county commissioners meeting
...retired Professor of Geology at Duke University. She received an AB degree from University of South Carolina. Mary D. Jacobs Commissioner Mary D. Jacobs was elected to the Board of Commissioners in November 2002. She is a former Durham City Council member and served from 1997 until 2001. While a member of City Council, she chaired the Public Works and Procedures Committees. She spent 23 years with the Durham County Cooperative Service and served as Extension Director for 8 years before retiring in 1997. She was formerly employed as project coordinator by the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and currently serves as a consultant for the organization's Faith and Health Initiative Project. Interim County Manager: Wendell Davis Main Agenda Items: Proclamation for “NAACP Freedom Fund Day” The Durham Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosts the “Freedom Fund Banquet” yearly. Each year the Branch recognizes community pioneers that have made unique and significant contributions to the community. Two well known ministers in Durham are being recognized, Dr. Joseph S. Harvard III and Dr. Percy High. County Managers Recommendation: The County Manger recommended that the proclamation be approved. Outcome: The proclamation could not be approved because Commissioner Bowser was not present at the time the agenda item was discussed. Speakers: Commissioner Reckhow Commissioner Jacobs One person from the public Oratorical Skills/Expertise/Leadership/Relationship: Commissioner Jacobs seems to be the only board member interested in the proclamation. As Com. Jacobs praises both ministers, explaining why she feels this proclamation is a wonderful idea and admits that Dr. Joseph S. Harvard III has been her pastor for 25 years, her colleagues sit idle uninterested in the subject matter. She asks for a resolution for the two honorees, only to be brushed of by Com. Reckhow. Com. Reckhow replies by saying “we’ll look into it’ and jumps to the next agenda item. Com. Jacobs tried to persuade the board on the proclamation, but did not grasp their attention to well and did not speak up when the chairman brushed of her suggestion. Jacobs was the only member that seemed to be informed on the subject matter, probably because she is one the Durham branch of the NAACP. Update on the North Carolina Senior Care, Medicare Prescription Benefits, and senior PHARMAssist Senior PHARMAssist, a local nonprofit agency, works to improve the quality of life for older adults in Durham by helping them obtain and better manage their medications. The executive director Gina Upchurch, is interested in promoting an upcoming state-wide effort, to get more seniors to sign up for prescription benefits. She also discussed Medicare prescription benefits, NC senior Care along with PHARMAssist. County Managers Recommendation: The County Manger recommends that the Board receive the presentation. Outcome : The Commissioners were very pleased with the presentation. They all seemed concerned for how the director was going to reach out to the seniors across the state. Speakers: Commissioner Reckhow Commissioner Heron Commissioner Jacobs Oratorical Skills/Expertise/Leadership/Relationship: Commissioner Heron takes the led in this discussion, she seems highly interested in how the director of PHARMAssist is going to reach the senior citizens in the rural areas of Durham. Com. Heron makes suggestion of a few people the director should get in contact with because they have contacts all over the state and they could help her get the word out about the program. The PHARMAssist program life span is only going to last another fifteen months, Com. Heron was concerned with what will the seniors do in 2006. Commissioner Reckhow praised the executive director for how well put together her presentation was. She also made a point to let everyone know how she helped ms. Upchurch get her presentation on tonight’s agenda. Commissioner Jacobs only concern is how is the program going to help seniors become less confused about medical options available to them. Consent Agenda Item “c” Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 05BCC000014-Sheriff’s Office-2004 GREAT Grant for Gang Resistance Education (appropriation of funds not to exceed $43,695, the amount of the grant award). Two people from the Public were concerned with how the money was being appropriated. They saw that $6,000 was being spent on travel expenses and $30,000 on supplies. These citizens feel that their should be a more detailed information on how the funds are disbursed. They also want to know what the programs mission is and who i...