Orange County NC Website
23 <br /> The Commissioners reviewed the capacity with which they are comfortable: <br /> Commissioner Burroughs: 136 <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos: 136 min <br /> Commissioner Rich: 136 min <br /> Commissioner Price: 128 max <br /> Commissioner Jacobs: 128 <br /> Chair Dorosin: 128 <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said if the Board voted for 84 beds, would it really affect the <br /> County's approach to diversionary programming. <br /> Chair Dorosin said it is possible, but 120 is likely the lowest possible number given the <br /> projections that are before the Board currently. He said the County should have a goal of never <br /> filling the detention center. He said the overall average daily population has been in the 80s for <br /> several years. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said the County can always have a goal, but no one really <br /> knows what the general population will be in 2060. <br /> Chair Dorosin said 144 and 136 beds is an overbuild based on the projections before the <br /> Board tonight. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said the larger build does not take the diversionary policies into <br /> account, but when considering jails a Sheriff is responsible for the custody of the inmates, but a <br /> Sheriff is also on the back end of the system. She said what happens at the Board level affects <br /> what happens at the Sheriff level. She said all stakeholders are working together, and what <br /> happens in the court system is the main driver behind how full a jail will be. <br /> Chair Dorosin said it needs to be big enough to avoid frequent situations of <br /> overcrowding. <br /> Commissioner Price said the criminal justice system is a criminal injustice system, and <br /> people are incarcerated more frequently and with greater longevity than is necessary. She said <br /> Orange County can be on the forefront of changing these trends. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the difference between 128 and 136 is only one pod, and <br /> asked if staff start planning with both of these numbers in mind. <br /> Jeff Thompson said staff can treat the pod as an alternate in the schematic design. He <br /> said there will be a level of fixed costs no matter what size is agreed upon. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said it may be wise to discuss this at the start of a work session, <br /> rather than the end, and make sure all 7 Commissioners are present. He said he would like to <br /> hear a recommendation from the Manager and the Sheriff. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said that is a reasonable approach, and staff will come back with <br /> the concept design before it goes into schematic design. <br /> Chair Dorosin asked if this approach would slow anything down. <br /> Jeff Thompson said no. <br /> "Closed Session: deferred until June 12th <br /> "To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of <br /> appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or <br /> prospective public officer or employee" NCGS § 143-318.11(a) (6). <br /> ADJOURNMENT <br /> The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />