MINUTES  REGULARSCHEDULED MEETING OF THEI BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY DECEMBER 5, 2022 AT'7:00 P.M. JONATHAN FELTON COMMISSIONERS ROOM COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  1.  ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING CALLED' TOORDER BYI MR. MICHAEL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mr. William' Wooten, Mr. Donald Boswell, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mrs.  PETERS, COUNTY ATTORNEY. Evelyn Powell and Mr. Ralph Webb. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. Clerk to the Board.  OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mrs.] Natalie. Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peter, County Attorney and Ms. Frangie Mungo, MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Mr. Wooten moved to: approve the minutes of the November 7, 2022 meeting as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Out-going Commissioner William (Billy) Wooten was presented a plaque recognizing his dedicated service and many contributions made to and through the Edgecombe County  2.  Board of Commissioners from February 4, 2013 - December 5, 2022.  3.  SWEARING: INCEREMONY. thei following Commissioners: Mr. George Thorne Mr. Donald Boswell Rev. E. Wayne Hines  Thel Honorable Carol Allen White, Clerk of Court, administered the oath of office to  4.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS-2023.  Mr. Peters called for nominations forl Board of Commissioners Chairman. Rev.] Hines nominated Mr. Wiggins. There were: no other nominations. Rev. Hines moved to elect] Mr. Wiggins as Chairman. Mrs. Powell seconded the Mr. Peters called for nominations for Board of Commissioners Vice-Chairman. Mr. Wiggins nominated Rev. Hines. There were no other nominations. Mr. Boswell moved to elect Rev. Hines as' Vice-Chairman. Mr. Webb seconded the REGULAR MEETING CALLED' TOORDERI BY CHATRMANIEONARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. E. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Donald Boswell, Mrs. Viola Harris, Mrs. Evelyn Powell, Mr.  motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  5.  WIGGINS.  Ralph Webb and Mr. George Thorne.    MEMBERS ABSENT: None.  OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mrs. Natalie Bess, Deputy County Manager, Mr. Michael Peter, County Attorney and Ms. Frangie Mungo,  Clerk to the Board. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. Safety instructions provided by Mrs. Bess. Rev. Hines provided prayer. PUBLICHEARINGS: Amendment.  6. 7. 8.  PRAYER.  1. Mr. Wiggins called a public hearing to order to receive citizen comments and questions relative to the Down East Home Consortium ARP Action Plan  Mr. Peters read the public notice as published.  Mr. Evans introduced Ms. Cornelia McGee, City of Rocky Mount Interim Director Community Development. He stated that Rocky Mount is thel lead entity for thel Down East HOME Consortium and Ms. McGee will present  information regarding the. ARP Action Plan. Ms. McGee presented the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan:  Homelessness Assistance and Supportive Services provides $5 billion in HOME funds so: assist individual or households who are homeless, at risk ofl homelessness and other vulnerable populations by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive: services, and non-congregate shelter. Rocky Mount & DEHC allocation: $1,476,477 Deadline for spending all funds: September 30, 2030 Qualifying populations: Homeless, At-risk of homelessness, fleeing, or  attempting to flee, other populations. Overview of] planning process. Needsi identified by stakeholders. Needsi identified through data analysis NCI HOPE. Program rental assistance: Edgecombe County: 4,232 Nash County: 5,219 Priority needs identified. HOME-ARP budget. Nexts steps.  Ms. McGee answered several questions from thel Board.  Mr. Wiggins called for public comments. There being none, the public hearing Mr. Boswell moved to approve the plan as presented. Rev. Hines seconded the 2. Mr. Wiggins called a public hearing to order to receive citizen comments and questions relative to amendment to the Solid Waste Ordinance. Mr. Peters read the public notice as published.  was adjourned.  motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  2    Mr. Evans stated that at the Board's last meeting staff requested a change in the Solid Waste Ordinance regarding the Solid Waste] Permit Program. The languagel before referred to aj placard and we are going to a different type of permit now, more ofa decal that goes on the windshield. We are changing that language as well as a couple others for clarity. Mr. Evans recommended that the Board, at the close of the public hearing, act on two actions, 1) approve the ordinance change as presented; 2) approve the Solid Waste permit policy Mr. Wiggins called forj public comments. There being none, the public hearing Mrs. Harris moved to approve the ordinance change as presented. Mrs. Powell Mrs. Harris moved to approve the revised Solid Waste Permit Policy as presented. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Michelle Etheridge, Health Director, presented COVID-19 update.  revision. was adjourned.  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  9. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.  As of] November 29, 2022, we were: at 16,666 reported positive cases since the start ofCOVID for Edgecombe County. Home test results are not reported. Slight change in population thati is most affected - usually it has been White females between the ages of 25-49. As ofr recently iti is Black females between Cases haves stayed fairly low, averaging between 3 and 5 cases a day. 173 deaths inl Edgecombe County due to COVID-19. (first death reported Coach bus located in Princeville for testing on Mondays and' Tuesdays, 10 Starting tomorrow at the Health Department they will have free COVID  the ages of25-49. April7,2020) a.m. to 6p p.m. home tests  Vaccine status presented for the County. Mr. Evans introduced Mr. Ron Green.  B. Ron Green.CEO-Bovs and Girls Club Tar River Region, presented an update. Mr. Green stated that during his ten years they have survived and are still growing and still serving young people at: al high level. Mr. Green thanked the Board: for support. Mr. Green provided handouts to the Board.  10. POBLIC. PETITIONS. 11. OTHER BUSINESS:  None.  A. Approval of budget amendments.  Mr. Boswell moved to approve the budget amendments as presented, with the exception ofl budget amendment #4 (To add budget for thel District No. 65 Sewer Rehab Project), which is recommended for approval under item EofOther Business. Mr. Webb seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Evans stated that thel Finance Department is working toi implement best practices and streamline financial operations. A review of the budget transfer authority identified that the existing process does not align with best practices. Onl November 17th, staff presented a recommendation to the Budget Committee  B. Approval of proposed changed to Budget' Transfer Authority.  3    to streamline the transfer policy to allow thel Budget Officer/County Manager to transfer across appropriations within ai fund up to $25,000. Transfers greater than $25,000 within a fund, transfers across funds and anyi increase or decrease in ai fund total will continue to require board approval. Mr. Evans stated that with this ordinance change, he will implement an administrative policy requiring his approval oft transfers within a department greater than $10,000 or transfers impacting salary and benefits, regardless of amount. Thej proposed effective date of this change is. January 1,2023 and requires an amendment to the budget ordinance. This change comes with ai favorable: recommendation from the Mrs. Powell moved to approve the amendment as] presented. Mr. Boswell Approval of Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners 2023 Regular Meeting Mr. Boswell moved to approve the schedule as presented. Rev. Hines seconded D. Approval of voting delegate for the 2023 National Association of Counties Mr. Evans stated that thel National Association of Counties willl hold its Legislative Conference on February 10-14",2023. Commissioner Harris plans to attend to represent the County. Mr. Evans recommended that the Board take action to designate Commissioner Harris as the Voting Delegate for Edgecombe Rev. Hines moved to designate Mrs. Harris as recommended. Mr. Boswell E. Approval of] Budget Ordinance for Water and Sewer District 61 Project. Mr. Evans stated that USDA-Rural Development has committed funding for aj project to rehab thes sewer system in District 6 (Town of] Princeville). The funding sourcei includes $2,619,000 in loan and $4,455,000 in grant for a total of $7,074,000. The Board previously approved accepting the obligation of funds. Now that we are close tos starting the project, Board of approval of the Grant Project Ordinance and Budget Amendment. Our next step will be to appear beforei the Local Government Commission to get their approval of the loan, Mr. Boswell moved to approve the grant project ordinance and budget amendment as] presented and authorize the Chairman to execute the same. Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Budget Committee.  seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Schedule.  the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Legislative Conference.  County for the 20231 NACO Legislative Conference. seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  which we anticipate doing in February.  12. APPOINTMENTS:  A. JCPC Public School Representative. motion, which carried by unanimous vote.  Mrs.] Harris moved to appoint Kabrionna Battle. Rev. Hines seconded the  B. Planning Board. C.Board of Adjustment. 13. PLANNING BOARD REPORT:  Katina Braswell, Planning Director, presented thel Planning Board report. A. Conditional Rezoning request from) K&H Market, LLC dba Midway Grocery. Thel Planning Board forwarded the request to the Board of Commissioners with (Recommended action: Call for a public hearing for the request at the January  ai favorable recommendation.    3,2023 meeting.)  Mr. Boswell moved to call for aj public hearing at the. January 3, 2023 meeting as requested by thel Planning Board. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which  carried by unanimous vote. B.Hard copy of UDO text amendment distributed. C.Minutes of] November 21, 2022 meeting.  14. AFTERLISTS. AND] RELEASES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 15. APPROVAL. AND/OR REVIEW OF CONTRACTS. motion, which carried by unanimous vote. A. Water and Sewer update. B. Monthly Financial Summary. 17. MANAGER'S) REPORD-"Reched": A. Workforce Development: indicators. B. TDA Financial Report. Education and Agriculture Center. through interviews next week. 18. COMMISSIONERS REPORT.  Mr. Boswell moved to approve the: afterlists and releases as presented. Mrs. Powell Mrs. Powell moved to approve the contracts as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the  16. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOR REVIFW.-Reived":  C. Farm City Breakfast: December 13, 2022 at' 7:30 a.m. at thel East Carolina Mr. Evans stated that for the CFO position there are 8 applicants with 3 going  Mrs. Harris: Shared the top goals that willl be presented to thel Legislature for 2023-  2024.  Mr. Webb: Discussion on the "Handy Corner" Crossroad renaming. Mr. Boswell: Discussion on Solid Waste' Truck Drivers.  Discussion on Solid Waste decals.  19. ATTORNEY'S: REPORT. 20. CLOSEDSESSION.  None.  Rev. Hines moved to go into closed session to discuss: A. Economic Development. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4)] B. Personnel Matter. [N.C.G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(3)] Mrs. Powell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Boswell seconded thei motion, which carried by unanimous vote. of the Board for Mr. Evans to move forward with RFPS.  Mr. Webb moved to go out of closed session and resume the regular meeting. Mr. Mr. Wiggins moved to approve a 2% salary increase for Sheriff Clee Atkinson. Mr. After a discussion regarding having al lobbyist for the County, it was the consensus  5    21. MR. BOSWELL MOVED' TO ADJOURN' THE MEETINGI UNTILTUESDAY, JANUARY3.2023. AT7:001 P.M.MRS. POWELLSECONDED THE MOTION,  WHICHCARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.  Approved. January 3, 2023. Frangiel Mungo, Clerk tot thel Board Bmae  6