Public commenters press commission on child hunger, homelessness and meeting schedule

Two members of the public used the Feb. 13 public comment period to urge the Board of Commissioners to address child hunger and homelessness and to reconsider the county’s meeting schedule to improve participation.

Matt Sinn, who identified his address as 631 Road, Winston‑Salem, told the board that child hunger and homelessness “has only gotten worse” and criticized broader political choices and budget cuts at higher levels of government. Sinn said donors and clergy alone cannot solve the problem and urged policy change: “One thing we need to do is we need to change the rules that allow people to donate food that would otherwise be mandated to go to the trash, and we need to vote for people who really have a true heart for the people who need help the most,” he said.

Marcy West of 331 Carolina Circle urged the board to hold more evening meetings. West said a proposed schedule that would meet only four times a year would limit public participation because several meetings fall during school breaks and holidays; she said at minimum the board should consider one meeting per month in the evenings so constituents can attend in person rather than relying solely on email comments.

County staff did not take immediate action during the public comment period; the county manager continued with the agenda and staff briefings followed. Commissioners did not announce a schedule change at the Feb. 13 meeting, but the board later acknowledged they will discuss meeting dates and circulate packets and briefings in advance of upcoming meetings.

These remarks were delivered during the public session; they represent citizen views and do not reflect actions taken by the board at that meeting.