Minutes-09-19-2023-Business Meeting

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believes the whole community is needed in this conversation because it is too big for the schools to take on alone. She said she views the county commissioners as the conveners to bring everyone together. Commissioner Greene asked if this information will be shared with the Capital Needs Work Group. Commissioner Hamilton said the capital needs are beyond safety, but she agrees safety will inform some of the decisions about capital needs. Vice-Chair McKee said the task force's recommendations should serve as a guide. Regarding the connection between safety and capital needs, Vice-Chair McKee said thinking about access points at schools and other safety issues needs to be part of every conversation regarding future schools and renovating existing schools. He said common definitions are also needed to keep stakeholders on the same page when having these conversations. Commissioner Richards said she thinks there are specifics in the recommendations that should be seen through. She said she hopes there is some commitment on the part of the schools to act relative to this. She said many of the recommendations center around clarity, communicating, and educating on an ongoing basis, and now the Board and stakeholders should move toward implementing and working toward the recommendations. Vice-Chair McKee said he thinks this should come up every joint meeting with the school boards and wants follow up from the schools. Chair Bedford said the school systems have long been working on making schools safer and continue to do so. She said the Board should partner with the schools. Commissioner Hamilton said there is a role for the county commissioners to convene stakeholders and communicate beyond the school community to convey what schools are facing. She said School Collaboration Meetings are an opportunity for decisions on how to move forward with implementation. She said she is happy to serve on a committee for the annual meeting and rotate with others. Chair Bedford said she will raise that issue at the November 91h School Collaboration Meeting. Commissioner Hamilton highlighted the importance of making sure meetings work with the school calendar. 5. Public Hearings a. 5311 Rural Area Formula Grant and Combined Capital Program (5311/5339) Grant for FY 2024 The Board held a public hearing on the 5311 Administrative grant application and the Combined Capital grant application for FY 2024 and approved the Local Share Certification (Attachment 1). BACKGROUND: Each year, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) accepts requests for capital, operations, and administrative needs for county-operated transit programs. Orange County Transportation Services (OCTS) is eligible to make application for both capital and administrative funding and seeks a total of $1,796,947 in transit grant funding. Detailed breakdown is outlined in the table below: