Commissioner E. Ray Mayo gave the invocation.

Transcription

1 NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY The Wayne County Board of Commissioners met in a recessed session on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 12:43 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room in the Wayne County Courthouse Annex, Goldsboro, North Carolina, after due notice thereof had been given at a previous meeting. Members present: William H. Pate, Chairman; A. Joe Gurley, III, Vice-Chairman; George Wayne Aycock, Jr.; John M. Bell; Edward E. Cromartie; Joe Daughtery and E. Ray Mayo. Members absent: None Others present: County Manager George A. Wood; Assistant County Manager Craig Honeycutt; County Attorney E. B. Borden Parker; Sheriff Larry Pierce; Wayne County Sheriffs Office Major Tom Effler; Wayne County Sheriffs Office Captain Robert Thaxton; Tax Assessor Alan Lumpkin; Communications Director Tracie Davis; Intern Trey Hinton; Office of Emergency Services Fire Marshal Bryan Taylor; Wayne County Public Library Director Donna Phillips; Board of Elections Manager Dane Beavers; EMS Manager Brian Smith; Wayne Net Director Nanette Sutton; Assistant to the Budget Officer Janice Rice; Finance Director Allison Speight; Human Resources Director Jerilyn Lee; Clerk to the Board Carol Bowden; members ofthe public and the press. Call to Order Chairman William H. Pate called the meeting of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners to order. Invocation Commissioner E. Ray Mayo gave the invocation. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman William H. Pate led the Board of Commissioners in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. SheriffLarrv M. Pierce and Major Tom Effler of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked for an explanation on the request for funding and use of a drone. Sheriff Larry M. Pierce stated the drone was used for low, air surveillance in areas where helicopters could not go. He said the department had already secured a drone through existing funds and the request had been withdrawn. In response to questions regarding new personnel and uniforms for the Dive Team, Sheriff Larry M. Pierce stated 3 individuals were added to the team following Hurricane Matthew, which revealed the critical need for the additional rescue personnel. He said the uniforms were being replaced because the old uniforms were not Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified and were damaged beyond repair during Hurricane Matthew and the subsequent flooding. Sheriff Pierce said the new uniforms would be repairable and were certified by OSHA. Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked Sheriff Larry M. Pierce how many dive teams the county had and how many were needed. Sheriff Pierce stated Wayne County only had one dive team and the local volunteer fire departments support it. He further explained, some members of the team are also volunteer firemen and that could explain the confusion. In answer to further questioning, he explained the nearest dive team outside of Wayne County was in Fayetteville.

2 Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III questioned the cost of uniforms for the deputies. Sheriff Larry M. Pierce stated the deputies purchased two to four uniforms at a time and there were I 00 deputies. Mr. Gurley asked if the Sheriff could streamline the process by using a credit card and shopping local. Mr. Gurley also questioned the number ofs.w.a.t. team members and uniforms. Sheriff Pierce stated there were 16 members and their uniforms were replaced more often due to the rigorous training and work they were put through. Commissioner Joe Daughtery stated he was concerned with the number of ' Tahoes' used by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and asked how many they currently had, as well as how many were being requested in the new budget. Sheriff Larry M. Pierce stated his office had four Tahoes or Suburbans that were crime scene vehicles, one the Sheriff drove and four that other staff members drive. The last five mentioned were used during inclement weather, were four-wheel drive, transported necessary personnel to the hospital or other areas when traveling by private vehicle was not safe, and also transported multiple employees for meetings or events. Sheriff Pierce said the new vehicles would be smaller all-wheel drive Ford SUV s. He said they would perform much better in inclement weather, would cost $2,000 less per vehicle and the goal was to have two on every shift. Commissioner Edward E. Cromartie stated he wanted the Wayne County Sheriff's Office to have what they needed; "I don't want you to show up to a gun fight with a pocket knife." Commissioner John M. Bell said he agreed with Mr. Cromartie; "I want you to look your best, have the best, be the best. You have two votes." Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III and Commissioner Joe Daughtery presented questions regarding the requested funds for S.W.A.T. equipment, the different uniform classifications and how items were classified in general. Commissioner Joe Daughtery felt the classifications need to be more specific and Finance Director Allison Speight explained why the program listed them as it did and stated her department would try to make adjustments. Sheriff Larry M. Pierce stated his department was answering 20,000 more calls per year, which accounted for some of the increases. Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III asked if the Medical expense could be rebid and Captain Robert Thaxton joined Sheriff Larry M. Pierce to answer questions. He said it could be feasible but added the increase included the new mental health screening. Commissioner Joe Daughtery questioned overtime expenses and Commissioner George Wayne Aycock, Jr. explained the part-time employees could not work beyond part-time hours per the law. Mr. Daughtery recommended creating a pool of applicants for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked Sheriff Larry M. Pierce to come back to the Board of Commissioners with possible cuts for his department and with no further questions, Sheriff Larry M. Pierce and Captain Robert Thaxton left the meeting. Office of Emergency Services Fire Marshal Bryan Tavlor Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Office of Emergency Services Bryan Taylor stood in for Office of Emergency Services Director Mel Powers to answer questions regarding line items in the FY 2018 Budget. Questions presented and discussed, without action, included: Cost of tower construction and tower equipment for the radio system Cost of the county-wide radio system maintenance contract Cost ofthe radio system upgrades and replacements With no further questions or discussion Office of Emergency Services Fire Marshal Bryan Taylor left the meeting.

3 Animal Control Enforcement Officer Frank Sauls and Employee Craig Bvrd Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Commissioner Joe Daughtery questioned the increase in expenses for the department and Animal Control Enforcement Officer Frank Sauls stated the increases were related to the county permanently taking over the City of Goldsboro's enforcement following the recent trial period. Commissioner Joe Daughtery expressed concerns over the need for a Ford F250 and a new livestock trailer. Commissioner E. Ray Mayo said it takes a special trailer to haul livestock. Commissioner Edward E. Cromartie stated he understood Facilities Director Kendall Lee had a trailer he could convert into a livestock trailer. Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked Animal Control Employee Craig Byrd how many times the trailer was used in a year. Mr. Byrd said an average of35 times per year, not only to retrieve hogs from the roadway, as was done following the recent hog truck accident on Highway 13, but also to transport neglected animals from private residences and farms. Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked County Manager George A. Wood if an ordinance for reimbursement for these incidents existed and if not, could the Board of Commissioners pass such an ordinance. County Manager George A. Wood stated the Board of Commissioners could do so. Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III made a motion to delete the livestock trailer from the Animal Control budget request and replace it with a trailer that Facilities Director Kendall Lee will convert into a livestock trailer. Commissioner E. Ray Mayo made an amendment to Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III's motion, to purchase a new livestock trailer for $6,500, and the amendment failed with a 3-4 vote. Voting For: Commissioners John M. Bell, Edward E. Cromartie, and E. Ray Mayo Voting Against: Chairman William H. Pate, Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III, Chairman William H. Pate called for a vote on Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III's motion and the motion passed with a 4-3 vote. Voting For: Chairman William H. Pate, Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III, Voting Against: John M. Bell, Edward E. Cromartie, and E. Ray Mayo Upon motion of Commissioner Joe Daughtery, the Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to delete the Ford F250 Pickup Truck from the Animal Control Department Budget for FY Upon motion of Commissioner E. Ray Mayo, the Board of Commissioners failed, by a vote of 3-4, to approve the purchase of a $6,500 livestock trailer for the Animal Control Department. Voting For: Commissioners John M. Bell, Edward E. Cromartie. and E. Ray Mayo Voting Against: Chairman William H. Pate, Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley. III, Recess At 2:54p.m., Chairman William H. Pate recessed the meeting ofthe Wayne County Board of Commissioners.

4 Reconvene At 3:06p.m., Chairman William H. Pate reconvened the meeting of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners. Board of Elections Director Dane Beavers Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Board of Elections Director Dane Beavers stated the "off' election years were actually busier than Presidential or General Election years. He said the county could expect two elections and one run-off. In response to questioning about the funding for new machines, which would cover onehalf of the cost, and the other would be covered by the state, Mr. Beavers said the House Bill was "dead in the water" and so the state funding would not be available as hoped. Commissioner Joe Daughtery recommended leaving the money in the budget in the event the state passed the bill at a later date. With no further questions, Board of Elections Director Dane Beavers left the meeting. Tax Assessor Alan Lumpkin Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Tax Assessor Alan Lumpkin explained the special software requested in the budget. He said the software reduced errors and increased technology; thereby reducing manpower. With no further questions, Tax Assessor Alan Lumpkin left the meeting. Wayne County Public Library Director Donna Phillips Present for Line Item Questioning of the FY 2018 Budget Commissioner Joe Daughtery asked for an explanation of the extra help and office supplies. Wayne County Public Library Director Donna Phillips explained the extra help was often substitutes and the office supplies/furniture was to replace the older, upholstered chairs for newer. soil-resistant chairs. Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III asked for an explanation of the $30,000 request for audio and visual equipment upgrades. Mrs. Phillips said the upgrades would replace worn-out or outdated equipment, bringing the main, county library up to the same standards as the Mount Olive library. With no further questions, Wayne County Public Library Director Donna Phillips left the meeting. Motion to Remove Certain Items from the FY 2018 Budget and CIP Upon motion of Commissioner Joe Daughtery, the Board of Commissioners, by a vote of 6 to 1, agreed to remove a $69,500 line item for a new digital sign at Wayne Community College and a $36,700 line item for a new chipper for Wayne Community College, placing the monies for both in the Contingency Fund. Voting For: Chairman William H. Pate, Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III, Commissioners John M. Bell, Joe Daughtery, Edward E. Cromartie, E. Ray Mayo Voting Against: Commissioner George Wayne Aycock, Jr. Health Department Building Upgrades Vice-Chairman A. Joe Gurley, III stated he was concerned with upgrading the paging system in the Health Department if it is determined the fac ility needs to be replaced. County Manager George A. Wood stated the system, with the exception of some wiring, would be able to be moved to a new facility.

5 Adjournment There being no further business, Chairman William H. Pate adjourned the meeting at 5:13p.m. ~ Carol Bowden, Clerk to the Board Wayne County Board of Commissioners