Durham, N.C. – The Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met virtually at 7 p.m. on August 24, 2020. The virtual option aligns with social distancing requirements to ensure the safety of citizens who wish to participate as well as Board members and Durham County staff. Highlights from this meeting includes:
- Chair Wendy Jacobs called the August 24 Regular Session to order.
- In Ceremonial Items, the Board recognized the Main Library project team and the Library County Library system for receiving the 2020 AIA (American Institute of Architects) Triangle North Carolina Honor Award and the 2020 AIA Triangle North Carolina Isosceles Award.
- A summary of the Consent Agenda follows:
- The Board accepted the property tax releases and refunds report for June and July 2020 as presented and authorized Tax Assessor Dwane Brinson to adjust the tax records as outlined by the report.
- The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to recognize funds in the amount of $80,038 from the N C Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Chronic Disease & Injury/Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch and establish one grant funded FTE.
- Durham County Commissioners appropriated $1,490,000 of Public-School Building Capital Fund Lottery Funds for the Glenn Elementary Roof Replacement Project.
- Commissioners approved a Capital Project Amendment Increasing the Administration Building Refurbishment Project by $4,171, 279 and making other updates to ongoing projects.
- Durham County Commissioners approved the exchange of a 92 square foot portion of a County owned parcel at 509 E. Umstead Street for approximately 600 square feet of the parcel at 509 Simmons Street.
- Commissioners authorized the County Manager to enter into a service contract of $66,625.00 with Belfor USA Group, Inc to provide disinfecting and sanitation services to the Durham County Courthouse and other facilities as needed.
- The Board held a public hearing and voted to allocate $500,000 in Economic Development funds to Beam Therapeutics and authorize the Manager to enter preliminary negotiations and execute an agreement with the Company. Beam Therapeutics, an innovative cell and gene therapy manufacturer, will locate their new facility in Durham County RTP, creating 201 jobs and investing $83 million.
- Rod Jenkins Public Health Director presented the Board of Commissioners with a comprehensive update regarding the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact in Durham County. He noted that the numbers of new cases in Durham County are slowly leveling.
- Durham County Commissioners received a 2020 Census status report and encouraged the members of the community who have not yet done so, to complete their Census forms before the September 30th deadline. At stake are billions of federal dollars for programs including food stamps, school lunches, medical services, roads, schools and much more Durham County’s response rate is 58.7% currently. The NC rate is 60.2% and the US response rate is 64%. Help others fill out the Census!
- The Board approved a Budget Ordinance Amendment to appropriate $470,250 of General Fund COVID Reserve and Contract Approval for Home Delivered Meals for Food Insecure Families during the COVID Crisis from Local Durham Restaurants.
- The Board received an update on the Board of Elections (BOE) readiness for the November 3, 2020 General Elections. Elections Board Chair Phil Lehman assured the Commissioners that all steps are being taken to allow for safe voting in this season, Elections Director Derek Bowens noted that the BOE has been planning for election activities since early 2018 and training and hiring of new staff is proceeding on schedule. Both encouraged to the community members to vote early at the 14 sites that will be available.
- The Board received a proposal for Durham Hope Learning Centers and voted to approve $405,600 thousand dollars which provides support for 338 seats in various partner locations.
- The Board received an update on the Community Health Ambassador Program proposal recommended by the Durham Recovery and Renewal Task Force (RRTF) and approved a request for $318,244. The City of Durham is being asked for the same amount to support the program.
- Appointments were made to the following boards and commissions:
- Criminal Justice Advisory Committee—Dawn Baxton, Melinda Thompson-King
- Durham County Women’s Commission—Patrice High
- Homeless Services Advisory Committee—Renee Vaughn
- Library Board of Trustees ---Mrinmay Biswas, Kate Kaefer, Camilla Meek, and Luis Olivieri-Robert
The Board adjourned the regular meeting shortly before 11 p.m. and went into closed session to consult on a matter related to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 10, 2020. To view the agenda and recording of the BOCC Regular Session Meeting, visit the BOCC’s website. For more information about BOCC meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board's Office at 919-560-0025 or email mtoomer@dconc.gov.
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