenth as an official County paid holiday, thus providing <br /> the opportunity for employees and the community-at large to join together with the descendants <br /> of enslaved Africans to observe the end of slavery and the liberation of all people in the United <br /> States of America; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners urges state <br /> and federal legislators to sponsor legislation making Juneteenth an official state and federal <br /> holiday; and <br /> BE IT MOREOVER RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners directs the <br /> Clerk to the Board's Office to forward a copy of this resolution to the Chapel Hill Town Council, <br /> the Carrboro Town Council, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, the Chapel Hill Carrboro <br /> City Schools Board of Education, and the Orange County Schools Board of Education. <br /> This, the 1st Day of September 2020. <br /> Penny Rich, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to <br /> approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proposed Resolution recognizing June 19, <br /> Juneteenth, as a paid holiday for Orange County government employees effective upon <br /> approval by the Board, and approve the attached revision to Article IV— Employee Benefits <br /> Section 28-33 — Holidays and Holiday Pay of the Orange County Code of Ordinances. <br /> Chair Rich requested that the Board send this item to all County Clerks in North <br /> Carolina. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos requested that a copy be sent to the City of Mebane. <br /> Chair Rich asked Commissioners to accept a roll call form of voting and called names <br /> accordingly. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Travis Myren requested that the Board specifically authorize the approval of the code of <br /> ordinances for employees. <br />