081021 wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
August 10, 2021
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, August 10, 2021
at 9:00 am in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library
Building, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Matt Nicol, Commissioner
Staff present: George Wood, Interim County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Melissa D. Capps, Clerk
Chairman Matthews called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner McKoy led the
Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
• Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
• Presentation by County Manager Executive Search Firm; Slavin Management
Consultants, Robert Slavin
• Discussion of staffing issues in three departments and recommended solutions,
George Wood
• Update on Economic Development Director selection process, George Wood
• Discussion of the Broadband Project, George Wood
• Presentation by County Manager Executive Search Firm; The Mercer Group, Ellis
Hankins
• Consideration of Interim County Manager's recommendation to reimpose COVID-
19 restrictions in County facilities, George Wood
• Discussion regarding the sewer hookups for South Harnett Elementary School and
Anderson Creek Primary School.
• County Manager's Report:
- August 16, 2021 Meeting Agenda Review
- Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
- Upcoming meetings and invitations
• Closed Session
• Adjourn
Mr. Robert Slavin with Slavin Management Consultants introduced Ms. Barbara Lipscomb and
shared a presentation regarding the County Manager Recruitment Process which included
information regarding the process, recruitment timetable and project cost.
August 10, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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George Wood, Interim County Manager, provided the Board of Commissioners with a memo
outlining turnover problems in Harnett Regional Transportation Service (HARTS), Emergency
Medical Services and the Inspections Division of the Development Services Department. Mr.
Wood recommended the Board consider adopting a budget amendment at the August 16, 2021
meeting increasing expenditures by $782,351; and increasing revenues by $157,000 from the
CARES Act to fund most the HARTS increase, and $625,351 from property taxes — real. These
raises should go into effect immediately as August 16th is the beginning of a new payroll period.
The consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next agenda.
Mr. Wood provided an update on the Economic Development Director selection process.
Fourteen (14) applications were received, applications were reviewed and narrowed down to four
applicants. Interviews are being scheduled for next week.
Mr. Wood stated Rose and Associates has prepared a draft economic development strategic plan
and will be presenting information at the August 31St work session. The Strategic Plan is
ongoing and you have the all -day retreat on August 17th with the UNC School of Government.
Mr. Wood stated we have met with CloudWyze and I had time to review the contract. The
contract does state that CloudWyze will design and construct the assets. Mr. Wood reviewed
North Carolina state laws regarding broadband infrastructure. I would like to add to the agenda
that you authorize staff to get with CloudWyze to do a preliminary design for countywide
broadband. This would help with a competitive grant process. Mr. Wood stated I do still want
to hire an outside engineering firm to perform value engineering, to review the cost estimates.
The consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next agenda.
Mr. Ellis Hankins with Mercer Group Associates shared a presentation regarding the County
Manager Recruitment Process which included information regarding the search process, timeline
and key dates.
Mr. Wood reviewed a memo to reimpose COVID-19 restrictions in County facilities. Following
conversations with Health Director John Rouse, Emergency Services Director Larry Smith and
the County's management team, I am recommending that you reinstitute previous policies
requiring County employees to wear face coverings and practice social distancing when they are
in public spaces such as hallways, meeting rooms and break rooms, as well as when they are
riding in a county vehicle with someone else; and requiring members of the public to wear face
coverings and practice social distancing in county facilities. Employees are also encouraged to
meet virtually when possible, as the County has made a significant investment over the past year
in technologies that enhance our ability to conduct business virtually. I am recommending these
requirements be put in place until the county experiences a significant decrease in our COVID-
19 trend lines. Our hope is that these measures will reduce COVID-19's impacts on County
operations and allow staff to continue serving the public in a safe and efficient manner. Health
Director John Rouse shared statistical information. Additional discussion included vaccination
rates and herd immunity. The consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next agenda.
August 10, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Mr. Wood provided an update on sewer hookups for South Harnett Elementary School and
Anderson Creek Primary School.
Mr. Wood reviewed the draft August 16, 2021 Meeting Agenda and board and commission
applications.
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 am. Commissioner Nicol
seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
W. Brooks Ma thews, Chairman Meliss D. Capps, Clerk tot e Board
August 10, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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