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3 <br /> hotspots, but that is too slow. He said Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) may need <br /> some help too. <br /> Chair Rich acknowledged Ralph Karpinos, Town of Chapel Hill Attorney's Office, who is <br /> the longest serving municipal attorney in the State and is retiring. She applauded his service. <br /> Chair Rich and Commissioner Price met with the joint school boards in anticipation of <br /> the joint meeting next week. She said CHCCS does not need any more hotspots. She said <br /> both school districts are opening learning centers with the YMCA and churches to help students <br /> and families. She said the schools are also discussing various re-opening plans for January, <br /> and it is currently unclear how things will proceed. <br /> Chair Rich provided a COVID update: Orange County is under 4% of test positive rate, <br /> and needs to stay under 5% for at least 2 weeks to get the gathering limits back up. <br /> Chair Rich said flu season starts in October and goes through May. She urged <br /> everyone to get flu shots. <br /> Chair Rich said the Health Department will be able to swab twice, testing for Flu and <br /> COVID tests at the same time. <br /> Chair Rich said the peak hurricane season is here, and there are 5 hurricanes in the <br /> ocean currently, with hurricane Sally possibly headed for North Carolina. <br /> Chair Rich said emergency services said Hurricane Sally will be a mostly rain event. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Resolution Supporting the Decriminalization of Marijuana <br /> The Board considered voting to adopt a Resolution Supporting the Decriminalization of <br /> Marijuana. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> BOCC Chair Penny Rich submitted a petition at the Board's September 1, 2020 Business <br /> meeting proposing that the Board consider a resolution supporting the decriminalization of <br /> marijuana. <br /> Public Comment: <br /> Riley Ruske said tobacco is not allowed to be smoked in public places in Orange <br /> County, and he wonders if Orange County would add marijuana to this list, thus re-criminalizing <br /> its use after decriminalizing it. He said there are other health risks with marijuana, and it is often <br /> seen as a gateway drug to other more dangerous drugs. He encouraged the BOCC not to pass <br /> this resolution. <br /> Chair Rich read the resolution: <br /> RES-2020-052 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA <br /> WHEREAS, The current prohibition of marijuana in North Carolina has caused the needless <br /> arrest and incarceration of thousands of individuals, predominantly people of color, for <br /> nonviolent crimes, at great social and economic cost despite the fact that people of color and <br /> whites use marijuana at the same rates, and <br /> WHEREAS, According to an American Civil Liberties Union study, as a result of disparate <br /> enforcement, Black North Carolinians are over three times more likely to be arrested for <br /> marijuana possession, and <br />