B120109
New Hanover County
• Board of Social Services
Meeting Minutes
Multi Purpose Room A
9:00a.m. -10:00 a.m.
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Tuesday,
December 1, 2009 at 9:00 in Multi Purpose Room A of the New Hanover County
Department of Social Services.
ATTENDING: John Craig, Chairman; Minerva Glidden, Vice-Chairman; Bill Caster and
Evelyn Bryant
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith, Secretary to the Board; Stephanie Monteath,
Administrative Support Specialist
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Ms. Glidden moved for approval
of the agenda. The motion was seconded by Mr. Caster and passed unanimously.
Mr. Caster led the invocation. Ms. Bryant led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
• Mr. Caster moved for approval of the consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Personnel
Stephanie Monteath recognized new staff, Margaret Burns, Adult Medicaid Caseworker
and Mary Cantu, Family and Children's Medicaid Temporary Economic Services
Caseworker.
Service Awards
Sue Fred was recognized for 15 years of service to New Hanover County.
Renovation Update
Ms. Bryant gave an update about renovations. Currently the project is a little over budget
so contractors are submitting bids in hopes that bids will come in lower. It is predicted
that work will begin on that project in February.
SSDI
• Mr. Caster asked for the definition of "courtesy conflict cases". Ms. Sanders noted they
are cases from other counties that NHCDSS investigates due to conflicts of interest for
the other county. Mr. Caster asked about the "unduplicated" definition. Ms. McNamee
explained the goal is to get a true year to date total not an average monthly number.
Item ? Page 1
Page 2 of 3
County Budget Expenditures
Mr. Nesmith noted that Day Care Subsidy is over budget. Some children will need to be
removed from receiving service in order to stay within the budget. Currently the program
is funded by State funds, stimulus money and Smart Start. When the stimulus money
ends next year, there is a possibility that upwards of 600 children will be cut from
receiving services. As well, the State Subsidy funding received this year was less than
was originally estimated.
Compliance Office Report
Ms. Glidden asked that the Compliance Office report be signed so that it is clear who
created it.
Director's Executive Report
There were no questions or comments by the Board.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Budget Process
Ms. McNamee explained the budget process that is year round and closely connected
with the agency's LBR monitoring. Ms. McNamee reviewed the guiding principles in
developing the budget that are a part of the organization's mission statement. Ms.
McNamee reviewed the parameters and constraints the department is dealing with due to
the declining economy. Mr. Nesmith and Ms. McNamee discussed the various funding
streams and explained how staff codes services to tap into those funding streams. Lastly,
Ms. McNamee talked about addressing funding gaps and revising the budget to address
constraints using a results driven system.
Select Date for the Budget Retreat
The Board decided the budget retreat would be held March 2, 2010 from 9:00 -11:30.
Stephanie Monteath was charged with identifying a location.
Additional Items
Mr. Nesmith recognized Julie Steinbeck whom, effective December 1, 2009, is the new
Children's Services Chief and Chris McNamee whom, effective February 1, 2010, will
take the helm as Assistant Director of Economic Services.
Dean Hollandsworth shared that effective October 1, 2009 a law came into effect wherein
the Director must be notified before the court can place a child into DSS custody. Regina
Floyd-Davis noted the usual scenario is when a 15 or 16 year old juvenile can't be placed
• into a training school. This law gives DSS an opportunity to share our side of the case
and the difficulties the agency will face in finding placement for that child.
The agency will have a holiday lunch on December 10, 2009 from 11:30 AM -1:30PM
and the board is invited to come break bread with DSS staff.
Item 2 Page 2
Page 3 of 3
Next Meeting Objectives
• There will be a presentation on Adult Services at the January Board meeting.
Board Self Evaluation
The Board completed self evaluations.
As there were no further items to discuss as provided in G.S. 154A-98 to consider
information that is confidential pursuant to G.S. 108A-80 and or G.S. 154A-98, the board
by consensus adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Respect submitted,
LaVaughn Nesmith,
Secretary to the Board
John E. Craig,
Chairman
• Date approved:
LN: scm
B120109
•
Item 2 Page 3