Orange County NC Website
16 <br /> 1 December 2021 Meetings <br /> 2 December 6 BOCC Virtual Business Meeting — 7:00 pm <br /> 3 December 14 BOCC Virtual Business Meeting — 7:00 pm <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Chair Price said there was discussion on moving the November 2 meeting to November <br /> 6 4, due to municipal Election Day. She said she talked to Manager, and there are not many <br /> 7 agenda items for this meeting, so the Board could possibly cancel the meeting, or even have a <br /> 8 regular meeting before work session on November 11. <br /> 9 Commissioner Fowler asked if the second option could potentially impact meeting in <br /> 10 person on November 11, since business meetings allow public comment. <br /> 11 Chair Price said the Native American Month Proclamation could be passed onto <br /> 12 November 16. She said other items could be approved on November 11. <br /> 13 Laura Jensen said the Rules of Procedure indicate that the Board does not take action <br /> 14 at work sessions, but could vote to suspend the rules in order to approve a proclamation at their <br /> 15 November 11 work session and it would not be considered a business meeting. <br /> 16 Chair Price said there are options to make it work. She said the question is whether to <br /> 17 come together on November 4 for a short meeting or not. <br /> 18 Commissioner Fowler asked if the Board would need to vote to cancel the meeting. <br /> 19 Chair Price said yes. <br /> 20 Commissioner McKee said he is not in favor of cancelling the November 4 meeting, and <br /> 21 thinks the Board should stay with its precedent of meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of the <br /> 22 month. He said because of continuing virtual meetings through the end of the year, with <br /> 23 exception of the November 11 work session, he will vote against this as a sign of protest. He <br /> 24 said public business needs to happen in public. He said children are back at school with <br /> 25 masks, the public is back at work, and people are interacting more and more and going to <br /> 26 restaurants and social events. He said it is time for the Board to go back to in person meetings, <br /> 27 and the Whitted meeting room can be configured safely. <br /> 28 Commissioner Hamilton said the Board should hold the November 4 meeting. She said <br /> 29 she wants more information on safety of the November 11 meeting. She said she is open to <br /> 30 going back in person, but wants to make sure all possibilities and risks have been thought <br /> 31 through. <br /> 32 Chair Price said the first issue is whether to move November 2 meeting to November 4, <br /> 33 and then to determine whether to meet in person through December. <br /> 34 Commissioner Greene said she is in favor of meeting virtually on November 4. She <br /> 35 joked it might be nice for new members to experience a short meeting. She agreed with <br /> 36 Commissioner McKee about keeping the meeting schedule consistent. <br /> 37 Chair Price said in the past meetings have been cancelled due to lack of agenda items <br /> 38 in order to save time and money; however, she is fine with the meeting being held. She asked <br /> 39 the Board for its thoughts on meeting in person for the remainder of the 2021 meetings. <br /> 40 Commissioner Hamilton said she thinks the December schedule should be decided after <br /> 41 the in person work session on November 11, depending on how the meeting goes. <br /> 42 Laura Jensen showed a diagram of the proposed configuration of the Whitted meeting <br /> 43 room for the November 11 work session. <br /> 44 Commissioner McKee said this diagram is consistent with his vision for the room. <br /> 45 Laura Jensen explained the diagram, noting appropriate spacing between attendees. <br /> 46 Commissioner Fowler asked if there is a plan for overflow and if all those in attendance <br /> 47 will be required to wear masks. <br /> 48 Laura Jensen said Quintana Stewart, Public Health Director, advised that all in <br /> 49 attendance for meeting wear masks. <br /> 50 Chair Price said all Commissioners and guests will be able to be six feet apart. <br /> 51 Commissioner Fowler said both precautions are recommended. <br />