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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062723 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session June 27, 2023 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman William Morris, Vice Chairman Barbara McKoy, Commissioner W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney Brent Trout, County Manager Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Melissa Capps, County Clerk Chairman Nicol called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation. The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners: 1. Call to order — Chairman Matt Nicol 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation —Vice Chairman Morris 3. Paramedic Academy Update; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director 4. Discuss a request to approve chemicals contracts with Oltrin Solutions, Inc; Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director 5. Discuss a request to adopt a Resolution to Support High Performance and Government Innovation with the Harnett County TEAM Harnett Performance Management Plan; Mike Morrow, Assistant County Manager 6. Discuss the EMS Premium Pay Policy Updates and EMS Retention Pay Policy; Ally Fouts; Lead for North Carolina Fellow 7. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager • Upcoming meetings and invitations 8. Closed Session 9. Adjourn Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 27, 2023 Page 1 of 4 Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, provided an update on the Paramedic Academy program. A graduation ceremony is tentatively scheduled for October Wh at 6:00 pm. More information to come. Mr. Smith also provided information regarding last night's storm. Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director, provided information on a request for approval of chemical contracts with Oltrin Solutions Inc. for supply of 12% and 15% Trade Sodium Hypochlorite to Harnett County Regional Water Treatment Plant. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda for the July 171h Board meeting. Mike Morrow, Assistant County Manager, reviewed information regarding a request for approval of a Resolution to Support High Performance and Government Innovation with the Harnett County TEAM Harnett Performance Management Plan. The Board of Commissioners finds that high performance and government innovation is grounded in transparency and accountability which are critical in the public sector for the effective and credible functioning of a healthy governance, and in fulfilling the government's responsibility to citizens and taxpayers. Transparent and reliable reporting to promote accountability, enhance the effectiveness of government services to its citizens, and increase public confidence in their government. The Board and staff share a duty to ensure that the actions of public officials, employees, contractors and volunteers are carried out in the responsible manner possible and that the County policy, budgets, goals and objectives are fully implemented. In February 2022, Harnett County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the inaugural Strategic Plan. The Harnett County 2032 Strategic Plan is designed to provide a clear vision for the future along with direction for turning that vision into a reality. Understanding what the County wishes to achieve by having a clear focus is foundational for building a culture of high performance and essential for making a positive impact in the community. Harnett County staff established a name, vision, and mission statement for the performance management plan in November, 2022. Collaborative Goal teams were established to identify Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and to ensure Key Strategic Actions (KSA) were successfully completed. Two foundational reports will be provided to the Board and the community: Quarterly updates of the Key Strategic Actions and an Annual Performance Scorecard with Key Performance Indicator results and analysis. The intended outcomes from the TEAM Harnett Performance Management Plan includes the following: 1. To ensure Key Performance Indictors are linked to the Strategic Plan 2. To ensure organizational buy -in with effective communication 3. To conduct an annual review of the the reporting process and performance results 4. To use results to empower, not punish, using the system for leadership and learning 5. To empower employees with strategy and performance to deliver high quality services 6. To focus on action and use project management tools to stay on track 7. To analyze results to make improvements to services with a customer focus 8. To automate the process when possible 9. To report results with transparency Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 27, 2023 Page 2 of 4 10. To integrate the performance management with the strategic planning and budget process With these Goals in mind, Harnett County commits itself to a journey toward becoming a superior performing organization. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda for the July 171h Board meeting. Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow, provided information on a request for approval of an update to the EMS Premium Pay Policy. On October 17, 2022, the Board of Commissioners approved an EMS COVID-19 Premium Pay Policy, featuring four premium payouts to EMS staff in December 2022, June 2023, December 2023, and June 2024. However, on April 10, 2023, Congress ended the COVID-19 National Emergency, which means that "premium pay" is no longer an eligible use of ARPA funds. The updated Premium Pay Policy will reflect only one premium payout that was completed with ARPA-eligible funds (December 2022). Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda for the July 17`h Board meeting. Ms. Fouts also provided information on a request for approval of the EMS Retention Pay Policy. On October 17, 2022, the Board of Commissioners approved an EMS COVID-19 Premium Pay Policy, featuring four premium payouts to EMS Staff in December 2022, June 2023, December 2023, and June 2024. However, on April 10, 2023, Congress ended the COVID-19 National Emergency, which means that "premium pay" is no longer an eligible use of ARPA funds. Instead of using ARPA-eligible funds, Administration recommends the use of supplanted ARPA funds to complete the remaining three payouts, promised in the original policy, as retention pay. The EMS Retention Pay Policy would provide a retention payment of $1,750 to full-time EMS staff who were employed by Harnett County EMS for the entirety of the following timeframes: December 1, 2022 to June 1, 2023; June 1, 2023 to December 1, 2023; December 1, 2023 to June 1, 2024. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda for the July 171h Board meeting. Brent Trout, County Manager, reminded everyone no Board Meeting will be held on July 31 The Board approved canceling that meeting. The next work session will be July 11 `h and the next action meeting will be July 171h Additional discussion included funding for the Riverside Project and broadband in the western part of the county. Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to convene into Closed Session for the following purpose: 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 is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(5). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Matthews and carried unanimously. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 27, 2023 Page 3 of 4 Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Nicol called the meeting back into open session. Vice Chairman Morris made a motion to adjourn at 9:41 am. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Weatherspoon and carried unanimously. Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman Meliss . Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 27, 2023 Page 4 of 4