Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> APPROVED 6/20/23 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> May 2, 2023 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 2, <br /> 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Earl McKee, <br /> and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Jean Hamilton, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna <br /> Richards <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager <br /> Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> Chair Bedford dispensed with reading the public charge. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> There was no one signed up to speak. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she is finishing up her meetings with all county <br /> department heads and touring county buildings. Since the last meeting, she said she met with the <br /> Tax Department, Finance, Social Services, the Health Department, Animal Services, and the <br /> Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau. She said the Visitor's Bureau staff shared that they <br /> have contributed to raising their revenue by 40% and bringing in over 2.5 million visitors to Orange <br /> County in the last year. She said she attended a community conversation on drug trends in <br /> Orange County hosted by the Orange Partnership for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth and the <br /> Orange County Sheriff's Office. She said drugs are showing up across the county in the form of <br /> gummies, vapes, and drinks that resemble other soft drinks. She said there were several <br /> community members at the meeting who requested more community conversations on this topic. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said the Schools Safety Task Force met on April 27t"and received <br /> information on the legal issues regarding school safety with the County Attorney and UNC Law <br /> Professor Papandrea who talked about the first amendment in education. She said it was very <br /> helpful to understand what can be done legally. She said there is also an upcoming meeting of <br />