04-15-2019 Meeting Minutes BOC
April 15, 2019
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 15, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
David B. Newell, Sr. Heidi York, County Manager
Gordon Powell C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, April 15, 2019 at 9:00am in the Person County Office Building
Auditorium.
Chairman Newell called the meeting to order. Commissioner Powell offered an
invocation and Commissioner Puryear led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the
agenda.
INFORMAL COMMENTS:
There were no comments from the public.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda with the following items:
A. Approval of Minutes of April 1, 2019,
B. Budget Amendment #17, and
C. Tax Adjustments for April 2019
a. Tax Releases
b. NC Vehicle Tax System pending refunds
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NEW BUSINESS:
RESULTS OF THE PERSON COUNTY EMPLOYEE SALARY COMPRESSION
STUDY:
County Manager, Heidi York and Human Resources Director, Angie Warren
reminded the Board that at its retreat, the Manager was authorized to bring back a study of
employee salary compression. The County contracted with Piedmont Triad Regional
Council, working with Mr. David Hill and Mr. Bob Carter, Management Analysts, to
conduct a Workforce Analysis using a current workforce census report for Person County
employees. This report presents their analysis and interpretation of the County’s employee
demographics as well as the position classification and pay plan. The data is for regular
full-time employees only and does not include part-time or temporary employees.
While Person County has a relatively mature workforce based on the 9.3 average
years of employment with the County; the workforce analysis actually supports that Person
County has a relatively immature workforce because one-quarter 25.8% of employees have
been employed less than two years and 44.2% have been employed less than five years.
15.9% of employees have been assigned to their current position less than one year and
63.8% less than five years.
With the average tenure, a County employee with 8 or more years’ experience in
their current classification and performing their duties with demonstrated proficiencies and
competencies, would be expected to be earning between 30% - 32% above the hiring rate
of their salary grade. Person County’s average percentage above salary grade hiring rate
is 12.4%, placing the average salary approximately 20% below the midpoint for their
classification.
These percentages suggest a relatively stagnant workforce with employee salaries
starting at the Hiring Rate of their salary grade range, advancing 5% (to the minimum of
the grade) after the successful completion of their probationary period, and then provide
little opportunity for advancement toward the midpoint of their salary grade range. The
data also supports consideration of collapsing the salary range from the current 63.16%
(average) to approximately 52% - 55% range. The County is facing some challenges noting
the current turnover rate is 18.5% and costly to the organization. The implementation of
the recommendations of this study could address the salary compression issue for
employees, which has not been addressed to date.
Mr. Hill shared the following presentation to provide a graphic representation of
Person County’s workforce regarding Grade/Salary Assignment, Employment Date, as
well as other workforce analysis.
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Mr. Hill stated that he and staff were looking at alternative methodologies for a
model that could fit Person County and less expensive than the $1.3M or $977K that were
presented.
When asked about the recent MAPS Study and Springstead Study, Ms. York
explained those two addressed market competitiveness and not compression issues. Ms.
York noted that the both of the above referenced market studies were implemented over a
three-year period to spread out the associated costs.
Ms. York asked the Board to provide input to the Manager as she prepares for the
Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget.
ADOPTION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS
2020-2024:
County Manager, Heidi York and Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg presented
the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2020-2024 to the Board for adoption
as the Recommended 5-year Capital Improvement Plan was presented to the Board at its
last meeting on April 1, 2019.
Ms. York stated the adoption of this CIP will allocate funding for the priority
projects for the County, Person County Schools, and Piedmont Community College for
Fiscal Year 2019-2020. The document also sets the priorities of the projects for future
fiscal years, although funding is appropriated on an annual basis, at the same time the plan
is reviewed. The total amount proposed for Fiscal Year 2020 is just over $6.37M, with no
proposed financings.
Vice Chairman Jeffers addressed the STEM facility in the CIP at an estimated
$32M asking why should the Board fund the feasibility study in the upcoming budget if
there was a chance that the County would not be able to proceed with the project due to the
costs. Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate added that the feasibility study would identify
the needs as well as look at what PCC has available to lay out the options for the Board’s
consideration. Ms. York referred the Board to an email that Dr. Senegal sent along, as she
was not available to attend the Board meeting to address questions.
Commissioner Powell stated he thought it was a valid request for advancing
economic development.
A motion was made by Commissioner Powell and carried 4-1 to approve the
Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, as presented. Vice Chairman
Jeffers cast the lone dissenting vote.
The following grid outlines the CIP as recommended and approved by the Board:
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REMOVAL OF ABANDONED BUILDING AT 109 OXFORD RD:
Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate stated Person County has an Abandoned
Structure Ordinance based on North Carolina General Statute153A-366. She introduced
Inspections Director, Dale Tillman to present to the Board a request to appropriate funds
from the County’s undesignated contingency for the ultimate removal of an abandoned
building located at 109 Oxford Road.
Mr. Tillman stated for all other similar instances, the Building Inspections
Department has been able to manage the issue by working with the property owner to
improve the site conditions. However, the property owner of 109 Oxford Road (Old
Roxboro Body Shop) has not responded to multiple requests to improve the site.
Mr. Tillman requested funds to pay for a title of opinion and asbestos testing,
estimated to cost $1,200.00 noting the results of these tests will determine the cost of
demolition, which are unknown at this time.
Staff confirmed that the cost of the title of opinion, asbestos testing and removal
will be passed on to the property owner via a lien. The lien will be collected via the property
tax bill.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the
request to fund $1,200 from undesignated contingency to pay for a title of opinion and
asbestos testing of 109 Oxford Rd, as presented.
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APPOINTMENT TO INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND POLLUTION CONTROL
FINANCING AUTHORITY AND THE PERSON AREA TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM ADVISORY BOARD:
The Person County Board of Commissioners solicits volunteers through
advertisement in the local newspaper as well as posted on the county web site to fill
positions that are vacant on boards, commissions, authorities, and committees. Clerk to the
Board, Brenda Reaves presented citizen applications for consideration of appointment:
Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority
6-Year Term: 3 positions available
1) Kenneth Perry requested appointment
Person Area Transportation System Advisory Board
3-Year Term; 1 position for the Rural Planning Organization Director or designee:
1) Diane Cox requested appointment
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers and carried 5-0 to appoint Kenneth
Perry to the Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority for a 6-year
term, and to appoint Diane Cox to the Person Area Transportation System Advisory Board
for a 3-year term to represent the Rural Planning Organization.
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STRATEGIC PLAN WORK SESSION #3:
Assistant County Manager, Sybil Tate facilitated group discussion and input from
the Board related to creating a Strategic Plan focusing on the Board’s goals for the next
five years. Ms. Tate noted the Tax Administrator would share information related to
implementing a school tax and she requested the Board to further discuss Quality of Life
strategies.
Tax Administrator, Russell Jones led group discussion related to a voted
supplemental tax (additional property tax, dedicated to public schools) noting information
from a presentation by Rebecca Troutman, former NC Association of County
Commissioners and Kara Millonzi, UNC School of Government. He noted the School
board may petition county board to hold a referendum on levying an additional property
tax, the revenue from which to be dedicated to public schools; if voters approve special
tax, local school board may recommend additional tax rate each year (up to maximum rate
approved by voters). Mr. Jones further noted that the County board decides each year
whether or not to levy the special tax and at what rate (up to maximum rate requested by
school board) and that the County board has no control over expenditure of special tax
proceeds by school board (but referendum may specify use of funds). In addition, the
County board may consider amount of special tax proceeds as it makes its other
appropriations to School board.
It was the consensus of the group that a supplemental tax dedicated for public
schools was not the intended strategy, however, the Board agreed to include information
on the flyer mailed to citizens with the tax bills reflecting school county expenditures
excluding state funding, lottery funds and funding from Articles.
Ms. Tate asked for feedback from the Board on the other strategies noting Ms.
Sherry Wilborn, Interim Economic Development Director and the Economic Development
Commission were meeting on April 23, 2019 to further discuss the regional workforce
development subcommittee and the industrial site inventory strategy updates.
It was the consensus of the Board for the items that could be requested in the budget
to be taken off the Strategic Plan, i.e., 1) workforce development feasibility study to be
placed in the economic development budget, 2) Phase I ESA on county-owned land
adjacent to Airport, and 3) contribution annually to the water/sewer fund.
The Board was interested in conducting a YMCA feasibility study, researching
afterschool program providers for primary and middle school ages that compliment
existing services, funding ISO rating improvement studies for the VFDs as well as review
options for a litter collection program.
Related to the litter collection program, the Board was interested in the rules
associated with using inmates as well as coordinating with the Environmental Issues
Advisory Committee events by the county, city and other entities for litter sweep programs.
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The adjusted Strategic Plan following the Work Session #3 is as follows:
FY2020-FY2024 Strategic Plan
Mission: To create opportunities for families and businesses to prosper and compete in a
global economy.
Objectives
1. Improve school facilities
2. Implement a K-14 workforce development program
3. Support Economic Development’s strategic plan
4. Implement quality of life programs
Strategies
1. Improve school facilities
a. Hire debt consultant to develop plan for funding school infrastructure-
FY20, $35,000
b. Implement deferred maintenance projects each year- FY20-FY24, $31M
c. Include school expenditures on the tax flier- FY20, $0
2. Implement a K-14 workforce development program
a. Implement workforce development feasibility study- FY20, $25,000
b. Implement PCC’s STEM facility feasibility study - FY20, $54,000
3. Support Economic Development’s strategic plan
a. Implement economic development opportunities and target sectors
analysis- FY20, $23,000
b. Address industrial development and transportation in the new land use
plan- FY20, $125K
4. Implement quality of life programs
a. Conduct a YMCA feasibility study in partnership with the Danville
YMCA – FY20, $30K
b. Research afterschool program providers- FY20, $0
i. Provide an afterschool program- FY21, $150,000/year
c. Fund ISO rating improvement studies for VFD’s-FY20, $40k ($5K each)
i. Implement ISO rating improvements for VFD’s- FY21, $?
d. Research options for implementing a litter collection program- FY20, $0
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Newell had no report.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York had no report.
COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Vice Chairman Jeffers commented the Litter Sweep clean up roads dates as follows:
Traditionally scheduled for the last two weeks of April and September, Litter
Sweep is the N.C. Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) biannual statewide roadside
litter removal initiative in which residents throughout North Carolina participate in local
efforts to help clean up North Carolina's roadways. In addition to volunteers, NCDOT
maintenance crews devote one week of their time during Litter Sweep to pick up litter and
collect orange bags placed on the roadsides by volunteer pickups. Volunteers are provided
cleanup supplies, such as reversible orange/blue trash bags, gloves, and orange safety vests
from their respective local NCDOT County Maintenance Yard office.
There were no reports from Commissioners Powell, Clayton and Puryear.
Chairman Newell called for a brief recess at 10:56am.The meeting was reconvened
at 11:04am.
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CLOSED SESSION #1
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to enter Closed
Session at 11:04am per General Statute 143-318.11(a) (5) to establish, or to instruct the
public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf
of the public body in negotiating the price and other material terms of a contract with the
following individuals permitted to attend: County Manager, Heidi York, Clerk to the
Board, Brenda Reaves, County Attorney, Ron Aycock, and Assistant County Manager,
Sybil Tate.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to return to open
session at 11:37am.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 11:38am.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves David B. Newell, Sr.
Clerk to the Board Chairman