Orange County NC Website
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />February 20, 2023 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: February 20, 2023 at <br />Hillsborough Commons. <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Garrett, Pat Garavaglia, Ann Wilkerson, and <br />Jamezetta Bedford. <br /> <br />GUEST: None <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Oscar Fleming. <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Social Services Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; <br />Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager; and Rebekah Rapoza, <br />Budget Officer. <br /> <br />I. Call to Order and Introductions <br /> <br />DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:06 pm. <br /> <br />II. Board Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />III. Public Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />IV. Agenda Changes <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />V. Action Items <br /> <br />On a motion by Ann Wilkerson, the Board approved the minutes of January 23, 2023. Jane Garrett <br />seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. <br /> <br />VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision <br /> <br />1. Public Health Emergency <br /> <br />Lindsey Shewmaker informed the Board she and DSS Director, Nancy Coston, are presenting <br />updates on the Public Health Emergency (PHE) tomorrow night to the Board of County <br />Commissioners. DSS is asking for three new time-limited positions and extending the current time- <br />limited positions for assistance in meeting the anticipated need. DSS will further ask for $125,000 <br />from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to provide food and additional resources to non-profits as well <br />as for food gift cards. <br /> <br />Lindsey Shewmaker presented on the current status of the PHE. In the Food and Nutrition Services <br />(FNS) program emergency allotments, which began in March 2020, will end next month. The <br />additional emergency allotment was $95.00 and this decrease will impact 6100 households in <br />Orange County. Ann Wilkerson asked if recipients have been notified about this change. Ms. <br />Shewmaker explained there have been press releases and mailings from the State. DSS has