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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-29-2001 Budget Session . . . 72 MINUTES HILLS BOROUGH TOWN BOARD March 29, 2001 7:30 p.m., Town Office Complex The Hillsborough Town Board met in budget session on Monday, March 29th at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Office Complex for the purpose of meeting with agencies requesting contributions from the Town. Present for the Board Meeting were Mayor Johnson, Commissioners Brian Lowen, Mark Sheridan, Evelyn Lloyd, and Frances Dancy. Absent: Commissioner Kenneth Chavious. Staff present was Town Clerk Donna Armbrister. Others present were Reverend Sharon Freeland, Kathy Alberter, Margaret Barrett, Brendan Moylan, Terry Allred, Frances Henderson, Linda Foxworth, Christine Westfall, Hudson Fuller, Jenn Barr, Pam Fone, and Jason Hawkins. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. I. REQUESTS FROM NON-PROFIT AGENCIES OCIM (Orange Congregations In Mission) Reverend Sharon Freeland appeared before the Board representing OCIM. Reverend Freeland explained that by ministering to the poor in Hillsborough, the Samaritan Relief Ministry is providing the Town with actual resources to avoid hunger and the lack of basic qualities of life such as shelter, running water, electricity and clothing. This ministry makes available to churches and public agencies an immediate solution to problems that directly impact individuals as well as the community as a whole. For the residents of Hills borough facing hunger, evictions, utility shut-off and other crisis situations, the Samaritan Relief Ministry provides groceries and financial assistance. OCIM is requesting a contribution of$3,500 from the Town of Hills borough. Orange County Literacy Council Kathy Alberter appeared before the Board representing the Orange County Literacy Council. Ms. Alberter explained that the purpose of the Orange County Literacy Council is to increase overall adult literacy levels in Orange County. The mission of the Orange county Literacy Council is to achieve 100% literacy in Orange County. Census figures indicate that almost 15% of the adults in our community read at a fifth-grade level or below; another 18% have significant literacy needs in order to meet goals including obtaining a job that pays a living- wage and helping their children succeed in school. The Literacy Council provides free literacy instruction to adults, ranging 1 . .~. 73' . from non-readers to learners working on their GED, to help them improve their literacy-related skills in order to meet their employment, community, family, and life goals. In 1999-2000, Literacy Council volunteers, including 20 Hillsborough residents, served a record 76 Hillsborough residents (some residents were served by more than one program). They tutored 31 Hillsborough adult learners through their 1 on 1 tutoring program. Seven Hillsborough residents participated in the weekly Learning Games class at the Orange County Public Library. The Orange County Learning Center is requesting a contribution of $850 from the Town of Hills borough. Orange County Rape Crisis Center Margaret Barrett and Brendan Moylan appeared before the Board representing the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. Ms. Barrett explained that the Rape Crisis Center dedicates itself to ending sexual violence by providing educational services to promote the awareness and prevention of sexual violence and by supporting its victims. . Ms. Barrett reported that the Center offers programs such as Support Groups, Crisis Intervention, Educational Services, and a Web Page. The Center offers support groups for survivors of sexual violence. In recent years, groups have been held for adolescent survivors in the high schools, for secondary survivors of sexual assault, for adult survivors of child sexual abuse or incest, and for adult survivors of rape or sexual assault. The Center offers an on-going support group for non-offending parents of children who have been sexually abused. Experienced volunteers undergo 12 hours of Support Group Facilitation training before being paired with another volunteer to co-facilitate a group. An experienced counselor or therapist serves as a professional advisor to the co-facilitators. Groups typically meet once a week for 8-10 weeks. The Orange County Rape Crisis Center is requesting a contribution of$5,000 from the Town of Hillsborough. The Women's Center Terry Allred, Executive Director of the Women's Center addressed the Board stating that the mission of The Women's Center is to provide a supportive community where women of all races, classes, religions, ages, and sexual orientations: . 2 74 . inspire each other to grow, both personally and professionally; share strategies for self-sufficiency; build problem solving skills; and find encouragement, information, and referral, particularly in times of stress. . . . . Residents of Hills borough use many ofthe services of The Women's Center, including legal information, information and referral, career/educational counseling, and community financial counseling. Ms. Allred estimated that approximately 5% of the Women's Center clients reside in Hillsborough. The Women's Center is requesting a contribution of$I,267. Dispute Settlement Center Frances Henderson, Executive Director, appeared before the Board explaining that the Dispute Settlement Center provides free and low cost mediation services to residents of Hillsborough. The Center provides mediation services for disputes involving consumer issues, property damages, simple assaults, communicating threats, harassment, landlord- tenant, and many other alimony, child support, and parenting on a sliding scale fee basis. . For the coming year, the Dispute Settlement Center has plans to increase their involvement in the Orange County school system, through providing at the request of school faculty peer mediation, conflict resolution, anger management, and anti-bullying trainings. The Dispute Settlement Center is requesting a contribution of $2,500. KidSCope Linda Foxworth, KidSCope Program Coordinator, appeared before the Board and reported that KidSCope is the only public mental health resource available to Orange County preschoolers, their families and their teachers when a parent or teacher has a concern about the social emotional, or behavioral well being of a child. Each year they serve approximately 100 Orange County children, providing a continuum of services that address the full spectrum of need: from children experiencing temporary difficulty due to changes in their lives, to children who have been traumatized by abuse, neglect or other severe life stressors. KidSCope is a prevention program because they work with children and families at the first sign of an adult's concern to prevent what could be a temporary problem from becoming a long-term problem. KidSCope is also an early intervention program in that staff provide consulting and therapy to address existing child problems and improve adult-child relationships. '. 3 75 KidSCope is requesting a contribution of$500. . Orange Community Housing Corporation Christine Westfall appeared before the Board representing the Orange Community Housing Corporation. . Ms. Westfall stated that Orange Community Housing remains committed to building quality, affordable housing in this area. She noted issues on their workplan of this year as: . . Breaking ground on thirty-two condominium units within the Meadowmont development in the fall of2001 . Continuing to lease and manage 18 rental units for families participating in the County's T ANF Housing Program. This program provides very low- income families with subsidized housing, while at the same time offering self-sufficiency assistance. . Collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to build one home in the land trust on Crest Street. They are also working with Habitat and Empowerment, Inc. on two other homes on Dillard Street. . Continue to teach ten home buyer classes per year. . The newly formed land trust will include 19 homes at the start of the fiscal year, and may have over 50 homes by the end of2002. . Continue to own and manage three units at Old Well on behalf ofOPC Mental Health Agency. . Offer condominiums for sale at below-market prices at Providence Glen. The Orange Community Housing Corporation is requesting a contribution in the amount of$2,500 from the Town of Hillsborough. Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County Hudson Fuller, lenn Barr, and Pam Fone representing the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County appeared before the Town Board stating that the mission of the FVPC is to prevent and end family violence through community education and provision of direct services including emergency assistance, case management and court advocacy. FVPC was incorporated in 2000 to :fill the gap left by the departure of the Orange-Durham Coalition for Battered Women (now Arise). The Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County is requesting a contribution in the amount of$2,000. Orange EMS and Rescue Squad .> 4 . .' .., 76 Jason Hawkins appeared before the Board explaining that the Orange County Rescue Squad is a non-profit organization that provides heavy rescue services 24 hours a day, and also provides the primary County EMS provider with personnel certified at all emergency medical technician levels at night and on week ends. Mr. Hawkins informed the Board that heavy rescue services are challenging, and at time dangerous. The protective equipment they are required to use is quite expensive. Mr. Hawkins explained that Orange EMS and the Rescue Squad merged in 1999, thus combining the volunteer rescue divisions that cover Hillsborough and Orange County. The rescue division relies solely upon donations only and does not receive monies from taxes, or fees from service responses. Currently the rescue base in both Hillsborough, and Carrboro houses rescue vehicles, which are utilized frequently inside the town of Hillsborough. Orange EMS and Rescue Squad is requesting a contribution of$7,000. Mayor Johnson called an end to the agency's funding requests. II. ADJOURN Upon a motion by Commissioner Dancy, seconded by Commissioner Sheridan, the Board moved to adjourn at 9:30 PM by a vote of 4-0. The motion was declared passed. ~~ Respectfully submitted, Donna F, Armbrister, Town Clerk 5