THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

 

Monday, July 25, 2005

 

AGENDA

 

?Public Charge?

 

The Board of Commissioners asks its members and citizens to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner, both with the Board and fellow citizens.  At any time, should any member of the Board or any citizen fail to observe this public charge, the Chairman will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control.  Should decorum fail to be restored, the Chairman will recess the meeting until such time that a genuine commitment to the public charge is observed.

 

As a courtesy to others, please turn off cell phones during the meeting.

_________________________

 

7:00 P.M. Regular Session

 

1.     Opening of Regular Session?Pledge of Allegiance                                                                        5 min.

 

2.     Agenda Adjustments                                                                                                                    5 min.

 

3.     Minutes                                                                                                                                        5 min.

 

a.       June 20, 2005 Budget Worksession

b.       June 27, 2005 Regular Session

c.       June 30, 2005 Regular Session (continued from June 27)

 

4.     Introduction of the New Social Services Director

                                                                                                                                                            10 min.

Mr. Sammy R. Haithcock has joined Durham County as its new Director of Social Services and began work on July 18.  Mr. Haithcock, a 1972 UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, has over 25 years of experience as a Social Services Director in North Carolina.  He most recently served as Caldwell County?s Social Services Director since 1992.

 

Mr. Haithcock began his career as a state disability determiner, which evolved into quality control and supervisory roles.  He then moved to Chatham County as an adult services caseworker and, six months later, became the county?s first child support officer.  Concurrently, he served as acting director for nine months and pursued his Master?s Degree in Social Work (Public Welfare Management) at UNC-Chapel Hill.  He worked in Durham County in 1979 in daycare before moving to Vance County in 1980 as director.

 

Mr. Haithcock has been president of the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services and served on state study commissions for responsible fatherhood, the reorganization of the Department of Human Resources, and child abuse and neglect management.  He is currently on the state?s Child Support Five-Year Planning Committee.

 

As Durham County?s Director of Social Services, Mr. Haithcock will manage the
day-to-day operations of the department and will work directly with the Social Services Board on key policy and administrative issues.

 

Resource Person(s): Mike Ruffin, County Manager

 

County Manager?s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board welcome Mr. Haithcock as the new Social Services Director.

 

5.     Resolution Honoring Longtime Mental Health Advocate Nancye Bryan

                                                                                                                                                            5 min.

Ms. Nancye Bryan is a longtime mental health advocate who recently ended an outstanding career as a member and vice-chair of The Durham Center Area Board.  During her numerous years of service, she has been recognized for her unwavering dedication to and compassion for those suffering from developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse.

 

Resource Person(s):  Ellen Holliman, Director, The Durham Center

 

6.     July Anchor Award Winner?Jessica Brown-Linton

                                                                                                                                                             5 min.

Jessica Brown-Linton, an investment and debt manager in the Finance Department, was selected to receive the July Anchor Award.  Ms. Brown-Linton was recognized for this honor because of superior work, and particularly for her management of the audit process for the 2004 fiscal year.

 

·Jessica Brown-Linton?s performance and dedication during the 2004 audit process was outstanding.  The audit manager for the County?s audit, made the comment that he could not remember an audit running smoother.

 

·Ms. Brown-Linton voluntarily accepted more responsibility during the audit, and because of her willingness to go the extra mile and learn new things, she is receiving an Anchor Award.

 

Chairman Ellen Reckhow will lead the presentation. 

 

County Manager?s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the July Anchor Award be presented to Jessica Brown-Linton along with congratulations of the entire organization.

 

7.     Consent Agenda                                                                                                                           20 min.

 

a.       Property Tax Releases and Refunds for Fiscal Year 2004-05 (accept the property tax release and refund report for June 2005 as presented and authorize the Tax Assessor to adjust the tax records as outlined by the report);

b.       Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 06BCC000001?Request for Additional Personnel?Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department (approve the transfer of funds from the Lebanon Fire District to the County of Durham to cover salary costs for three additional FTEs in the Fire Marshal?s agency in the general fund);

c.   Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 06BCC000002?Office of the Sheriff and City of Durham Police Department?2005 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant (JAG) (approve for $258,476 to be shared fifty-fifty with the City to support local law enforcement and criminal justice system activities); and

d.   Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 06BCC000003?Sheriff's Office?Recognize LLEBG Deferred Revenue(recognize $140,747 in deferred revenue into the Sheriff's Office FY 2005-06 operating budget).

 

8.     Settlement of 2004 Property Taxes and the Charge of 2005 Property Taxes to the Tax Collector

                                                                                                                                                            10 min.

As required by G.S. 105-373, the Tax Administrator is herewith submitting the settlement report of 2004 property taxes.

 

G.S. 105-373(h) further authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to relieve the Tax Collector of the charges of taxes on classified motor vehicles that are one year or more past due.

 

Additionally, the General Statutes bar use of any remedies for collection enforcement that is not instituted within ten years of said taxes becoming due.

 

Furthermore, pursuant to G.S. 105-321(b), the Board of County Commissioners charges the Tax Collector with the 2004 Property Tax Receipts.

 

The Tax Administrator requests authorization to relieve charges of taxes that are beyond the statute of limitation of ten years and those vehicles that are more than two years past due.  This request is consistent with last year?s settlement, which was authorized by the Board.

 

Resource Person(s): Kenneth L. Joyner, RES, Tax Administrator

 

        County Manager?s Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board receive and approve the 2004 Property Tax Settlement Report, charge the Tax Collector with 2005 Property Taxes, and authorize the relieving of taxes that are more than ten years past due and motor vehicles taxes that are more than two years past due.

 

9.     Board and Commission Appointments

                                                                                                                                                            10 min.

Vonda Sessoms, Clerk to the Board, will distribute ballots to make appointments to the following boards and commissions:

 

·         Animal Control Review Board

·         Durham County Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees

·         EMS Advisory Council

·         Environmental Affairs Board

·         Open Space and Trails Commission

·         Public Health Board

·         Transportation Advisory Committee

·         Workforce Development Board

 

Resource Person(s): Vonda Sessoms

 

County Manager?s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners vote to appoint members to the above-mentioned boards/commissions.

                                                                                                                                                        _________

                                                                                                                                           1 hr. 15 min.