Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> WHEREAS, the Board has been in consultation with its Human Relations <br /> Commission on the definition and development of a Social Justice Goal to include a vision <br /> of a society that is equitable, whose members are physically and psychologically safe and <br /> secure, and where the marginalized, disenfranchised and oppressed are included in <br /> developing solutions to the issues that concern them; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Board charged Olver, Inc., with advice and assistance from <br /> County management, to propose a schedule of special (and public) meetings that marry <br /> aggressive timelines for deliberations and decision-making on siting criteria and site <br /> options, along with comprehensive outreach and notification, information/feedback <br /> sessions, and special presentations within and among impacted individuals, <br /> neighborhoods and the community at large; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Board on February 5, 2008 amended its regular meeting schedule <br /> to incorporate additional dates consistent with the philosophy of public education and <br /> engagement, and providing that such meetings be televised, with the understanding that <br /> further meeting dates will be added and advertised widely as the siting process proceeds; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that the vision of Social Justice can only be <br /> developed synergistically, as both process and goal; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners has set forth these actions and this statement as strong indicators of the <br /> Board's desire to ensure a fair, open, and fundamentally sound siting process for a <br /> transfer station; <br /> AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board invites and encourages local <br /> media, municipalities, civic organizations, and residents from everywhere in Orange <br /> County to engage and participate fully in this siting process as all are equal stewards for <br /> the environment of Orange County; <br /> AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board will reserve for public comment <br /> the last fifteen (15) minutes of each of the meetings that are part of the Board's schedule <br /> of meetings which meetings are committed to identifying and evaluating alternative sites <br /> for locating a solid waste transfer station. This Resolution takes effect immediately. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the Board of County Commissioners continues to be <br /> in consultation with the attorney, and what the County Commissioners are <br /> hearing from the public is resonating and has for a long time. He said that the <br /> Board of County Commissioners was the entity that initiated the social justice <br /> goal and not the Human Relations Commission. He said that the County <br /> Commissioners represent the interests of Orange County, which includes any <br /> kind of legal vulnerabilities based on what is said. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said that when these meetings were added it was <br /> so the public could be invited for participation and education. The meetings have <br /> been scheduled to begin at 5:30, and in order for the County Commissioners to <br /> maximize the amount of business that can get done, it is incumbent upon all to <br />