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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-07-26 Special Meeting SPECIAL MEETING July 26, 1968 10:00 A.M. ASSEMBLY - The Board of County Commissioners met in a special meeting on the above date and time in the Commissioners' Room. The following were present: Chairman Dr. Joseph 4J. Hooper, J. M. Hall, Jr., M. H. Vaughan, John Van B. Metts, Jr.; and County Auditor Perry Shepard, ~ By common consent the three day notice for special meetings was waived and the Board convened in special session. BOND ORDERS, RENOVATION OF COURTHOUSE AND JAMES WALKER yURSING HOME AND PURCHASE OF 5&H GREEN STAMP BUILDING - PUBLIC HEARING - The Cierk reported to the Board that the bond order entitled "Bond Order authori2ing the issuance of $120,000 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New Hanove.r" which had been introduced on .luly 11, 1968, had been published in the Wilmington Morning Star on July 15, 1968, w3th notice that the Board of Commissioners would hold a public hearing thereon on July 26, 1968, at 10:00 o'clock, A.M. J. M. Ha11,~Jr, moved that the Board proceed to hoid a public hearing on the bond order. The motion was seconded by John Van B. Metts, Jr. and was unanimously adopted. At.10:00 o~clock, A.M., the Chairman announced that the Board would hear any citizen or taxpayer who desired to be heard with respect to the bond order. At the direction of the Chairman the Clerk read the bond order and the published notice of hearing. After the Board had heard all persons who requested to be heard, J. M. Hall, Jr. moved that the public hearing be closed. The motion was seconded by John Van B. Metts, Jr. and was unanimously adopted. The Clerk reported to the Board that the bond order entitled "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $!}5,OQ0 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New Hanover", which had been introduced on July 11, 1968, had been published in the Wilmington Morning Star on July 15, 1968, with notice that the Board of Commissioners would hold a public hearing thereon on July 26, 1968, at 10:00 o~clock, A.M. J. M. Hall, Jr. moved that the Board proceed to hold a public hearing on the bond order. The motion was seconded by John Van B. Metts, Jr. and was unanimously adopted. At 10:02 o'clock, A.M., the Chairman announced that the Board wouid hear any citizen or taxpayer who desired to be hsard with respect to the bond order. At the direction of the Chairman the Clerk read the bond order and the pub2ished notice of hearing. After the Board had heard all persons who requested to be heard, John Van B. Metts, Jr. moved that the public hearing be closed. The motion was seconded by J. M. Hall, Jr, and was unanimously adopted. The Clerk reported to the Board that the bond order entitled "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $100,000 County Office Building Bonds of the County of New Hanover", which had been introduced on .luly il, 1g68, had been published in the Wilmington Morning Star on July 15, 1968, with notice that the Board of Commiss3oners would hold a public hearing thereon on July 26, 1968, at 10:00 o~clock, A.M. ' J. M. Hall, Jr. moved that the Board proceed to hold a public hearing on the bond order. The motion was seconded by John Van B. Metts, Jr. and was unanimously adopted. At 10:05 o'clock, A.M., the Chairman announced that the Board wovld hear any citi2en or taxpayer who desired to be heard with respect to the bond order. At the direction of the Chairman the Clerk read Lhe bond order and the published notice of hearing. After the Board had heard all persons who requested to be heard, John Van B. Metts, Jr. moved that the public hearing be closed. The motion was seconded by J. M. Hall, Jr. and was unanimously adopted. Thereupon John Van B. Metts, Jr. introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption. WHEREAS, the bond orders entitled "Bond Order avthorizing.the issuance of $120,000 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New }lanover", "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $45,000 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New Hanover", and "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $100,000 County Office Building Bonds of the County of New Hanover", have been introduced at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners held on July 11, 1968, and have been duly publistied with notice of hearing thereon, and the Board of Commissioners has, at the time and place specified in such notice of hearing, heard any and all citizens and taxpayers who desired to protest against the issuance of the bonds, and such hearing has been closed; and WHEREAS, the County Accountant has, by direction of the Board of Commissioners, filed in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners a statement of debt incurred and to be incurred for other than school purposes under bond orders either introduced or passed, complying with the provisions of the County Finance Act, and such statement so filed shows that the net indehtedness of the County for such purposes is 2.519% of the assessed valuation of property in said County as last fixed for County taxation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE'IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the County of New Hanover as follows: (1) The bond order entitled "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $120,000 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New Hanover", introduced at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners held on July 11, 1968, is hereby,adopted without change or amendment. (2) The bond order enLitled "Bond Order authorizing the issuance of $45,000 County Courthouse Bonds of the County of New Hanover", introduced at the meeting of the Board of Commissioners held on July 11, 1968, is hereby adopted without change or amendment. ~ 22'~~ 22g Special Meeting, July 26, 1968 (Continued) BOND ORDERS, RENOVATION OF COURTHOUSE AND JAMES WALKER NURSING HOME AND PURCHASE OF S8H GREEN STAMP BUILDING - PUBLIC HEARING (CONTINUED) - (3) The bond order entitled "Bond Order authori23ng the issuance of $100,000 County Office Building Bonds of the County of New Hanover", introduced at the meeting of the Boar-d of Commissioners held on July 11, 1968, is hereby adopted without change or amendment. (4) The Clerk of the Board of Commissioners is hereby directed to cause copies of said bond orders to be published with the statement as to their adoption prescribed by the County Finance Act in the Wilmington Morning News, a newspaper published in the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, in said County, and such publication shall be made in the manner prescribed by the County Finance Act. ~ The motion, having been duly seconded by J. M. Hall, Jr., was unanimovsly adopted. AGRICULTURE EXTENSION ASSISTANT - Mr. Baggett appeared to ~justify replacing Mr. Lemons who was his Assistant and who has resigned. . Dr. Hooper asked Mr. Baggett if it were not true that Mr. Lemons left for more money and that he was disappointed with the response. Dr. Hooper then said the people are not against the 1}-H work but feel that he, Mr. Baggett, could do both ,jobs. Mr. Baggett said if he did, something else would have to go 2acking. Dr. Hooper asked Mr. Baggett how long it would take to get a man and he replied that would be difficult to answer; they wanted to screen very carefully and get the best person possible for the position. Dr. Hooper said the position had been budgeted for this year, but when Mr. Lemons was given the position it was on a trial basis, and he was not fully satisfied that the position should be filled. Mrs. Robertshaw appeared and spoke in favor of Mr. Lemons's position being filled. She pointed out the good that had been done with a group she works with. Mr. John Tinga appeared also and stated his feelings that he thought this was vital to the community; that the community needed someone who was educated and qualified for leader- ship in this type of work and said if the right person was obtained the County would benefit from it. Dr. Hooper expressed the opinion that the office was overstaffed. Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that the position be deleted. Motion failed. It was two to two vote. Mr. Baggett then requested that Miss Brown's salary be read,justed since she had been with the County approximately ten years and was paid so much less than the others. Mr. Baggett reqvested a flat $300 raise for her instead of the twelve (12~) percent which was recently given to her. By common consent this was agreed to. SALARY OF MRS. MAE STUART, TlaX LISTING DEPARTMENT - Mr. Peter H. Braak, Tax Supervisor, appeared before the Board and told them he had been mistaken in not requesting a one step increase for Mrs. Mae Stuart and he was requesting that she be given this at this time along with the three (39) percent cost of living increase. After some discussion, N~r. Vaughan moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that the request be denied and re-evaluated January 1, 1969. Motion carried. SALARY OF MISS DELORES FARROW, REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE - Before the meeting Mrs. Lois LeRay, Register of Deeds, had contacted the Commissioners and requested that the salary of Mrs. Delores Farroa~ be reconsidered. In a previous budget meeting she had been given a two step raise plus the three (3%) percent cost of living in- crease. Miss Farrow felt she was due more because of the kind of work she is doing. Dr. Hooper moved, seconded by Mr. Hall, that Miss Farrok~~s salary remain as was fixed at previous budget hearing. RACE RELATIONS COORDINATOR Dr. Hooper advised the Board that the reason he was bringing up the question of a Race Relations Coordinator was that he felt he had an obligation to Mr. McKim. He pointed out to the Board that when the Board of Commissioners and City Council met in joint budget session recently, he asked Mayor Allsbrook if he wished to discuss it and was told by Mayor Allsbrook, "NO". By common consent it was agreed that the County will not participate in the cost of this position at this time. WATER SURVEY, ALEXANDER POTTER - Dr. Hooper advised the Board that funds to pay for the Water Survey had not been pvt in the budget before now, but have been budgeted now for fifty (50%) percent or $11,900. NEW HANOVER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FUNDS - Dr. Hooper presented a letter written to the County Auditor by Mr. Seymour L. Alper, Chairman, Board of Trustees, New Hanover Memorial Hospital requesting release of noncommitted funds in the amount of $93,346.08 and $29,500 in Sales Tax refund to the Hospital. Mr. Hall moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that the funds be released as requested. Motion carried. EMERGENCY FUND - Discussion was held on amount budgeted in the General Emergency Fund. Mr. Hall felt it should be 530 of the General Fund, Mr. Vaughan moved that the Emergency Fund be left at $50,000. Motion died for lack of a second. Dr: Hooper moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that $55,000 be budgeted for the Emergency Fund. Motion carried. SCHOOL ALLOCATION - Mr. Vaughan moved that $200,000 allocated for schools be removed from the budget on grourids the County should not cooperate w;th the Government at all because he felt their action was un-American and Communistic. Dr. Hooper said the School Board does not know what the Court wants and he is not sure the Court knows. Vote was called on the motion and it failed, one for and two against. -r. Hooper abstained from voting. This motion had been seconded by Dr. Hooper for discussion. r \ ~zs~~ Special Meeting, July 26, 1968 (Continued) ADOPTION OF BUDGET - ` County Auditor Shepard advised the Commissioners the Lotal budget is $12,335,1}11. The tax base is $261,000,000 and he has based the budget on ninety-three (93~} percent of this figure or $242•,730,000. • The following budget resolution was offered: "Be It Resolved, that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1968 and ending June 30, 1969 the following appropriations are made to the various funds which are deemed sufficient for carrying out the necessary operations of the New Hanover County Government: Total Tax Funds Budqet Rate General Fund $ 1,1~46,57~ $ .1937 Agriculture & Economics 27,195 .0098 Aid To Blind Fund 28,1}08 .0096 Aid To Dependent Children 761,088 .0291 Aid To Perm. & Totally Disabled 508,500 .0080 Old Age Assistance 624,~80 .O1!}6 M. A. A. Fund 50,570 .0013 Indigent 54,300 .0011 Boarding Home - Children 70,300 .0122 Welfare Administration Fund 1~}l~,q15 .0466 ~ Health Fund 227,601 .0764 Mental Health 91,753 .0099 Debt Service 1,020,000 .3625 Cape Fear Technical Institute 4~-,855 .oi5i Cape Fear Tech. Inst. - Building 6,851 - Memorial Hospital 111,581 ~ - School: Book Fund 25,000 .0075 Bu3lding q,500 - Current Expense 1,387,278 .3540 Supplementary 714,348 .2000 Capital Outlay 252,200 .0393 Capital Reserve . 191;000 .0739 Pension , 90,935 .0279 Driver Edveation 103,876 - Lunch Room 95,000 - Bond Construction - School 3,750,000 - Revaluation 20,000 .0075 Court Room 127,000 - $iz,335,41i $1.50 "Be it further resolved that a tax levy of $1.50 per $100 be levied against all taxable property in the County as of January 1, 1968 to support the activities of the County Government for the fiscal year 1968-69 using a base valuation of $261,000,000. "Se it further resolved that $2.00 be levied on each taxable poli or male person between the ages of 21 and 50 and the taxes levied and collected under this Section shall be for the benefit of the Pubiic School Fund and the poor of the County. "Be it further resolved that the Budget be adopted in detail and spent only in amounts appropriated for each item unless changes are approved by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners." Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that the above resolution be adopted. Motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Vaughan said it was gratifying that the tax rate could be reduced for two years in succession, but he thought it could have been reduced to $1.40 this year. DOG WAGON Mr. Vaughan brought to the Commissioners' attention that the dog wagon was broken down and $300.00 was needed to put it back in operation. He advised the Board that the Sheriff~s Department did not have funds in their budget for this. Mr. Vaughan then moved, seconded by Dr. Hooper, that $300.00^be appropriated from the General Emergency Fund to cover this. Motion carried. \ ' Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Dr, Hooper, that Mr. Shepard be congratulated on the preparation of the budget. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Vaughan moved, seconded by Mr. Metts, that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried. Hazel Savage ~