Orange County
3,200 UNC System employees lose their jobs under the budget that currently sits on Governor Perdue's desk.
Backers of the budget cuts argue that at a time where unemployment is at near record levels and the state is facing a 3 billion dollar deficit cuts need to be made. By slashing education and other vital public institutions instead of keeping the current sales tax level, the legislature claims to be protecting economic development in NC. They fail to recognize the fundamental role education plays in economic development.
The Orange County Economic Development Commission still exists, I know this because I am a member of it! Yet the County is functioning as if the board has been disbanded even though it has taken no such action. This is the culmination of a dysfunctional history in Orange County Economic Development. But the part that really bothers me now is a closed session being held tonight by the county commissioners on the topic of economic development without input from citizens, citizens who were appointed by our elected officials to advise them on the diverse set of opinions held by residents of Orange County.
To me this sunsetting of the Orange County Economic Development Commission is a tactic to silence dissent. It's true there are many people on the Orange County Economic Development Commission who did not agree with the former director on policy or plans. It's true that many of our meetings were frustrating. But to subvert democracy when you no longer find it agreeable is wrong. I hope as we consider a new organization to represent us in economic development matters that we remember how the county has acted.
I thought I would pass along some thoughts from our first Initiating Committee for the new Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan. As has been noted on OP before, the Initiating Committee has an important task in insuring that a diverse group of stakeholders attend meetings and that all viewpoints in the town are represented. The committee seems both thoughtful and diverse in our opinions about the town, and on how to attract people into comprehensive plan discussions. The item that sparked the most discussion was how (or even if) citizens who don’t live in Chapel Hill, but because of employment, proximity, or ties to the University, should be involved in the process.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
FOR
June 2, 2011
The
Orange County Board of Commissioners will meet for a Special Meeting
(closed session) on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Link
Government Services Center, 200 South Cameron Street, Hillsborough, N.C.
for the purpose of ““discussing matters related to the location or
expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the
public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic
development incentives that may be offered by the public body in
negotiations,” NCGS § 143-318.11(a)(4).Date:
Thursday, June 2, 2011 - 7:00pm
When the Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted on March 1 against a request by OWASA to amend the Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (WSMPBA) -- and the Chapel Hill Town Council
followed suit on April 25 -- the local water and sewer utility found itself in need of a compromise or a new strategy.
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