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12 <br /> 1 Vice-Chair Fowler thanked staff for their work. She said she hoped that the public would <br /> 2 hear that staff aren't just there to take people away, but to help connect families to services. She <br /> 3 asked what the biggest barriers are for ensuring children and adults with disabilities are safe in <br /> 4 and out of the home. <br /> 5 Crystal Wiese said it's often access to resources and having health insurance. She said <br /> 6 there isn't a lot of funding for adult protective services, and adults who serve as guardians don't <br /> 7 have resources to assist in caring for those they have responsibility for. <br /> 8 Brittany Mann said housing is a challenge for Child Protective Services. She said some <br /> 9 children are non-verbal, and getting information on their needs can be difficult. <br /> 10 Commissioner McKee asked how a person is monitored and supervised that may not have <br /> 11 the cognitive ability to understand their need for protection. <br /> 12 Crystal Wiese said there's a spectrum of options available depending on the needs of the <br /> 13 adult. <br /> 14 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if Child Protective Services is always able to respond <br /> 15 within the time guidelines and if vacancies impact that response time. <br /> 16 Brittany Mann said vacancies are not allowed to impact the response time. She said they <br /> 17 begin investigating issues as soon as possible to meet the guidelines. She said if a case is <br /> 18 initiated in another county, it can affect the response time. <br /> 19 Chair Hamilton asked who is on the multidisciplinary team for adult protective services in <br /> 20 Orange County. <br /> 21 Crystal Wiese said they started theirAdult Protection MDT in 2025. She listed the partners <br /> 22 that participate in the MDT. She said they've recently discussed focusing on financial exploitation <br /> 23 for older adults. She said they would like to move forward with a new type of multidisciplinary <br /> 24 team called a statutory case MDT and will ask the commissioners to approve this in the future. <br /> 25 Commissioner Bedford asked Crystal Wiese to explain how children in protective services <br /> 26 receiving care at UNC hospital are monitored by DSS. <br /> 27 Crystal Wiese said other counties can request a courtesy assist to check on children who <br /> 28 are in Orange County. She said that they check on a lot of children at UNC hospital since it has <br /> 29 the state children's hospital. She said they can also request courtesy assists for Orange County <br /> 30 children who are in other counties. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 5. Public Hearings <br /> 33 None. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 6. Regular Agenda <br /> 36 a. Appointment of Tax Administrator to Serve as Acting Tax Collector and Acting Tax <br /> 37 Assessor <br /> 38 The Board approved a resolution appointing John Burgiss as Orange County Tax Administrator, <br /> 39 effective April 1, 2026, to serve as Acting Tax Assessor and Acting Tax Collector until such time a <br /> 40 permanent Tax Administrator is hired to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Freeman which ends April <br /> 41 1, 2027. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 BACKGROUND: By Resolution 2023-018, adopted March 7, 2023 (Item 8-e), the Board of <br /> 44 County Commissioners reappointed Nancy Freeman as Tax Assessor and Tax Collector, serving <br /> 45 under the title of Tax Administrator, for a four-year term from April 2, 2023 through April 2, 2027. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Ms. Freeman has announced her retirement effective April 1, 2026. Pursuant to the North Carolina <br /> 48 General Statutes (NCGS), the Board is responsible for appointing a qualified individual to fill the <br /> 49 unexpired portion of the term. The position of Tax Administrator is a consolidated role combining <br /> 50 the statutory duties of County Assessor (NCGS 105-294), and Tax Collector (NCGS 105-349). <br /> 51 <br />