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1967-11-06 Regular Meeting104 Plinutes of Special Neeting - October 31, 19~7 There being no other questions, Mr. Vaughan moved, secor.ded by Mr. Bowden, that County Auditor Perry Shepard be appointed Tax Supervisor, effective November 1, 1967. ' A substitute motion was made by Mr. isetts that the County Manager be placed in charge of the Tax Listing Office. "A.otion died for a lack of a second. Question was then called on the ori~inal motion and it carried by a vote of three Sor and ene against. P".r. Metts voted in the negative. By common consent it was agreed that the County Auditor and County Manager work on the recommendations on the realianing or changes to be made in the Tax Listing Office. There being no further business, ~r. Metts moved; seconded by Mr. Bowden, that the meeting be adjourned. Motion was carried. J. E. Marshall, County Manager Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 ASSEMBLY - The regular semi-monthly meetino of the Nev~ Hanover County Board of Commissioners iaas held on the above date at 8:00 A.M. in the Commissioners' Room with the foilowing merrbers present: Chairman Dr. Joseph 1^J. Hooper, Vice-Chairman Laurence O. Bowden, Commissioners John Van B. Metts, Jr., J. M. Hall, Jr., M. H. Vaughan; County Attorney L. Bradford Tillery; County Manager J. E. Marshall; and County Auditor Perry Shepard. INVOCATION - After calling the meetiny to order the Chairman asked Rev. Sam L. Whichard, Pastor of First Pentecostal Holiness Church to give the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - For the minutes of the meeting of October 16, 1967, under the heading; "Mr. Lee Wallerstein, Office of Economic Opportunity", shouid be corrected to read as follows: "P7r. Lee Wallerstein, Economist with the Housing and Urban Development Agency in !='ashington, and a Mr. Carter, a Rural Development Specialist, with the Department of Agriculture, appeared before the Board relative to the County getting enough information pertaining to all Federally funded programs and stated further that they would like to 2sk the Board for their feelings and ideas with the idea in mind of developing better programs." Following this correction, Mr. Netts moved, seconded by Mr. Bowden, that the minutes be approved as transcribed. Motion was carried. For the minutes of the Special Meeting of October 31, 1967, Mr. Bowden moved, seconded by ~r. Metts, that the minutes be approved as transcribed. Motion was carried. STATENENT BY CONII~IISSIONER J. M. HALL, JR. - Mr. Hall requested that he be allowed a few minutes of time to make a statement and re- quested that his remarks be placed in the minutes. The floor was granted to N,r. Hzll and the follo4~ing statement made: "Nr. Chairman, I hsve some remarks to make which I request be placed into the minutes of this meeting. "Last weekend, October 29th, I went out of town ~•/ith the full knowledge that recap was being made of the tax assessment records to see where the county stood in rec~ards to the value of it's tax base. I assumed the matter wovld be discussed at our regular meeting on November 6th. "When about 2~ miles out of ~~lilmington last Tuesday, on my way back home, I heard on the car radio that the CYiairman had cailed a special meeting that after- noon at 4:30 o'clock. As a result of that meeting, apparently with no opportunity to be heard, Mr. 1~1. G. Houck was "Retired" - Retired ostensibly at his own request. The chairman knew I was out of town and would be on the job the next morning. "Gentlemen, of all the high handed, inconsiderate, unjust methods of getting rid of an honest, hard working, conscientious employee, this action of yours last Tuesday takes the at•aard - Getting rid of a man you knew to be taking the rap for a subordinate~s error in addition. "It was done just exactly as Adolph Hitler might have done it. !~lhy you didn~t take him out in the covrtyard and shoot him, I'll never know.....Hitler would have. "There is no question as to the fact that an error was made in the tabulation.... Mr. Houck admits it....It's perfectly evident. But, has the public been hurt? No. "The only harm done has been that the taxpayers of Wilmington and Neuf Hanover County will have to pay about $175,000 less this year than they would have, had the error not been made. To some folks that might be a blessing. "Novr, Gentlemen, two years ago you decided you had to he modern....You had to have a County Manacer....I told you at the time that a County Nanager only had a few things to manaye. As far as I can see it, and I don't believe you can add mvch to it. He has managerial authority over the Huoh McRae Park, the County Prison 8 Farm, the Airport, the County Cemetery, and the Tax Office. "Mr. Houck was called to the Chairman's office and by the Chairman was told that he had better resign in about thirty minutes or so. "One of Mr. Houck~s subordinates made an error--Mr. Houck was made to pay the penalty---Who was in Authority over Mr. Houck? Our County Manager---If it is fair to hold P'ir. Houck responsible for an error of a subordinate, why not carry this on to another conclusion? Who is responsible for Mr. Houck~s performance? The County Manage.r. ~ ~.Q~ Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) STATEMENT BY CONA7ISSIONER J. P4. HALL, JR. (CONTINUED) - "At this point I want to call your attention to the 1913 North Carolina La4a which reads as follows, in part: 'It shall be the duty of the said Auditor to exercise a general supervisor over the tax books of said county (New Hanover) ~dith a view to prevent the double listing of property and similar errors....~ "Noti~~, if you want to take responsibility for this error further down the line, I ask you, did A4r. Shepard prevent the occurrence of this error? No. "And yet, instead of even pointing your finger at him for his omission of this job; you turn around and make him your Tax Supervisor....And he says he doesn't know anything about the tax office job....That statement is most certainly borne out by the fact that he reported the error at Ti,renty-Nine Nillion Dollars when it was actually Nine ~illion. He smugly implies or reports that a Nine Million Dollar error is a Twenty-Nine Million Dollar error. Seems to me that deserves passing note. "For many years Mr. Houck did an honest and effective job. Then suddently one of his subordin2tes makes an error. So, Boom!! So now you have what you seem to have been looking for...Some way tp oet rid of a man who was doino a good job (with the exception of this error) for about one third the cost of what it takes to get modern. "Gentlemen, I Yiope I'm wrong, but this action smells. It smells of political skull duggery. "Certainly, he did withhold some startling information, and for that he should be censured, but to order him to resign without a full board hearing his case, and a:ith no regard for his civil service status is undemocratic and dictatorial. "If I were a county employee of several years of faithful service to the best of my ability, I'd be looking for another job where such wilfulness didn't exist. I c2n imagine what this must do to the morale of other county employees. "Again, I say the action of this Board last Tuesday was high handed and could well have been put off until a full board was present. FurtYiermore, the punishment vras all out of preportion to the offense and out of proportion to any possible harm which may have been done. There has never been any question made of Mr. Houck's honesty or integrity. "Gentlemen, I move that Mr. Houck's resignation not be accepted and in view of the fact that your recent appointee, Mr. Shepard, admits openly that he knows nothing of the Tax Supervisor's job, that Mr. W. G. Houck be reprimanded for not notifying this board more promptly of his fears and that he be re-appointed as Tax Supervisor, with the full expectation that nothing like this will happen aoain." At ±he conclusion of the statement Mr. Hall moved, seconded:.by Mr. Metts, that Mr. Houck's resignation not be accepted and in view of the fact that your recent appointee, Mr. Shepard, admits openiy that he knotas nothing of the Tax Supervisor's job; that Mr. W. G. Houck be reprimanded for not notifying this Board more prosptly of his fears, and that he be reappointed as Tax Supervisor v.~ith the full expectation that nothin^, ]ike this wili happen again. Dr. Hooper then stated that Mr. Houck had known about the miscalculation from the 30th day of September, 1967, and did not report it to any member of the Board, the County P7anaeer or anyone in authority. Vice-Chairman Laurence O. Bowden requested a few m?nutes of time and the fleor and made the following statement: "I ~aant to malte my position abundantly clear on tlle recent developments in the Office of Tax Supervisor. Mr. Shepard, County Auditor, called me at my office on !a~ednesday, October 25th, to relate what he had discovered earlier that day, a possibility of a 29 million dollar discrepancy in Ne~,~ Hanover County Tax Base, and the amount actually used for preparation of the Buclget. "The error was detected and brought to our attention by the Avditor when posting. 1 was informed of three conditions; one, there U.~as possibility of a$29,000.000 error; two, it had been known since September and nothing had been done to rectify or verify the error; and three, neither the P.uditor, Board of County Commissioners or the County Nanager had been advised. Immediately he was placed in charge to arrive at the actual tax base for the County. Since l~Jilmington Township was one that 4.~as adversely affected, the City of Wilmir.gton had, therefore, predicated their budget on what appeared to be an approximate nine and one-half million dollar inflated tax base. It was truly a dark hour for both the City and the County. Had the 29 million dollar error been confirmed, the City and County would have been confronted with a financial "Dunkirk". This would have set us back several years, The final nine and one-half miliion dollar error could be lived with, but the combination of the error, the attitude, the lack of initiative and supervision were sti11 as serious. No one should forget the above ~~rhen questioning the Commissioner's position in the resiynation of P~fr. Houclc. The fiscal integrity of Wilmington and- IQevr Hanover County had been seriously jeopardized by the lack of action and fore- thought on the part of the Tax Supervisor. As a Commissioner ~.~ith the responsibilities of the office vested -in me, I had no choice of action to pursue but the one taken. I can assure you this acti~n is not yet complete. N1i•. Houck's resignation was not intended as a punishment to him, but as a preventive safeguard to preclude such a dismal reoccurrence. No one in public trust such as a Commissioner should be expected to compromise his convictions by perpetuatine this type of inefficiency, regardless of personal feelings; or how we11 liked the individual may be.~~ ' Commissioner Metts made the Statement that someone under Mr. Houck made the mistaks and that Mr. Houck had someone over him; namely, the County Manager, who signed the tax scrolls and should have gone back and looked at the scrolls and checked the figures. ~ ~ ,, I ~46 Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) STATEMENT BY CONNiiISSIONER J. M. HALL, JR. (COPITINUED) - The Chairman asked County Auditor Shepard did he have any remarks to make at this time and he stated that the scr~lls were signed on October 2, 1967 and were subject to audit during the month of October. At this point the Chairman recognized P7r. J. uJ. Waiton, Jr, who stated to the °.oard that he had a petition containing approximately 1.~00 names which requested tYtat Mr. la~. G. Houck be reinstated to his position as T2x Supervisor. Further, that the petitioners objected to the manner and approach to the retirement or resigninc of Mr. }Iouck. The petition was accepted for the Board by the Chairman. h9r. Walton ti/as questioned as to who circula~ed the petition and he stated that he had prepared it but it had been sioned by members of several different churches and other county residents. Mr. E. G. Connette, Jr., Pastor of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, stated that the petition was not a church sponsored one, only that it had been made available in his church as ~.~ell as others and that no real effort was made by his church or others to have the petition signed. Dr. Hooper wanted to know if Mr. Houck had ever worked for Mr. Connette's church. Mr. Hall said that he could answer this and stated that the County hired I`~r. Houck away from the church at the time when the County r~as in need of a man to run things. Mr. V2ughan stated that Mr. Houck was made full time Tax Supervisor and as such ~~~as fully responsible for the office of Tax Svpervisor and Tax Listing. Dr. Hooper asked if the County Manager had any comments to make at this time regarding this matter and the County P7anzger then read a report on the Tax Listing office, wtiich,is as follow's: ' ' : " ' .' ' .' : "Pursuant to a request, the County A7anager presents this as a report with recommendations relative Lo possible changes that can or should be made in the Tax Listing Offiee. "First, I ti~ould recommend that the position of Tax Supervisor be a full time position. It should require a person with full knowiedge of and be well versed in the tax structure of tne County and the work of the office. Aiso, the Tax Supervisor should have a good lcno4~ledge of the tax la~.~s of the State. "Second, I would recommend that cle2r lines of communications and responsibilities be maintained ~,~ithin tYie office and with other offices at all times. "Third, to prevent tYie happening of errors in determining the taxable values in the County, a system of checks and balances should be established. The system does not have to be elaborate, but simply should provide a check. "Fourth, consideration should be given personr.el need~ frnm the standpoint of the present and also possible future needs, due to rPtirer~ent and other con- ditions. "Fifth, that consideration be given the need for additior.al office,space for the entire operatior.. Along these lines, should the Welfare Department be moved, a portion of the spzce they presently occupy be made available for use by the Tax Listing Office.: Dr. Hooper then read from the State Law, Section 11-6, the oa±h of office for all County Commissioners. There being no further discussion on this matter, the question was then called on the motion uihich had been made by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Metts, and it was defeated by a vote of CWO for and three against. RESIGnATIOT~ ACCEPTION - Dr. Hooper moved, seconded by Mr. Vauyhan, that the resignation of Mr. u.~. G. Houclc be accepted and that it be effective November 1, 1967. Question was cailed on the motion and it was carried by a vote of three for and t~:ro aoainst. ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR TAX LISTING'OFFICE - County Auditor Perry Shepard recommended that the area to the re.ar of where the Building and Electrical Inspectors are located be utilized fer a part of the Tax Listin5 Office and that the office presently occvpied by the assessors be made available for use by the T~uilding and Electrical Inspectors. By common consent this rias agree,d by the Board. TENTATIVE REPORT, COUNTY r=+UDI1'OR, DATN PROCESSItiG - County Auditor Perry Shepard made a tentative report on the probability of using data processing in the tax listing office and auditor~s office. The report is as fo11o~,~s: "The writer was delegated by this Commission to make a study of advanced accounting methods that might be applicable to the county with special emphasis on the Tax Listing and Assessing Department; minutes dated September 18, 1967. "This report is tentative due to time, other assioned working duties and responsi- bilities, and the very nature of a delicate complex study of computer systems. "I have dvring the past fem~ weeks attended Seminars on data processing for local governments, visited various computer service bureaus, manufacturers, other counties that use service centers &/or their own equipment. Due to mar.y factors, I am still ' not ready to suggest or recommend a system to this commission. "I have available four proposaJs namely: 1-National Cash Register Co. Nianufacture 2-Cherry,Bekarert and Holland, CPA-Service Center 3-National Data Processing, Inc. Service Center 1}-Independent Data Processing Inc. Service Center . ~ "These are detailed studies. and cost of service. ~.~~ Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) - TENTATIVE REPORT, COUNTY AUDITOR, DATA PROCE55IPIG (CONTINUED) - ~~I have been contacted by Univac Inc., Burroughs Inc,,.Addressograph Inc., All Manufacturers, and Arista Data Processing, Service Center, "I would like for this Commission to appropriate $500.00 from the yeneral emergency fund in order to have the officia2s from Arista to spend one uieek in the Tax Listing and Assessing, the Tax Collectors and the Auditors Depart- ments in order to make their detail report and analysis and cost. These officials state that it will take one rreek to make a compiete study of our needs and requirements and one week to prepare their proposal. The cost of the proposal to Lhe counLy is nomina2, they will absorb the remainder of the cost. They state based on their county experience an intelligent study will take two weeks to evaluate, study and prepare. "I will continue to keep you fully advised as ta the progress we are making and aware of all proposals and studies, "ConcIusion: "Modern data processing with its speed and efficiency can provide us with an up to date accounting system, with answers now, not tomorrow, accounting records, management financial reports and any number of by products needed,required or desired. However, daLa processing does not perform any magic, it is oniy as good as the operators who designs, prepares; programs, installs, feeds the imput and interprets the output. The gamble is always there. In order to get next years tax abstracts, scrolls, bills, etc. on the computer we cannot delay any longer than December i, 1967 per my advisors, we have to determine the following: 1-Requirements 2-Purpose 3-Service Center or manufactures 4-Schedule of activities ~-P.ersonnel 6-Objectivities 7-Responsibilities 8-Meeting 9-Training 10-Programming 11-Suppliss 12-Documentation t3-Input & Computer Scheduling 11}-Conversion 15-Control tb-Paralle2 Run 17-File P^~aintenance 18-Debug 19-Begin normal production "Gentlemen, none of the above can be performed overnight, from beginning to normal production, we are talking about in the opinion of the writer from one to two years conversion time, let no one fool you. Weare•talking about confusion, frustration at times complete chaotic, overtime, tears, sweat and you name it we will experience it. Therefore we cannot, we must not have 2ny amateurs or anyone 2earning at our expense in the courthouse. There is no intent..or criticism in the above statement on any of the aforementioned proposals I now have. The firm you gentlemen accept will have to have among other things: 1 Know How 2 Initiative 3 Self-reliance f} Modern Equipment 5 Soundly Managed 8 Financed 6 Proper Attitudes B, Patience "Gentlemen, I thank you for your time and as Lhe saying goes, 'We either fish or cut bait'. The final surveys and analysis of the surveys, and decisions are of the Commission. I am at your complete disposal as my time will permit. There will be many decisions for you to make and right or wrong they will have to be made and accepted. Upon your final decision the end will be only the beginning. Benjamin Franklin said, ~As soon as a better method of doing something is devised the old method becomes obsolete.~ (s) Perry Shepard County Auditor" County Auditor Shepard also requested that an amount not to exceed $500.00 be approp- riated from the General Emergency Fund for the purpose of having Arista Data Processing make a study for the use of data processing in the offices of the Tax Supervisor and County Flud3tor. At this juncture, Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Mr. Bowden, that the meeting be recessed at 9:00 A.M. for the purpose of attending the National SecuriCy Seminar and that the report from the Covnty Audztor be considered after reconvening at 11:00 A.M. Motion was carried. The meetine was recor.vened 2C 11:17 A.M. rrith the fo2lov.~irtg members present: Chairman Dr. Joseph W. Hooper, Commissioners John Van B. Metts, Jr., J. M. Nall, Jr., M. H. Vaughan; County Attorney L. Bradford Tillery; County Mar.ager J, E. Marshall; and County Auditor Perry Shepard. ' BROWN-HERRING TRUCK AND TRACTOR CONPP.NY - Mr. Addison Hewlett and Nr. Glenn Herring appeared before the Board relative to Brot,m- Herring Truck 8 Tractor Company purchasing a tract of land now owned by the County adjacent to the road leading to the Wanet Sausage Company. Mr. Vaughan questioned Mr. Hewlett and . ~r. Herring as Lo whether they would be agreeable to inserting in the minutes that a building for the International Harvester Company business that is presently being conducted will be constructed on the property within five years. Mr. Hewlett and Nlr. Herring both agreed to this. Mr. Netts moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that sale be made to the Brown-Herring Truck and Tractor Company of the proposed land pursuant to the agreement which has been reviewed by the County Attorney. Question was called on the motion and it was carried. ~ J ~ 108 P9inutes of the Neeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) I~fELFARE DEPARTNiENT, RECLASSIFICATIOA~ AND SALARIES - Chairman of the uielfare Board, P4r. H. A. P4arks, 2nd Mr. Lloyd Moore appeared before the Board relative to reclassifications and salaries of personnei in the Welfare Department. A list was presented for zll reciassifications in ihe department. After briefly discussing this, it was agreed by the Board of Commissioners and Welfare Board members that study would be given the proposals and that the Welfare Board would present complete data at the next meetiny in November. SUB-DIVISION PLAT - Mr. Raeford Trask presented a plat for King's Grant Sub-Division which had been approved by the City-County Plar.nino Commission ar.d was necessary that it be approved now by the Eoard of County Commissioners. He stated that it had not been sioned by the Chairrr:an of the Planning Commission but that this would be done and that it would be in order for the signature by the Board of County Commissioners' Chairman. Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that subject to the Chairman of the Planning Commission signing the plat it be approved and the Chairman authorized to sign it on behalf of the County. NON-LISTING PENALTY, MRS. VALERIA T. WHITAKER - County Manager A7arshall presented a request from A?rs. Valeria T. Whitaker of 101 Brook- wood Avenue; 'l?lilmington; requesting that the ten percent mandatory penalty in the amount of $20.71 be waived. After briefly discussing this, Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Hal.l, that the penalty waiver not be granted. Motion was carried. NOT1-LISTING PEA'ALTY, DR. i~lORRIS KRAN:ER - County Manager Marsliail presented a request from Dr. Morris Kramer who owns property in Carolina Beach but resides in Lumberton, IV. C. in which he stated that a penalty of $27.55 had been levied asainst his property in Carolina Beach. Information was presented which substantiates the fact that Dr. Kramer h2d made an effort to have his property listed to avoid the penalty. Followine a discussion on this; P4r. Hall moved, seconded by Nr. Metts, that the penalty of $27.5~ be waived on tYie property owned by Dr. Kramer in Carolina Beach. Motion was carried. NON-LISTING PENALTY, ?~?S. JOHN A. DIXON P. request from Mrs. John A. Dixon who lives in the Viroin Islands but has property owned jointly by she and two other sisters in Czrolina Beach was presented to the Board and she re- quested that the penalty waiver be oranted her. Folio~aine a discussion on this P4r. Hall moved, seconded by "7r. Vaughan, that the penalty not be waived bec2nse it did not appear to be a county error. Motion was carried. VP.LUATION ADJUSTMEI4T, MR. JOSEPH R. HP.LECHI County I~lanager Narshall presented a recommendation from the Tax Supervisor that the ~raluation per acre on property owned by Mr. Joseph R. Halecki be reduced from ~2,400 per acre to $~00 per acre. Th~ Tax Superuis.or'haci"recommended that the adjustment be made to $400 per acre. A9r. Hall moved, seconded by Mr. Vaughan, that the adjustment be made and N:r. Halecki so notified. N!otion ~,~as carried. VALUATION ADNSTMENT, COLE'S MOTEL, CI+ROLINA BEACH - County Manager ^7arshall reperted to the Board th2t follo~,~ing a review by N.r. Jerry Nel.son of Southern Appraisai Company of the property in question owned by Mr. and Mrs. C~le in Carolina Beach that it had been adjusted do~•m~aard from the former $10;725 to $9,17K. This adjustment was made in view of the fact that ±ne sU,~immin~ pool had been original.l; priced on 1,000 sqcare feet but upon checking; it was found to be 577 square feet. Mr. Vaughan moved; seconded by Mr. Nietts, t.hat adjus±ment be made. Niotion was carri?d. PEOPLES SAVIVGS ~ LC!4N ADJUST~"FNT C~unty Manager Narsha ll reported to the Board that A7r. Jerry Nelson had reviewed the Peoples Savings & Loan Association properties for possible error in pricing its land and retainer ~~iall. After consideration and consulting uiith Mr. Pell of the Southern Appraisal Company it ~ras agreed that the adjustment should be made doUrnward and that the Peoples Savin~s 8 Loan should not be charged for the Vaall supporting the fill inasmuch as we had previously ctiarged them for a level lot. The resulting figure laas from $171,1~.50 to ~163,°,25. Mr. Vaughan moved; seconde.d by n4r. Hail, that the above adjustment be granted. A".otion was carried. At this juncture 120 jurors were drawn. TAX LISTING BY MAIL County Manager Marshall reported to the Board that Tax Listing by Mail should be effective this year. He stated that the aUStracts were ordered on Gctober 23, 1967 and that they had been promised for delivery by November 9, 1957. A2~o, that a letter of instructions had been prepared and will be in the hands of the printers very shortly. ~ COUNTY AUDITOR~S REQUEST - DUES IN L1I~;ERICAN SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIP.TION - A bill was received in the amount of $100.00 from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association for a corporate membership for Ner,~ Hanover County. Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that this be approved and that it be paid from the Line Item Dues and Subscriptions. N;otion was carried. KURE BEACH BERN: AND DUNE PROJECT - Dr. Hooper reported to the Board on the mee Beach and he stated that at this time the Town of share of the financing and that no furt}!er action until word is received from the State or from the ting for the Berm and Dune Project at Hure Hure Beach ~aas not able to provide their would be taken on the proposed meeting Town of Kure Beach that funds are available COUDITY AUDITOR~S REQUcST, INSURANCE - NEW HAA~OVER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AP1D CAPE FF.E1R TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - County Auditor Shep2rd reported to the Board that the amount of the insurance premium recently received from the Insurance Advisory Board exceeded the budgeted amount by $2,688.76 and that an additional appropriation ~:as needed. He stated that he would recommend that it come from the General Emergency Fund. Dr. Hooper moved, seconded by Nr. Hall, that the amount of $2,688.76 be appropriated from the General Emercency Fund to pay the insurance premiums presented by the Insurznce Advisory Committee. Notion was carried. Y~ , Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) TRANSFER OF UNANTICIPATED REVEPIUE, NEU! HANOVER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - County Auditor Shepard recommended that the amount of $(}30,070.24 be transferred from Revenues Received to Appropriations for New Hanover A§emorial Hospital. Dr. Hooper moved, seconded by Nr. Metts, that this transfer be made. Motion was carried. TRANSFER OF FUNDS, CAPE FEAR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - County Nuditor Shepard recommended that $10,858.16 be transferred from Revenue Received to Appropriations at Cape Fear Technical Institute. Pir. P7etts moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that this transfer be made. Motion was carried. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE ANENDMENT - County h4anager PAarshall stated that it had been brought to his attention that the holiday schedule for the County does not completely coincide with the Holiday Schedule observed by City offices. The only conflict is that the County observed May lOth as A4emorial Day and the City of Wilmington did not. He suggested that May lOth be deleted and that November llth be designated as a holiday to be observed by County offices and it wouid also coincide ~1ith the City's schedule. Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that the above re- commendation be accepted. Motion was carried. SALE OF MOTOR GRADER, P.IRPORT - By common consent it was agreed that the County Manager be authori2ed to negotiate a sale for the highest doilar for the sale of the old motor grader at the Airport. A.P.C. PERMITS, I-IARVEY'S RESTAURANT, OGDEN; NICHELLE'S RESTAURANT, WILMINGTON; MARINE'S SERVICE AND HAP,DWARE, WILMINGTON; AND THE UPPER DECK, LdRIGHTSUILLE BEACH - Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Mr. Vaughan, that all these requests be referred to the Sheriff for his investigation. Motion was carried. ~REQUEST FROM COURT REPORTER - County Manager N;arshall stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Leonard W. ldatts, Court Reporter, requesting that the County pay the cost of the telephone presently used in his office and now beir.g paid for by him. Further, that Mr. ?n~atts had recommended some dis- positicn be made of the Dictaphone equipment that was used at one time in the Superior Court Room. in his letter Nr. Watts stated that the Dictaphone equipment, to his knowledge, ha'cl been quite expensive in operatiny in view of it not operating properly and this had been true since he had been here. Mr. Vauahan rooved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that the amount of $100.00 be appropriated from the General Emerc~ency Fund for the purpose of paying for the telephone in the Court Reporter's office. P~Iotion was carried. The County Manager was instructed to contact Dictaphone Corporation and the Court Re- porter to determine just what has been the problem with the dictating equipment and determine why it has not worked properly in the Court Room. COUNTY AUDIT - By common consent it was agreed that the County Audit would be discussed at the next regular meeting of the Board. By common consent it was agreed that the CoLnty Auditor apprise the Board of the financial situation at the second meeting in each month in order that the Soard will have some knowledge as to how the fin2nces of the County are sitvated in view of the tax listing error. NE~r! ACCESS ROAD, COUNTY AIRPORT - By common consent the County P~anager ~aas instructed to write a letter to the Savannah office in order that they might be apprised of the urgency of the need for the new access road at the County Airport and request execution of the release of the National Guard Property as " soon as possible. SECURITY PATROL - Mr. Vaughan stated that the owner of Carolina Security Patrol had contacted him relative to not gettiny an ansv.~er on the security forces at New Hanover Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hooper ti•~ill obtain an ans~aer on this and report it to Mr. Vaughan. 1.~~~ OPPORTUNITIES, INC. OFFICE SPACE - Mr. Vaughan requested that some investigation be made of the possibility of the Opportunities, Inc. office being made availabie for 2dditional museum space. Dr. Hooper stated that he had contacted Nayor Allsbrook and thzt he. advised him he would have this matter looked into immediately and report to him as soon as possible. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY - The County Manager was instructed to contact the proper official in Raleigh to determine when the final report is to be made relative to t'he U. S. Geological Ground Water Survey. ~ Ia~ATER AUTHORITY - REPORT BY COUNTY ATTORNEY - Covnty Attorney L. Bradford Tillery reported to the Board about meeting, in ?~Jashington u~ith Mr. Alton Lennon and Representatives of HUD about the la~ater Authority proposed in 1^iilmington and Nem~ Har.over County. Mr. Tiliery stated that we should have facts and figures and to have such, an engineer would be required. Also, that another meeting had been requested in I~~ew York by the Bond Attorneys but in view of P-7ayor Allsbrook and several other City officiais being there he did not deem it necessary that any County officials make a second trip at this time. WELFARE RECIPIENTS - Mr. Vaughan discussed the question of Welfare recipients briefly. By his consent it was agreed that Mr. Bowden would report on this at the next meeting. SCHOOL COSTS - Mr. Vaughan discussed school costs in New Hanover County. By common consent it was agreed that the County Manager would contact one of the prefabricated building eontractors in order that ~ a film may be arranged for the County Commissioners at their next meeting. He was to endeavor to have this film showing at approximately 8:l+5 A.M. By common consent it was agreed that the Economic Development Commission wouid be discussed by Mr. Metts at the next meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. n ~~ ~ ~ 110 Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 196~ (Continued) DATA PROCESSING - County Auditor Shepard having made a request for an appropriation of $500.00 for a pro- posed study of data processing, Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that an amount not to exceed $500.00 be appropriated from the General Emergency Fund for the purpose of having Arista Processing Service Center make a study for the use of data processing in the Tax Listing Office and County Auditor's Office. Motion was carried. GOVERNOR~S CONFERENCE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Dr. Hooper reminded the Board about the Governor~s Conference on Economic Development to be held on Thursday, November 9, 1967 in Raleiyh. Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that all members be appointed representatives and that those that were able to attend the meeting in Raleigh do so. Motion was carried. MENTAL HEALTH REQUEST - Dr. Hooper presented to the Board the request from the Mental Health Advisory Committee and it was that $3,000.00 be used from the Director~s salary to underwrite the cost of obtaining the services of a Director for the Mentai Health Center. Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that the amount of $3,000.00 be authorized for use from the present Director~s salary of the Mental Health Clinic to underwrite the cost of obtaining the services of a director. Motion was carried. The statement about support from the Board of County Commissioners from the Mental Health Advisory Committee was then read and by common consent made a part of the record and is as follows: "We are especiaily grateful to you and the members of the Commission for the comp2ete and vital support you have given during the recent problems associated with staff and program. We feel this situation is now behind us and the ground is clear for us to rebuild without encumbrances." LOOSE LEAF REGISTRATION - By common consent, and in view of the fact that Mr. Pridoen was involved in Court, the matter of loose leaf registration will be discussed at the next meeting. ROAD PETITION, RAINBOW CIRCLE AND SIERRA DRIVE - County Manager Marshall presented to the Board a request for addition to the State Main- tained Secondary Road System for Rainbow Circle and Sierra Drives, Pabelo Avenue and Monterey Drive. Both petitions seemed to be in order and the necessary maps had been furnished. Mr. Vaughan moved that the standard resolution be adopted and these petitions with attached maps be referred to the Highway Department for their consideration. Motion was seconded by Mr. Metts and passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF QUEENS POINT SUB-DIVISION A plan for the proposed Queens Point Sub-Division was presented. It had been approved by the Planning Commission but the lack of having the signature of the Chairman of the City-County Pianning Commission the Boarcl took the following action: Mr. Hall moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that the sub-division plat be approved sub,ject to the signature of the Chairman of the City-County Planning Commission being placed on the plat and bhen signed by the Chairman of the County Commissioners. Motion was carried. EASEMENTS AT COUNTY AIRPOR'T - County Attorney L. Bradford Tillery presented a proposal to the Board relative to the easements being obtained on the ends of the runway for the glide slope and approach zone areas. After a brief discussion of this Nir. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that the chairman be authorized, empowered and directed to execute and deliver a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration advising that Agency that New Hanover County requests the deletion and waiver of acquis3tlon of easements over parcels F, I, C. B, and S as soon as possibie as shown on revised Exhibit "A" for New Hanover County Airport. Motion was carried, BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT MEMBER APPOINTMENT Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that Mr. E. R. Wilson be reappointed to serve on the Board of 2oning Ad,justments as a representive of the County from the one-mile area for a term of two years. The effective date of this appointment to be November 5, 1967 and will expire November 5, 196q. Motion was carried. LETTER, PAUL BLANCHARD - By common consent it was agreed that the Chairman write a letter to Mr. Pau1 Blanchard, Register of Deeds, and express to him the Commissioners~ regrets of his extended illness. LEASE AMENDMENT, AERONAUTICS, INC. - Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that Mr. Vaughan and the County Attorney be authorized to negotiate the lease amendment and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the lease amendment upon being delivered to him. Motion was carried. ' PETIT JURY - The following good and lawful persons were drawn to serve as ,jurors in Superior Court for the weeks beginning December !} and December 11, 196~ - Criminal Terms: Jurors For the Week Beqinninq December !~, 1967 Batson,Pleasant, 1ob Central Blvd. Brown,W.F., 103 Jacksonville Ave. Canady,C.F., Rt. 1,Box 2(}8,W11. Carmon,Daniel w., 914 Meares st. Chesser,Homer E.,Sr., 2006 Pender Ave. Coleman,Robt.F.,Jr., 1922 Chestnut St. Doby,John D., l}0 L ake Forest Pkwy, Fountain,Mrs.W.G., 2412 Belvedere Dr. Fowler,O.D., 2222 Brandon Rd. Funderburg,Mrs.Louise N.,RFD 1,Castle Hayne Ga11ey,Richard, 709 So. 15th St. Garrett,John H., !}LE08 , Greenfield St. Green,Lucille D., 209 Brookwood Ave. Haertel,Ceci1 W., 212 Cape Fear Blvd. Hansen,A,H.,Sr., 208 Arlington Dr, - Criminal Term: Harrell,J.Reece, 5113 Clear Run Dr. Harrell,Susan Chason ,Rt. 1,Box 8!{-I,Wil. Harris,Lura, 230 Lake Forest Pkwy. Hatch,George G., 1l}2 Heritage Park Dr. Hayduke,S.J., Rt. 2,Box 53A,Castle Hayne Hi11,Andrew, 501 So. 14th St. Jackson,J.R., 130 Whitman Ave. Jenkins,Thomas,Jr., 825 Green St. Johnson,H.L., 809 So. Front St. Johnson,Robt.B., 3606 Winston Blvd. Jordan,Thelma B., 53i Castle Hayne Rd. Justice,F.M., Rt. 1,Box 56, Wil. Justice,J.B., 113 Glendale Dr. Kalnen,Elizabeth M., Cast le Hayne, N. C. Keith, Louis, 25-D Taylor Homes ~ l.1 ~` Minutes of the Meeting - November 6, 1967 (Continued) PETIT JURY (CONTINUED) - Jurors For the Week Beainninq December 11, 1967 Koen,Pete H., 122 Bermuda Dr. Koltuniak,John Joseph, Rt. 1,Box 79BB,Cas.Hyn. Lane,Margueritte S., Rt. 1,Box 154,Cas.Hyn. Lanier,N.B., Rt. i,Box 203,Cas.Hyn. Latimer,H.G.,Jr., 407 CP&L Bldg.. Lofton,Alice Wood, 1015 Orange St. Melton,John R., 3821 Car.Bch. Rd. McCa11,W.H., 6913 wri. Ave. Millinor,Carolyn Williams,3502 Car.Bch.Rd. Morton,Cabot C., Rt. 1,Holland Dr., Cas.Hyn. Murchison,Charlotte, 1231 Fairway Dr. Neal,Mer1 C., Rt. 2,Box 393,W11. ~ CriminaT Term (Continued): ourt,Mrs. Carrie B., Rt. 1,Box 166,Wi1. Philemon,Daniel M., 2010 Perry Ave. Pierce,J.E., 5806 Roseland Dr. Puskas,Ernest James, 126 Bermuda Dr. Rivenbark,E.A., Rt. 1,Wrightsboro Rd. Rogers,"Robt.C., 235 No. 23rd St. Spencer,Mrs. Augusta B.,5i4 Princess St. Steenhuis,Bernice Hi1da,Box 17,Kure Beach Ti11y,Carrie M., • 707 Campbell St. Tsantes,Louis, 1}19 So. 3rd St. Turner,Paul T., 915 No. Kerr Ave.. Ward,James N~rvin, 2Q9 Bermuda Dr. Webb,A.C., Rt. 2,Box 315,Wi1. Jurors For the Week Beainninq December 11. 1967 Bordeaux,Hubert~H., 135 Holbrooke Ave. Brinson,Allan R., 1}O6 Dawson St. Cameron,Bruce B. c/o MacMillan & Cameron Cameron,Robt. F., P.O. Box 990,W11. Campbell,Lottie, 823 So. 6th St. Campbell,Willie, Rt. i,Box 265-B,Wil. Carter,Walter S.,Jr., 20!} Rose Ave. Cottle,Loranzo Bryant,Jr .,304 Coliege St. Cromartie,Willie M., 612 Church St. Eames,Phillip M.;Jr., l}618 Mockingbird Dr. Farrar,Jack B., P.O. Box 418,W11. Galloway,Robt.E., 110 Sunset Ave. Ha11,Gertrude, 1208 Charlotte St. Ha11,John, Box 809,Wi1. Hardiman,Callie B., Rt. 1,Box 82-B,Wil. Harris,Rofield, 706 Ann St. Harriss,Francies Green, 1701~ Chestnut St. Harvell,Everett L., Rt. 1,Box 7l},Cas.Hyn. Harvell,J.W., P.O. Box 37,Cas.Hyn. Harvell,Roy Stanley, Rt. 1,Box 273AA,Cas.Hyn. Hayduke,Joseph C., Rt. 1,Castle Hayne Hayes,Norbert B„ 13l} Jamaica Dr. Jackson,Clarence, 130 Bermuda Dr. Jordan,Levi P., Rt. 1,Box 180,Cas.Hyn. Jordan,Richard W., 529 Castle Hayne Rd. Joyce,Charies A., P.O. Box 104,W11. Joyner,Claudia B., 1936 Hudson Dr. Keel,Dorfina, Rt. l,Box 76,Wi1. Keith,R.A., 29 W hitman Ave. Krochmalny,Raymond, Rt. 1,Holland Dr., Cas.Hyn. Criminal Term: Lane,J.R., Lane,James F., Laney,Madge G., Larkins,Lula G., Leonard,Harold E., Leonard,Robt. Ray, Lettley,Charles, Lettley,James, Lewis,Alex, Lewis,Edward E., Lewis,Jerold W., Lewis,Joe, Lewis,Oscar T.,Jr., Lucas,Richard Lee, Marks, Nfrs. Rebecca, McQuillan;Dawson, Parks,Norman E., Raynor,James Ray, Richardson,J.H., Robbins,J.S., Schwartz,Frariz, Sellers,W.D., Smith,L.M., Sr., Smith,Maude, Smith,Will, Spivey,,1.C., Talman,George, Teague, M.L., Rt.•1,Box 154,Cas.Hyn. Rt. 1,Cas.Hyn. 8 son. s1va.,wt1. 110 Jamaica Dr. 131 Glendale Dr, Rt: 1,Box 232F,Cas.Hyn. Rt. 1,Box 81A,Wi1. Rt. 1,Box 82AA,Wii. Rt. 1,Box 13,wt1. ~Rt. 1,Box 1'18,Wi1. 218 Jamaica Dr. RFD 1,Box 188,Cas.Hyn. 213 Jamaica Dr. Rt. 1, Box 98HD,W31. 2720 Mimosa Place 711 Wooster St. Kure Beach Rt. 3,Box 139,wi1. 1115 Dock St. 2916 Monroe St. Gastle Hayne 210 Oakleaf Dr. 201 Tenn. Ave. 1501 Nun St. 808 50. bth st. 305 Church St. ' 919 So. 2nd St. 2510 Adams St. ~ ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Mr. Vaughan, that the meeting be adjourned. Notion was carried. ~ J. E. Marshall, County Manager Minutes of the Meeting - November 20, 196~ ASSEMBLY - " ' ~ The regular semi-monthly meeting of the New Nanover Connty •Board of Commissioners was held on the above date at 8:30 A.M. in the Commissioners' Room with the following members present: Chairman Dr. Joseph lA. Hooper, Vice-Chairman Laurence O. Bowden, Commissioners John Van B. Metts, Jr., M. H. Vaughan; County Attorney L. Bradford Tillery;•County'Manager J. •E. Marshall; and County Auditor Perry Shepard. • INVOGATION - After calling the meeting to order the Chairman asked Rev. W. A. Seawell, Pastor, Grace Methodist Church, to give the invocat3on. At this time Commissioner J. M. Hall, Jr. joined the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - ~ For the minutes of November 6, 196~ in the paragraph where Vice-Chairman Laurence O. Bowden made a statement it should have the following inserted following the first sentence of the second paragraph: "I was informed of three conditions; one, there was a possibility of a$29,000,000 error; two, it had been known since September and nothing had been done to rectify or verify the error; and three, neither Lhe Auditor, Board of County Commissioners or the County Manager had been advised." Under the heading "Transfer of Unanticipated Revenue, New Hanover Memorial Hospital", it should be corrected to read as follows: "County Auditor Shepard recommended that the amount of $(}30,070.24 be transferred from Revenues Received to Appropriations For New Hanover Memorial Hospital." Dr. Hooper moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that this transfer be made. Motion was carried." ~ Under the heading "Transfers of Funds, Cape Fear Technical Institute", it should be corrected to read as follows: "County Auditor Shepard recommended'that $10,858.16 be transferred from Revenues Received to Appropriations at Cape Fear Technical~InstituLe. Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that these transfers be made. Motion was carried." ~ Following these corrections, Mr. Metts moved, seconded by Mr. Bowden, that the minutes be approved as transcribed. Motion was carried.