110116wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
November 1, 2016
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, November 1,
2016, in the County Manager's Conference Room, County Administration Building, 102 East
Front Street, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Jim Burgin, Chairman
Gordon Springle, Vice Chairman
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
Joseph Jeffries, County Manager
Paula Stewart, Deputy County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Chairman Burgin called the meeting to order at 9:00 am and led the Pledge of Allegiance and
invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
➢ Board of Education's requests:
(1) Funding ($200,000) for four additional teaching positions; and
(2) Funding to construct an additional entrance/exit to North Harnett
Primary School.
➢ Salary Compression Increase for Cooperative Extension employee, Harnett County
Cooperative Extension Director Tyrone Fisher
➢ Discuss Pay Plan Committee Recommendation
➢ Discuss Harnett County Fiscal Policy Guidelines
➢ County Manager's Report:
1) November 7, 2016 Regular Meeting agenda review
2) Updated Calendar of Events for 2017 SOV
➢ Closed session
Mr. Jeffries thanked Harnett County Superintendent Stan Williams for their partnership during
Hurricane Matthews. Mr. Williams discussed the Board of Education's request for
funding up to $200,000 for four additional teaching positions. Mr. Williams said the positions
will be used to benefit students at our schools that have been designated as low performing such
as Harnett Primary School, Johnsonville Elementary School and South Harnett Elementary
School. Mr. Williams said these positions would be district resources assigned to a school.
November 1, 2016 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Chairman Burgin said the funding for this would come out of the $3.8 million that
Representative Lewis and Senator Rabin helped to get. He asked if these salaries could be
funded with State funds in the future. Commissioner Miller asked if the Board of Education had
funds for these salaries of the four new teachers which Mr. Williams said not at this time.
Discussions continued. Mrs. Honeycutt reported that pretty much all of the $3.8 million has
been allocated; she will provide a final accounting of this, however she said there is $196,800
remaining from the teacher's supplement funds allocated to the schools remaining that could go
toward this request. It was the consensus of the Board to consider approval of this request on the
consent agenda of their upcoming November 7, 2016 regular meeting.
Mr. Williams responded, regarding the new Benhaven Elementary School, that they will be
looking at the prototype of the building with staff to see how they can adapt it to Harnett
County's needs. He said the school should still be completed by the summer of 2018.
Mr. Williams noted the School Board had been contacted by the Legislature regarding a study
where they will look at 10 counties in NC that have facility needs and the inability to raise
revenues for those needs. He said the group will report back to the Legislature by March 15th
and hopefully identify some of our building and construction needs and maybe some funding
help will come from that.
Mr. Williams discussed the Board of Education's request for funding to construct an additional
entrance/exit to North Harnett Primary School. Mr. Williams noted at the January 11, 2016
Board of Education meeting, the Board accepted a parcel of land from Stuart Suries and Jimmy
Johnson. He said the Board accepted this land with the understanding a road would be
constructed, adhering to NC DOT standards, as an additional entrance/exit to North Harnett
Primary School. This road request is due to concerns of security due to limited access to
the North Harnett Primary School. It is believed that the developers who donated the land want
the County to pave the road so they can build on either side. Commissioners think the
developers should pay half of the cost of the road if this project moves forward. The group
discussed traffic at North Harnett Primary School. Mr. Jeffries said staff had not had a chance to
evaluate the site regarding this request but he will have the County Engineer explore several
options and come back to the Board.
Harnett County Cooperative Extension Director Tyrone Fisher and NC A&T Interim Regional
Program Coordinator Lonnette Marsh, M.Ed., discussed Cooperative Extensions request for a
salary compression increase for NC A&T staff Kittrane Saunders. To address issues associated
with salary compression, NC State Extension and the Cooperative Extension Program at NC
A&T made adjustments to raise the salaries of active NC State Extension employees that fell
below the new base salaries to $36,000 (Bacherlors Degree) and $42,000 (Master's Degree).
Based on Kittrane Sanders' current salary ($39,422), the compression adjustment of $2,578 (plus
fringe benefits) would increase her salary to $42,000. If approved, Harnett County would pay
40% cost -share amount of compression increase plus fringe benefits. It was the consensus of the
Board to consider approval of this request on the consent agenda of their upcoming November 7,
2016 meeting.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Brian Haney presented the Pay Plan Committee's recommendation regarding salary increases for
county employees. He distributed a table showing the impact of a $1,000 or $1,200 increase
instead of proposed 4% increase. Mr. Haney said the 4% increase would have cost the County
$1.76 Million. Both of the new proposed increases would be cheaper, leaving money left over
to deal with the pay grade study.
Commissioners asked how this increase would fit into the pay grade pay study. Staff believes
the salary grade study will be complete in December but Mr. Haney said through that process
staff thinks this increase could go a long way to bridge where the pay grade study might end up.
It was estimated that employee benefits cost $15,000 per employee each year. Discussions
continued regarding whether the increase should be a one-time bonus, a salary increase or a
special salary one-time increase but the hope is not to adjust the pay grade table. It was the
consensus of Board to set a date of employment if an increase is given. Discussions continued
and commissioners asked staff to prepare three different scenerios to discuss during their
upcoming regular meeting.
Mrs. Honeycutt reviewed proposed changes to the Harnett County Fiscal Policy Guidelines.
Discussions continued. Commissioners will consider approval of the Finance Officer's request
for approval of the revised Harnett County Fiscal Policy Guidelines during their upcoming
regular meeting.
Chairman Burgin said he hopes this Board will look at property taxes in the future as our
property taxes are high.
Staff shared summaries regarding Worker's Compensation, Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance
and the Employee Clinic.
Mr. Jeffries reviewed the proposed November 7, 2016 regular meeting agenda. Commissioners
added to their upcoming agenda consideration of the Harnett County Board of Education's
request to fund four additional teaching positions up to $200,000. These positions will be used
to benefit students at schools designate as low performing such as Harnett Primary School,
Johnsonville Elementary School and South Harnett Elementary School. Commissioners will also
discuss employee compensation during their upcoming regular meeting.
Mr. Jeffries shared the updated Calendar of Events for adoption of 2017 Schedule of Values,
Standards, and Rules for Harnett County.
Commissioner Miller moved that the Board go into closed session for the following purposes:
1) To discuss certain personnel matters; and
2) To discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses
in the area served by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners.
This motion was made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(6)&(4)&(5).
Commissioner Elmore seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Commissioner Elmore moved to amend the motion to go into closed session to include:
3) To instruct the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in
negotiating a contract for the acquisition of real property.
This motion was made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(5).
Commissioner McKoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously
Vice Chairman Springle moved that the Board come out of closed session. Commissioner
McKoy seconded the motion which passed unanimously
Commissioner Elmore moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:12 pm. Vice Chairman Springle
seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Mark B. Johnsdn, Chrman
td1464----
et Regineeler, Clerk
November 1, 2016 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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