Agenda - 05-04-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 he could get more done. He said they would all see as they went through the agenda what the 2 Commissioners have the power to do and what the State Legislature has the power to do. He 3 said he wished the latter made it easier for the Commissioners to get things done. 4 Chair Price invited staff to introduce themselves. 5 6 Senator Foushee arrived at 8:37 a.m. 7 8 Bonnie Hammersley welcomed the Representatives and Senator, and extended thanks 9 for being present today and their service to Orange County. 10 Travis Myren introduced himself, and thanked the Representatives and Senator for their 11 participation in the Broadband Task Force meeting last week. 12 John Roberts introduced himself and welcomed the Representatives and Senator. 13 Laura Jensen introduced herself and welcomed the Representatives and Senator. 14 Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board introduced herself. 15 Greg Wilder introduced himself and thanked the Representatives and Senator for their 16 service to Orange County. 17 Senator Valerie Foushee introduced herself, and said she served as a County 18 Commissioner for two terms. She said she serves as the Chair of the Senate Democratic 19 Caucus, and in that role is trying to ensure bills are passed that benefit not only North 20 Carolinians in general, but Orange County residents, in particular. She said she has been 21 assigned to the Education Committee and the Commerce and Insurance Committee, and is part 22 of nine committees. She said she is trying to be a voice for Orange County residents and while 23 it is difficult, she continues to push forward the values and ideals the people want and in many 24 cases need. 25 Jim Northrup, Chief Information Officer, provided contact information in case those on 26 the call have any technical issues. 27 Chair Price said everyone should have received a packet with two lists: one is the list of 28 priorities, and the other is a list of interests the Commissioners have accumulated over the past 29 several years. She said many of the concerns are the same, have updates, or are new issues 30 that have emerged with time. She said there would probably only be enough time this morning 31 to discusses the priorities, and a couple of other discussion topics if the Commissioners chose. 32 She said she will ask each Commissioner to introduce a priority issue and the group can 33 discuss as they go. 34 Commissioner Bedford introduced and read the priority on Mental Health: 35 "Seek legislation to develop and fund a plan to reduce the number of people with mental 36 health issues in county jails as well as ensure that adequate State-funded mental health, 37 developmental disability and substance abuse services and facilities are available at the 38 local level, accessible and affordable to all residents and that sufficient state resources 39 fund service provision costs inclusive of sufficient crisis intervention and treatment, and 40 to structure appropriate county participation in governance." 41 She said this includes everything from Medicaid expansion, Medicaid transformation, MCOs, 42 diversion facilities, the Governor's task force with the Criminal Justice System, schools. She 43 said the pandemic has revealed more need, and said if there is something pending in the 44 legislature the Commissioners would like to know the status. 45 Representative Insko said this is a huge issue. She said the Legislature's biggest 46 problem is that so much money has been cut out of the budget, and there are not many options 47 for money to come in. She said President Biden's plan will send some money that may be able 48 to be used for this. She said mental health is gaining more interest on both sides of the aisle, 49 and knows some Republicans that are looking more closely at mental health issues. She said 50 she has been working closely with some Republicans.