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Attachment 3 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 May 20, 2025 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, <br /> 9 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton, <br /> 12 and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> 13 Ascott <br /> 14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> 15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen and Clerk to the Board <br /> 17 Laura Jensen (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below). <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 22 Chair Bedford made a motion to add an IT demonstration on new meeting equipment after <br /> 23 Item 10. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McKee. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Chair Bedford read the public charge and explained the process for making public <br /> 28 comments. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 31 a. Matters not on the Printed Aqenda <br /> 32 None. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 35 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 36 <br /> 37 3. Announcements, Petitions, and Comments by Board Members <br /> 38 Commissioner Carter congratulated all the recent graduates. She said she would focus <br /> 39 her comments on the federal legislative update she received from NACo. She said the US House <br /> 40 is currently negotiating a budget reconciliation bill, which may be passed this week and then <br /> 41 moved to the Senate. She said there are major provisions that affect counties. She said on a <br /> 42 positive, the proposed bill will preserve tax exemption for municipal bondholders thanks to the <br /> 43 advocacy of NACo. She said it also proposes to increase the volume of tax credits for low-income <br /> 44 housing. On the other hand, she said the proposed bill increases Medicaid work requirements <br /> 45 and shifts responsibility for SNAP benefits and administration to local governments. She said it <br /> 46 would also impose new out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid enrollees, which will increase <br /> 47 uncompensated care in county clinics. She encouraged residents to pay attention to what will <br /> 48 happen with SALT, which may help offset some of the changes to property tax revaluations. <br /> 49 Commissioner Greene said she was able to go to the first meeting as a member of the <br /> 50 Climate Council, and it was informative. She said it was all about heat, which is this year's theme. <br /> 51 She said there is a proclamation on the consent agenda for "Heat Awareness Week". She said <br />