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1 <br /> APPROVED 516125 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> March 18, 2025 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 18, <br /> 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton <br /> and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Interim Deputy County Manager <br /> Caitlin Fenhagen, 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 /> None. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> None. <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 Fowler said the Board of Health held a retreat during which they discussed <br /> the Board of Health strategic plan. She said they did a tour of the school that was for African <br /> Americans in the 1950s and then reviewed the legislative agenda. She said they are hoping to <br /> promote screen-free week in May, and they will send the information to the BOCC. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott attended the Partnership to End Homelessness meeting and <br /> they have reviewed the data of performance over the last year. She said that the goal is that <br /> someone who is unhoused and comes to them would not be unhoused for more than 90 days. <br /> She said once they are in permanent housing, only 11% become homeless again. She said she <br /> attended the Housing Matters event focused on housing affordability. She said that there is a <br /> shortage of 9,555 units in Orange County and this includes substandard and new units needed. <br /> She said in 5 years, Orange County will need 13,000 units and this does not include subsidized <br /> housing. She said she attended the evaluating the manager class with some other commissioners <br /> and the county manager. She said it was very interesting and they shared tools they can use to <br /> make it specific to Orange County. She said she attended the tax and finance steering committee <br /> meeting with the NC commissioners, and they discussed changed that will have an impact on the <br /> counties. She said she also attended the legislative breakfast. <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton said she attended the legislative breakfast the previous day. She said <br /> that Representative Buansi and that Representative Price shared the bills they are working on <br /> and took time to listen to the Orange County requests. She said there was not a quorum, so there <br />