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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 March 17, 2026 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 17, <br /> 9 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, 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: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> 17 Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> 18 appropriately below) <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 1. Additions or 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 Agenda <br /> 27 Makeda Ma'at read the following statement: <br /> 28 "1 would like to respectfully raise serious concerns about the treatment of residents by several <br /> 29 county departments and the management company at the Landings at Winmore. These issues <br /> 30 impact vulnerable people who depend on these services for basic needs, housing stability and <br /> 31 fair treatment. In the Department of Social Services, residents have encountered hostility, <br /> 32 unprofessional attitudes, lack of compassion, and frequent denial of benefits without adequate <br /> 33 explanation. The Orange County Housing Authority staff, some of them have shown similar, <br /> 34 unprofessional conduct, pure attitudes, and apparent bias in handling of resident affairs or <br /> 35 inquiries. The Human Relations Commission staff has removed a participant from the meeting on <br /> 36 February 24th, silencing an important voice on rights and inclusion issues. The county's eviction <br /> 37 diversion program has provided no meaningful assistance in some cases despite its goal of <br /> 38 preventing unnecessary evictions and helping to resolve landlord tenant disputes. In my own <br /> 39 situation, for example, for years my bank has mailed my rental check two to three weeks early. <br /> 40 Yet, the management company at the Landings at Winmore sometimes claim they never get it <br /> 41 and issue a late notice anyway. This is a known mail delivery delay affecting residents in our <br /> 42 complex and the broader issue of the LISPS service. The management office at the Lands has <br /> 43 created a toxic environment overall with unprofessional interactions that make resolving even <br /> 44 basic issues feel hostile and unproductive. These patterns point to systematic problems. I urge <br /> 45 you the board to conduct or independent reviews of these departments and the programs. I've <br /> 46 already been to one meeting, and I was trying to go to the other one to the board. Strengthening <br /> 47 oversight complaint processes, accountability and outreach for housing related services ensure <br /> 48 that fair housing laws are actively enforced, including better support for tenants facing unfair <br /> 49 landlord practices or disputes no matter who the landlord is, even if it's Community Home Trust, <br /> 50 they have to be held accountable. It's not fair to the residents. Many residents feel unheard and <br /> 51 unsupported by systems designed to help them addressing these issues would better align." <br />