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1971-03-18 Special Meeting. rJ~J MINUTES OF SPECIAI, MEETING - MARCH 18. 1971 - 9:00 A. M. - ASSEMBLY - Special meeting of the New Hanover County Board o£ Commissioners was held on the above date and time in the Commission Building with the following present: Chairman Meares Harriss, Jr., Vice-Chairman Berry A. Williams, Commissioners J. M. Hall, Jr., H. A. Marks; County Auditor Perry Shepard; and Hazel Savage, Clerk to the Board. INVOCATION - Chairman Fiarriss called the meeting to order and asked Commissioner Marks to give the invocation. WAIVER OF NOTICE OF HEARING - Mr. Hall moved, seconded by Mr. Marks, that the formal three days notice be waived and this be a constituted meeting of the Commissioners. Motion carried unanimously. PURPOSE OF MEETING - Chairman Harriss stated purpose of the meeting is to consider appropriation to the Sheriff's Department for special equipment and additional force to enable him to better cope with law enforcement problem in our community. Mr. George Clark, member of Board of Education, was present at this meeting. Chairman Harriss informed the Board that he and Mr. Clark had attended a special meeting of the School Board yesterday afternoon at which time need for forces to patrol the troubled areas in the County's School System was clearly demonstrated. At this meeting the Board o£ Education formally requested that the County Commissioners provide additional sheriff deputies to pa- trol the school properties which had been in the last two days target of rebellious and insurrectional activities inclined to destroy the school system and school property. Mr. Clark agreed wi`th Mr. Harriss' statement and stated that~in order to operate the educational system in this county it is necessary to have law enforcement officers in and on premises at all times students are there, and this is not a temporary measure but will continue as long as necessary; this is not a stop-gap measure but will continue until matters quiet down. Chairman Harriss stated he wanted to emphasize the deputies will be used to prevent trouble; he felt presence of uniform deputies on these campuses will deter trouble. Sherif£ Marion Millis was present and advised the problem had gotten worse; everything is hit at one time. Sheriff MS:llis advised with the number of additional deputies he still cannot guarantee security but the department will do what it can. Commissioner Williams reminded the Board that it had on several occasions indicated to the Sheriff and the Board of Education it is ready, willing and able to provide additional officers when the School Board and Sheriff determine they are needed to control the Schools. Mr. 4lilliams said the Board could not have hoodlums closi.ng schools as has been done today. Mr. Williams stated undoubtedly this was brought about by lack of discipline and if the county has officers at the schools in times of trouble, it can enforce discipline more readily. Mr. Williams said from a psychological standpoint he felt it was time for lawfully constituted bodies to regain control; the decent people of the county are demanding control by legal authorities. Mr. Williams stated it had been reported to him that trouble is caused by habitual trouble makers that have been suspended temporarily and are back in school. This Board of Commissioners has no control over that. Mr. Williams stated he would like some assurance from school authorities that the trouble makers will be severely dealt with when caught before authorizing the additional deputies. He stated he was of the opinion the major~:ty of citizens o£ this county will be almost unanimous behind the Board in expending the added funds that are needed to cope with the situation which is so serious. Mr. Williams pointed out the only control this Board has over schools is on purse strings and the Board has been as liberal as the Board felt it could in its appropriation to the School System. The appropriation considered this morning is an appropriation to protect the County's investment vahich the County has already made in the School System. Mr. Clark pointed out 65 students have been suspended from Hoggard within the last three da~s. Mr. Clark said the School Board did not want to put a student out for the rest of the year except in extreme cases because of possible dropout. A number of students have been expelled which are the unusual ones. Mr. Clark stated the School Board is not going to let habitual trouble makers stay in the School System. Nr. C1ark stated indentifying is a very difficult situation. When violators are arrested they ~rill be tried in the courts and also be treated with any discipline which the School System has which is anywhere from counseling to expulsion. Records of these students are considered before any action is taken. Mr. Clark stated the County Commission$rs can count on the total support of the Board of Education in trying to weed out these trouble makers aud deal with them to the satisfaction of the Commissioners and the community. Mr. Clark said everyone rebels at putting laia enforcement of£icers in a school. It is the last step but the Board of Education has had totake it. It is an emergency measure, but Mr. Clark stated he believed it was going to be a permanent one. Mr. Marks pointed out that school principals have not had time to do paper work putting suspensions in force and students remain in school for a week or so causing more trouble before they are suspended. Mr. Marks suggested clerical people be provided so as to get paper out the day after the cause for suspension takes place so-~as to put suspension into effect as soon as possible. Mr. Harriss said yesterday he suggested a form letter be used and the School Board said they had such a form but they were not using it. Mr. Harriss said procedure will be changed and form letter will be used and process speeded up. Mr. Marks stated there is a tremendous unrest with the teachers now and suggested the School Board try to restore some confidence to them. ~ 596 MINUTES OF THE SPECIkL MEETING - MARCH 18, 1971 - CONTINUED - RECOMMENDATIONS ~F MR. H. C. WALLACE, TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION - Mr. Wallace advised the Taxpayers Association recommends auxiliary police such as par- ents who are qualified to handle children and probably retired military personnel under su- pervision of the police. Mr. Wallace stated citizens are going to get into this because they do not feel their children are getting proper education. Mr. Wallace recommended that students who are responsible for classroom damage should be made to clean it up and parents should be held responsible to pay for damages caused by their children. Also, Mr. Wallace recommended immediate expulsion of any student causing disruption of any kind to their teacher, to their principal, the use of profane language to teacher or principal, refusing to obey any order given by teacher or principal. Mr. Harriss stated all of Mr. Wallace's suggestions have already been seriously con- sidered and steps are beinp taken to make those responsible for damage financially re- sponsible as well. Mr. Harriss pointed out matters have been tremendously and almost irretrievably con- fused complicated by the recent decision of the Supreme Court striking down most of our lao~s regarding handling of this sort of thing. Mr. Harriss stated it had been universally recognized that if teachers who are trained cannot control students, volunteers cannot. This is crime and violence and has to be dealt with by law en£orcement of£icers. Mr. Harriss stated the School System has almost been lost and the County has to get it back under control. Mr. Wilton Allen was heard from and stated he wanted the deputies to be permitted to make arrests on the spot when trouble begins. Mr. Harriss assured those present deputies would not be there to control trouble after it starts, the3~ i~rill be there as a deterrent. Deputies ~aill operate not under 8b3iool System but under Sheriff and will be charged with preserving law in North Carolina and County of New Hanover, and will act without any suggestions from any school official as to whether a crime has been committed or not, but on their own initiative. They will not be controlled by anyone but the Sheriff. Mr. Paul Stanley spoke next on the situation in the schools and presented his two sons and a neighbor who stated their concern over the situation in the schools. Mr. Harriss stated about two 5ears ago the Board passed a resolution stating to the School Board the Board of Commissioners stood ready to provide any assistance necessary in any possible help it could offer in order to control the situation. Offer was repeated about a year later and again one month ago, and Mr. Harriss assured those present if four deputies at the schools are not enough, he felt certain more Vaill be provided. (Schools are Williston Jr. High, New Hanover and Hoggard) Mr. Stanley stated he is in favor of having volunteers to combat the situation. Mr. Hall stated four deputies will be a help and requested organized assistance of the PTA be used for identification purposes. Sheriff Millis stated he hoped to get help from the School Board and workers in the schools. Mr. Harriss pointed out few parents belonged to the PTA which is an underlying problem; parents have not been taking the interest in what is going on in the schools. Mr. Harriss thanked everyone for their views and assured them they will be considered. Mr. Williams stated as a step toward restoring confidence in the New Hanover County School System and discipline therein he would like to o£fer the following motion: Mr. Williams moved that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the addition of twelve (12) deputies to the Sheriff's Department at.,the beginning minimum salary which was established at the beginning of this fiscal year; the appropriation, up to 9525,000, to take care of these salaries to come from Certificate of Deposits Interest Income, and this be done with the understanding that an adequate number of officers will be assigned to the schools to help maintain order. Mr. Marks seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Williams stressed importance of having trained personnel in the schools and said he felt sure the sheriff will use recruits elsewhere. Mr. Harriss stated the Sheriff had advised him it will take approximately two weeks of training for the new men. Mr. Harriss pointed out assignment of four deputies to each school is not an inflexible procedure; all twelve can be in one school at one time, etc. SPECIAZ CRIME EQ.UIPMENT - Mr. Hall moved, seconded by Mr. Marks that $3,000 be appropriated to the Sheriff's Department for specialized crime equipment which it is in need of, funds coming from Certificate of Deposits Interest Income. Notion carried unanimously. STATEMEI~TT OF DR. BELLAMY, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - Dr. Bellamy expressed appreciation to the Count9 Commissioners for their assistance in this matter and requested the Sheriff to get in touch with the principals of the schools to put into motion the action taken here today. Mr. Hall stressed the £act deputies will be armed and are not playing and the Board of Commissioners is not playing either. Mr. Harriss requested the news media make it clear that whatever force is needed in the schools will be used. , 5~~ MINUTES OF SPECIAI~ MEETING - MARCH 18, 1971.. CONTINiJED - STATENEi NT OF DR. BELLAMY_, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - CONTINUED - • Problem of sidewaix on i•iarxei; atreet in front of Ne~t Hanover High School was discussed; there is possibility it will have to be closed. Dr. Bellamy stated it would be desirable to have Princess and Market Streets north and south closed but realized this would create a traffic problem. CONiMUNICATION SYSTEM WITHIN SCHOOLS - Mr. Marks suggested some form of communication within the schools be used in order for teachers in classrooms to be able to press button and let the principal's office know of trouble before it gets out in the halls. Dr. Bellamy stated this will be included in next year's budget. Sheriff Millis asked how long could he promise new deputies they will be on the payroll. Mr. Harriss said they would be on a permanent basis. SheriYf Millis pointed out it will take some time to get the new deputies and Dr. Bellamy wanted officers in the schools when they reopen Monday; therefore there will be a matter o£ overtime for the regular deputies until this is accomplished. Sheriff Millis was requested to provide the School Board with the necessary help and if this requires over- time the Board by common consent agreed it will be paid the regular deputies on a straight time basis. ADJOUF?NI"fENT - There being no £urther business to come before the Board, Mr. Marks moved, seconded by Mr. Harriss, that the meeting adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Respect£ully submitted, Hazel Savage, Clerk to the Board HS/bh MINUTES OF SPECIAI, MEETING - MARCH 27, 1971 - 8:45 A. M. - ASSEMBLY Special Meeting of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners was held on the above date and time in the Commission Building with the following present: Chairman Meares Harriss, Jr., Vice-Chairman Berry A. Williams, Commissioners J. M. Hall, Jr., John R. Oxenfeld; County Administrator Laurence 0. Bowden; and Hazel Savage, Clerk to the Board. INVOCATION - Chairman Harriss called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Williams to give the invo- cation. CITY-COUNTY APPOINTMENT OF ACTING TAX COLLECTOR - The £ollowing members of the City Council were present for appointment of a temporary Acting Tax Collector: Mayor Luther Cromartie, Mayor Pro Tem B. D. Schwartz, Councilmen John Symmes and Alex Fonvielle. City Manager E. C. Brandon was also present. Mr. Williams stated there is an Assistant Tax Collector who has been with the department £or a number of years and has served in an acting capacity for a period of time when the Collector was ill and from all reports did a~ood job and stated he thought she was well qualified to assume the responsibility on a temporary acting basis at this time. Mr. Williams moved, on the part of the County, seconded by Mr. Oxenfeld, that Mrs. Janie Straughn be made acting Tax Collector on a temporary basis. Mr. Fonvielle stated he had been informed Mrs. Straughn is a well qualified person and thought it would be well to appoint her as Tax Collector. He stated he thought it would be timely to have a lady in a top responsible position. Mr. Harriss stated he and Mayor Cromartie had requested Mr. Henry I,ewis of the Institute. of Government to make a study of the Tax Collector's Office and Mr. I,ewis will be down on April 20. Mr. Harriss stated he would prefer to defer any permanent action until after Mr. I,ewis has completed the study. Vote was called on Mr. Williams' motion. It carried unanimously. Mr. Symmes moved, on the part of the City, seconded by,Mr..Fonvielle, that the City concur in the action taken by the County. Motion carried unanimously. Separate motions were made at the request of Chairman Harriss. Mr. Williams suggested Mrs. Straughn be compensated for the added responsibilities. City Manager Brandon stated he and Mr. Bowden had discussed pay for Mrs. Straughn and they recommend that she be given a temporary two step increase which would raise her pay from $543 to $598 per month. Mr. Symmes moved, on the part of the City, seconded by Mr. Fonvielle, that the increase outlined by Mr. Brandon be approved. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Williams moved, on the part of the County, seconded by Mr. Oxenfeld, that the County concur. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting recessed at 8:50 A. M. Meeting reconvened at 9:00 A. M.