Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
17 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that <br /> 3 March 3, 2021 is declared a Day of Reflection for the lives lost and severely impacted by the <br /> 4 COVID-19 pandemic. This day will also recognize the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of <br /> 5 our frontline health care and essential workers that have selflessly served our community during <br /> 6 this time. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 This the 2nd day of March, 2021. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Renee Price, Chair <br /> 13 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 14 <br /> 15 A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin, to <br /> 16 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution recognizing March 3, 2021 as a day of <br /> 17 reflection, commemorating the first North Carolinian diagnosed with COVID-19. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Roll call ensued <br /> 20 <br /> 21 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Emily Ziegler, UNC Director of Local Government Affairs, said the battle is not yet over, <br /> 24 but reflected on the perseverance of the community. She said health care workers have worked <br /> 25 tirelessly over the past year. She said UNC Health is always here as a partner for Orange <br /> 26 County. <br /> 27 Commissioner McKee thanked the Health Department for everything it is doing to get the <br /> 28 community vaccinated. <br /> 29 Commissioner Bedford reiterated Commissioner McKee's remarks. She said she is <br /> 30 grateful for public health workers, and noted the care that the Health Department is working to <br /> 31 identify those in the community who are disproportionately harmed by Covid. <br /> 32 Chair Price said the work the Public Health Department is doing is phenomenal. <br /> 33 Quintana Stewart said North Carolina is ranked #1 from Kaiser Family Foundation for <br /> 34 vaccinating those over age 65. She said she will share the BOCC feedback with her <br /> 35 employees. She said UNC Health has been a huge partner, and she is grateful for the <br /> 36 community volunteers who have been assisting with the vaccine clinics. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 c. Presentation on Orange County Bail Reform Initiatives <br /> 39 The Board received a presentation regarding the ongoing Bail Reform Initiatives in <br /> 40 Orange County facilitated by Jessica Smith, W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor and <br /> 41 Director of the Criminal Justice Innovation Lab at UNC's School of Government. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 BACKGROUND: <br /> 44 In April 2018, the Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a Resolution <br /> 45 Supporting 3 Days Count—A Nationwide Effort to Make Communities Safer and Ensure Better <br /> 46 Outcomes for All by Applying Common Sense Solutions to Widespread Pretrial Justice <br /> 47 Challenges. The Resolution recognized that pretrial detention, even for a few days, is de- <br /> 48 stabilizing to people's lives and can have severe consequences. The money bail system in <br /> 49 North Carolina disproportionately impacts people of color and those with insufficient financial <br /> 50 resources and does not adequately address true risk to the community. While Orange County <br /> 51 has implemented many of the evidence-based best pretrial practices including an internalized <br />