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4 <br /> WHEREAS, Professional Telecom municators work to improve the emergency response <br /> capabilities of these communication systems through their leadership and participation in <br /> training programs and other activities provided by the Association of Public Safety <br /> Communications Officials - International and the National Emergency Number Association; and <br /> WHEREAS, These associations are organizations of more than 100,000 people engaged in <br /> the design, installation and operation of emergency response communications, and have set <br /> aside the week beginning April 10, 2022, to recognize Telecom municators and their crucial role <br /> in the protection of life and property; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby proclaim the <br /> week of April 10-16, 2022, as "Public Safety Telecom municators Week" in Orange County, <br /> North Carolina, in honor and recognition of our County's Telecommunicators and the vital <br /> contributions they make to the safety and well being of our residents, those passing through our <br /> County and our public safety providers. <br /> Adopted this 5th day of April, 2022. <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to <br /> approve the proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> The Board thanked Kirby Saunders and Kevin Medlin for their service to the community, <br /> as well as the telecommunicators. <br /> Chair Price said there is some movement afoot at the state and national level to <br /> recognize telecommunicators as first responders. She asked Kirby Saunders and Kevin Medlin <br /> to comment on this. <br /> Kevin Medlin said telecommunications are not currently recognized as part of public <br /> safety or first responders in federal job descriptions. He said they are now classified as a <br /> clerical position. He stated that telecommunicators are the first contact first responders and that <br /> the rest of the process and system breaks down without them. He said professional <br /> organizations are working to change this classification and he hopes to have the Board's <br /> support in this effort. <br /> Chair Price said he would have the Board's support. <br /> b. Native Plant Month Proclamation <br /> The Board considered proclaiming April 2022 as Native Plant Month in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: The US Congress first designated April as National Native Plant Month in <br /> 2021. Congress has acted again in 2022 to designate April 2022 as National Native Plant <br /> Month. In both years, various states and local governments across the country have declared <br /> Native Plant Month. <br />