BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES April 19, 2017 (DRAFT) The Board of Directors convened at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at the J. Smith Young YMCA in Lexington, NC with President Fred McClure presiding: OFFICERS PRESENT President Fred McClure, Davidson County President Elect Brenda Howerton, Durham County 1 st Vice President Larry Phillips, Surry County 2 nd Vice President Kevin Austin, Yadkin County Executive Director Kevin Leonard DIRECTORS PRESENT District 1 Director District 2 Director District 6 Director District 7 Director District 8 Director District 9 Director District 10 Director District 11 Director District 12 Director District 13 Director District 14 Director District 17 Director District 18 Director NCACC Past President Agriculture Chair Environment Chair General Government Chair Human Services Chair Justice and Public Safety Chair Public Education Chair Tax & Finance Chair Legislative Goals Co-Chair Managers Representative-Nonvoting Joseph Winslow, Jr., Pasquotank County Ernestine Bazemore, Bertie County Marshall Faircloth, Cumberland County Mary Wells, Nash County Dan Brummitt, Vance County Ted Godwin, Johnston County Jim Matheny, Montgomery County Bob Byrd, Alamance County Tom Keigher, Gaston County Barbara Beatty, Catawba County Keith Elmore, Wilkes County Connie Orr, Graham County Dan Barrett, Davie County Tracey Johnson, Washington County George Dunlap, Mecklenburg County Ronnie Beale, Macon County Darrell Frye, Randolph County Johnnie Carswell, Burke County Garry Meiggs, Camden County Renee Price, Orange County Ronnie Smith, Martin County Eddie Settle, Wilkes County Jimmy Clayton, Person County Frank Williams, Brunswick County Steve Jarvis, Davidson County Tare T Davis, Warren County Mark Richardson, Rockingham County Ron Wesson, Bertie County Trevor Fuller, Mecklenburg County Craig Honeycutt, Wayne County
THOSE ABSENT Immediate Past President District 3 Director District 4 Director District 5 Director District 15 Director District 16 Director NCACC Past President Legislative Goals Co-Chair Trustees Representative Glen Webb II, Pitt County Eric Rouse, Lenoir County George Brown, Pender County Michael Cogdell, Bladen County Johnny Hutchins, Cleveland County Larry Chapman, Transylvania County Ray Jeffers, Person County Kitty Barnes, Catawba County Ellen Reckhow, Durham County Gloria Whisenhunt, Forsyth County Ann Holton, Pamlico County GUESTS Dara Haney, BB&T Vice President, Consultant Stuart Van-Arsdale, BB&T Institutional Portfolio Manager Audrey Ladele, Sophomore, Concord High School Call to Order: Welcome and Board Business President McClure convened the meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19. President-Elect Brenda Howerton gave the Invocation and led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. Board Business Approve Meeting Minutes President McClure asked for any discussion or changes to the minutes from the February 15, 2017 meeting. Action Taken: With no changes offered, President McClure acknowledged first and second motions to approve the minutes. The minutes were unanimously approved. President s Report Executive Officers Reports President-Elect Brenda Howerton and First Vice President Phillips each thanked staff for their hard work and commitment through the fire recovery over the previous month and a half. Second Vice President Austin stated membership could not tell that anything happened and how that speaks volumes for the staff s response to the fire. Executive Director s Report: Staff Updates, Logistics for June Board meeting President McClure recognized Executive Director Kevin Leonard, who pointed out that the June Board meeting will be held in Buncombe County (Asheville) June 2-3, 2017. Information related to room reservations will be sent soon and require a quick response in order to guarantee rooms. Mr. Leonard then introduced the newest staff member, Lacy Pate, Public Relations Manager. Lacy started work with the NCACC two weeks before the fire. Previously, she worked at the NC Military and Veterans Affairs Commission and prior to that worked for the US Senate for nine years. She is married to an active duty airman and has an eight-month old daughter. In her role with the NCACC she will assist the Communications Department with publication of CountyLines and the CountyQuarterly, as well as the weekly legislative update with the government relations team. Please contact Lacy if you have an interest in media releases or need assistance in working with the press.
Swearing in of New Directors Commissioner Dan Barrett of Davie County was sworn in as the new District 18 Director by Executive Director Kevin Leonard. Open Board Discussion Commissioner Carswell asked everyone to pay attention to SB649 (Public Records Access-NC Residents Only), a controversial bill about public records requests. A recent public records request for the Town of Newton was tracked back to Russia. Commissioner Bazemore welcomed back Board Member Mary Wells, Nash County Commissioner, and thanked Kevin for his efforts to help Bertie County. She also asked that all be alert to SB594 (Family/Child Protection & Accountability Act), which would regionalize parts of social services. This bill would be detrimental to Bertie County due to its lack of public transportation and high-speed internet access. Fire Recovery Status Report Executive Director Leonard was recognized for a full report of the Association s fire recovery efforts. A video of the fire showed its initial after-effects. The magnitude of this event will likely affect the presidencies of all of our current Executive Officers. Numerous decisions will need to be made, from ordering ink pens to constructing a new building. Three important takeaways from the experience are: (1) no one was hurt; (2) the Executive Team members have been great leaders and staff has stepped up to help; and (3) communications have been key, from communicating with staff, to the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees and our county members. The relationship formed by President McClure with State Emergency Operations Director Mike Sprayberry during the Hurricane Matthew meetings became extremely helpful during the fire experience. On March 17, the day after the fire, Kevin spoke with Director Sprayberry to discuss actions the Association was taking and he was assured that the steps being taken were appropriate. Elizabeth Floyd was tasked with finding new office space, and we were able to sign a new lease one week after the fire, on March 24. General Counsel Amy Bason, who represents the Association on the Quorum Center Master Association Board, noted that the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. The shell of the Quorum Center building is covered by the master insurance policy. Choate is looking at the structure to determine whether the steel is structurally sound, but it appears the brick façade will likely need to be replaced. It is estimated to be 12-18 months before the Quorum Center offices will be ready for occupancy, 12 months before the Coates building will be habitable. Commissioner Dunlap advised staff not to be in a rush, so that nothing is overlooked. The Association has an option to extend the lease at the new Six Forks Road office location, if necessary. We prefer to remain where we are for the duration of the reconstruction. Minor IT losses were sustained, and the server center remained operational except for a brief period when the Quorum Center power backup system failed. We will prepare for redundancy in the future, which may be a budget item in the coming budget. There is a resolution before you honoring the local firefighters who responded to the historic Raleigh fire, and the staff is working with the NC League of Municipalities to plan a lunch to honor the downtown Raleigh fire station for their response to the catastrophe. Action Taken: After discussion, the resolution was approved with an amendment to send a copy of the resolution and a letter of appreciation to all of the Wake County fire departments.
NCACC Financial Report The financial statements for January were presented by Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Floyd. Expense earnings are on target, and assets are strong. Cash flow is positive. It is not unusual to be behind with revenue now, however, the Debt Set-off Program will begin to bring in revenues soon. The Association financial operations are normal. Action Taken: After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the financial report. The motion was approved. Investment Report by BB&T: Stuart Van Arsdale, BB&T Institutional Portfolio Manager, along with Dara Haney, BB&T Vice President and Consultant, presented the annual stewardship report. After a thorough presentation, the Board engaged in a brief discussion. Adoption of 2017-18 Membership Dues: Each year, the Board of Directors is asked to adopt dues for the next year. The Board in 1996 approved to adjust the dues each year by the trailing rate of inflation, to mitigate any large periodic increases. Dues have either been held flat or decreased over the past eight years. NCACC staff recommend the Board adjust membership dues by the trailing rate of inflation. Action Taken: After discussion, there was a motion and second to accept the staff recommendation to adjust membership dues by the trailing rate of inflation. The motion was approved. President s Initiative County Leadership Forums on Opioid Abuse President McClure introduced this item by reminding the Board members that every county is being asked to conduct a leadership forum involving municipal officials, school board members, and members of the judiciary. He recognized Deputy Director Patrice Roesler to explain the materials and process for conducting these local meetings. President McClure asked the Board members to take leadership roles in holding these forums as leaders of our organization, to highlight the importance of this action. Davidson County is hosting the pilot test of the meeting and materials on May 5. The individual county materials will be personally delivered by NCACC staff in early June. The Association is hoping other states and NACo will benefit from our model of local engagement to deal with the opioid epidemic. Executive Director Kevin Leonard reminded the Board that the Stepping Up Summit will take place May 9 in Raleigh, the day preceding County Assembly Day, with Secretary of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen in attendance. Lunch Government Relations Report Grassroots Coordinator Amber Harris provided a report of legislative action on the Association s top five priority goals. Priority goal 1 seek legislation to establish a new state-county partnership to address public school capital challenges - is being addressed through a proposed legislative package which includes a statewide bond, with the second part of the package addressing lottery funding. Priority goal 2 seek legislation to repeal the statutory authority that allows a local school board to file suit against a county board of commissioners There is an ongoing study of this
issue by the legislative Program Evaluation Division. S531 (H305) School Boards Can t Sue Counties - would address the issue. Priority goal 3 support sales tax flexibility S126 (H522) Change the LOST Adjustment Factor - has been introduced and we are monitoring this bill, but it has not shown any movement yet. Priority goal 4 support increased state funding for transportation construction and maintenance needs is addressed in H81- STI/Regional & Division Weighting - and would increase RPO/MPO input on strategic investments; the bill is now in Senate rules and would give more local control. Priority goal 5 support legislation and funding to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 16 to 18 this has been a decades long effort and now has bipartisan support; this may be the year it will pass. Other bills of interest include H536 (S424) Increase Funding for Behavioral Health Services - which addresses behavioral health funding; H243 (S175) Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention (STOP) Act - which deals with oversight of prescriptions and the overprescribing of opiates; H390 (S208) Counties/Internet Infrastructure - regarding Broadband access; and Electronic notice, which would allow counties to publish legal notices on county websites instead of in print media. Lastly, S594, which has been introduced to address child welfare reform, includes a section on re-organizing the Department of Social Services system and appears to be setting procedure to regionalize Departments of Social Service offices. The bill has passed the Senate Health Committee. We are working on strategy and keeping in communication with Senator Tamara Barringer, the bill sponsor, to help craft solutions and address concerns on how this legislation could affect counties. Closing Comments/Adjourn Next Scheduled Board Meeting The next scheduled NCACC Board of Directors meeting is June 2-3 in Buncombe County. Conclusion & Adjournment A motion and second were made to adjourn; the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. to begin a tour of Uptown Lexington. Fred D. McClure President Kevin Leonard Executive Director