Applicants Needed For Orange County 

Volunteer Boards and Commissions 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board (919) 245-2125

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (April 6, 2023) – One of the ways residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors. 

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. The Chapel Hill Town Council appoints five town residents, the Carrboro Town Council appoints two town residents, and the Orange County Board of Commissioners appoints two Orange County residents. There is one upcoming vacancy for an Orange County resident. 

Governing a critical public utility effectively requires a group of dedicated volunteers with a broad range of knowledge and experiences. The OWASA Board of Directors is unique in that it is in fact a governing Board and, therefore, does not simply advise the elected bodies on issues. The OWASA Board addresses a wide variety of issues including infrastructure investment, employee compensation and benefits, finance and rate setting, customer service and affordability, environmental protection, forestry, public health, and community engagement, among others. Experience in these areas can be helpful, but specific technical experience is not required; the only true qualification needed is a genuine commitment to serve the community. Former Board members have found serving on the Board to be a meaningful and rewarding experience, though this level of community service does require a significant investment of time and energy to prepare for and attend meetings.  

Each appointed member must take an Oath of Office to faithfully discharge the duties of their office, to abide by the constitution and laws of the United States and of North Carolina, and to exercise their best judgment as a member of the Board of Directors.

The OWASA Board meets on the 2^nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in the OWASA Community Room (400 Jones Ferry Rd. in Carrboro).

Board members receive $100 compensation for attendance at each meeting of the board, special meetings, or work sessions.

Please visit https://www.owasa.org/board-of-directors/ for more information on the work of the Board of Directors.

If interested, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County strives for diverse representation on volunteer boards and commissions. Residents of all demographic backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have the opportunity to directly influence local decisions, policies, and priorities.

For additional information contact Tara May at 919-245-2125 or tmay@orangecountync.gov.

###