Agenda 12-09-2025; 8-a - Minutes for November 6, 2025 Business Meeting and November 11, 2025 Work Session

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2 1 of all festival spending benefited Orange County businesses, revitalizing nearly $100,000 back 2 into the local economy. 3 Erik Valera, Vice-Chair of the Orange County Arts Alliance, highlighted the UPROAR 4 festival's role in connecting the community amid public political division, economic strain, and 5 global uncertainty, claiming it offered necessary connection and joy, especially after recovering 6 from Tropical Storm Chantal, which impacted the Eno Arts Mill and halted fundraising efforts. 7 Despite these challenges, with aid from the county, towns, and community, the festival was a 8 success, supporting businesses, uplifting artists, and bringing statewide recognition to Orange 9 County. 10 11 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 12 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 13 14 15 3. Announcements, Petitions, and Comments by Board Members 16 Commissioner McKee attended the NAACP banquet a few weeks ago. He said the 17 keynote speaker read a poem that reminded him of what every board member, but also every 18 community member, is obligated to do. He read the poem "The Cold Within" by James Patrick 19 Kinney. He said that when situations are happening like there are now at the federal level (40 20 days into the government shutdown, people going without, and travel falling apart) it makes him 21 think that the folks sitting in Washington should have to do the same things the Cardinals do when 22 they elect a new pope. He suggested that Washington officials should stay in the Capitol until they 23 reach a solution, as they would reach an agreement a lot quicker. 24 Commissioner Greene reported on the brief GoTriangle meeting on October 22nd that 25 discussed potentially holding a future board meeting on a bus. She was a panelist at the Neighbor- 26 to-Neighbor panel on October 28th about the impact of House Bill 1, titled "Who's Picking Your 27 Pocket?" She shared that Commissioner Portie-Ascott moderated the panel. The panel 28 conversation pivoted to what can be done about the SNAP shutdown, and in keeping with 29 Commissioner McKee's reading, she acknowledged that a lot of responsibility has fallen to the 30 Board and community to keep neighbors healthy and safe, and well-fed.After the panel, she and 31 other Commissioners attended State School Superintendent Mo Green's presentation of his 32 strategic plan at Chapel Hill High School. 33 Vice-Chair Hamilton expressed regret for missing the Piedmont Food Open House on 34 October 23rd due to illness. She said she also attended Mo Green's regional tour, who shared an 35 ambitious strategic plan to improve and create educational excellence for our North Carolina 36 public schools. She emphasized the critical nature of SNAP benefits, noting they are one of the 37 most efficient ways of investing in the well-being and productivity of residents and should not be 38 looked at as charity. She stressed that children who are hungry cannot perform well in school, 39 and adults who are hungry are unlikely to be productive at work or home. She also acknowledged 40 that SNAP benefits support farmers and businesses in the food industry. She called on federal 41 leaders to find a way to fund SNAP benefits and thanked those supporting neighbors in need, 42 providing the Orange County Department of Social Services contact number (919-245-2800) for 43 immediate food assistance. 44 Chair Bedford announced upcoming Veterans Day events on Tuesday, November 11th, 45 including a breakfast at 8:30 AM at the Passmore Center in Hillsborough and a ceremony at 11:00 46 AM at the Veterans Memorial. She noted that veterans constitute a large percentage of SNAP 47 benefit recipients and mentioned Project Green Light, which involves the display of green lights