Minutes 05-10-2022 Budget Public Hearing and Work Session

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33 Commissioner Bedford said for Carrboro High School, the county has part ownership so they could get the sales tax. Commissioner Fowler asked about 15 feet between picketers and asked if that is what other counties have used. John Roberts said he thinks that part came from Wake County, and it is all for Board discussion and decision. Commissioner Fowler said it seems like a large amount of space. Chair Price asked if the section on private property for gathering, does that mean that the county can control what is happening on private property. John Roberts said there is case law to support that if private property is regularly used for public purposes. Commissioner Bedford said she would like some input from the Sheriff on what is realistic for the deputies to enforce. She said there are some Confederate Flag waivers and asked if the Sheriff was consulted. John Roberts said he ran it by the Sheriff who said it looked good and he would enforce it, he just did not want to be the permit issuer. Commissioner Greene said she would like to remove the parade references. She said it would be helpful if the Sheriff can attend the next Board discussion of this item. Commissioner McKee asked if anyone else had an issue with the $500 fine. He asked if the fine would that apply to multiple people within the same event. John Roberts said yes. Commissioner McKee asked how that was not suppression of free speech. John Roberts said their free speech is not suppressed if they are abiding by the terms of the ordinance. Commissioner McKee said he has a hard time imagining a picket being allowed at the Orange High School with this ordinance. He asked if he stands at Orange High School Road holding a sign that someone does not agree with, and they call the Sheriff since he would be within five hundred feet of the school. John Roberts said that right now that person could be removed if they were obstructing traffic. Commissioner McKee said that he is not talking about being in the roadway. John Roberts it would be in violation if he is within five hundred feet of the school the way it is drafted but the Board can choose any distance, they deem appropriate. Commissioner McKee said that would impede his free speech. John Roberts said free speech is not unlimited. Commissioner McKee said he understands but that he does not want to tighten this down to where someone would feel that they cannot express their opinion. He said that short of someone making physical moves he does not feel threatened by someone standing with a sign or yelling their opinion out. He said everyone sees the situation differently, but he wants people to be able to express their opinion because that is the bedrock of this country. Commissioner Hamilton said there are benefits to having an ordinance to regulate close to the schools. She said if there are two groups with opposing views, demonstrating at the same place and at the same time, this ordinance would give law enforcement the heads up that they would be there and would also allow for planning to make sure that the opposing groups were far enough apart from one another. She said that will help create a systematic response and decrease chance that there would be some unhelpful interactions and be sure that both sides can get their point of view across. She said that she wants free speech but not in a way that harms children. She said this helps them know when things are happening, provides rules for the demonstrators, and helps other people know what to do if there is a need to call law enforcement.