Minutes 10-01-2024 - Business Meeting

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2 Post on Highway 54 West. She said this plan gives the vision for how land use will be in the unincorporated parts of Orange County. She announced that Plant Fest will be held this Saturday from 10 am-2 pm at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center. She said the Sustainability Department is holding a Drive Electric Event at the Board of Elections on Saturday from 9-11 am. She said this will give people an opportunity to see electric vehicles in case anyone is interested in purchasing one. Chair Bedford also announced the Seymour Center is holding a Hispanic Heritage month celebration on October 8, 2024. She encouraged anyone interested in attending to register. Finally, she encouraged people to be aware of scams when donating to those affected by Hurricane Helene. Commissioner Richards arrived at 7:06 pm. Commissioner Hamilton echoed thanks to the Emergency Managers and first responders who have been sent to help victims in the western part of the state. She said she appreciates everyone who has come together across the state to support each other. She said she has been to various meetings recently but wants to mention she is the chair of the Aging Advisory Group that's part of the Area Agency on Aging. She said she is looking to see how the group can work together to address some of the aging issues in this region. She said one need is to increase the number of ombudsmen for long-term care. She said there are people who are hired through Central Pines Regional Council to go out and help support people in long-term care facilities and know their rights. She said she wants to work on increasing the number of ombudsmen this year. Commissioner Richards announced that there are accommodations for folks with disabilities when voting. Since the last meeting, she said she sat in on the re-entry simulation and encouraged anyone who has not attended before to consider attending in the future. She said everyone she talked to who attended said they learned a lot from the experience. She said the Orange County Partnership for Young Children looking for people to serve on their board and encouraged residents to apply. Commissioner Portie-Ascott also thanked staff and first responders assisting in the Western part of the state. She said she attended the Greene Tract Master Plan Update and Land Use Plan 2050 community engagement session last week at Gravelly Hill last week. She said residents were outspoken which is always a good thing. She said she attended the Efland Volunteer Fire Department Expansion Ribbon Cutting and took a tour and heard about all of their successes and challenges. She said she attended the Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee with the NCACC. She said each steering committee was voting on legislative goals to determine which ones make it to the legislative conference in November. She said her committee had 2 goals on the list. The first was legislation to support authorizing counties to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons on county-owned playgrounds and county-owned park lands and allowing courts to prevent access to firearms for individuals who show signs of being a danger to themselves or others. She said this item moved forward while the second item did not, which was about some recommendations to the North Carolina Task Force on Racial Equity. Commissioner Richards said she also wants to mention she attended the Orange County Employee Appreciation Event on Friday and congratulated Orange County staff that celebrated their work anniversaries. 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations a. Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation The Board approved a proclamation declaring October 2024 as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Orange County. BACKGROUND: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month to commemorate the many contributions people with disabilities make in America's workplaces and economy.