DRAFT
EXCERPT OF SUMMARY MINUTES OF A BUDGET PUBLIC FORUM
OF THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006, AT 7:00 P.M.
Ms. Cutson stated she had three legislative requests:
A request for legislation prohibiting eminent domain for economic gain. She said the Town should pass a local ordinance prohibiting this action.
A request to strengthen animal cruelty laws.
A legislative request banning universities that receive any State funding and any of its employees from engaging in bio-defense research, especially in populated areas, due to the high risks to the public.
Ms. Cutson said that research labs working on bio-defense and vaccinations handle some of the deadliest pathogens known to man, such as SARS, anthrax, plague, Ebola, and smallpox that are being genetically reconstructed to new unseen forms.
Ms. Cutson quoted from a report on UNC’s track record on biohazards, noting that the report stated that UNC’s Institutional Biological Safety Committee needed to “actively monitor and manage biological risks on campus, and demonstrate institutional control. Failure to do so risks public health, adverse publicity and additional scrutiny by external agencies.” She stated that according to the report, 60-100 hazardous spills occur at UNC each year, yet UNC does not fully comply with OSHA standards. Ms. Cutson said that UNC researchers and staff routinely ship laboratory samples and other regulated materials, yet few of those shipments fully complied with complex DOT, FAA, and IATA rules for transport of hazardous materials.
Ms. Cutson said that Duke University and UNC were not part of a consortium that had been awarded funding for bio-defense work and plan to begin this fall. She said at the least this put the public at risk, and public discussion was warranted.
Regarding animal cruelty laws, Ms. Cutson remarked that although our State had joined with the vast majority of other states in making some forms of animal cruelty a felony offense, the punishment for abusers in our State was the weakest of all save for Mississippi. She said there was a small group of citizens working to prepare a document with suggested changes to the laws to send to the General Assembly. Ms. Cutson suggested that the Council review the specific materials at [email protected]. She also stated she would email each Council member with more information.
Ms. Cutson said regarding her request for legislation prohibiting eminent domain for economic gain, she suggested that the Town adopt a local ordinance prohibiting this action. She said many towns across the nation were doing this, because it was being used primarily against small businesses, and lower and middle class neighborhoods and people.
Whitney Kahn, Youth Director for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA, noted that for the past 12 years the Town had provided funding for their Outreach programs through Community Development funds. She said that funding had provided activities for children from two low-income neighborhoods, Pine Knolls and South Estes Drive. Ms. Kahn stated that all of Outreach participants were integrated into the existing after-school programs at the YMCA, and that tutors were provided to increase success among the Outreach children.
Ms. Kahn said these children also were provided the opportunity to participate in specialty activities, such as cheerleading, cooking, drama, art, basketball, soccer, and other clinics throughout each month. She said they made every effort to surround these children with positive role models, children from other schools, and activities to enrich their lives in a positive manner.
Ms. Kahn said the YMCA and its Board of Directors were dedicated to addressing community needs through its Outreach programs. She said with the Town’s continued support, these programs would continue to be a positive influence and would continue to build strong children, strong families, and strong communities.