BOC Minutes June 2 2014
June 2, 2014
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 2, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney
B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Frances P. Blalock
David Newell, Sr.
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
regular session on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the Person County Office
Building Auditorium.
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order, led invocation and asked Vice
Chairman Jeffers to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
A motion was made by Commissioner Newell and carried 5-0 to remove the
Closed Session from the agenda.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to add an item to
the agenda for an appointment to the OPC Board.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the
agenda as adjusted.
PUBLIC HEARING:
FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 RECOMMENDED BUDGET:
Chairman Clayton announced to the group that individuals signed up to speak
during the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget Public Hearing would have
three minutes each to address the Board.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to open the duly
advertised public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget.
The following individual appeared before the Board to speak in favor of the Fiscal
Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget:
Mr. Kenneth Rickman of 3936 Allensville Road, Roxboro supported the Fiscal
Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget and the 2% increase slated for the 450 teachers in
Person County. Mr. Rickman requested Board consideration to give the Sheriff whatever
he requests to have the necessary tools to ensure the safety of the citizens of the county.
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The following individuals appeared before the Board to speak in opposition to the
Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget:
Mr. Dan Holloman, of 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro and Superintendent of
Person County Schools reiterated the Board of Education’s budget request for current
expenses reflected an increase of $818,744 which included a 2% supplement for all
school employees. Mr. Holloman noted since that time the district received its proposed
state allotment by the Senate for next year’s budget which reflected a $450,000 reduction
through teacher assistants, transportation, school nurses and central office.
Ms. Bridget Burton of 21 Carter Lane, Roxboro and a Kindergarten teacher at
Stories Creek Elementary School spoke to the value of the role and great need for teacher
assistants in the classroom.
Dr. Walter Bartlett of 1715 College Drive, Roxboro and Piedmont Community
College President thanked the Board for the support of the college and asked
consideration to assist further with campus security funding.
Mr. Charles Timberlake of 235 Dick Holeman Road, Timberlake and Chief of the
Timberlake Volunteer Fire Department requested Board consideration for an alternate
means to fund volunteer fire departments such as imposing a fire or service district tax
explaining expenses at volunteer fire departments are exceeding revenues making it hard
to continue to operate. Mr. Timberlake asked the County Manager to obtain the property
values for each fire department’s district for such.
Mr. Leigh Woodall of 200 Reade Drive, Roxboro requested the Board to report
on the benefits derived from the reorganization of the Economic Development
Commission in 2012 noting the vital need for jobs in the private sector.
Mr. Derrick Sims of 2409 Flatwoods Road, Timberlake and Chairman for the
Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce requested county funding for the Chamber’s single
largest fundraiser, the Personality Festival, scheduled to be held August 22-23, 2014.
Judge Mark Galloway of 221 Crestwood Drive, Roxboro made a request for drug
treatment court funding in the amount of $10,000 citing statistic data that 75% of the
program’s graduates do not return to the court system within five years.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to close the public
hearing for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Recommended Budget.
Chairman Clayton announced a brief recess at 7:26 pm. Chairman Clayton
reconvened the meeting at 7:30 pm.
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INFORMAL COMMENTS:
The following individual appeared before the Board to make informal comments:
Mr. Kenneth Rickman of 3936 Allensville Road, Roxboro addressed the Board on
two issues. The first issue related to an email he stated he sent to Commissioner Puryear
without response. The second issue involved a request for the Board of Commissioners
to submit a letter to NC State Superintendent, June Atkinsons’ office asking why no one
was chosen from Person County to serve on the Department of Public Instruction’s
established Governor’s Teacher Network. Mr. Rickman encouraged state representative
candidates, Ray Jeffers and Larry Yarborough to follow-up on this request as well.
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 May 8, 2014
B. CDBG Monthly Reporting for the month of May 2014
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
REORGANIZATION OF THE PERSON COUNTY ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: A RESOLUTION REORGANIZING THE
PERSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO
INCREASE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATION:
County Attorney, Ron Aycock stated this agenda item confirms, ratifies and
formalizes the action taken by the Board of Commissioners at its May 19, 2014 meeting
which reorganized the Person County Economic Development Commission. Mr. Aycock
stated the resolution maintains the number of the Economic Development Commission
members at nine, provides that the Chair of the Board of Commissioners and Mayor of
Roxboro and president of the Piedmont Community College serve ex-officio with the
right to vote as well as provides representation from business organizations and members
of the public to be appointed by Person County (3) and the City of Roxboro (1). Mr.
Aycock further stated the resolution also provides that the County Manager, City
Manager and Dean for Corporate and Occupational Training at Piedmont Community
Center shall be permitted to participate fully in the activities of the Commission as non-
board members with no right to vote. Mr. Aycock explained the term ex-officio means
by virtue of office held.
Chairman Clayton provided an amendment to the resolution (a handout was
placed at each commissioner’s seat) that would authorize the County Manager to vote in
absence of the Chair of the Person County Board of Commissioners, and the City
Manager would be authorized to vote in the absence of the Mayor of Roxboro.
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Commissioner Puryear asked the County Attorney the effects of such action
related to the non-profit, Person County Business Industrial Center (PCBIC). Mr.
Aycock reminded the group the elected officers of the Economic Development
Commission serve in the dual role as officers for PCBIC over which the Board of
Commissioners has no direct oversight. Mr. Aycock noted the Board of Commissioners
is responsible as the appointing authority which has been the case since the initial
creation of the Economic Development Commission in 1981. Mr. Aycock stated
statutory requirements of annual reporting to the County by the non-profit. Stuart
Gilbert, Director of Economic Development, present in the audience, noted a report is not
required if there is not a county contribution made during that year. Mr. Gilbert stated he
would provide copies of PCBIC’s annual financial report (Form 990) for 2012 and 2013
to the County Manager for distribution to the Board.
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to adopt the
Resolution reorganizing the Person County Economic Development Commission to
increase community and business representation with Chairman Clayton’s amendment to
allow the City Manager and County Manager voting privileges only in the absence of the
their respective elective official representative, Mayor of Roxboro and the Chairman of
the Board of Commissioners, as well as to change the county appointed member-at-large
term to 3-years.
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NEW BUSINESS:
DESIGNATE NACO VOTING DELEGATE FOR THE 2014 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE:
Voting Credentials for the 2014 Annual Conference to be held July 11-14, 2014,
in New Orleans, Louisiana, must be submitted by June 13, 2014 in order for Person
County’s delegate to participate in the association’s annual election of officers and policy
adoption.
A motion was made by Commissioner Newell to designate Vice Chairman Jeffers
as Person County’s voting delegate at the 2014 NACo Annual Conference.
A substitute motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to
designate Chairman Clayton as Person County’s voting delegate at the 2014 NACo
Annual Conference with himself designated as the alternate.
APPOINTMENT TO THE OPC BOARD:
Chairman Clayton requested Board consideration for an appointment to the OPC
Community Oversight Board noting he had a nomination through Pam Wood, a county
Department of Social Services employee. Chairman Clayton stated if the Board would
approve his request, Ms. Wood could attend the next scheduled OPC Board meeting on
June 9, 2014.
A motion was made by Commissioner Blalock and carried 5-0 to appoint Pam
Wood to the OPC Community Oversight Board for a 3-year term.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Clayton stated he and Vice Chairman Jeffers attended County
Assembly Day and spoke with legislators to request that the state not pass to the counties
any unfunded mandates noting the Senate’s proposed budget is likely to cost counties.
Chairman Clayton noted the state Environmental Committee met and discussed
issues related to the coal ash spill and gas drilling.
MANAGER’S REPORT:
County Manager, Heidi York reminded the Board that the next scheduled budget
work session will be held on June 3, 2014 at 2:00 pm in the Board’s usual meeting room.
Ms. York stated the budget is slated for adoption at the Board’s June 16, 2014 meeting.
Ms. York introduced Maia Landey, summer intern, noting Ms. Landey and Adam
Decker are both graduate degree students in the Public Administration programs at UNC-
Chapel Hill.
Ms. York stated she will begin her maternity leave on June 6, 2014.
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COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS:
Commissioner Newell commented, in his opinion, to keep Person County
competitive with its surrounding counties he would emphasize more funding for
education noting revenues are drying up and people are taxed out reinforcing the need for
the Board to set priorities.
Commissioner Blalock reported an upcoming environmental meeting will be held
in Creedmoor next week. Commissioner Blalock stated she has diligently been working
to clean up the appearance of Broad Road.
Commissioner Puryear reported he attended the ribbon cutting at Bethel Hill
Charter School’s new educational building. Commissioner Puryear thanked Mr. John
Betterton for his thirty-plus years of service to the Bethel Hill School and wished him
well during his retirement.
Vice Chairman Jeffers stated the Bethel Hill project was funded through Rural
Development USDA funding noting he serves as Chair of NACo’s Rural Action Caucus
and it was rewarding to see this result of the Farm Bill federal funding maintained as a
priority of NACo. Vice Chairman Jeffers added to Chairman Clayton’s comments
related to County Assembly Day noting their discussions with legislators also related to
environmental issues. Vice Chairman Jeffers stated Person County is not one of the 48
counties affected by the Senate proposal to begin phasing out the 2007 Medicaid Relief
Swap's guaranteed $500,000 benefit for counties and the Senate’s proposed budget
rejected the Governor’s recommendation to transfer worker’s compensation funding
responsibilities for schools and community college personnel as well as the school bus
tort claims to counties. Vice Chairman Jeffers noted the Senate’s proposed budget would
support county child protective services replacing lapsed federal funds with child welfare
workers to meet the recommended caseload as well as would shift all misdemeanants,
including DWI misdemeanants, from state prisons to county jails under the Statewide
Misdemeanant Confinement Fund program as well as limit school nurses in the district.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers, and carried 5-0 to recess the
meeting at 8:13 pm until June 3, 2014 in the Board’s usual meeting room at 2:00 pm for
the purpose of a budget work session.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman