MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALAMANCE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR ALAMANCE COUNTY

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Commissioners' Meeting Room
124 West Elm Street
Graham, NC 27253
Board Members Present:
  • Vice-Chair Steve Carter
  • Commissioner William "Bill" T. Lashley
  • Commissioner Pamela Thompson
  • Commissioner Craig Turner
Board Members Absent:
  • Chairman John Paisley Jr

  
  • Moved by:Vice-Chair Carter
    Seconded by:Commissioner Turner

    Removal of agenda item # 6B. Budget Amendment - ABSS

    Vice-Chair Carter, seconded by Commissioner Turner, moved for approval of the agenda without item  #6B. Budget Amendment - ABSS.  The motion carried 3-1, with Vice-Chair Carter, Commissioners Thompson and Turner voting in favor.  Commissioner Lashley voted in opposition.

    APPROVED AS AMENDED

  

Peter Morcombe, a Graham resident, reminded the Board that he had provided them with a book about managing complex tasks to serve the community.  He indicated that the school system coming to the Board with a demand for $27 million indicated hiding information, which should not be happening.  Mr. Morcombe suggested having the accountants report financial information to the Board of County Commissioners.

Stuart Smith, a Mebane resident, spoke that he had followed the budget discussion closely.  He complimented the Board for being thorough and thoughtful in setting the tax rate.  He discussed the Davidson County tax rate and how the residents had voted for a sales and use tax to build a new school.  He was hopeful that a quarter-cent sales and use tax might be considered again for Alamance County.

Jimmy Walker, a county resident, was back to speak on trash along the county roads due to trucks hauling trash without tarps.

Barry Joyce, a resident, spoke that a sales and use tax would not pass and had failed here in the county three times, and it would be ridiculous to place it back on another ballot.  He commented on an article in the paper about his comments at a previous meeting.  Mr. Joyce commented about teacher pay.

  
  • Moved by:Commissioner Lashley
    Seconded by:Commissioner Turner
    APPROVED UNANIMOUS

  

Approved amending the adopted budget ordinance for Environmental Health and Health Clinic fees as approved by the Board of Health.

  

Approval of the revised Rules of Procedure for the Alamance County Board of County Commissioners.

Approval setting a public hearing for Monday, August 7, 2023 at 9:30 am to hear an appeal for a street naming request.

  

Regular Meeting of June 19, 2023 

  

Nancy "Foxie" Harper, Chair of the Alamance County Senior Services Committee, updated the Board about the Alamance County Senior Services Committee (ACSSC).  Ms. Harper explained that the Alamance County Senior Services Committee prioritized and allocated Home and Community Care funding to home-delivery meals, congregate meals, adult day care, medical and general transportation, information and options counseling, care management, and in-home aid.  Ms. Harper provided some demographics on the county's population of 60 and older. She commented that the population of 60 and older comprised 25% of the country's population in 2021.  Ms. Harper continued that number was projected to increase to 27% by 2041.  She expressed concerns over funding cuts to various agencies and their ability to provide services to older adults.  She mentioned that Meals on Wheels had funding cuts of 51% to the home delivery meals and a 46% cut to the congregate meals allocations in previous years from the county.  Ms. Harper pointed out that Alamance Eldercare had experienced a 78% cut in their funding, which led to losing a case manager position.  Ms. Harper urged the Board to support the senior constituents, who comprised 25% of the county's population.   She introduced Patricia Davis as the new Chair of the Alamance County Senior Services Committee, Angela Thompson, Executive Director of Alamance ElderCare, and Gail Miller, ACSSC Member and Senior Tarheel Legislative Delegate.

*Removed from the agenda at the request of Alamance-Burlington School System.*

Brian Baker, Assistant County Manager, requested permission to acquire property and amend the budget to transfer funds from the capital reserves fund where these funds were set aside to acquire the parcels.  The first piece of property would be two adjoining parcels in Mebane that would be used for a future Emergency Management Services (EMS) Station.  Mr. Baker informed the Board that the purchase amount was $300,000 based on a 2019 appraisal.  The two combined parcels totaled 1.73 acres on South 3rd Street, in Mebane.

  • Moved by:Commissioner Turner
    Seconded by:Commissioner Lashley
    APPROVED UNANIMOUS

Mr. Baker presented his second request to acquire property on Austin Quarter Road, next to the existing landfill.  Landfill Enterprise funds will be used to acquire this property.  The property will be used as a buffer.  The purchase price for this property was $240,000 for 30.26 acres.

  • Moved by:Commissioner Turner
    Seconded by:Commissioner Lashley
    APPROVED UNANIMOUS

  

  

County Manager York reported that staff had been working on some organizational development aligning policy development.  She said six policies were developed and included under the County Manager's Report.  County Manager York continued that she wanted to inform the Board about some of the organization's needs and allow them to provide feedback.  She said they were looking to implement these policies in August.  The new policies included: Certification, On-Call Pay, Parental Leave, Volunteer Leave, Bereavement Leave, and Wellness Leave. She mentioned that four policies were developed to support a workforce culture where employees felt valued and helped achieve some work-life balance.  County Manager York noted the county was playing catch up because these policies were already in place in several other local governments around the region.

  

  

County Attorney Stevens introduced Michelle Horn as the new Assistant County Attorney.

  

County Attorney Stevens asked the Board to move into closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3) in order to consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body   The attorney will advise the Board on ongoing legal matters, including NAACP et al. v. Alamance County et al.

Commissioner Turner, seconded by Commissioner Lashley, moved to enter into closed session. The motion carried without opposition.

The Board reconvened in open session at 8:15 PM.

  

Commissioner Thompson gave a shout-out to the Department of Social Services (DSS) for their assistance working with two severe homeless situations.  She said she was proud of DSS.

Vice-Chair Carter recognized the Board of Equalization and Review for their hard work on the tax appeals and the long hours they have dedicated.

  

Commissioner Lashley, seconded by Commissioner Turner, moved to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried unanimously.

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM.

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