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Attachment 2 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 January 20, 2026 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, January <br /> 9 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jean Hamilton, Vice-Chair Amy Fowler, and <br /> 12 Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, 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 Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.All commissioners were present. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 22 There were no changes to the agenda. <br /> 23 Chair Hamilton read the public charge. <br /> 24 <br /> 25 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> 26 a. Matters not on the Printed Aqenda <br /> 27 Carol Conway expressed concerns about oversight for the Department of Social Services. <br /> 28 She said that if there is a case that is not about discrimination and is bungled, there is no recourse. <br /> 29 She said that disability is mentioned in the strategic plan, but not in the outcomes. She had three <br /> 30 recommendations: 1) fund an independent ombudsman, 2) agency-wide training on facts about <br /> 31 intellectual and developmental disabilities, and 3)hire more disabled workers in the county system <br /> 32 and consider how volunteers with more severe disabilities can contribute to the county with <br /> 33 supervision. <br /> 34 Gary Linz expressed concerns about procedures at land records at the Register of Deeds <br /> 35 and clerical errors that resulted in his property being transferred to another individual without his <br /> 36 knowledge or consent. He said that he has not been given satisfactory answers from the County <br /> 37 Manager and that the Sheriff does not appear to be interested in investigating any crimes related <br /> 38 to these errors. He said he wants answers to his questions and will continue to speak at <br /> 39 commissioners' meetings. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> 42 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 43 <br /> 44 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> 45 Commissioner McKee said that at the retreat the Board heard disturbing news about the <br /> 46 possible budget shortfalls and encouraged the community to pay attention. <br /> 47 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she attended multiple NAACP events in relation to the <br /> 48 observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. She said she attended the NCACC General <br /> 49 Government Steering Committee, where they focused on the lack of affordable housing in North <br /> 50 Carolina. She said the NC Housing Coalition presented housing strategies that work across North <br /> 51 Carolina. She said they are fighting to remove eviction filings on a tenant's record even after <br />