Orange County NC Website
14 <br /> Chair Price asked if they could go down to zero. <br /> John Roberts said they could go down to zero or any number they want. He said that it <br /> could be 10 on county and zero on the school property. <br /> Chair Price asked if it is standard to have a vigil defined as picketing. <br /> John Roberts said it was in several sample ordinances from other jurisdictions, but the <br /> Board could remove that. <br /> Chair Price asked if they received a permit they would be able to have a vigil. <br /> John Roberts said there is no permit required, and that it would only apply on county or <br /> school owned property. <br /> Chair Price she was thinking of a vigil in front of the courthouse or on the courthouse <br /> steps. <br /> John Roberts said the courthouse steps and lawns are traditional public forum areas <br /> where demonstrations would be allowed. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said she noticed the ten or more people and looked at the <br /> February 1st meeting. She said that Raleigh uses ten or more but Wake County uses any <br /> person. She said that one person who is yelling at children is inappropriate, and she supported <br /> changing it to any person. She said after hearing from Patrick Abele, she supported changing it <br /> to 1,000 feet. She said this can be reviewed in the future. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she was thinking of county property not the schools. She <br /> said that the Whitted building is county property and this rule would apply to Whitted. <br /> John Roberts said no picketing would be allowed on Whitted property, sidewalks, or <br /> parking lots. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she would not be in favor of that. She said that she would <br /> support the schools. She said that having demonstrators at the Whitted building is perfectly <br /> appropriate and is a first amendment activity. She said that she feels that way about Whitted <br /> and any other building the Board meets in as a body. <br /> Commissioner Richards said a lot of what they are describing would be happening at a <br /> public school board meeting. She said that she cannot think about how to word this to restrict <br /> behavior, so they had a right to be there. <br /> John Roberts read clause about prohibition on school property. He said that if there was <br /> a controversial topic and the school board had a meeting at a gymnasium, this ordinance would <br /> not apply if students were not present. <br /> Commissioner Richards said she wonders how to address the specific issues that lead <br /> the Board to consider the ordinance, but does not know if there is a way to address it. She said <br /> that if a school board meeting is held on school property at a time when students are not <br /> present, then this ordinance would not apply. <br /> John Roberts said that the ordinance would not apply to the situation where students are <br /> there to speak at a meeting. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked why the school properties are not by definition county <br /> property since they were bought with county money. <br /> John Roberts said school districts are separate legal entities and that the land titles are <br /> in the school board's name. He said that some properties are in the county's name for <br /> financing purposes. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he does not understand the difference in picketing on school <br /> property and public county property. He said that he is having an issue of understanding when <br /> picketing becomes obnoxious behavior or becomes behavior that is not acceptable. He said <br /> that standing quietly with friends with a sign, that is picketing, He said that if he is speaking <br /> loudly, that is still picketing. He said that speaking at a moderate voice is also picketing. He said <br /> that he is convinced that some of the most beneficial movements regarding individuals that did <br /> not have certain rights were not achieved by people standing quietly with a sign. He asked how <br />