Board of Commissioners Meeting
January 12, 2026 · Wake, NC
Attendees
✓
Don Mial
(Chair)
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Safiyah Jackson
(Vice-Chair)
✓
Vickie Adamson
(Commissioner)
✓
Susan Evans
(Commissioner)
✓
Shinica Thomas
(Commissioner)
✓
Cheryl Stallings
(Commissioner)
✓
Tara Waters
(Commissioner)
✓
David Ellis
(County Manager)
✓
Roger Askew
(County Attorney)
✓
Emily Lucas
(Deputy County Manager)
✓
Ashley Jacobs
(Deputy County Manager)
✓
Duane Holder
(Deputy County Manager)
✓
Ben Canada
(Chief of Staff)
✓
Michael James
(Assistant County Manager)
✓
Yvonne Gilyard
(Clerk to the Board)
✓
Toni Womack
(Deputy Clerk to the Board)
✓
Jason Horton
(Strategic Initiatives Director)
✓
Portia Johnson
(Senior Executive Assistant)
✓
Tanika Cooper
(Senior Executive Assistant)
✓
Dara Demi
(Chief Communications Officer)
✓
Stephanie Mintz
(Communications Consultant)
✓
Michelle Venditto
(Director of Budget & Management Services)
✓
Sheriff Rowe
(Sheriff)
✓
Frank Cope
(Director of Community Services)
✓
Mark Forestieri
(Director of Facilities, Design & Construction)
✓
David Rutherford
(Deputy Director of Facilities Design & Construction)
✓
Dr. Jennifer Federico
(Animal Services Director)
✓
Matt Roylance
(Deputy Director of Community Services)
✓
Ann Burlingame
(Library Assistant Director)
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Antonia Pedroza
(Director of Social Services)
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Jenny Coats
(Community Services Administrative Director)
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Sean Womack
(Chief Human Resources Officer)
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Philip Isley
(Lobbyist)
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Perry Safran
(Centennial Authority)
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Patrick McHugh
(FD&C Sr. Facility Project Manager)
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Rhonda Zak
(RND Architects)
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Heather Lewis
(Animal Arts)
✓ Present: 37/37
Agenda Items
Public Comments
7 speakers
Vice-Chair Jackson
· Topic: SNAP benefits
Asked about recent developments regarding SNAP benefits.
Commissioner Stallings
· Topic: Medicaid rebates
Asked about Medicaid rebates and their impact on the county budget.
Commissioner Thomas
· Topic: Property taxes
Discussed the issue of property taxes and their impact on the county budget.
Commissioner Adamson
· Topic: Library bond projects
Thanked the presenter for the update on library bond projects and asked about the $26M allocation.
Commissioner Waters
· Topic: Animal center design
Expressed appreciation for the level of detail and thoughtfulness in the animal center design.
Commissioner Adamson
· Topic: Partnerships with private vets
Asked about potential partnerships with private veterinarians and the impact on the animal center.
Commissioner Evans
· Topic: Location of the animal center
Expressed concern about the location of the animal center and suggested considering a more central location.