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Attachment 1 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 BUSINESS MEETING <br /> 5 May 5, 2026 <br /> 6 7:00 p.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 <br /> 9 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 Commissioners <br /> 12 Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> 13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> 14 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 15 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, and <br /> 16 Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> 21 Chair Hamilton requested to amend the agenda by adding a letter to Zoe Tolmie as item 8-1 on the <br /> 22 consent agenda, congratulating her on winning an honorable mention in C-SPAN's 22nd annual student <br /> 23 documentary competition. <br /> 24 Commissioner McKee made a motion to amend the agenda by adding a letter to Zoe Tolmie as <br /> 25 item 8-1 on the consent agenda. Commissioner Carter seconded the motion. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Commissioner Greene made a motion to remove item 84 from the consent agenda so that a <br /> 30 revised version of the Jewish-American Heritage Month Proclamation could be considered. Commissioner <br /> 31 McKee seconded the motion. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Chair Hamilton read the public charge. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 2. Public Comments(Limited to One Hour) <br /> 38 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> 39 Gayanne Chambless thanked the Board for recognizing Principal Jason Johnson and that mental <br /> 40 health is a critical part of well-being. She challenged the community to do more for mental health <br /> 41 awareness and trainings. She described free training opportunities available to the public. She highlighted <br /> 42 that the Orange Partnership Coalition's federal SAMHSA Partnerships for Success (PFS) grant has funded <br /> 43 over$53,000 in training costs over the past two years at no cost to county government, but that the grant <br /> 44 ends in 2027. She asked the board how it would support these efforts going forward. <br /> 45 Sandra Theard described difficulties she is having with a property tax appeal and asked the Board <br /> 46 for assistance. <br /> 47 Laura Horrigan described the need for increased school funding. She made three points:first,that <br /> 48 teachers are superstars who need competitive pay to be retained, as they cannot live on state pay alone; <br />