Agenda 07-08-2025; 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 last year was the hottest year on record, and the county is working on a multijurisdictional plan to 2 mitigate, adapt, and respond to extreme heat. She said there will be cooling centers open during 3 the summer, and there is a heat task force being formed to help create the Heat Action Plan. She 4 asked anyone interested in serving on the task force to contact the Clerk's Office. Additionally, 5 she shared that Brian Smith is the new GoTriangle President and CEO. She shared some 6 information about his background and qualifications. 7 Vice-Chair Hamilton acknowledged that we are all living in uncertain times. She said she 8 attended a meeting today of the Advisory Council on Aging, and there were discussions about 9 cuts to programs that impact seniors, cutting ombudsman funding, cutting Senior Health 10 Insurance Information program, and possible cuts to Adult Protective Services. She said these 11 important programs that protect some of the most vulnerable residents may be impacted. She 12 said this weekend she attended celebrations of people who have advocated for civil rights and 13 social justice in the community, which is important to recognize during this time. She said the 14 students who shared their work about Pauli Murray were inspiring. She said the words of those 15 students are on the county website. She shared the title of one of the award winners, "United We 16 Stand: How Equality, Mutuality, and Reciprocity Create True Community". She encouraged 17 everyone to think about what true community is and to feel heartened that young people are 18 paying attention and care. 19 Chair Bedford said she had a meeting with Justice United today and others about the 20 appraisal tools and the fairness of the updated revaluation data. She petitioned the Board to 21 create a subcommittee to work on the County Manager's Evaluation, which would include the 22 Manager, HR Director, Commissioners Hamilton, Portie-Ascott, and Fowler. She also petitioned 23 the creation of a Board Self-Evaluation subcommittee to have Commissioners Carter, McKee, 24 and herself. 25 Commissioner Fowler said, related to the bill Commissioner Carter mentioned, it also 26 looks like home and community supports will take a hit which will impact people with disabilities 27 in the community. She said she attended the Healthy Carolinians meeting on the 14th. She said 28 they discussed behavioral health, access to care, and community resources, particularly language 29 access. She said she also attended the Master Aging Plan (MAP) meeting on the 16th where they 30 discussed what has been accomplished for Year 3 highlights and started planning for Year 4 31 activities as well as the next MAP. She said she participated in the Housing subcommittee which 32 touched on Housing repairs and other topics. On the 17th, she said she attended the NAACP 151 33 Annual Freedom Brunch with Vice-Chair Hamilton and Commissioner Carter. She said Al 34 McShirley, Bill Maurice, Ellie Kannard, and Lydia Lavelle were honored for their work on civil rights 35 issues. She said the event featured speaker Gene Nichol who was very impactful. She said she 36 also attended the Pauli Murray awards on the 18th, which honored Vicki Feaster-Fornville, Diana 37 Fornville, and EmPOWERment. She echoed Vice-Chair Hamilton's comments about the inspiring 38 work created by students. She reiterated that May is Mental Health Month and encouraged 39 everyone to find moments for self-care. 40 Commissioner Portie-Ascott congratulated Jason Johnson, Principal of Orange High 41 School, who was just named North Carolina's 2025 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year. She said 42 under his leadership, Orange High has exceeded growth expectations and improved outcomes 43 across all racial groups. She said she is honored to be selected for the 511 cohort for the Hunt 44 Institute's State Policy Fellows Program, which educates local elected leaders on education policy 45 and the challenges facing schools across North Carolina. She said the first of three sessions 46 occurred this past Sunday and Monday and focused on Early Childhood Education and the 47 importance of programs like Head Start. She said it was mentioned that NC loses $5.6 billion in 48 economic activity due to a lack of access to childcare. She said this number was echoed in the 49 Research Triangle Regional Partnership State of the Region address that she and Vice-Chair 50 Hamilton attended. She said even when childcare is available, a lot of families cannot access it 51 because of the cost. She said a principal in Guilford County stated that even though there are