Agenda 03-05-2026; 8-a - Minutes for February 3, 2026 Business Meeting and February 10, 2026 Work Session

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3 1 out for our community, and wholeheartedly supports the resolution. She also added her thanks to 2 county staff who were involved in caring for the community during the weather-related 3 emergencies. Finally, she shared that since the Board's last meeting, she attended the GoTriangle 4 Special Tax Board meeting, where no increases were approved, and also attended the Triangle 5 West TPO meeting. 6 Commissioner Bedford briefly reported on Durham Tech's Facilities and Finance 7 Subcommittee meeting, noting a clean state audit with only two small findings, which have already 8 been corrected. She noted that the five-year strategic plan is expiring, and the subcommittee will 9 have a retreat next month to work on the new one. She also thanked Asset Management Services 10 staff for ensuring safe access to the building during the icy weather. 11 Commissioner Portie-Ascott echoed thanks to staff who kept the community informed and 12 safe during the icy and snowy weather. She connected Black History Month to current events and 13 said this month is an opportunity for reflection, but also responsibility. She said Black History is a 14 story of people who helped build this country while being denied full access to it, and it is a story 15 of resilience, innovation, and organizing in the face of exclusion. She continued, we are also living 16 in a moment where many of our neighbors are carrying fear across the country, and there is 17 aggressive rhetoric, heightened enforcement, and families being separated. She emphasized that 18 even when those actions are happening somewhere else, fear shows up here. Commissioner 19 Portie-Ascott pointed out the erosion of trust due to this fear and said she believes that trust is 20 the foundation of everything local government is supposed to be. She concluded by stating: "I 21 want to say plainly to anyone in our community who feels unseen, unheard or left behind, that you 22 matter. You are valued, and you deserve dignity, safety, and opportunity. 23 24 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 25 a. Black History Month Proclamation 26 The Board approved a proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month in Orange 27 County. 28 29 BACKGROUND: Black History Month originated from the efforts of Carter G.Woodson and three 30 colleagues, who established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 31 1915. Their mission was to research, preserve, and promote the achievements of Black 32 Americans and people of African descent. Inspired by the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation 33 celebrations in Washington, D.C., the ASNLH introduced the concept of a Negro History Week in 34 1926. 35 36 This celebration was intentionally placed in February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln 37 and Frederick Douglass, two pivotal figures in the fight for freedom and equality. Over time, the 38 event grew in prominence, culminating in 1976 when President Gerald Ford officially expanded 39 the observance to the entire month of February. President Ford called on Americans to "seize the 40 opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area 41 of endeavor throughout our history." Since then, every U.S. president has recognized Black 42 History Month. 43 44 This year's theme is "A Century of Black History Commemorations", which highlights the 100th 45 annual celebration of Black History week/month in the United States. 46 47 Paul Slack, Chief Civil Rights Officer, introduced the following proclamation, and the Board 48 read it in turn: 49 50