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DRAFT <br />a <br />November 18, 2008 <br />Dr. Holden Thorp, Chancellor <br />University of North Carolina <br />103 South Building <br />Chapel Hill, NC 27599 <br />Dear Holden: <br />As you are aware, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) had <br />serious reservations about the manner in which the University procured from the General <br />Assembly the power to create an independent airport authority, as well as regarding the <br />powers and board composition embodied in this entity charged with establishing a new <br />facility to replace Horace Williams Airport. We retain concerns related to the process by <br />which members of this authority would be appointed, and the expectations placed upon <br />representatives serving on behalf of the residents of Orange County. <br />We appreciated your letter of October 5, 2008, which indicated Kevin FitzGerald will <br />work with our staff to "provide for informational briefings related to the needs, processes <br />and anticipated impact of a new airport." As of this date the only information provided <br />our staff is the promise to receive in December from the UNC Board of Governors an <br />official Letter of Intent to establish the authority. We also understand the Board of <br />Governors will appoint its representatives to the authority in early January and expects us <br />to make our appointments by the end of January. The General Assembly appointments <br />cannot be made until the General Assembly is in session. Presently, both the House and <br />Senate are scheduled to convene for the 2009 Session on January 28, 2009. According to <br />Mr. FitzGerald's conversations with a member of our staff, there are no predetermined <br />criteria for selecting representatives to serve as members of this authority. <br />Before we proceed to solicit applicants, and to choose the Orange County representatives <br />for the board of the airport authority, we seek clarification on a number of key points: <br />1. Scope of Work: Who will determine the scope of work of the airport authority? <br />Is this authority envisioned to primarily support the mission of the University of <br />North Carolina or the mission of the UNC Health Care System? These appear to <br />be overlapping, but far from identical. What are those missions in relation to an <br />airport? Does adherence to that mission, or those missions, dictate a certain <br />proximity to the University proper, as has previously and repeatedly been <br />indicated, or do you anticipate considering all areas of Orange County? <br />