051909jHarnett County
members present:
Staff present:
Town of Lillington
members present:
Staff present:
Joint Meeting of the
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Town of Lillington Board of Commissioners
May 19, 2009
Nonna's Restaurant, Front Street, Lillington, NC
Timothy B. McNeill, Chaiiivan
Beatrice B. Hill, Vice - Chaiman
Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner
Gary House, Commissioner
Jim Burgin, Commissioner
Scott Sauer, County Manager
Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager
Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney
Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer
Jennifer Slusser, Staff Attorney
Kay Blanchard, Clerk
Gina Daniel, Assistant to the County Manager
Ryan Wetherington, Intern
Glenn McFadden, Mayor
Marshall Page, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner
Dianne Johnson, Commissioner
Grover Smith, Commissioner
Linda Stevens, Commissioner
Sonya Arnold, Commissioner
Tommy Burns, Town Manager
John Bethune, Fire Chief
Theresa Thompson, Planning and Zoning Director
Vickie Wilson, Clerk
David Kutzer, Public Utilities Director
Randy Hayes, Public Utilities
Guests: Johnson Tilghman, Chairman, Harnett Forward Together Committee
Tom Woerner, Harnett County News
Mayor Glenn McFadden called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Mayor McFadden thanked the
group for gathering to discuss topics of mutual interest and highlight activities impacting both
jurisdictions as well as recognizing the benefit of cooperative planning and shared leadership.
Commissioner Page gave the invocation.
Chairman Timothy B. McNeill reconvened the meeting of the Harnett County Board of
Commissioners.
Mr. Burns discussed long range planning for the Town and County as a result of pending Harnett
Health System construction on the Brightwater Science and Technology campus. Mr. Burns said
the Board had tabled zoning of the campus until their next meeting. He said there has also been
positive discussions regarding the utility agreements for the campus and that the town is willing
to work with the Brightwater Board on height restrictions.
Mr. Sauer invited the group to hear Dr. Bill Atkinson's briefing at the County Manager's office
on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Atkinson is the President and CEO of
WakeMed.
The group expressed the need for help from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NC DOT)
considering the current and future increase in traffic in the area of the county governmental
complex due to the new Sheriff's Office and Detention Facility, the Harnett County Department
of Public Utilities Operations Center as well as the Brightwater campus. Discussions with NC
DOT would also include the potential for pedestrian walkways, a possible bike lane and ability to
tie in to open space.
Mr. Sauer informed the group of NC DOT's request for a 3 acre easement to replace Bridge #46.
Mr. Sauer hopes this will allow for compromise and potential negotiations for the Town and
County such as a traffic signal at McKinney Pkwy. Mr. Sauer said replacing Bridge #46 is a
priority for NC DOT given they estimate 40,000 cars a day are currently crossing the bridge in to
downtown Lillington.
Mayor McFadden said that the Town of Lillington has requested to take over the maintenance
and upgrades of McKinney Parkway and Alexander Drive from NC DOT.
Mr. Burns said that the Town of Lillington is working on a fire station land transfer proposal to
the county. The Town of Lillington believes a fire station on both sides of the river is needed
and would agree to a joint venture including both fire and rescue. The concept of the design of
the new fire and rescue building would look similar and stay in line with the courthouse and
other new buildings in the Harnett County complex. The design would need to be approved by
both boards.
Mr. Burns said the Town of Lillington's Recreation Department is growing fast and he can see
the potential for future joint projects. Commissioner Smith mentioned having walk along trails
on both sides of the Cape Fear River, from Lillington to Raven Rock as well as to Erwin.
Mr. Burns announced that the town is very excited about the plans for a Lillington Community
Center in Lillington that would include meeting space and eventually a fitness center. The town
received land for the building donated by the Turlington family and is currently working on
obtaining grant assistance for this project.
The group had general discussion on budget, revaluation and NC General Assembly.
Mr. Sauer made the group aware of potential legislation that would put the responsibility of
secondary roads on the counties.
Chairman McNeill discussed the Fort Bragg expansion and how the growth could positively
affect the Town of Lillington and Harnett County.
Mr. Tilghman updated the commissioners on the Brightwater Science and Technology campus.
The group views the county fair as another opportunity for a joint venture.
All present expressed their appreciation for this meeting and have high hopes to continue to work
together and keep dialogue open between the town and county.
Mr. Wilder reminded the Commissioners of the Local Government Association dinner at
Nonna's at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
The Town of Lillington Commissioners and staff left the meeting room and the Harnett County
Board of Commissioners continued meeting.
Mr. Sauer presented the commissioners with the employee benefit option prepared with their
input. This option makes dental voluntary but keeps it so the employee doesn't have to
contribute to their insurance. Mrs. Faucett feels this is a workable plan. Commissioner Burgin
said it is still a very good plan and Mr. Sauer said the employee benefit package is still a great
recruiting tool.
Commissioner Burgin moved to adopt the proposed changes to employee benefits.
Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Mr. Sauer reported that information had been provided to him by a concerned citizen regarding
potential criminal activity by members of the Harnett Historical Association.
All present recognized the urgency of having the Overhills historical buildings moved before the
land is transferred to the county.
Commissioner Burgin motioned to deny the Harnett Historical Association's request for a
Memorandum of Understanding and asked the County Manager to assign staff to coordinate the
transfer of the Overhills historical buildings from Fort Bragg property by Fort Bragg staff to
Harnett County property. Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
The commissioners asked staff to notify members of the Harnett Historical Association of the
plans and invite them to be involved in the project.
Mr. Sauer asked the board to address the pending 10% salary adjustment for the Director of
Social Services. Vice Chairman Hill said she could not support an increase for just one.
Commissioner Burgin said he understood from Mr. Cameron that discussion had been going on
for about a year when others received an increase and he did not. This initiative came from the
Board of Social Services.
Recently it has been brought to the attention of the county manager that approximately 40 Social
Services employees receive a yearly $2000 bonus when they meet certain goals and criterias.
Trinity Faucett, Director of Human Resources, said this was the eighth year of the bonuses but
the policy needs to be looked at as it was put in place at a time when the salaries were out of line.
Commissioner Andrews moved to deny a 10% salary adjustment for the Director of Social
Services. Vice Chairman Hill seconded the motion.
Mr. Sauer said that the state was planning to up -grade the salaries for Social Services directors in
the next fiscal year. Ms Blinson said the Director of Social Services' salary is split with the
majority of the increase coming from the state.
The motion to deny the salary adjustment passed 3 to 2 with Commissioner Burgin and House
opposing.
Commissioner House moved that the board go in to closed session for the purpose of consulting
with the county attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action or
administrative procedure. This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143 -
318.11(a) (3).
Commissioner Andrews moved to come out of closed session. Commissioner Hill seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Andrews voiced disappointment that the Board of Commissioners were not
invited to the open house of the new Sheriff's Office and Detention Facility. The commissioners
felt this oversight was out of line and asked the county manager to look in to this.
The Board recessed at 9:13 pm until 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 when the Board
would reconvene in the Board of Commissioners meeting room, 102 E. Front Street, Lillington,
NC.
MIS
cNeill, Chairman
Margare egina Danie
Acting Clerk