June 3, 2019...Anthony Quinton Alston, Sr., 220 Water Oak Way, Louisburg, NC Mr. Alston stated he is a 1982 graduate of Louisburg High School. His children attended Louisburg …

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June 3, 2019 Minutes

June 3, 2019

The Board of Commissioners of Franklin County, North Carolina, met for a Special Called

Meeting at 4:00 P.M. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room located in the County

Administration Building with the following Commissioners present: Chairman Sidney E.

Dunston, Vice-Chairman Shelley L. Dickerson, Commissioners Michael S. Schriver, David T.

Bunn, Mark Speed and Harry L. Foy, Jr. Commissioner Cedric K. Jones was absent.

The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a work session in order to discuss the proposed

2019-2020 budget.

The following presentation was offered by Franklin County Schools Superintendent Rhonda

Schuhler, Finance Officer Quinnley Coley and Executive Director of Auxiliary Services Dr. Larry

Webb.

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Following the presentation, Commissioner Speed made a motion to take a 15-minute recess,

seconded by Commissioner Dickerson. The motion was approved with all present voting “AYE.”

Following the recess, Commissioner Speed made a motion to reconvene, seconded by

Commissioner Schriver. The motion duly carried with all present voting “AYE.”

County Manager Angela L. Harris and Finance Director Jamie Holtzman presented the

following revisions to the county’s Fiscal Year 2019-2020 recommended budget. The original

budget recommendation was presented to the Board on May 20, 2019.

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Revisions to the budget include a 2.27 cent decrease in the originally proposed tax rate. The

Manager originally proposed a property tax increase of 4.00 cents. Additional reductions of 2.27

cents equate to a revised property tax increase of 1.73 cents. The new proposed Ad Valorem Tax

Rate is 82.23 cents per $100.

Chairman Dunston thanked the staff for honoring the Board’s request to present reductions.

It was noted the proposed Solid Waste Decal System (presented to the Board in open session on

May 21, 2019) is still included in the budget at this time.

Commissioner Schriver made a motion to remove the decal system from the budget proposal.

After further discussion, Commissioner Schriver amended his motion to table the discussion on

the Solid Waste Decal System for this budget year. The motion was seconded by Commissioner

Dickerson and duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.”

Commissioner Speed then made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Schriver. The

motion duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.”

The Board of Commissioners of Franklin County, North Carolina, met for its Regular Meeting at

7:00 P.M. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room located in the County Administration

Building with the following Commissioners present: Chairman Sidney E. Dunston, Vice-

Chairman Shelley L. Dickerson, Commissioners Michael S. Schriver, David T. Bunn, Mark Speed

and Harry L. Foy, Jr. Commissioner Cedric K. Jones was absent.

Chairman Dunston called the meeting to order.

1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC This was the time set aside by the Board of Commissioners to allow individuals five minutes to address the Board on issues concerning the county. No comments were offered. 2. PUBLIC HEARING

2019-2020 Proposed Budget

This was the time scheduled to hear public comments on the proposed 2019-2020 budget. At approximately 7:01 P.M., the Board was informed the Commissioner’s Room had reached capacity. Commissioner Foy then made a motion to recess the meeting and relocate to the Hamilton Hobgood Courthouse Annex. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Speed and duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.” At 7:10 P.M., Chairman Dunston reconvened the meeting and Finance Director Jamie Holtzman briefly reviewed information provided during the budget work session (held earlier in the day) that reflected further possible cuts from the original budget proposal for Commissioners to consider.

Jamie Jones, 101 Sam Horton Road, Louisburg, NC

Ms. Jones said she has been employed with Franklin County Schools for 14 years and has worked in the Finance Department for the last two years. She said she has seen success with regard to growth in the school system, but said it was hard to maintain employees, with many going to Wake County mostly for an increase in salary. She said some staff have not received an increase in pay in over 10 years causing financial strain. She said she does not mind a slight tax increase if citizens are investing in the future needs of the county. She asked the Board to consider the increase requested by the school system.

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Dewey Botts, 675 Howard Tant Road, Bunn, NC

Mr. Botts stated he had no children in the school system but commented he was involved in Wake County’s PTA through the years. As a Franklin County citizen, he said he was willing to pay increased taxes for the benefit of education.

Danice Tucker, 621 Highway 56 East, Louisburg, NC

Ms. Tucker commented on the importance of the upkeep of county facilities and inquired as to how many Franklin County deputies live out of the county and still drive home patrol cars.

Willie Hill Jr., 1779 NC Highway 39 North, Louisburg, NC

Mr. Hill stated he is a 60-year resident of Franklin County and current employee of Franklin County Schools representing the Maintenance Department. Two of his children graduated from Franklin County and one grandchild is currently within the school system. He asked the Board to consider increasing salaries for the maintenance department and all classified personnel.

Rosa Johnson, 2783 Schloss Road, Louisburg, NC

Ms. Johnson said she is a Data Manager and Treasurer at Laurel Mill Elementary and has worked in the Franklin County School system for 49 years beginning as a teacher’s assistant. She feels classified employees have been left out and asked the Board to fully support the school’s proposed budget.

Anthony Quinton Alston, Sr., 220 Water Oak Way, Louisburg, NC

Mr. Alston stated he is a 1982 graduate of Louisburg High School. His children attended Louisburg High and Bunn High and his grandchildren attend Edward Best Elementary. He said he has been an employee for Franklin County Schools for 15 years and looks forward to many more years of employment there. Mr. Alston is a classified employee and said parents entrust him each day to take care of their children on dangerous highways. He encouraged the board to hear the plea of classified employees in receiving better pay.

Darryl Mueller, 148 Dean Lam Way, Louisburg, NC

Mr. Mueller stated he was a farmer. Relative to statements made about the difference in pay between Wake and Franklin County Schools, he said he did concern himself with the salaries of people who work in Wake County. Mr. Mueller said Franklin County citizens are very concerned about any increase in property tax and thanked the staff/Board for considering a lower rate increase. He asked the Board to remember retirees and farmers when considering any increases in property taxes.

Neila Boone, 989 Julie Pearce Road, Louisburg, NC

Ms. Boone is employed by the Franklin County School System and currently teaches at Louisburg Elementary. She encouraged the Board to consider the school system’s budget proposal.

Mozelle Mangum, 29 Highway 58, Louisburg, NC

Mr. Mangum has been employed with the Franklin County School System for over 25 years and currently works at Terrell Lane Middle. He asked Commissioners to stand behind the School Board and approve the recommended budget increases.

Erika Wammock, 25 Fern Court, Louisburg, NC

Mrs. Wammock stated she is a lifelong resident of Franklin County and a graduate of Louisburg High School where she has now worked for 14 years as a physical education teacher, athletic director and coach. She said she loves her job and the local school system and enjoys her work helping to raise productive citizens. She stated it had been 12-14 years since the coaching supplement had been increased. She said she knew the budget request was substantial, but stated the value was worth it and asked the Board of Commissioners to support the increase.

Bradley Moss, 319 Goswick Road, Franklinton, NC

Mr. Moss stated he is a lifelong resident of Franklin County and graduate of Franklinton High School. He said he has worked over 20 years with Franklin County Schools and loves his current position as Maintenance and Transportation Director. He stated morale

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is low and that as the cost of living increases, many good employees have been lost through the years to other school districts that are more competitive. He said there are currently two openings in his department that have remained open for 90 days and feels the reason why is because Franklin can’t compete with the salary in other districts. He asked the Board to consider the funding request.

Timothy Williams, 108 Tyson Lane, Elm City, NC

Mr. Williams stated he is a Maintenance Supervisor for Franklin County Schools. In his two years with the school system, he says he’s enjoyed it and learned a lot about the county. He commented on the importance of his department as they maintain school buses with the focus of getting students to and from school safely. He asked the Board to be competitive with surrounding counties in terms of pay and encouraged commissioners to approve financial assistance.

Sharon Mosby, 9042 North Main Street, Louisburg, NC

Ms. Mosby stated she has worked for 17 years in the area of school nutrition. She stated she is a proud employee of Franklin County Schools and feels staff works hard to make sure students are well fed. She feels several employees left the system because they could not afford to work and afford day care simultaneously. She said classified employees of the school system had not received an increase in 15 years and asked the Board to consider the request for additional funding.

Jeremy Stallings, 1497 White Level Road, Louisburg, NC

Mr. Stallings stated he has worked 12 years with the Maintenance Department of Franklin County Schools. He said he considers it a privilege to look after buildings and guard the staff and children that occupy the buildings he maintains. He said he has seen many highly qualified people come and go through the years and expressed his frustration as staff pours time into training good employees who then move on to counties that offer better salaries. He asked the Board to consider the pay increase.

Steven Gupton, 20 Fisher Drive

Mr. Gupton is an educator and coach at Louisburg High School and on occasion drives school buses. He also serves the county as a paramedic. He asked the Board to consider increases for classified employees of the school system and to reexamine the budget as it pertains to the need for community paramedics, QRV’s and stretchers.

At approximately 7:58 P.M., Chairman Dunston closed the public hearing with no further comments offered by the public. Commissioner Speed then made a motion to approve the 2019-2020 budget ordinance as

presented, levying a general fund rate of 80.5 cents per one hundred dollars valuation of property

listed for taxes as of January 1, 2019 and approval of a general fund budget totaling $89,646,153.

Commissioner Dickerson seconded the motion.

Commissioner Schriver stated he would like additional time at the next meeting to continue

budget discussions and said he did not understand any urgency to approve the budget. He said

he supports education in Franklin County but also feels other areas need to be revisited so that

everyone considered in the budget receives a fair shake.

Chairman Dunston reminded the Board that staff has presented the best budget it knows to

present, eliminating the need for a tax increase and called for a vote on Commissioner Speed’s

motion to approve the budget. The budget was approved 4-2 with Commissioners Schriver and

Bunn voting “NO.”

3. CSX ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT The Board was asked to consider approving an encroachment agreement on the CSX property in Youngsville. The encroachment is for the installation of an eight-inch sanitary sewer line that serves the Timberlake Preserve Subdivision (Preddy Property). The initial fees will be borne by

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the developer of the property and after acceptance of the utilities, and annual fees associated with this encroachment will be paid for by the utility department. Commissioner Foy made a motion to approve the agreement, seconded by Commissioner Dickerson. The motion duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.” 4. APPOINTMENTS Home Care Community Block Grant Advisory Committee

The Board was asked to appoint/reappoint the following individuals to the Home Care Community Block Grant Advisory Committee.

Appointments Reappointments Ethel Wilder Mattie Woodard Martha Perry Nicki Perry Norman Sims Rosa Robinson Edgerton “Eddie” Watson, Jr. Louise Johnson Christy Southall Nancy Francis Jamie Holtzman

Commissioner Speed made a motion to approve the requested appointments/reappointments. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Foy and duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.” 5. OTHER BUSINESS No additional business was discussed. 6. BOARD, MANAGER AND CLERK’S COMMENTS This was the time set aside for the Board of County Commissioners, the County Manager, and the Clerk to the Board to report on various activities. The Board may also discuss other items of interest. County Clerk Kristen G. King: No comments were offered.

Commissioner Foy: No comments were offered. Commissioner Bunn: No comments were offered.

Commissioner Jones: Commissioner Jones was absent.

Commissioner Dunston: Commissioner Dunston thanked the Board for approving the budget

and also thanked staff for its work in putting together the budget proposal.

Commissioner Schriver: No comments were offered.

Commissioner Dickerson: No comments offered.

Commissioner Speed: No comments were offered.

County Manager Angela L. Harris: No comments were offered.

7. CLOSED SESSION

The Board was asked to enter into closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11 (a)(3) – Attorney-Client Privileged Communication.

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At approximately 8:07 P.M., Commissioner Dickerson made a motion to enter into closed session, seconded by Commissioner Bunn. The motion was approved 5 to 1, with Commissioner Foy voting “NO.” At approximately 8:24 P.M., Commissioner Bunn made a motion to enter back into open session. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Speed and duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.” No action was taken as a result of closed session.

At approximately 8:25 P.M., Commissioner Speed made a motion to adjourn, seconded by

Commissioner Bunn. The motion duly carried approval with all present voting “AYE.”

Sidney E. Dunston, Chair Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board

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Documents

June 3, 2019...Anthony Quinton Alston, Sr., 220 Water Oak Way, Louisburg, NC Mr. Alston stated he is a 1982 graduate of Louisburg High School. His children attended Louisburg …