) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) DECEMBER 12, 2002
The Board of Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of
North Carolina, met in recessed session
(recessed from December 2nd regular meeting –
rescheduled from December 4th
due to inclement weather)
in the Council Chambers of the Administrative Building,
located in Danbury, North Carolina, on Thursday,
December 12, 2002, at 6:00 pm with the following members
present:
Chairman Sandy McHugh
Vice-Chairman
John Turpin
Commissioner
Howard Mabe
Commissioner
Leon Inman
Commissioner
Joe Turpin
Craig
Greer, County Manager
Darlene
Bullins, Clerk to the Board
Chairman McHugh called the meeting to order.
Commissioner Inman delivered the invocation.
Chairman McHugh invited the citizens in attendance to join
the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to move the meeting to
the Courtroom- Government Center due to the large attendance
at the meeting.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to move the meeting to the Courtroom-Government
Center due to the large attendance at the meeting.
Commissioner Inman seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
The Board reconvened in Courtroom “A” – Government Center.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to clarify the motion
made at the December 2nd
concerning the adoption of the Rules
of Procedure retaining to the time and date being effective
January 1, 2003.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to amend the Rule of Procedures
to began immediately except for the meeting times.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded the amendment. The amendment to began the Rules of
Procedures immediately except
for the meeting times carried unanimously.
Vice Chairman John Turpin moved to accept the Rules of
Procedures immediately
with the meeting times to began January 1, 2003.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to waive County
Personnel Policies Article 6, Section 1-3; Article 8, Section 3; and
Article 9, Section 3 until after the budget crisis is over
and/or until the Board has a chance to address the personnel policies
and make amendments.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to waive County Personnel
Policies Article 6, Section 1-3; Article 8, Section 3; and Article 9,
Section 3 until after the budget crisis is over and/or until
the Board has a chance to address the personnel policies and make
amendments.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded and the motion carried
(3-2) with Commissioners Mabe and Inman voting against the
motion.
County Manager Craig Greer informed the Board that the
County did not have to provide the match for the Adult Day Care.
Another identity can provide the match, but the funds must
come through the County.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to allow the Adult Day
Care in King to provide the required matching funds for the State
Adult Day Care Allocation, which would eliminate the County providing the matching
funds, but allow the County to received the
allocation, which would be transferred to the Adult Day Care
in King.
Vice Chairman John Turpin moved to allow the Adult Day Care
in King to provide the required matching funds for the State Adult
Day Care Allocation which would eliminate the County
providing the matching funds, but allow the County to received the allocation
which would be transferred to the Adult Day Care in
King.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the motion.
Ms. Julia Edwards noted the amount of the funding $9,042.
Ms. Laurel Hudgins, Director-Adult Quality of Life Day Care Center,
noted that by receiving the funding directly from the County, this
would eliminate administrative fees thus greatly benefiting the program.
The motion carried unanimously.
County Manager Craig Greer presented the Board data
concerning requested budget cut information relating to the County’s
current fiscal year budget.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to use lapsed salaries
in the amount $39,305 (funds are from vacant positions that have
not been filled).
Vice Chairman John Turpin moved to use lapsed salaries in
the amount $39,305 (funds are from vacant positions that have not
been filled).
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
Program Integrity (Fraud Unit-Two positions) $15,507 -DSS
County Manager Craig Greer identified the two positions of
Program Integrity as the DSS Fraud Unit.
With the elimination of these
two positions, there would be no specific Fraud Unit at DSS,
but rather responsibility having to be shared with other DSS workers.
DSS Director Sharon Scott noted that the State had
discontinued funding to counties (Stokes- $25,000) this past year which helped
to fund this program.
This lack of funding has has forced other counties to eliminate the
program. Ms. Scott also noted that the
Sheriff’s
Department would be involved only if it is criminal
activity, most of the fraud overpayment is not criminal activity. During the past fiscal
year, the County recouped $83,368 of which $31,517 being the
County’s share.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate Program Integrity
from the County Budget.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion.
Commissioners Mabe and Inman noted the Program basically paid
for itself.
Commissioner Inman noted the possibility of more fraud if
the program was eliminated.
Chairman McHugh turned the Chair over to Vice Chairman John
Turpin.
Chairman McHugh noted by the other caseworkers being able to
provide some of the fraud work, this recoupment would be a greater
savings for the County with no separate program to fund.
Ms. Scott noted the caseworkers that were already
understaffed, could not begin to provide the service that was provided by the
Program Integrity workers.
The greater amount of fraud identified and recouped, the greater amount
received by the County.
Chairman McHugh moved to table this line item until
information can be obtained from Forsyth County why the program was
eliminated and how the program is now handled.
Commissioner Joe Turpin submitted a substitute motion to
eliminate the two positions and if
needed reinstate the two positions
after information is received from Forsyth County.
The substitute motion died due to lack of second.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the motion to table this
line item until information can be
obtained from Forsyth County why
the program was eliminated and how the program is now
handled.
The motion carried (3-2) with Commissioners Mabe and Inman
voting against the motion.
Vice Chairman John Turpin turned the Chair back to Chairman
McHugh.
County Manager Greer noted that DSS had a Medicaid worker
that would be retiring.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion on this line item.
Commissioner Mabe moved to freeze this position after
retirement of the individual.
Commissioner Inman seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
County Manager Greer noted that General Assistance (all
County funding) is used to bury unclaimed bodies, cut off notices such
as electricity, emergency prescriptions, etc.).
Ms. Scott noted the funding is used only in an emergency and
has a $50 limit (unless for an unclaimed body).
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion on this line item.
Commissioner Inman moved to leave this line item in the
Budget.
Commissioner Mabe seconded the motion.
The motion failed (2-3) with Chairman McHugh, Vice Chairman
John Turpin, and Commissioner Joe Turpin voting against the
motion.
Vice Chairman John Turpin moved to eliminate this line item
from the Budget.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the motion. Chairman McHugh noted that other than the
case of unclaimed bodies, King
Outreach Ministry handles all types of emergencies with the
Food Bank currently having an overstock of food.
The motion carried (3-2) with Commissioner Mabe and Inman
voting against the motion.
County Manager Greer noted that the DSS TANF-Staff (3
positions) is 97% county funding but there is MOE funding involved
which would have to be cost allocated in other areas within
the department.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion on this line item.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the TANF Staff (3
positions). Vice
Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion.
DSS Director Scott reiterated that MOE funding has to be
spent in other places. Ms. Scott also noted these Work First positions
are responsible for assessing and helping individuals become self sufficient within
the two-year time clock set forth in the Work
First Program.
Chairman McHugh turned the Chair over to Vice Chairman John
Turpin.
Chairman McHugh expressed concerns over the Budget Crisis due
to Governor’s cuts during the past two
and half years which
has resulted in cuts from all departments and that cuts are
having to be made to balance the budget not just to eliminate positions.
Vice Chairman John Turpin called the motion on the floor.
The motion carried (3-2) with Commissioners Mabe and Inman
voting against the motion.
Vice Chairman John Turpin turned the Chair back to Chairman
McHugh.
County Manager Greer noted these items are not earmarked
directly to a program within the department and existing equipment
can be shared.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion on this line item.
Commissioner Joe Turpin moved to eliminate the (2) two pages,
(1) one cell phone, and (2) vehicles.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion.
The motion carried (3-2) with Commissioner Mabe and Inman
voting against the motion.
Vice Chairman John Turpin moved to enter closed session to
consult with the County Attorney retained by the County in order to
preserve the attorney-client privilege for discussion of a
possible judicial action pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
The Board reconvened to regular session.
County Manager Greer presented the cost savings for
elimination of the Senior Citizens Director estimated as $5,704.
Chairman McHugh entertained a motion to this line item.
Chairman McHugh moved to amend the motion to include the
Accounting Tech II be given the duties of the Director until
any other changes are made in this Department.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the amendment.
The amendment carried (3-2) with Commissioners Mabe and
Inman voting against the amendment.
Commissioners Mabe and Inman expressed concerns that
elimination of this position could possibly affect services to the
Senior Citizens of the County.
Commissioner Inman requested information concerning property
on Newsome Road.
Chairman McHugh noted the County has involvement with property
on Newsome Roadin which the County has guaranteed lease
payments concerning the shell building on the property.
County Manager Greer noted that the County did not own the
shell building or the property, but own or have permanent option on
the an estimated 2 acres that adjoins the property.
Chairman McHugh requested the County Manager return to the
Board with the original contract or any other vital documentation
pertaining to the said property.
Chairman McHugh moved to approve December 31, 2002 as the
effective date for all budget cuts, which eliminated positions
except for the pending retirement and the selling of Cherry
Park.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded the motion.
The motion carried (4-1) with Commissioner Mabe voting
against the motion.
There being no further business to come before the Board,
Commissioner Mabe moved to adjourn the meeting.
Vice Chairman John Turpin seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
_________________________ _____________________________
Darlene
Bullins Sandy
McHugh
Clerk to
the Board Chairman