Ken Larsen's website:  BOCC commissioners staunchly defend DOLRT at its February 5, 2019 meeting

 

At the February 5, 2019 meeting of the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC), Penny Rich (Chair) and Mark Marcoplos continued their staunch support of DOLRT (Durham-Orange Light Rail project) and GoTriangle.  There was debate about "open meetings" that was triggered by a petition that was submitted at the January 22nd meeting by Chapel Hill resident John Morris.  He questioned the transparency of GoTriangle.

 

Here are the pertinent speeches:

 

#	Speech (click on to view)	Summary	Ken's comments
1	John Morris (January 22nd)	John petitions BOCC to improve the transparency of GoTriangle. [text of speech]	The January 10th GoTriangle meeting that John tried to attend was attended by BOCC Commissioners Penny Rich and Mark Marcoplos.
2	David Kiel	Expresses worry that DOLRT will negatively impact funding for schools, transportation, and other projects.
3	Bonnie Hauser	Finds flaws with GoTriangle's "Light Rail Guidebook".
4	Commissioner Earl McKee
5	Commissioner Mark Marcoplos
6	Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford
7	Commissioner Penny Rich (Chair)	BOCC does not have legal authority to direct GoTriangle to open up their meetings to the public.
8	Commissioner Earl McKee
9	Commissioner Mark Marcoplos	Accuses DOLRT opponents of using this "open meetings issue" as a tactic to slow down DOLRT. [excerpt]	Disgusting.  Mark Marcoplos was sworn in as a Orange County Commissioner on December 5, 2016.  5 hours and 11 minutes after being sworn in, he cast a vote in support of DOLRT.  It has become a financial quagmire that will serve few people.  That December 5, 2016 meeting motivated me to write this opinion piece.
10	Commissioner Earl McKee
11	Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford
12	Commissioner Mark Dorosin
13	Commissioner Renee Price
14	Commissioner Mark Marpopolos
15	Commissioner Penny Rich (Chair)	Shuts off further conversation on open meetings.

 

Ken Larsen's assessment of DOLRT