Madison County Board of Elections Meeting Minutes - Regular Session March 17, 2021 at 3:00 P.M.  The Madison County Board of Elections held a meeting on Wednesday, March17,2021. Joining the meeting: Jerry' Wallin, Chair; Ray Lewis, Secretary; Brian Ball, Member; Dyatt Smathers, Member; Sandra' Tolley, Member; Kathy Ray, Director; Jacob Ray, Deputy Director, and one member ofthe  public. Call to Order:  Chair' Wallin called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.  Agenda:  Motion,Seconded (DS, RL) and Carried (5,0) to approve the agenda as amended to move Item #51 ersonne/compensaton to follow Item #3 Members' Reports.  Minutes:  Motion, Seconded (ST,DS) and Carried (5,0) to approve the February 17 and February 24,  2021 meetingsminutes. Members' Reports:  Member Smathers commented that the Board be aware of thej potential for movement of the 2021  municipal and the 2022 primary elections due to delayed census data.  Personnei/Compemstion:  The Board: recognized Linda Cruzan. Ms. Cruzan provided a short introduction ofh her professional Motion, Seconded (DS, Jw) and Carried (5,0) to go into closed session to discuss confidential Motion, Seconded (BB, ST) and Carried (5,0) to hire Linda Cruzan as the full time Deputy Director of Elections to begin May 1, 2021. The Chair requested the Deputy Director be  and personal background and experience. personnel matters and compensation.  employed for a couple ofv weeks prior tol beginning her duties.  Motion, Seconded (DS, BB) and Carried (5,0) to set the Directorssalary effective May 1,2021  at $37,500.00 peryear plus the benefit package the county offers.  Regular Session Minutes 3/17/2021  Page 1 of3    Motion, Seconded (DS, BB) and Carried (5,0) to set the Deputy Director's flat rate of] pay effective May 1, 2021 at $15.00 per hour plus thel benefit package the county offers.  Director's) Report:  The Deputy Director has completed thel North Carolina Notary Certification Program. North Carolina State Board of Elections Security & Support' Technician - District 1 John Noce and thel Deputy Director had an emcouragingconversation regarding the purchase oft the ExpressVote Addison Farms Vineyard continues to need the repair to the broken threshold that occurred during  Ballot Markers.  thel November 3, 2020 election.  Member. Smathers will visit the: site, consult with the county maintenance director,  and develop a plan for the repair.  Thei maintenance director suggested the Sandy Mush Community Center electricity could be disconnected and reconnected a couple of months prior to use. The mini split heating and cooling  unit should run for one month prior to testing thel building for mold.  Thel Board determined tol leave the power connected but to turn off the mini split heating and cooling unit until the: suggested period prior to use and mold testing.  Member Smathers will visit the site and turn offthe unit.  The county attorney is working on the! ExpressVote Contractual Purchase Agreement. The Cares Act Subgrant reimbursement is pending review and release by the State Board of  Elections.  The February 2021 budget expenditure report andj journal was presented.  The 2021-2022 budget proposal was presented.  Other Matters: for storage space. with LCCO.  Discussion ensued regarding the Laurel Community Center Organization (LCCO) lease agreement Motion, Seconded (DS, RL) and Carried (5,0) for the Chair to negotiate a new lease agreement  Regular Session Minutes 3/17/2021  Page 2 of3    The Director requested a motion tol hire Linda Cruzan for a training period priort to beginning her Motion, Seconded (BB, RL) and Carried (5,0) tol hire Linda Cruzan as an office support  duties on May 1,2 2021.  trainee beginning April 12, 2021 at the rate of$15.00 per hour.  Adjournment:  Motion, Seconded (DS, BB) and Carried (5,0) to adjourn at 5:00 p.m.  SH4R Re4e  Regular Session Minutes 3/17/2021  Page 3 of3