Orange County Board of Commissioners 
Meeting Summary for September 1, 2020

Due to current public health concerns, the Orange County Board of Commissioners conducted a virtual business meeting on September 1, 2020.  Members of the Board of Commissioners participated in the meeting remotely.    

A replay of the meeting is viewable on the link below -  
http://www.orangecountync.gov/967/Meeting-Videos
 
The agenda included the items below.  The following is a brief summary of the Board actions.  This summary should not be viewed as official minutes.

Meeting Highlights

2.  Public Comment
Multiple individuals spoke on matters not on the printed agenda, primarily on the Research Triangle Logistical Park (RTLP) proposal which will be discussed in a public hearing at the September 15, 2020 Business Meeting. 
 
4.  Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations
 
a. Resolution Honoring and Remembering Donna Baker, Clerk to the Orange County Board of Commissioners
The Board voted to adopt a resolution honoring and remembering Donna Baker, Clerk to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. (Unanimous)

b. Resolution of Recognition for Judicial District 15-B Chief District Court Judge Joseph Moody Buckner Upon His Retirement
The Board voted to approve a resolution recognizing Judicial District 15-B Chief District Court Judge Joseph Moody Buckner upon his retirement. (Unanimous)

c. Proclamation Recognizing the Services and Contributions of Retiring Major David Lewis Caldwell, Jr.
The Board voted to approve a proclamation recognizing Retiring Major David Lewis Caldwell, Jr. for his services to Orange County. (Unanimous)

d. Resolution Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Board voted to approve a resolution celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which occurred on August 6, 1965. (Unanimous)

e. Orange County Preparedness Month Proclamation
The Board voted to approve a proclamation declaring September 2020 as “Orange County Preparedness Month”. (Unanimous)

f. Update on COVID-19 Response and Funding Allocations
The Board received an update on the County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the use of supplemental State and Federal funding.
 
5.  Public Hearings
 
a. NCDOT Public Transportation Division/Public Transportation – 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grant Applications for FY2021
The Board conducted an annual public hearing on the North Carolina Urbanized Area Formula grant application by Orange County Transportation Services (OCTS) for FY2021; voted to approve the grant application (Unanimous) which includes the resolution previously adopted by the Board authorizing the applicant to enter into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and authorized the Chair to sign; and authorized the County Attorney to review and complete the necessary 2021 certifications and assurances when they are received.
 
6.  Regular Agenda
 
a. Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments – Clarification of Setbacks from the West Fork on the Eno Reservoir
The Board received the Planning Board recommendation and prior public comment, and voted to approve the Planning Director initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendments revising/updating existing guidelines associated with the enforcement of reservoir setbacks for structures and septic systems. (Unanimous)

b. Resolution to Adopt Juneteenth as a County Holiday
The Board voted to adopt Juneteenth as a paid holiday for Orange County Government thus providing an opportunity to cherish freedom, but also poignantly acknowledge the history of slavery in the country. (Unanimous)

c. Veterans Memorial Construction Approval
The Board reviewed and voted to approve the certified budget and project design for Phase II of the Veterans Memorial project at the Southern Campus; authorized construction of the project, and authorized the County Manager to sign the construction contract and any amendments/change orders up to the $137,542 budgeted amount; and review and authorized the County Manager to sign the Ownership, Operations and Maintenance Agreement. (Unanimous)

d. Discussion Regarding the Recital of the Pledge of Allegiance at Board of Commissioners’ Meetings
The Board discussed, based on petitions previously presented to the Board, the potential recital of the Pledge of Allegiance at Board of Commissioners’ meetings. The Board voted on a motion to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at four specific Board meetings each year. (Motion Failed 2-5 with Commissioners McKee and Greene voting in the affirmative)
 
8.  Consent Agenda
 
a. Minutes (Approved)
b. Motor Vehicle Property Tax Releases/Refunds (Approved)
c. Property Tax Releases/Refunds (Approved)
d. Applications for Property Tax Exemption/Exclusion (Approved)
e. Tax Collector’s Annual Settlement for Fiscal Year 2019-20 (Approved)
f. Fiscal Year 2020-21 Budget Amendment #1 (Approved)
g. Approval of Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Approved)
h. Approval of Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (Approved)
i. Change in BOCC Meeting Schedule for 2020 (Approved)
j. Performance Agreement Between the Town of Chapel Hill and Visitors Bureau (Approved)

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The most recent Board meeting is replayed on Spectrum digital channel 1301 at noon and 7:00 p.m. daily usually starting the day after the meeting.  Board meetings are also available via streaming video at http://www.orangecountync.gov/967/Meeting-Videos .  Streaming video is usually online by noon the day following the meeting.  The video is indexed to take you directly to your topic of interest. 

The full agenda is posted at http://www.orangecountync.gov/1707/BOCC-Agendas typically by Friday noon prior to a Tuesday night meeting.   To receive an email notice of the agenda availability, go to the following webpage, http://www.orangecountync.gov/1561/Electronic-Newsletters  , type in your email address, check “Sunshine” and click on submit. 

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