Minutes 05-30-2024 - Budget Public Hearing

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11 and believe that this is about human services and paying people more allows them to live closer to where they work. Blair Pollock said he is retired from Orange County's Solid Waste Department. He asked the Board to keep the Solid Waste fee intact in order to allocate money elsewhere in the budget. He said taking away travel and training for employees is demoralizing and training is an integral part of education. He said there hasn't been a Solid Waste newsletter in a while, and having two- way communication with the public is the best way to ensure higher rates of recycling. He said food waste collection is linked to climate improvement and waste reduction. He said the fee would enable more restaurants to be added to divert food waste. Ryan Lavalley said he is a resident, assistant professor at UNC, and community occupational therapist. He said he moved into the county in 2014 and he has been led to stay and work with older adults in his career. He said that he has been able to study and publish the work at the Department on Aging. He said he opposes the amendment proposed for the Department of Aging. He said that the number of older adults is growing. He said that the Master Aging Plan money was leveraged to build a relationship with UNC Occupational Therapy. He said that the low-income homes that are supported include over 85% of older adults and over half are disabled. He said that the Department on Aging has led the way in thinking about how to include and serve all members of the aging community. He said that money is planned to support specific and concrete projects that he is sure will have lasting impacts. He said that the Department of Aging's work with the MAP model is regarded across the state and country. Leiha Edmonds resident and Ph.D. student at UNC. She said that she also opposes the budget amendment to divert MAP money to the Department on Aging general budget. She said that she was a research associate and has led research teams on Orange County's MAP. She said it is not a plan that sits on the shelf after it is written. She said it is about partnerships and a plan for the county to make it a more livable and age friendly community. She said that she has seen how the strong foundation of the funds in the Department on Aging allows MAP funds to build on infrastructure for new partnerships and programs. She said other counties want to replicate Orange County's MAP and that this makes Orange County a very appealing place. Linda Leikin said she is the Director of PORCH Hillsborough. She thanked Commissioner McKee, Chair Bedford, and Commissioner Portie-Ascott for submitting budget amendments to fund PORCH as an outside agency. She said food insecurity in Northern Orange County is rampant. She said the funds are desperately needed. She said that 50% of students in Orange County Schools are economically disadvantaged. She said that roughly 70% of 300 students are unsure of where their next meal will come from at home. She said they go home and are unsure if they will have a meal until they return to school the next day. She said the grant application asked for funds for vegetables for the students. She asked the commissioners who did not sponsor the amendment to consider voting in favor. She said there is a great need for this work. She said that 95% of their families rely on them. Erica Janko said she is a researcher at UNC Chapel Hill, an Orange County resident, and has aging parents. She said that she opposes the proposed budget amendment to replace General Aging Funds with donated money. She said this change would reduce the budget for aging funds and limits staff flexibility. She said that flexible funding for aging services should be increased, not decreased. She said statewide leaders use Orange County's plan as a guide for their work in their own communities. She said that she has interviewed 45 aging older adults and caregivers. She said they are grateful for the quality of aging services in Orange County, but there still aren't enough services to meet the needs. She said that she volunteers at Our Place weekly. She said they provide needed respite for caretakers and allow older adults with dementia a 1-1 volunteer programming. She said there is more demand than they can meet. She said the program is only one day a week and there is a waitlist. She said she has interviewed multiple graduates from Project EngAGE. She said the county is at a critical moment for Orange County.