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APPROVED 6!612002 <br />MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />February 5, 2002 <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on February 5, 2002 at 7:30 <br />p.m. at the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Barry Jacobs and Commissioners Margaret W. <br />Brown, Alice M. Gordon and Stephen Halkiotis <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Moses Carey, Jr. <br />COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill and S. Sean Borhanian <br />COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod <br />Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe {All other staff members will be identified appropriately <br />below) <br />NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT <br />AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. <br />1. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA <br />A closed session was added to the agenda, "to consult with an attorney retained by the Board in <br />order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the Board," pursuant to G.S. <br />143-318.11(a)(3} in the case of Orange County versus the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. <br />PUBLIC CHARGE <br />Chair Jacobs dispensed with the reading of the public charge. <br />2. CITIZEN & AUDIENCE COMMENTS <br />a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda -NONE <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters were considered as the Board addressed <br />the items on the agenda below.) <br />3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the Triangle Transit Authority {TTA) is moving forward with phase I <br />of the Regional Rail System. They are also in negotiations with the railroads, especially the North <br />Carolina Railroad. Regarding the Triangle J Council of Governments, Thomas Moore of Johnston <br />County is Chair and Frances Dancey is Treasurer and the gloomy state budget picture is causing some <br />concern. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she attended the County Commissioners' Association meeting <br />regarding mental health reform legislation. This is a mega-event that is going to take place in the next <br />few years with the transformation of the mental health system. It will be a challenge because the <br />responsibility will be on local governments with little or no funding in some cases. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to an invitation from Vermeer Carolinas, heavy equipment <br />specialists, expressing a willingness to bring in a tub grinder and show it off in Orange County. This <br />would be a wonderful opportunity to have a demonstration during the agricultural summit. If this cannot <br />happen, a demo project could be done at an agricultural site. He feels this is a good alternative to <br />burning. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a grant proposal submitted by Nick Waters, EMS <br />Director which looks at the issue of Counties along the interstate corridor responding appropriately or <br />adequately to a number of possible catastrophic events (terrorism, etc.}. The grant has been submitted <br />