2007-08-09 Agenda Review
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 31
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, AUGUST 9, 2007 PAGE 161
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for Agenda Review on Thursday, August 9, 2007,
at 4:15 p.m. in Conference Room 601 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center
Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman William A. Caster; Vice-Chairman Robert G. Greer; Commissioner Ted
Davis, Jr.; Commissioner William A. Kopp, Jr.; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; Clerk to the Board Sheila L.
Schult and County Manager Bruce T. Shell.
Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett was absent.
Chairman Caster called the meeting to order and announced that the purpose of the meeting is to review
and discuss the Board?s August 13, 2007 Regular Session meeting agenda and Water and Sewer District meeting
agenda.
The Board discussed Consent Agenda Item 3 - Approval of Medicaid Cost Settlement Funds. County
Manager Bruce Shell and Finance Director Avril Pinder clarified that the funds are funds received over the budgeted
amount and that any request to expend the funds will be brought to the Board for approval either by budget
amendment or the annual budget process.
The Board discussed Consent Agenda Item 5 - Approval of Collection Settlement Reports and Charge of
2007 Levy. Chairman Caster requested that a resolution recognizing the efforts of the Tax Collector and Staff be
brought to the Board?s September 17, 2007 meeting for their consideration.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 3 - Consideration of New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Board of Trustees? Term Limits. Jack Barto, New Hanover Regional Medical Center President and CEO, presented
an overview of the request by the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees to extend the potential
length of Board service from a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms to a maximum of three consecutive
three-year terms. They are seeking the change to add continuity among the Board as it considers complex and
difficult decisions on the future strategy and goals of New Hanover Regional. Mr. Barto presented the Board with a
copy of a report titled 2007 Board Survey for Hospital and Health Systems noting that the report shows that the
majority of Boards have the option of serving three consecutive three-year terms. Mr. Barto answered questions
from the Board. Commissioner Davis asked Mr. Barto if the Board of Trustees would consider two consecutive
four-year term limits. Mr. Barto responded that he would pass that information on to the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees Bruce Prouty. Mr. Prouty will be at the Board meeting on Monday.
The Board discussed Regular Agenda Item 4 - Consideration of New Hanover County Board of Education
FY 07-08 Budget Resolution and Adoption of Ordinance for Budget Amendment 08-009. County Manager Bruce
Shell reported the Board of Education is requesting to transfer $2.1 million from Capital Outlay to Current Expense
and that New Hanover County Schools Finance Officer Mary Hazel Small will be at the Board?s meeting to answer
questions.
Planning Director Chris O?Keefe provided an overview of the following Planning Department items:
Regular Agenda Item 5.1 - Rezoning (Z-866, 07/07) ? Request by Withers and Ravenel, on behalf of
Cameron Company LLC, to Rezone Approximately 3.55 Acres of Property Located South of Albermarle Road and
West of Judges Road, Part of Parcel R-0500-001-001-000, in the Urban Land Classification from R-10 Residential
District to I-1 Industrial District. Planning Director O?Keefe reported that this rezoning petition is requesting to
expand an existing I-1 zoning district. The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request
with no one from the public speaking in opposition to the request.
Regular Agenda Item 5.2 - Road Closing (SC-84, 06/07) - Request by the New Hanover County Airport
Authority to Close Futches Avenue Located Near the Intersection of North Kerr Avenue and an Old Segment of
Gordon Road that Leads into the Airport Property.
Regular Agenda Item 5.3 - Road Naming (SN-101,07/07) Request by Planning Staff to Name an Unnamed
Road Located near the 6700 Block of Myrtle Grove Road (East Side) to Salty Bay Landing and Assign New Street
Numbers.
The Board reviewed Committee Appointments for the following:
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Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee
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Board of Examiners of Electrician
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Board of Fire Commissioners
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Board of Mechanical Examiners
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Library Advisory Board
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Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee
District Chairman Kopp reported that Water and Sewer Agenda Item 4 - New Hanover County Water
System Overview and Water Treatment Plant Progress Update has been pulled from the agenda and will be
presented at a future meeting.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 31
AGENDA REVIEW MEETING, AUGUST 9, 2007 PAGE 162
The District Board discussed Water and Sewer Agenda Item 3 - Approval to Appropriate Fund Balance for
Outstanding Purchase Orders as of June 30, 2007 and Adoption of Ordinance for Budget Amendment 08-014.
County Manager Bruce Shell and Finance Director Avril Pinder clarified that this is a routine bookkeeping item.
Interim County Engineer Dennis Ihnat provided an overview of the following Water and Sewer District
items:
Water and Sewer District Agenda Item 5 - Acceptance of Public Dedication in the Following Subdivisions:
Landfall Subdivision II; Saybrook Village Subdivision; and Covil Estates Subdivision.
Water and Sewer District Agenda Item 6 - Acceptance of Conveyances for Water and Sewer Lines.
Water and Sewer District Agenda Item 7 - Consideration of Work by McKim and Creed Under the
Wastewater Management Plan Agreement and Adoption of Ordinance for Budget Amendment 2008-14.
Water and Sewer District Agenda Item 8 - Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance to Establish Project for
Sewer Junction Box Replacement at Bradley Creek Pump Station and Adoption of Ordinance for Budget
Amendment 2008-16. Interim County Engineer Ihnat reported that the new design of the sewer junction box will
help alleviate the unpleasant odor.
ADDITIONAL ITEM
PROPOSED LOCAL OPTION COUNTY TAXES
The Board held a discussion concerning the legislation enacted by the General Assembly allowing counties
the authority to levy either a Land Transfer Tax or a Local Sales Tax. The tax option is required to be approved by
voter referendum. The following parameters were highlighted:
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The ballot can include both the land transfer tax option and the ¼ cent local sales tax option.
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Even if approved by voter referendum, the Board is not obligated to levy the tax.
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The use of the money cannot be stipulated on the ballot.
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Land transfer tax revenues are expressly authorized to be used for any lawful purpose.
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The use of sales tax revenues are not restricted or earmarked.
County Attorney Copley presented a timeline for placing a referendum on the November 2007 ballot.
After discussion, the consensus of the Board is to continue gathering information on the local options and
decide whether to hold a referendum in the May 2008 election. Chairman Caster requested staff prepare a statement
for him to read at Monday?s Board meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Caster adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the Board