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3 <br /> 1 Chamber of Commerce meeting on February 31d and they reported a large increase in <br /> 2 membership. Later that day she also attended the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council meeting, <br /> 3 and the programs are starting to have increased referrals now. Finally, on February 4th, she <br /> 4 attended the Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health. She shared that 61 counties have no <br /> 5 pediatric psychiatrist and 34 have no psychiatrist at all. She said that the Department of Health <br /> 6 and Human Service's goal this year is also Medicaid expansion, which would prevent closure of <br /> 7 rural hospitals and behavioral health care centers across the state. She said she it seems hopeful <br /> 8 that Medicaid expansion will finally pass this year. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> 11 a. Discussion and Appointment for the Vacant Position on the Orange County Board of <br /> 12 Commissioners <br /> 13 The Board discussed nominees and made an appointment to the vacant position on the Board of <br /> 14 County Commissioners. <br /> 15 <br /> 16 BACKGROUND: At its December 5, 2022 Business Meeting, the Board of County <br /> 17 Commissioners addressed the issue of filling the vacant District 2 seat on the Board, which <br /> 18 occurred on December 31, 2022. State statute requires that the Board consult the political party <br /> 19 with which the departing commissioner is affiliated. The Board decided on the following course of <br /> 20 action for filling the vacancy, which follows a similar process used for filling a previous vacancy in <br /> 21 2021: <br /> 22 • The application form for nomination was produced and advertised by the Clerk to the <br /> 23 Board Laura Jensen, after revisions were suggested by the Board of County <br /> 24 Commissioners. <br /> 25 • Applications for the vacancy were submitted to the Clerk to the Board by Friday, January <br /> 26 6, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Any individual wanting to be considered for the vacancy had to submit <br /> 27 an application. <br /> 28 • The Clerk's Office forwarded all applications to the Orange County Democratic Party and <br /> 29 BOCC members for review. In addition, the applications were sent to the Board of <br /> 30 Elections to verify eligibility of each candidate. <br /> 31 • The Orange County Democratic Party had until January 30, 2023 to review the <br /> 32 applications and provide a nomination/nominations to the Clerk to the Board and the Chair <br /> 33 of the BOCC. <br /> 34 • The BOCC agreed to consider the nominations and vote by ballot on an individual to fill <br /> 35 the vacancy at the February 7, 2023 BOCC meeting. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 According to State statute, the appointment of a new Board member must be made within sixty <br /> 38 days of the vacancy. Otherwise, the Clerk of Superior Court shall make the appointment. Thus, <br /> 39 the BOCC has a deadline of March 1, 2023 to make an appointment. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 The Clerk to the Orange County Board of Commissioners received applications from the following <br /> 42 individuals for the commissioner vacancy by the published deadline of 5:00 pm on Friday, January <br /> 43 6, 2023. Director of Elections Rachel Raper has confirmed that all of the applicants are registered <br /> 44 Democrats and reside in District 2, making them eligible for appointment to the vacant seat. <br /> 45 • Gail Corrado <br /> 46 • Horace Johnson <br /> 47 • Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> 48 • Brenda Stephens <br /> 49 0 Natalie Ziemba <br />