06-07-2022 Meeting Minutes BOC
June 7, 2022
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 7, 2022
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Gordon Powell Heidi York, County Manager
C. Derrick Sims Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
Charlie Palmer
Patricia Gentry
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
recessed session on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 2:00pm in the commissioners’ boardroom in
the Person County Office Building for the purpose of a budget work session.
Chairman Powell called the recessed meeting to order.
County Manager, Heidi York to led the group in the budget work session items of
discussion. Ms. York stated when she had her one-on-one discussions with the
commissioners, the following items were raised for discussion: Personnel positions,
Person Industries, and the EMS budget.
Commissioner Gentry arrived at 2:02pm.
Personnel Positions and EMS Budget Needs:
Ms. York provided the Board with a handout listing her recommended personnel
positions in FY2023 budget noting there were 13 brand new full-time positions, noting
there were five full-time positions not recommended and one full-time position removed.
The Board discussed personnel positions, in particular, the Public Information
Officer position requesting a copy of the job description. In addition, Carlton Paylor, Dept.
of Social Services’ Director helped the Board to understand his need for a Deputy Director
and the Income Maintenance Investigator I position. Ms. York explained the benchmark
standard for Human Resources (HR) to have one staff member per 100 employees noting
the Director, Assistant Director and Generalist needed an Administrative Assistant I in
their department; Ms. York said the Risk Management Coordinator worked toward safety
protocols for all county departments and was not a part of the HR related duties.
Emergency Management Director, Thomas Schwalenberg described the current staffing
issues noting the need for paramedics with an ever-increasing call volume and long
response times in the northern part of the county with a national shortage of applicants
combined with a wage war making it difficult for Person County to recruit, train and retain
staff. Ms. York stated the EMS trend continues for $1M per year in over-time costs. Mr.
Schwalenberg said Person County currently has the third lowest pay scale in the region.
Ms. York stated the budget included a compensation study noting it would take nine
months to implement. Alternatively, she suggested the option to set aside funds to adjust
salaries July 1, 2022.
June 7, 2022
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Commissioner Puryear suggested and all commissioners consented to designate
$180,000 from the County’s Fund Balance to a designated Contingency EMS salary line
for adjustment of salaries; all 13 recommended personnel positions remained in the budget
without changes.
Person Industries:
Person Industries (PI) Director, Amanda Everett was available to answer questions.
Commissioner Gentry asked for an update on the merger. Ms. Everett stated the architect
drawings will be finalized by the end of the year for the PI Main and the Person County
Recycling Center to be merged into one facility. In addition, Ms. Everett stated with the
City of Roxboro’s increased recycling, the mini MRF (Material Recovery Facility) will see
increased tonnage. Ms. York stated the Board would see the full presentation of the plan
this summer noting the PI Main location savings annual in rent would be $13K once the
merger was complete.
Handicap Accessibility Improvements at the Kirby Theatre:
Commissioner Puryear requested for the Board to discuss the requested handicap
accessibility projects at the Kirby Theatre. Ms. York said staff were proposing to complete
the handicap accessibility projects with its ARP funds noting this project would fit the
criteria as a one-time expense. She said this was a priority project to add a ramp and
elevator access to the Kirby Theatre. John Hill, Director of Arts, Parks, & Recreation stated
the estimates were coming in less than projected noting the costs were projected at
$60,000. Ms. York said the ARP funding projects were scheduled to come before the
Board this summer following the adoption of the fiscal year budget. The commissioners
felt strongly to get the project underway and thereby consented to add this project to its
upcoming budget with the understanding their intent for staff to use ARP funds to
reimburse the General Fund.
Adjustments to the Recommended Budget:
Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Ms. York explained the two adjustment to
the Recommended Budget:
1) An oversight error related to two part-time Health Department salary budget in
the amount of $16,051, and
2) Add six-month of funds for contracted service for the Interim County Manager
in the amount of $54,600
The adjustment to the Recommended Budget were totaled at $310,651 to be added
to the Budget using the County’s Fund Balance appropriation.
June 7, 2022
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Discussion ensued about the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) proposed by the
City and the County its upcoming budgets. Ms. York said all departments are struggling
and the COLA recommended in the upcoming budget would give each employee a 4%
increase effective July 1, 2022. She noted the City of Roxboro did propose a 5% COLA
for its employees.
Commissioner Gentry noted a typo on page 34 to be corrected (DENIOR should be
SENIOR).
Ms. York asked the Board if there was a need for another budget work session, as
scheduled for June 9, 2022 at 10:00am to which the Board consented another work session
was not warranted. Chairman Powell announced the budget work session previously
scheduled for June 9, 2022 would be cancelled, as it was not needed.
It was the consensus of the Board for staff to prepare a Budget Ordinance for the
Board to consideration for adoption at its June 20, 2022 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 3:17pm.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Gordon Powell
Clerk to the Board Chairman