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HomeMy WebLinkAbout091019mHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session September 10, 2019 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, in Conference Room A, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Gordon Springle, Chairman Howard Penny, Vice Chairman Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner Barbara McKoy, Commissioner Member absent: Joe Miller, Commissioner Staff present: Paula Stewart, County Manager Dwight Snow, County Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk Coley Price, Assistant County Manager Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager Allen Coats, Assistant Finance Officer Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney Lindsey Lucas, Deputy Clerk Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am and led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation. The following published agenda was before the Board: > New Day Program for IDD Individuals, Imperium of NC > Proposed Bereavement Leave Policy - Personnel Ordinance Amendment > Discuss renaming of the Government Complex Park > Discuss possible donation of railway easement for possible future trail development > Discuss proposed 2020 Schedule of Meetings for the Harnett County Board of Commissioners > County Manager's Report: - Various project updates - September 16, 2019 Regular Meeting Agenda Review - Invitations and upcoming meetings > Closed session > Adjourn Walter Weeks with Wake Enterprises, on behalf of Imperium of NC, sought support for a new day -program for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) individuals in Harnett County. Mr. Weeks said they are proposing to expand the volunteer program that is currently September 10, 2019 Work Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 1 of 4 operated by ARC and asked that commissioners allow them to use space already dedicated for this purpose by CCCC and ARC. He said they intend to further utilize resources that are already in place. This program currently has 10 participants which HARTS provides transportation. Mr. Weeks said the new program would have its own mini -van and would offer programs two to five days a week. Mrs. Stewart noted she is very excited about this partnership and announced that Sandhills Mental Health Center has agreed to fund the program. She said there are no County funds requested; the County is only providing space and staff is currently drafting a proposed lease agreement with Wake Enterprise and an agreement with CCCC and a to share the space. Heather Pollard, Human Resources Director, presented the following proposed Bereavement Leave Policy as a proposed amendment to the Harnett County Personnel Ordinance: The Bereavement Leave Policy, effective 7/1/2019, establishes uniform guidelines for providing paid time off to employees for absences related to the death of immediate family members and fellow employees or retirees of Harnett County. All full-time, active employees are eligible for benefits under this policy. This leave will be available on a calendar year basis from January through December. This leave will not carry forward from year to year and therefore is not payable upon termination of employment if not used. An employee who wishes to take time off due to the death of an immediate family member should notify his or her supervisor as soon as possible prior to using bereavement leave. At the discretion of the employee's supervisor or department head, verification for use of bereavement leave may be required. Paid bereavement leave will be granted according to the following schedule: • Employees will be allowed up to three consecutive workdays off from regularly scheduled duty with regular pay for the death of an immediate family member, which includes wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, daughter, son, grandmother, grandfather, grandson, granddaughter, aunts, and uncles. Also included are step-, half-, in-law, and loco parentis relationships. • Bereavement leave will be capped at no more than six workdays per calendar year. Additionally, an employee may use any available leave for additional time off as necessary, with their supervisor's approval. • Employees will be allowed up to four hours of bereavement leave to attend the funeral of a fellow regular employee or retiree of the County, provided such absence from duty will not interfere with normal operations of the department. Commissioners requested the status of the County's retention rate considering the increase in employee benefits. This proposed amendment to the Harnett County Personnel Ordinance will be formally introduced to the Board during their September 16, 2019 regular meeting. Carl Davis, Director of Harnett County Parks and Recreation, proposed renaming the Government Complex Park after Alice Powell who retired years ago from Harnett County Parks and Recreation with 30 years of service to the County. Commissioners shared concerns regarding this proposal; saying we have so many outstanding people in this County and they do September 10, 2019 Work Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 2 of 4 not want to start a precedent in naming county facilities after individuals. Commissioners suggested that staff could maybe fmd another way to honor Ms. Powell within the park. Mr. Davis also discussed a possible donation of a railway easement for future trail development. He said the railroad easement, currently owned by Lehigh Hanson, runs from Lillington almost to Raven Rock. Mr. Davis sought direction from the Board regarding their interest in accepting donation of the easement if Lehigh Hanson if willing. He cautioned the group that getting the railroad easement doesn't automatically mean it will be a greenway; the first step would including contacting 21 home owners along the easement. Discussions continued. It was the consensus of Board to send a letter requesting donation of the easement. Commissioners reviewed and discuss the proposed 2020 Schedule of Meetings of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners. Commissioners will approve the schedule during their upcoming regular meeting. Mrs. Stewart reviewed the proposed September 16, 2019 regular meeting agenda. Harnett County Development Services staff Mark Locklear, Jay Sikes and Randy Baker reviewed the following applications for upcoming public hearings on September 16, 2019: 1. Public Hearing - Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN 1908-0001 Landowner/Applicant: Harold T. Butts, Jr; 10.3 acres (26.75 total acres); Pin # 0662- 905908; From RA -30 to RA -20M; Harnett Central Rd; Neill's Creek Township. 2. Public Hearing - Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN 1908-0002 Landowner/Applicant: JPF Properties, LLC/ PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment; 2.15 acres (14.52 total acres) Pin # 1537-17-7937; From RA -20M to Commercial; George Lee Perry Rd; Averasboro Township. 3. Public Hearing - Proposed Rezoning: Case # PLAN 1908-0003 Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment Article VII: Development Design Guidelines, Section 8.2 Design Standards for Open Space. 4. Public Hearing - Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN 1908-0004 Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment Article V: Use Regulations, Section 1.2 Tables of Use Types & Regulations and Section 8.0 Industrial Uses. Staff reminded the Board that they cannot look at the applicant's intent but must look at the overall zoning. Mr. Baker responded to Vice Chairman Penny's inquiry about the junkyard located on Red Hill Church Road. He noted the property is within Erwin's ETJ and has been looked at however expectations are not high given the statute of limitation put in to effect last year. The Board and staff discussed the Resolution Authorizing Conveyance of the Old Benhaven School Property to the County of Harnett recently approved by the Board of Education. The group voiced concerns and confusion with the following wording of the resolution: "WHEREAS, the Harnett County Board of Commissioners provided $29,500,000 for the design and construction of the new Benhaven Elementary School and $22,500,000 for the design September 10, 2019 Work Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 3 of 4 and construction of the new Erwin Elementary School". Mr. Snow was instructed to communicate to the Board of Education's attorney that the second paragraph was unacceptable and ask that the Board of Education reconsider an appropriate resolution at their next meeting. Mr. Haney noted on-going discussions with Johnston -Lee -Harnett Community Action and Shawtown Alumni Association regarding their pending leases at the old Shawtown school facility located at 252 Irene Roberts Road in Lillington Mr. Haney briefly reviewed the proposed School Resource Officer Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County of Harnett, Harnett County Board of Education, and Harnett County Sheriffs Office. The MOU outlines the responsibilities and expectations of all parties involved related to the location of School Resource Officers in the elementary schools within the Harnett County School system. Mr. Haney also noted the MOUs would auto renew as funding is available. Mrs. Stewart reported NCDOT is moving on the North Harnett Primary School road as they have now contacted adjourning land -owner. Mrs. McKoy provided an update on the recent Shawtown Community Development Center community meeting and walk-thru. Mr. Haney shared language for a proposed plaque to be placed at the Shawtown Community Development Center. Mrs. Stewart reviewed invitations and upcoming meetings including the upcoming 2019 Town Hall/Community Update Meetings scheduled. The Clerk was instructed to notice the town hall/community meetings as commissioners will attend the meetings when possible. Mr. Price invited commissioners to an upcoming Community Leadership Forum luncheon `Bridging the Gaps" presented by the Harnett County Health Task Force Community Leadership. Mrs. Stewart noted that the City of Dunn would be honoring the late Abe Elmore during their meeting that night. Mrs. Honeycutt shared preliminary information from S&P and Moody's regarding the County's credit rating of AA-, affirming no increase or decrease. Discussions continued. There was no need for closed session. Vice Chairman Penny moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 am. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion that passed 4-0. eeler, Clerk September 10, 2019 Work Session Minutes Harnett County Board of Commissioners Page 4 of 4