07-13-2020 Meeting Minutes BOC
July 13, 2020
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JULY 13, 2020
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
B. Ray Jeffers Heidi York, County Manager
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
Gordon Powell
C. Derrick Sims
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 9:00am in the commissioners’ boardroom in
the Person County Office Building.
Chairman Jeffers called the meeting to order.
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to immediately
relocate the Board meeting from its boardroom to the County Office Building Auditorium.
Following this motion, a brief recess was called at 9:00am for the transition of the meeting
to the auditorium.
In the auditorium at 9:05am, Chairman Jeffers reconvened the meeting.
Commissioner Sims offered an invocation and Commissioner Puryear led the group in the
Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves attended the meeting via
telephone conference.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Clayton requested to add to the agenda, an item for designating a
voting delegate for the NC Association of County Commissioners’ Annual Conference.
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to add to the
agenda, an item for designating a voting delegate for the National Association of Counties
Annual Conference and to approve the agenda as adjusted.
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INFORMAL COMMENTS:
The following individuals appeared before the Board to make informal comments:
Mr. John Seepe of 277 Barefoot Landing Lane, Semora spoke against removing the
Confederate memorials and asked the Board to keep the memorials in place to honor those
who served.
Mr. Charlie Palmer of 114 S. Morgan St., Roxboro provided the group with some
history of monuments and provided a summation of meetings and discussions he had
participated.
Mr. Raymond Winstead of 4271 Semora Rd, Roxboro said the monuments honor
the men who served in war. Mr. Winstead opposed removal and relocation of the
monuments. Mr. Winstead said the monuments were not racial, and did not want the history
taken away by removing them. He wanted the Board to save its history.
Ms. Shaina Outlaw of 314 N. Charles St., Roxboro and Personians Against
Injustices and Racism Secretary stated that the Confederate statues were being guarded as
she attempted to have a conversation, she felt threatened not to touch the statues; she felt the
statues represented hate, prejudice and racism. Ms. Outlaw requested the Board to consider
the benefits to relocate the statues to the Veterans Park.
Ms. April Short of 495 Lester Burch Rd, Roxboro and Personians Against Injustices
and Racism President stated they had over 800 signatures to relocate the statues to the
Veterans Park. Ms. Short said the statues, in front of courthouse, are intimidating to many
citizens.
Mr. Jonathon Chance Sanford of 1254 Pointer St., Roxboro and Personians Against
Injustices and Racism Sergeant at Arms stated the petition has 916 signatures to remove or
relocate the statutes to the Veterans Park; he said they did not serve a purpose in front of the
courthouse.
Ms. Linda Ford of Hillhaven Terrace, Roxboro, and a Daughter of the Confederacy
noted her opposition to removing the Confederate monuments. She told the group that the
monuments were not about race. Ms. Ford said she wanted to ensure the General Statutes
were satisfied.
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DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Approval of Minutes of June 15, 2020,
B. Approval of Minutes of June 22, 2020, and
C. Budget Amendment #1
NEW BUSINESS:
PUBLIC MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS AND STATUTES:
The following documents were provided to the Board for consideration and
discussion:
1) General Statute 100-2.1 Protection of monuments, memorials, and works of art,
2) President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments,
Memorials, and Statutes and Combating Recent Criminal Violence,
3) Letter received from Avie Lester, Sr., President of the Person County Branch
NAACP, and
4) An electronic petition provided from Jonathan Chance Sanford, Spokesman for
P.A.I.R., Personians Against Injustices and Racism
Chairman Jeffers said he had received the petition and letter noted above and
wanted the Board to have proactive discussion to find a fit for the memorials. He said the
Veteran’s Park Council had approved to accept the memorials.
County Attorney, Ron Aycock stated the law was intended for the protection of
monuments, memorials and works of art. He said the law prohibits the removal of such
objects of remembrance located on public property, whether temporarily or permanently,
except under certain circumstances. Mr. Aycock said those circumstances include the need
to protect the object or memorial and the safety of the public. He noted memorials in
Granville and Franklin Counties have been removed. Mr. Aycock further noted the
purpose focuses on protection of the monuments from destruction or damage as well as
public safety. Mr. Aycock pointed out that the Board had heard public concerns as well as
public confrontations on the courthouse grounds related to the Confederate monuments,
and the Board must legally consider these concerns.
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Mr. Aycock said the general statute cited specific limitations on where such a
monument may be relocated. He noted an object of remembrance that is permanently
relocated shall be relocated to a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, availability,
and access that are within the boundaries of the jurisdiction from which it was relocated.
An object of remembrance may not be relocated to a museum, cemetery, or mausoleum
unless it was originally placed at such location. He added the relocation of the Confederate
monuments to the Person County Veterans Park would be compliant with the statute.
A motion was made by Chairman Jeffers to relocate the two Confederate
monuments to the Veterans Park and to fund the cost from the County’s Fund Balance.
County Manager, Heidi York stated two estimates have been obtained to relocate
two Confederate memorials: one local estimate and the other from a Raleigh company both
estimating the relocation costs at $20,000.
A member of Person Veteran’s Council, Ms. Theresa Burch, stated they would
rather see monuments relocated than have a divided community.
A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 3-2 to table
the discussion until non-county funds are presented to be used for the removal costs.
Commissioners Puryear, Sims and Vice Chairman Powell voted in favor of the motion.
Chairman Jeffers and Commissioner Clayton voted in opposition to the motion.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
Health Director, Janet Clayton updated the Board on Person County’s COVID-19.
Since early 2020, the Person County Health Department (PCHD) and community partners
have coordinated preparations and response efforts around COVID-19. On March 16, the
Board of Commissioners issued a Declaration of Emergency. During this time, the
Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Information Center were activated.
The first case of COVID-19 in Person County was confirmed on March 24th. Since
this time, Health Department staff have contacted, interviewed, and monitored all
confirmed cases and their close contacts.
Person County Emergency Management continues to support COVID-19 response
through the coordination of resource requests from local medical providers and other
community partners.
Additionally, PCHD continues to provide community education and support to
local medical providers and partners. Public information is disseminated using the Person
County Response Portal, various social media platforms, and media releases. The Health
Department also provides information through the COVID-19 Information Line.
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Ms. Clayton shared the following informative presentation with the Board:
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County Manager, Heidi York thanked Ms. Clayton and her staff for their efforts
throughout this COVID-19 event.
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APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
Chairman Jeffers presented interested citizen applications for current vacancies
received in response to an ad published in the local newspaper with a deadline to submit
by July 7, 2020.
Board of Adjustment
3-Year Term: 1 positon available
1) Joey T. Whitt requested reappointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to reappoint Joey
T. Whitt to the Board of Adjustment for a 3-year term.
Board of Health
3-Year Term:
1 position for a pharmacist: 1) Ted Michie requested reappointment
1 position for an engineer:
A motion was made by Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to reappoint Ted Michie
to the Board of Health as the pharmacist representative for a 3-year term.
Environmental Issues Advisory Committee
3-Year Term: 1 position for a citizen residing in each of the following townships:
Bushy Fork:
Holloway:
Olive Hill: 1) Sandy Pleasant requested reappointment
Mt. Tirzah:
A motion was made by Commissioner Sims and carried 5-0 to reappoint Sandy
Pleasant as the Olive Hill Township representative on the Environmental Issues Advisory
Committee for a 3-year term.
Voluntary Agriculture District Board
3-Year Term
Mt. Tirzah Township: 1) Hunter Thomas requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to appoint Hunter
Thomas as the Mt. Tirzah Township representative on the Voluntary Agriculture District
Board for a 3-year term.
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DESIGNATION OF A VOTING DELEGATE FOR THE NC ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to designate
Chairman Jeffers as Person County’s voting delegate at the NC Association of County
Commissioners’ Annual Conference.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Jeffers had no report.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York introduced newly hired Library Director, Tina Norris
whose first day of employment with the County was on June 22, 2020.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
There were no reports or comments from Commissioners Powell, Clayton, Puryear
and Sims.
CLOSED SESSION #1
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to enter into Closed
Session at 10:09am per General Statute 143-318.11(a)(6) to consider the qualifications,
competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of
initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer
or employee for the purpose to discuss personnel with the following individuals permitted
to attend: County Manager, Heidi York and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves via
telephone conference. The Closed Session would take place in the Board’s usual meeting
room 215 in the County Office Building.
Chairman Jeffers called for a brief recess at 10:09am to transition the Closed
Session to the Board’s usual meeting room 215.
The Closed Session was called to order at 10:13am.
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A motion was made by Commissioner Sims and carried 5-0 to return to open
session at 10:26am.
It was the consensus of the Board to hold the Board’s upcoming board meetings in
the County Office Building Auditorium to allow for social distancing as well as to
accommodate more attendees at the meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 10:27am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves B. Ray Jeffers
Clerk to the Board Chairman