Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Monday, August 26, 2024, in Regular Session at 7 p.m. Meetings are held in person with a hybrid option, inside the BOCC Chambers, located at 200 E. Main Street on the second floor. 

Closed Session:  At 5:30 p.m. The Board adjourned into Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6). No action was taken. 

Chair Nida Allam called the regular meeting to order. 

All attendees were led by Commissioner Brenda Howerton in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Agenda Adjustments: Commissioners added legislative items to share with NCACC and the following items were unanimously approved: 

*Support legislation to expand the Good Samaritan protection of covered offenses in NCGS §90-96.2(c3) to include all opioid and drug offenses to encourage reporting of drug overdoses and reduce overdose deaths.

*Support legislation that promotes opioid and other substance use prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

*Seek legislation to require that recovery housing operators do not have any barriers or restrictions for residents to use prescribed medications for behavioral or physical health conditions given that medications for substance use and mental health disorders can be lifesaving.

*Seek legislation that requires all recovery housing to be National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) certified to address unethical and illegal practices in recovery housing.

*Seek legislation that requires jail facilities to assess inmates’ substance use status, treat those with opioid use disorder with medications, and provide follow-up treatment and care coordination after release.

*Seek legislation to increase the mandatory school attendance age to 18.

 Announcements: Monica Wallace, Clerk to the Board read the announcements.

1. Virtual RYSE Assessment Center Community Forum on Aug. 27 - We invite all community members to attend a virtual community forum to introduce our new Resources for Youth Success & Empowerment (RYSE) Assessment Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27. These informative and engaging community forums will provide community members with a chance to learn about the new program and its benefits to the Durham County community. Join the session via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/DCoRYSEonline. Questions? Reach out to RYSE@dconc.gov.
2. What’s the 411: Diabetes and Food Labels - In the latest installment of their series, the Durham County Department of Public Health hosts “What’s the 411: Diabetes and Food Labels” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The virtual session is free. Come and learn about how to read food labels, what’s recommended when you have a chronic disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and much more! Contact Yvonne Reza at 919-560-7223 or go online to https://bit.lywhatsthe411Aug24 to register.
3. Sponsorships Available for Durham MED Week - Sponsorship of the 2024 Minority Enterprise Development Week from Durham County and the City of Durham are available now! Sponsorships build excellent visibility for your business in the community at large, and to the many business leaders and decision makers who participate in the week’s events. Sponsoring MED Week is a great way to associate your business with a positive, proactive movement for the celebration of minority entrepreneurship and development of diversity. Deadline for sponsorship registration and payment is Monday, September 1, 2024. Find out more information at https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-f-z/supplier-diversity/med-week#ad-image-0 or download sponsorship packet here: https://www.dconc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/41367/638575030796800000
4. Aging Well Durham Community Meeting-Please join Aging Well Durham on Wednesday, September 25^th from 11 am to 2pm at Duke Memorial UMC located at 504 W. Chapel Hill Street to receive updates on the Durham Aging Plan, enjoy tabletop activities and refreshments. Registration is required for this event. For more information, please call 919- 599-9642.
5. COVID-19 Vaccines Available at DCoDPH - The Durham County Department of Public Health has COVID-19 vaccines available by appointment for all people aged 6 months and older, with or without insurance. The clinic is located at 414 E. Main Street. Appointments are required! No walk-ins. Call 919-560-7658 to schedule. For more information, visit https://dcopublichealth.org/COVIDvaccines.
6. Most DCo Offices Closed for Labor Day - On Monday, September 2, most Durham County Government offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday. All offices will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, September 3. To see impacts on certain services, visit http://www.dconc.gov/.

Minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from August 5, 2024, Work Session and the August 12, 2024, Regular Session.

Ceremonial Items:

1. Proclamation - Leaders in Equitable Economic Development Month - The Board proclaimed August as Leaders in Equitable Economic Development Month. Read the proclamation here. Chief of Staff Shannon Trapp received the proclamation and shared details about efforts about successful MWBE efforts.

Consent Agenda: Commissioners considered the following items. See full agenda for complete details: 

1. Approval of Capital Project Amendment No.24CPA00023 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No.24BCC00093 Appropriating $350K of Debt Service Fund Balance, Transferring $350K of Debt Service Fund Fund Balance to the PAYGO Fund, and Appropriating $350K from the PAYGO Fund to the Durham County Sheriff’s Training Facility Capital Project (4310DC091) for Preconstruction activities; as well as Execution of a Contract for Preconstruction Services in the Amount of $202,003.00 with CT Wilson Construction Co./Rankin III Grading for the Durham County Sheriff’s Training Facility Project
2. Approval of Capital Project Amendment No. 24CPA00022 and Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 24BCC00092 Appropriating $200K of Debt Service Fund Fund Balance to the PAYGO Fund for a New Capital Project: Project Build Renovation at Shoppes of Hope Valley (47302635DC161), as well as Authorize the County Manager to Execute a Contract for Architectural Design Services with RND Architects for the Project Build Renovation at Shoppes of Hope Valley Capital Project
3. Award Contract for Janitorial Services RFP NO. 24-042 to Freddrick’s Housekeeping Services, LLC. for the New Board of Elections Facility in the amount of $78,140.00 for the remainder of the fiscal year, with option to renew at an annual amount of $93,768.00
4. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 25BCC014 to Recognize $75,000 in Grant Funding from the Durham County Alcohol and Beverage Control Board for the Durham Adult Drug Treatment Court
5. Acceptance on behalf of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Federal Aviation Administration Grant Offer 3-37-0056-069-2024 in the amount of $1,016,279.00
6. Removal of Citizen Board Member Due to Poor Attendance
7. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 25BCC015 transferring $270, 264 from the General Government Functional Area to the Human Services Functional Area to Purchase Social Service’s Approved FY 2024-25 Vehicles

Board and Commission Appointments: The Board made appointments to the following board:

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission--John Lawler
• Criminal Justice Advisory Committee-Tonia Dixon
• Dangerous Dog Appeal Board-Elisabeth Harper Wiener and Brian Mulligan
• Environmental Affairs Board- Larry Hall (At-Large) and Shidong “Stone” Yan (Youth Seat)
• Library Board of Trustees-- Ivanhoe Francis and Leah Josephson 

Congratulations to the new board members!

Items Pulled from the Consent Agenda:  none

Closed Session: The Board adjourned into Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) and G. S. 143- 318.11(a)(3). No action was taken 

Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.

Board meetings are cablecast live and rebroadcast on Durham Television Network (DTN) on Spectrum Channel 8. Replays are available on DTN along with AT&T U-verse Channel 99 and Frontier Communications Channel 70. Meetings can also be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel. To view the agendas and recordings of the BOCC’s Regular Session meetings, visit the BOCC’s Website. 

The next hybrid Regular Session is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, inside the Commissioners' Chambers on the second floor at 200 E. Main Street. 

For more information about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board's Office at (919) 560-0025 or email clerk@dconc.gov. 

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