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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-19 Regular Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 616 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Monday, September 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present: Chairman Beth Dawson; Vice-Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.; Commissioner Skip Watkins; Commissioner Woody White; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; County Attorney Wanda Copley; and Clerk to the Board Teresa P. Elmore. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Human Resources Analyst Bo Dean provided the invocation and Commissioner Watkins led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Chairman Dawson asked if any member of the Board would like to remove or discuss any item on the Consent Agenda. Chairman Dawson requested to remove Consent Item #4 for consideration of the Fire Prevention Proclamation during open session and Commissioner Zapple requested the removal of Budget Amendment #17-003 from the Consent Agenda for a brief presentation by the Department of Social Services concerning the grant funds for the adoption program. Chairman Dawson requested a motion to approve the remaining items on the Consent Agenda. Motion: Vice-Chairman Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Watkins, to approve the remaining items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Minutes – Governing Body The Commissioners approved minutes of the September 1, 2016 Agenda Review. Approval of Bank Resolutions and Agreements for Deposit Accounts with BB&T and Yadkin Bank – Finance Department The Commissioners approved the bank resolutions and agreements for deposit accounts with BB&T and Yadkin Bank. The authorized signers on the accounts are Lisa Wurtzbacher, Chief Financial Officer; Barbara D. McClure, Deputy Chief Financial Officer; and Martha Wayne, Deputy Chief Financial Officer. The new documents are necessary to add Martha Wayne and remove Jennifer Maready as authorized signers of the accounts. Adoption of Budget Amendment Approving the Pine Valley Library Project – Public Library The Commissioners approved Budget Amendment 17-009 to budget a contribution of $490,000 from the Library’s escrow account for the capital project expense of the Pine Valley Branch Library Project. The project was approved in the 2017 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for the relocation of the Myrtle Grove facility in order to address space and parking constraints. The project will be financed through a combination of loan proceeds, sale of the existing Myrtle Grove library property, and fundraising efforts. In order to maximize the construction and equipping the facility, $490,000 from the escrow account will be used for the design and architectural costs of the facility. The total budget for the project is $4.89 million. A copy of the budget amendment is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.1. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Sole Source Award for the Purchase of Fingerprint Machines to Safran MorphoTrak – Sheriff’s Office The Commissioners adopted a resolution approving the sole source award for the purchase of three fingerprint machines to Safran MorphoTrak in the amount of $62,625. The Sheriff’s Office is replacing three existing MorphoTrak's live capture booking stations that were purchased in FY 2007 and located at the Detention Facility, Judicial Services, and the Crime Lab. The new stations will perform both electronic tenprint submission to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and tenprint card output, and can capture demographic data and biometrics such as fingerprints, handprints, irises, and face photographs with an easy to use and flexible graphical user interface. MorphoTrak is the only vendor who can deliver a LiveScan system that is 100% compatible with the N.C. Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation (NC-SBI) system. Additionally, the LiveScan systems use the same AFIS quality checking algorithms to ensure the Sheriff’s Office can submit the highest quality prints to the State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. N.C. General Statutes 143-129(e)(6) provides purchases of apparatus, supplies, materials or equipment exempt from bidding when a performance or price competition for a product is not available; a needed product is available from only one source of supply; or standardization or compatibility is the overriding consideration. A copy of the resolution is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.2. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 617 Approval to Amend Fee Schedule for the Register of Deeds Office to Increase the Filing Fee for Any Deed of Trust or Mortgage – Register of Deeds TheCommissioners approved an amendment to the fee schedule for the Register of Deeds Office by increasing the filing fee for any deed of trust or mortgage. The state general assembly set the fees, per Session Law 2016-86, for filing a deed of trust or mortgage from $56 for the first 15 pages to $64 for the first 35 pages, effective October 1, 2016. The impact for the remainder of FY 2017 is projected to be negligible because the number of pages has increased thereby reducing the cost per page. Adoption of Budget Amendments – Strategy and Budget Department The Commissioners approved the following budget amendments amending the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017: Sheriff's Office: 17-004, 17-005 Senior Resource Center: 17-006, 17-007, 17-008 Emergency Management: 17-010 Copies of the budget amendments are hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and are contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.3. REGULAR ITEMS OF BUSINESS ADOPTION OF FIRE PREVENTION WEEK PROCLAMATION Chairman Dawson announced that Fire Services has requested that the Commissioners designate the week of October 9-15, 2016 as Fire Prevention Week with the theme, "Don't Wait - Check the Date!” Commissioner Zapple read the proclamation into the record and Chairman Dawson requested direction from the Board. Motion : Commissioner Watkins MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Barfield, to adopt a proclamation designating the week of October 9-15, 2016 as Fire Prevention Week with the theme "Don't Wait - Check the Date!” Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Fire Chief Donnie Hall announced that several public safety activities and community events will be held during the week to remind everyone to check the expiration dates of their smoke alarms and replace any that are more than 10 years old. Smoke alarms have a ten-year life span and should be replaced after ten years. A copy of the proclamation is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.4. ADOPTION OF BUDGET AMENDMENT #17-003 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DSS Director Michelle Winstead reported that the State Department of Health and Human Services granted an additional $104,400 to the DSS budget for the Adoption Promotion and Support Services program. The grant was awarded because of the high score the County received on its adoption program. Children Services Supervisor Alice Moore reported that DSS completed 45 adoptions during the months of July 2015 through May 31, 2016. She said that the funds will be used for recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive parents for special needs children. Ms. Winstead expressed appreciation for the foster care parents who take these children into their homes and care for them and she urged others in the community to consider becoming foster parents. The Commissioners congratulated and thanked the DSS staff for their leadership and compassion in protecting and helping the children in the community. Motion : Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Barfield, to approve Budget Amendment 17-003 amending the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. A copy of the budget amendment is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.5. PRESENTATION OF 2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT Matt Gunnet, Membership Services Coordinator with NCACC, presented the 2016 Local Government Federal Credit Union Excellence in Innovation Award to Chief Information Officer Leslie Chaney of the Information Technology Department. The award in the General Government Category was given to the IT Department in recognition of their program “Implementing Agile Project Management Methodologies for Improved Focus.” The competitive awards program recognizes county employees who develop successful programs that can help other counties improve services to citizens. A check for $1,000 was presented to Ms. Chaney in recognition of the innovative program. On behalf of the employees in the IT Department, Ms. Chaney accepted the check and thanked the Commissioners for promoting an environment for innovation. The Commissioners congratulated the IT Department for receiving the award. PRESENTATION OF SERVICE AWARDS TO EMPLOYEES AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES County Manager Coudriet recognized Alexander J. Hawkins of the Environmental Management Department, retiring after 29 years of service. Chairman Dawson presented a retirement award to Mr. Hawkins and the Commissioners expressed appreciation and thanked him for his years of dedicated service to the County. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 618 County Manager Coudriet requested the following employees to step forward to receive service awards: Five Year: Linda Brothers, Finance Department Brandon Harris, Sheriff’s Office Tami Kinman, Department of Social Services Shirline Leboo, Property Management Department Fifteen Year: Carla Turner, Health Department Twenty Year: Samuel Hawes, Environmental Management Department Susan Pless, Sheriff’s Office Twenty-Five Year: Barbette Colvin, Department of Social Services Elizabeth Floyd, Department of Social Services Chairman Dawson presented a service award to each employee and the Commissioners expressed appreciation and thanked each one for their years of dedicated service. County Manager Coudriet requested the following new employees to step forward to be introduced: Wiley Bierman, Emergency Management/911 Department Casey Brown, Emergency Management/911 Department Celeste Chadwick, Department of Social Services Allisa "Lisa" Hawes, Department of Social Services Kristen Haworth, Department of Social Services Neisha Holley, Health Department Michael Jennings, Strategy and Budget Department Samantha Jones, Health Department Janella Lee, Department of Social Services Taneka Lewis, Department of Social Services LaKenya Massenburg, Emergency Management/911 Department Tamara Matthews, Finance Department Aftan Medlin, Community Justice Services Julia Moeller, Planning and Inspections Department Gretta Naylon, Emergency Management/911 Department Dustin Perrell, Emergency Management/911 Department Tiffany Riley, Emergency Management/911 Department Bernice Saine, Health Department On behalf of the Board, Chairman Dawson welcomed the employees to County Government and wished them success in their new positions. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MILESTONE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES Chief Information Officer Leslie Chaney reported at the July 11, 2016 meeting, the Board considered the award of a contract to Milestone Communications for the exclusive marketing of County properties for the purpose of constructing communications towers. The Board voted to table the item until more concrete revenue projections could be provided. A revenue projection was presented at the Agenda Review on August 11, 2016 and staff was directed to calendar the item for further discussion at the September 19, 2016 meeting. She requested the Board award the contract to Milestone Communications. Motion : Vice-Chairman Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple, to adopt a resolution awarding a contract to Milestone Communications for development and management of wireless telecommunications facilities on sites owned by the County. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. In discussion, the Commissioners agreed that their concerns about the proposal were addressed with the additional information provided and expressed appreciation for the innovative proposal. They commented that the additional income to the budget would reduce the tax burden on citizens; asked that staff be mindful of the private sector in dealing with the competitive marketplace; and noted satisfaction with the provision in the lease agreement that Milestone would remove a tower from the property at its expense whenever the County needed the space for another purpose. A copy of the resolution is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained in Exhibit Book XL, Page 17.6. APPROVAL OF 2017 LEGISLATIVE GOALS Chief Communications Officer Ruth Smith reported that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) gives counties the opportunity each year to submit legislative items for potential inclusion in their legislative agenda. NCACC steering committees, legislative committees and Board of Directors review these items with final approval occurring at the Legislative Goals Conference in January 2017. A list of proposed legislative issues were presented for approval as follows: NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 619  General Government Legislative Goals:  Establish a sustainable source of state funding for coastal storm damage reduction (CSDR) projects and allow the state to match local funds  Protect county authority for land use planning and design authority  Oppose new interbasin transfers until the Cape Fear Water Resources Availability Study is completed and analyzed  Provide an appropriate cost of living increase to NC state and local government retirees  Tax and Finance Legislative Goals:  Oppose sales tax redistribution proposals  Support legislation to expand Article 43 to general government  Oppose legislation that erodes existing local revenue base  Preserve and enhance current film grants and ensure continuation of historic tax credits  Oppose unfunded mandates and shifts of state responsibility to counties  Justice and Public Safety Legislative Goals:  Support efforts to fund the NC Search and Rescue teams  Provide adequate state funding to promote the use of specialty courts  Health and Human Services Legislative Goals:  Continue Medicaid support funding to providers who offer substance abuse treatment to adults with children in Children’s Protective Services and Foster Care  Continue Medicaid for parents of foster children for at least one year to cover court-ordered services  Public Education Legislative Goals:  Seek legislation to repeal the statutory authority that allows local school districts to file suit against a county board of commissioners Ms. Smith requested approval of the proposed goals and said that Commissioner Zapple, as a member of the NCACC Legislative Goals Steering Committee, will be able to help move the County’s goals forward and through the process. Commissioner Zapple expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the legislative goals committee and to represent the people in the southeastern part of the state. Motion : Vice-Chairman Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple, to approve the legislative goals as presented for submission to the NCACC. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. BREAK : Chairman Dawson called a break from 10:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Appointment to the New Hanover County Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee Chairman Dawson reported that up to two vacancies exist on the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee with one applicant eligible for reappointment and requested direction from the Board. Motion : Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Chairman Dawson, to reappoint L. Thomas Jennings to serve a three-year term on the Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee with the term to expire on September 30, 2019. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Appointment to the New Hanover County Board of Examiners of Electricians Chairman Dawson reported that a vacancy exists for an unexpired term on the Board of Examiners of Electricians with one application available for consideration. She requested direction from the Board. Motion : Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Watkins, to appoint William Loeber to serve an unexpired term on the Board of Examiners of Electricians in the independent electrical contractor category with the term to expire on September 1, 2017. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Appointments to the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Community Relations Advisory Committee Chairman Dawson reported that six appointments are needed for the newly established Community Relations Advisory Committee in the following categories: business community, civil rights community, education community, faith community, and two at-large members, with thirty applications available for consideration. Chairman Dawson requested nominations for the business community category. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated Jeffrey Hovis. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. There being no other nominations, Chairman Dawson called for a vote. The Commissioners voted UNANIMOUSLY to appoint Jeffrey Hovis to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Committee in the business community category. Chairman Dawson requested nominations for the civil rights category. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated Evelyn A. Bryant. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 620 There being no other nominations, Chairman Dawson called for a vote. The Commissioners voted UNANIMOUSLY to appoint Evelyn A. Bryant to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Committee in the civil rights category. Chairman Dawson requested nominations for the education community category. Chairman Dawson nominated Emily Cottrell. The nomination was seconded by Vice-Chairman Barfield. There being no other nominations, Chairman Dawson called for a vote. The Commissioners voted UNANIMOUSLY to appoint Emily Cottrell to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Committee in the education community category. Chairman Dawson requested nominations for the faith community category. Commissioner Watkins nominated Brenda K. Swartz. The nomination was seconded by Chairman Dawson. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated Sabrenia S. Moore. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. There being no other nominations, Chairman Dawson called for a vote. The Commissioners with a majority vote appointed Brenda K. Swartz to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Committee in the faith community category. Chairman Dawson, Commissioner Watkins, and Commissioner White voted in favor. Chairman Dawson requested nominations for the two at large positions. Commissioner Watkins nominated Owen Wexler. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated James Adams. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. Chairman Dawson nominated Melanie Frank. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Watkins. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated Sabrenia S. Moore. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Zapple. Commissioner Zapple nominated Vanessa Lacer. There being no further nominations, Chairman Dawson called for the vote. The Commissioners, with a majority vote, appointed Owen Wexler and Melanie Frank to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Committee in the at-large category. Commissioner Watkins, Commissioner White and Commissioner Zapple voted in favor of Owen Wexler. Chairman Dawson, Commissioner Watkins, and Commissioner White voted in favor of Melanie Frank. Vice-Chairman Barfield expressed concern that the Board appointed only one person of color out of six members to address racial issues in the community and he believed that a more diverse group would be needed to begin that conversation. The following members were appointed to the Community Relations Advisory Committee: Jeffrey Hovis, Evelyn A. Bryant, Emily Cottrell, Brenda K. Swartz, Owen Wexler and Melanie Frank. Terms will be determined at the committee’s initial meeting. Appointments to the New Hanover County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Chairman Dawson reported that six vacancies exist on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council with two applicants available for reappointment and six applications available for consideration. Motion : Commissioner Watkins MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Barfield, to reappoint Campbell Dodd and Ashley Michael to serve two-year terms on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council with the terms to expire September 30, 2018. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Motion : Commissioner Zapple MOVED, SECONDED by Vice-Chairman Barfield, to appoint Dianne Jinwright, Cary McCormack, Maryann K. Nunnally, and Christopher M. Rhodes to serve two-year terms on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council with the terms to expire September 30, 2018. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Appointments to the New Hanover County Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee Chairman Dawson reported that four vacancies exist on the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee with one applicant eligible for reappointment and another application available for consideration. Motion : Chairman Dawson MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Watkins, to reappoint Sandy Andrews and appoint John Coble to serve three-year terms on the Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee with the terms to expire on September 30, 2019. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 33 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 PAGE 621 Appointment to the New Hanover County Risk Management Advisory Committee Chairman Dawson reported that two vacancies exist on the Risk Management Advisory Committee with one applicant eligible for reappointment. Motion : Commissioner Watkins MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner Zapple, to reappoint Ronald Woodruff to serve a three-year term on the Risk Management Advisory Committee with the term to expire September 1, 2019. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Appointments to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees Chairman Dawson reported that four vacancies exist on the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees with two applicants eligible for reappointment and seventeen applications available for consideration. Vice-Chairman Barfield nominated Jerome Fennell and Jason Thompson for reappointment. The nominations were seconded by Chairman Dawson. Commissioner Zapple nominated Barbara Biehner and Dana Cook. The nominations were seconded by Chairman Dawson. Commissioner White nominated James Bryan and Charlotte Noel Fox. The nominations were seconded by Commissioner Watkins. Vote Results: The Commissioners voted UNANIMOUSLY to reappoint Jerome Fennell and Jason Thompson to serve three-year terms on the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees with the terms to expire September 30, 2019. The Commissioners, with a majority vote, appointed Barbara Biehner and Dana Cook to serve three-year terms on the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees with the terms to expire September 30, 2019. Chairman Dawson, Vice-Chairman Barfield, and Commissioner Zapple voted in favor. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Dawson reported that no one had signed up to speak on non-agenda items. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Dawson adjourned the meeting at 10:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Teresa P. Elmore Clerk to the Board Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting.