MINUTES  REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS INTHE COMMISSIONERS ROOM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING 1. MEETINGCALLEDTOORDER BY CHAIRMANLEONARD WIGGINSAT  OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY MAY 4, 2020 AT7:001 P.M. TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA  7:00P.M.  MEMBERS! PRESENT BY ROLL CALL IN' THE FELTON COMMISSIONERS ROOM: Mr. Leonard Wiggins, Chairman, Rev. Wayne Hines, Vice-Chairman, Mr. MEMBERS PRESENT. BYI ROLL CALL PARTICIPATING REMOTELYBY TELEPHONE: Mrs.) Evelyn Powell, Mr. Ralph Webb and Mrs. Viola Harris. OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Eric Evans, County Manager, Mr. Michael Peters, County Attorney and Ms. Frangie Mungo, Clerk to thel Board. Mr. William Johnson, Assistant County Manager, provided safetyi instructions.  Donald Boswell and Mr. William Wooten.  2. 3. 4.  SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.  PRAYER.  Rev. Hines provided the prayer.  MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL. Mr. Wooten moved to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2020 meeting as presented. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those] participating remotely by  telephone.  5.  BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW.  REV. HINES MOVED TO RECESS' THEI REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND CONVENE ASI BOARD OF  EQUALIZATION ANDI REVIEW. MR. BOSWELL SECONDED THE: MOTION, A. Michael Peters, Notary Public, administered the oath tol Mr. Wiggins, Rev. Hines, Mr. Boswell and Mr. Wooten. Mr. Peters stated that Mrs. Harris was administered the oath earlier in the day and Mr. Webb and Mrs. Powell will be C.Mrs. Tarasa Lewis, Tax Administrator, asked the Board to adopt two items: Notice of Decision letter and Notice of Decision Regarding Discovery Mr. Wooten moved to adopt thel Notice of Decision letter as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous votel by those who Mr. Boswell moved to adopt the Notice of] Decision Regarding Discovery Billing letter as presented. Mr. Wiggins, seconded the motion, which carried by  WHICH CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.  administered the oath at a later date. B. Mr. Wiggins called the meeting to order.  Billing letter.  have been sworn in.  unanimous vote by those who have been sworn in.  D. Scheduled appointments: None.  1    MR. WOOTEN. MOVED TOI RECESS AS BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW UNTILI MAY 20, 2020 AND) RECONVENE REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING. MR. BOSWELL: SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTEI BY. ALL. PARTICIPATING.  PUBLICI PETITIONS.  Onl March 20, 2020, in accordance withs state law and Edgecombe County's Code of Ordinances, Chairman Leonard Wiggins proclaimed a State of] Emergency for Edgecombe County regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through this proclamation ofa State of] Emergency, Edgecombe County imposed restrictions on access to county-owned property, which included restricting access of county-owned buildings to the public. This action was taken to maintain public order and to protect the health and safety of Edgecombe County citizens by limiting the spread of Inl light of the State of Emergency and in consideration of the recommendations of government and public health officials tol limit public gatherings, Edgecombe County's April Board of Commissioners meeting on May 4, 2020 at' 7:00 p.m. was closed tot thej public and thej public was encouraged to submit any public comments via email toj publiccommentsedxecombeco.com or submitted by mail addressed to Eric Evans, County Manager. The public was notified that all public comments submitted will be read at thel May 4, 20201 Board of Commissioners Meeting. The public was also encouraged tol listen to the meeting by calling the published number.  COVID-19.  Mr. Wiggins called for public comment.  Mr. Evans read the following public comment submitted by Mr. Curmilus Dancy Isitt true the Health Department is no longer doingt the COVID-19 testing and that Mr. Evans response was that the Health Department. has not been doing, and has never done COVID-191 testing. Wei have only a very limited supply oft test kits. They are reserved for, ifthere happens to be cases at one of our long-term carej facilities or nursing homes. All of the cases that are being done in Edgecombe County have been Why have thel Edgecombe County Health Department stopped updating their website asi it relates to the latest up on the Coronavirus? If the Health Department is nol longer doing the testing and they have a problem with reporting the latest update, they need to removei the oldi information off their page. Mr. Evans response was itis not that the Health. Department has stopped doing updates. The updates on our websitei is posted pretty much daily, both on our Facebook, page and our website. Itis much easier andy quicker to get that on our Facebook page. Itisal little bit more involved to do that update on the website, sometimes therei isal lag on our website, but we do try to keep that updated as regularly as possible. Wes do have that ati two places on our website, both on the Health Department's page ofo our website and on a newly created COVID-19 page that the 3. Whyi is the COVID-19 information on the County Website and thel Health Department Website has noti included stats per Zip Code and why don'tyou start includingi it? I found the information on NCI DHH Website on Saturday andi it was kind of difficult to find." Thisi information should bei included where the county information is reported along with the other information that is already being  via email:  they are being done at thel hospital?  done by private providers.  County has.  shared.  2    Mr. Evans response was that as we haves some discussion before, we spent some time somewhat laboring over what) wej felt like whati information we could share and what we could not share. The County is under two laws that dictates the king ofi information that wel have to keep private and thati is both federal law (HIPPA), as well as a state law regarding communicable diseases. Thel North Carolina. Department of Health and Human Services actually is not under the umbrella oft thej federal HIPPA law, so they have al little bit morej flexibility in what they can share. However, that information is per zip code is available on the. State ofNorth Carolina Health and Human Services website. One thing we have not done that we can do is that we can put al link on our 4. Ihope Edgecombe County will take in consideration the COVID-19 status of whati is going oni in] Edgecombe County when it comes to thel Re-Open. Please do not rush to Mr. Evans response was that he totally understands that as a concern. The action that the County has taken is that Mr. Wiggins signeda ai State of Emergency and there are a number ofi provisions that are offered to counties when a, State ofl Emergency is enacted. The only thing at this point that we are using that. State of1 Emergency to doi is wel have closed all of the county buildings, with as veryj few exceptions, to the public so that we can protect both the public as well as our staff Thei re-opening, or the, Stay at Home order that he may be referring to is under the Governor's Executive Order, as that covers the entire state. So, ifstores, restaurants and those kinds of things were to re-open it would be at the direction ofthe Governor. Hes stated that he agrees that any  website to direct to the. State's website.  re-open ift the status oft the county shows you should not do SO.  of those decisions should bei made with great caution.  Thanking youi in: advance. Sincerely, Curmilus Dancy II Curmilus Dancy II (Butch) Videographer/Photographer/Blogger Dancy Communications. Network Thel DCNI News Blog/Online' TV A. Approval of budget amendments.  7. OTHER BUSINESS:  After explanations by Mr. Eric and al brief discussion Mr. Boswell moved to approve thel budget amendments as presented. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous votel by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by telephone. B. Approval of agreement with thel Down East Home Consortium. Mr. Evans Presented for thel Board's consideration the. Joint Cooperative Agreement for participation in the Down East Consortium (DEHC). This agreement: is for a three-year period running from. July of this year through June of 2023. Edgecombe County is able to receivei federal HOME: funds by being aj part of thel DEHC. HOME funds provide for housing and community development activities for low-income families. Typically, thel HOME funds we receive are used for housing rehabilitation projects. Wej participate along with the City of Rocky Mount (lead entity), and several other municipalities in the Twin Counties region. Allocations vary from year to year depending on federal allocation formulas, but typically therei is around $100,000 per year available for Mr. Wiggins moved to approve the agreement with the Down) East Consortium as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous votel by those present in the Commissioners room: and those participating  projects in our County.  remotely by telephone.  3    C. Approval oft the adoption ofLocal Water Supply plans.  Mr. Evans stated that we are required to submit an annual Water Supply Plan to thel NCI Division of Water. Resources. This] plan provides a general description of thes system, the supply sources, and how itis operated. Until recently, it was not required that these plans be approved by thel Board of Commissioners. However, we recently received correspondence that thel Board does need to retroactively adopt the 2018 and 2019 plan. Being that District #6 (Princeville) is not currently interconnected to the rest of the water system, Mrs. Harris moved to approve the resolutions as] presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by telephone. D. Approval of Cooperative. Agreement with Vocational Rehabilitation. Mr. Wiggins moved to approve the Cooperative. Agreement with Vocational Rehabilitation as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous votel by those present in the Commissioners room and those  there are separate plans fori it.  participating remotely by telephone.  E. Approval of. JCPC funding plan for fiscal vear 2020.  Mr. Evans stated that thel North Carolina Department of. Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is making available $255,122 fiscal 20-21 for programs that target at-risk and court involved youth. Wes solicited proposals from programs tos serve these youth. The Edgecombe County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) has met and recommends funding the six programs being presented, as well as administrative funds for the Council. As usual, this does require: al local match totaling $25,512, which willl bei included int thej proposed Mrs. Harris asked about the Hometown Hires program that the Peacemakers Mr. Evans stated that iti is an on the job training type of program that the Mrs. Harris asked ifit was in Edgecombe County because she has never heard of Mr. Evans stated that they are located in Rocky Mount and they serve youth for both] Edgecombe and Nash Counties. They can only get our funding when they serve an Edgecombe County resident. They also get funding from Nash County. Mrs. Harris asked Mr. Evans ifk he could get] her numbers of how many Edgecombe County citizens Peacemakers are serving on Freedom School and Mr. Evans stated that he could get her what they served thel last program year. Mr. Wiggins stated that he did not see on the list what he would consider Edgecombe based programs. He felt that we need to look at the. JCPC Board in terms of how the selection process is done and how iti is advertised or how we get people involved. We need to go back through the Board because the Boardl has some listings that arej probablyi incorrect and feltt that they are using an old list to satisfy the requirements. He stated that Mr. Charlie Harrell is still listed as the County Commissioner, Lamont Wiggins is listed as an attorney. Itneeds tol be updated and the Edgecombe County Board needs to look: at who is representing us. Wer need tol look at, if possible, if there are: any  budget for next fiscal year.  have.  Peacemakers havel been running for: a couple ofyears.  it.  Hometown Hires programs.  4    County based organizations that might need to get consideration that havei not Mr.] Evans stated thati it willl be done. Hes stated that one thing about thisl board that it is fairly flexible as far as the appointments and the number of appointments. He stated that there are a number of vacancies and there are opportunities for at-large appointees andi ifthe Board knows of someone, they Mrs. Harris stated that she would like to serve as County Commissioner  been getting it.  are always looking for good Board members.  representative.  Mr. Evans thanked Mrs. Harris.  Mr. Boswell moved to approve the allocation of thesei funds as presented and to authorize the Chairman and staff to execute the required documents. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by F. Approval lofaresolution recognizing the North Carolina Conference of thel United  telephone. Methodist Church. Mr. Wooten read the resolution.  Mr. Wooten moved to approve the resolution as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners: room and those participating remotely by telephone.  G. Approval ofa a resolution to authorize the sale of surplus service handguns in the Mr. Evans stated that the Sheriff's office received a donation toj purchase new weapons for his deputies. Sheriff. Atkinson is requesting the Board's: approval to allow deputies toj purchase their current handgun. NC General statutes does allow the governing body to dispose of personal property owned by the County through Rev. Hines moved to approve the resolution which will allow Sheriff. Atkinson to offer these weapons for sale tol his deputies. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room Mr. Evans stated thati inl light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, he realized that in order for us to be able to continue toj provide our essential services, our employees must report to work and face the risks of doing SO. In an effort to minimize those risks, wel have closed most of our buildings to the public, and we have a majority of our employees working on rotatings schedules. However, there are many of our functions where ai rotating schedule is not possible. For these employees, he would like tol be able to compensate themi in some way. Mr. Evans stated that our personnel policy does not currently have a provision for hazard compensation. Therefore, he requested that thel Board consider approvinga policy addendum that gives him three different options for compensation with limits. Town of those options involve additional pay, while the thirdi is Mr. Wiggins moved to approve the Hazard Compensation Policy as presented.  Sheriff's Office.  ar negotiated sale.  and those participating remotely by telephone. H. Approval of an amendment to the Personnel Policy.  compensatory leave.  5    Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by Approval of an amendment of Grant Administrator position.  telephone.  Mr. Evans stated that thel Board approved the addition ofa Grant Administrator position in 2016, which was filled a short time following. The position later became vacant, and has not yet been filled, though iti is still budgeted. We have planned to add another position int the Finance! Department. This position will handle al number of things, but primarily thej person will track grant projects, as well as assist with: account reconciliations and serve as a back-up to other functions. Being that the duties of the two positions would overlap in may ways, he determined thati ity will serve us wellt to combine the two functions by amending the position title and description of the Grant. Administrator. Mr. Boswell moved to approve the amended position as presented. Mr. Wooten seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by telephone.  APPOINTMENTS. A. ABCBoard. B. NEED, Inc.  Mr. Wiggins moved to appoint Mr. Calvin Wiggins. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners Mrs.] Powell moved to recommend Glenda Lawrence-Knight. Mrs. Harris seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by telephone. Mrs. Harris moved to recommend Gwendolyn Knight. Rev. Hines seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners  room and those participating remotely by telephone.  room and those participating remotely by telephone.  9.  PLANNING BOARD REPORT. A. Rezoning request from] Brandon Deal.  Mr. Boswell moved to call for a public hearing at the. June 1, 2020 meeting as Recommended by the Planning Board. Mr. Webb seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous votel by those presenti in the Commissioners room and those Mr. Wooten moved to approve the afterlists and releases as presented. Mr. Boswell seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners room and those participating remotely by telephone.  participating remotely by telephone.  10. AFTERLISTS AND RELEASES FOR] REVIEW AND APPROVAL.  11. CONTRACTS FORI REVIEWAPPROVAL:  Rev. Hines moved to approve the contracts as presented. Mr. Wiggins seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote by those present in the Commissioners  room and those participating remotely by telephone.  12. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS! FOR REVIFW-Recehed":  A. Financial Summary report. B.V Water & Sewer Department. C.Hurricane recovery update. 13. MANAGER'S) REPORI--Reehed": A. Workforce Development Indicators.  6    B. Covid-19 update. (Oral Report.) 14. COMMISSIONERS REPORT.  Mr. Wiggins stated that what] he is doing, in terms of the meetings, is rotating the Board in and out. Hel has decided that he, along with and Rev. Hines, will attend all of the meetings as officers. Iffor some reason they feel that they should not attend they will ask another Commissioner to attend. He stated that for the meeting with the School Board, Mrs. Powell and Mr. Webb willl be at that meeting. He stated that ifa Commissioner feels that they need tol be at a meeting, he suggested that they talk to another Commissioner because somethings arei important to them as individuals. Mr. Boswell stated that he spoke with Mr. Evans a couple of times about the Rescue Squad changing their form of] Board. He stated that thel Board of Commissioners need toi find someone tos serve on that board. He stated that everybody needs tol be Mr. Boswell asked Mr. Peters ifit was proper for the County Commissioners to set guidelines regarding attendance for boards that they appoint members to. Mr. Wiggins stated that if thel Board did the by-laws he felti it could be added, if they are our Boards. Mr. Wiggins asked Mr. Peters tol look into the attendance  thinking about that.  requirements for thel boards they appoint to.  15. ATTORNEY'S REPORT.  None.  16. REV.HINES MOVED' TO RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL THURSDAY.MAY 7,2020 AT 6:001 P.M.] FOR. JOINT MEETING OF THE EDGECOMBE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND EDGECOMBE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. MR. BOSWELLSECONDED THE MOTION. WHICH CARRIED  BYUNANIMOUS VOTE.  Approved April6 6, 2020. Eai  Frangie Mungo, Clerk to thel  y  7