December 2, 2024 The Martin County Board ofCommissioners met in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Martin County Governmental Center, 305 East Main Street, Williamston, North Carolina. ASSEMBLY Those attending the meeting were Chairman Dempsey Bond Jr., Vice Chair Emily Biggs, Commissioner Joe R. Ayers, Commissioner David "Skip" Gurganus, Interim County Manager/ County Attorney Benjamin R. Eisner, County Clerk Julia S. Rease, Human Resources Director Donna Zube, and Finance Officer Angela Raynor. Absent: Commissioner Ronnie Smith Others in attendance: Chief District Court Judge Regina Parker, Commissioner Elect Jeremiah Taylor, and SheriffTim Manning Chairman Bond Jr called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice Chair Biggs, lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Gurganus provided the invocation. Chairman Bond Jr. welcomed all that attended. AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Gurganus made the Motion to Approve the Agenda with a Second by Vice Chair Biggs. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). Plaque and Minutes Interim County Manager presented a plaque to Vice Chair Emily Biggs and read the plaque a loud. Vice Chair Biggs was also given a flash drive with minutes from the duration of her term as Commissioner. SWEARING - IN CEREMONY Honorable Chief District Court Judge Regina Parker administered the oath ofoffice to Incumbent Commissioner Dempsey Bond, Jr., Incumbent Commissioner David "Skip" Gurganus, and Commissioner - Elect Jeremiah Taylor. Each Commissioner would serve a four-year term. RECESS A brief Recess was taken after the swearing in ceremony SO the newly elected and reelected Commissioners could share the occasion with loved ones. At 9:16a.m., Chairman Bond Jr. called the meeting back to order after the recess. Chairman Bond Jr. then turned the meeting over to Interim County Manager Eisner for the Board reorganization process. BOARD REORGANIZATION 1. Election of Chairman Commissioner Ayers was nominated as Chairman by Commissioner Gurganus. There were no other nominations. Commissioner Gurganus made the Motion to Nominate Commissioner Ayers as the Chairman, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 2. Election of Vice Chairman Commissioner Gurganus was nominated as Vice Chairman by Commissioner Taylor. There were no other nominations. Commissioner Taylor made the Motion to nominate Commissioner Gurganus as Vice Chairman, with a Second by Commissioner Ayers. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 3. Appointment ofCounty Attorney Commissioner Bond Jr. Appointed Benjamin Eisner to continue as the County Attorney, with a Second by Commissioner Gurganus. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 4. Appointment of Clerk to the Board Commissioner Ayers Motioned to Appoint Julia S. Rease to continue serving as the Clerk to the Board, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 5. Approval of 2025 Meeting Schedule and Resolution According to, N.C.G.S. 153A-40, the Board ofCommissioners are authorized to adopt a resolution fixing the dates, time and place of its regular meetings and further requires a copy of such a resolution, after its adoption, to be posted on the courthouse bulletin board and a summary ofit to be published at least ten (10) days before the first meeting to which the resolution is to apply; and N.C.G.S. 143-318.12 requires the new meeting schedule to be filed with the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners for at least seven (7) calendar days before the day ofthe first meeting held pursuant to the revised schedule and to post the schedule of regular meetings to the County's website. The resolution and meeting schedule are as stated: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2025 WHEREAS, N.C.G.S. 153A-40, authorizes the Martin County Board ofCommissioners to adopt a resolution fixing the dates, time and place ofits regular meetings and further requires a copy of such a resolution, after its adoption, to be posted on the courthouse bulletin board and a summary ofi it to be published at least ten (10) days before the first meeting to which the resolution is to apply; and WHEREAS, N.C.G.S. 143-318.12, requires the new meeting schedule to be filed with the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners for at least seven (7) calendar days before the day ofthe first meeting held pursuant to the revised schedule and to post the schedule of regular meeting to the County's website; and WHEREAS, the Martin County Board of Commissioners proposes to adopt the attached Martin County Board of Commissioners' Meeting Schedule for 2025 for its regular Board meetings; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Martin County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the attached Meeting Schedule for 2025, which is incorporated herein by reference, and that Board meetings will be held in the County Commissioners Boardroom on the first floor of the Martin County Governmental Center located at 305 East Main Street, Williamston, North Carolina; and the Board directs the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners to provide such notice oft the Meeting Schedule as set forth hereinabove. Adopted this the 2nd day ofDecember, 2024. Chairman Martin County Board of Commissioners Clerk to the Board MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 2025 Meeting Schedule Date Back Up Needed Date of Meeting Time Type of Meeting Due by 12:00 Noon January 8, 2025 7 p.m. Regular January 2, 2025 February 12,2025 7 p.m. Regular February 5, 2025 March 12, 2025 7p p.m. Regular March 5, 2025 April 9, 2025 7 p.m. Regular April 2, 2025 April TBA TBA Joint Board Meeting w/School April 2, 2025 Board May 14, 2025 7p p.m. Regular May 7, 2025 May June TBA TBA Budget Workshop (s) (After TBA Receipt of Bd of Ed Budget) June 11, 2025 7 p.m. Budget Public Hearing June 4, 2025 June 11, 2025 7 p.m. Regular June 4, 2025 June 11, 2025 7 p.m. Adopt Budget June 4, 2025 June 25, 2025 71 p.m. Year End Budget Ordinance June 18, 2025 Amendments July 9, 2025 7 p.m. Regular July 2, 2025 August 13, 2025 7j p.m. Regular August 6, 2025 September 10, 2025 7 p.m. Regular September 3, 2025 October 8, 2025 7 p.m. Regular October 1, 2025 November 12, 2025 7 p.m. Regular November 5, 2025 December 10, 2025 7p p.m. Regular December 3, 2025 Commissioner Taylor made the Motion to Approve of the 2025 Meeting Schedule, with a Second by Commissioner Bond Jr. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). Commissioner Gurganus made the Motion to Approve oft the 2025 Meeting Schedule Resolution with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). PUBLIC COMMENTS - None CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner Bond Jr. made the Motion to Approve ofthe Consent Agenda, with a Second by Chairman Ayers. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 1. Minutes - November 13, 2024 Regular This agenda item was Approved as part of the Consent Agenda. 2. Board Appointments/Reappointments The following Board listed are scheduled for routine reappointments/appointments for the month of December. The following members serving on those Boards with expiring terms were recommended for pintmemlrapp.intmems a. Bertie - Martin Regional Jail Board Name Term Length Expiration Date Timothy Clifton Moore Sr. 2 year term December 31, 2026 This item was Approved as part ofthe Consent Agenda. b. Fireman's Relief Fund Trustees Name Term Length Expiration Date J.D. Woolard 2y year term December 31, 2026 Andy Griffin 2 year term December 31, 2026 Richard Cannon 2 year term December 31, 2026 David Jenkins 2y year term December 31, 2026 Bill Jones 2 year term December 31, 2026 This item was Approved as part oft the Consent Agenda. C. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) Name Term Length Expiration Date Michelle White, Sup. 2 year term December 31, 2026 Beth Coltrain 2 year term December 31, 2026 Seth Edwards, DA's Office 2 year term December 31, 2026 Stacy Huss 2 year term December 31, 2026 Christopher Bryson 2 year term December 31, 2026 Angela Ellis 2 year term December 31, 2026 Deborah Fonville 2 year term December 31, 2026 Regina Parker, Chief District Court Judge 2 year term December 31, 2026 Vickey Manning, 2 year term December 31, 2026 Sheila Godard, 2 year term December 31, 2026 Christine Manning 2 year term December 31, 2026 Lucas Denny 2 year term December 31, 2026 Anthony Howell 2 year term December 31, 2026 Tracie Smith 2 year term December 31, 2026 This item was Approved as part of the Consent Agenda. 3. Southern Albemarle Association - Martin County Executive Committee Mayor of Bear Grass, Charlotte Griffin provided a copy of the Southern Albemarle Association Executive Committee for Martin County to be approved by the Board of Commissioners. NAME SPECIALTY CATEGORY Carolyn Harrell, Vice President Roads and Bridges Charlotte Griffin Roads and Bridges Beulah Bennett Airports Milton Bennett Ferries and Waterways Andrew Brownfield Publicity Janie Grady Finance Jerry Harrell Roadsides and Parks Don Grady Ferries and Waterways Tonya Leggett History Joe Ayers Airports Chase Conner Rules Mayor Tina Brown Ferries and Waterways Dempsey Bond Roads and Bridges Martin County Southern Albemarle Association Past Presidents Charlotte B. Griffin Dempsey Bond Carolyn Harrell This item was Approved as part of the Consent Agenda. 4. Clerk Report NEW BUSINESS 1. Commissioners Board Appointments With the recent Election, the Board gained a new Commissioner who would need to be appointed to the following Advisory Boards: Choanoke Area Development Authority (CADA) Martin Community College Board ofTrustees Department of Socials Services Chairman Ayers suggested tabling the matter for further review. Vice Chair Gurganus made the Motion to Table Commissioners Board Appointments, with a Second by Commissioner Bond Jr. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). 2. CAB-to-CAB Letter of Intent - Martin County Communications Director Jason Steward Communications Director Jason Steward informed the County Managers Office of the CAD Program. CAD is an acronym for Computer Aided Dispatch. Itis a software program that serves as a central record-keeping system, database, and resource manager for the 911 Communications Center. With a goal of improving interoperability during emergencies, downtime, or other unforeseen events; the North Carolina Department of Information Technology/NC911 Board has offered grant funding for a "CAD to CAD" program. This program will allow 911 Centers in pre- designated areas to access, enter information, and update information in Martin County's CAD system and vice-versa. Interoperability for telephone and radio has been obtained in recent years through the State's AT&T ESInet (phone) and the VIPER radio system; CAD interoperability is the next logical step. The attached letter of intent outlines the project and costs which are 100% covered by the NCDIT/NC911 Board with no local match/investment required. Memorandums ofUnderstanding are required to be approved for the funding and to give authority to share/release information from Martin County with Bertie and Pasquotank Counties and vice versa. The MOU's are listed separately under New Business. Vice Chair Gurganus expressed his appreciation as well as Chairman Ayers. The CAD to = CAD Letter of Intent is as follows: "We are writing this Letter of Intent from Martin County Communications to seek approval and reimbursement for expenses for the initial purchase and first-year subscription fee through the NG911 Fund. Understanding we have to apply for NG911 grants for subsequent year's annual subscription fees. Initial Start-up $ 21,450.00 Annual Subscription Fee $ 15,750.00 Total Central Square $ 37,200.00 Southern Software Integration $15,000.00 Southern Software Support $5,400.00 TOTAL Grant Request $94, 800.00 We believe that Central Square Unify TM, along with Southern Software integration will bring our agency and neighboring jurisdictions enhanced interoperability to improve public safety and emergency response. This network will provide intelligent options for sharing data between disparate CAD systems, including call and unit information. The use ofthe network as a CAD-to- CAD solution reduces the use of phone calls and radio traffic while reducing response times and increasing information accuracy. Central Square Unify TM along with Southern Software integration provides the most profound system integration by interfacing bi-directionally to and from the connecting system. Projected Timeline: e Upon grant approval - contract can be initiated (March 2025) Implementation with no setbacks the average project is six (6) months (September 2025) Testing and Acceptance September/October 2025 To support this Letter of Intent, please find the following documents attached: Central Square Unify TM Proposal (includes the initial purchase and recurring cost) Central Square Hub CAD-to-CAD Project Overview DRAFT Memorandum ofUnderstanding Regarding CAD Interoperability Southern Software integration work document and statement of work The PSAPS that we anticipate sharing data within this network are as follows: Pasquotank County Communications and Bertie County Communications. Each county that is participating will submit a signed Memorandum ofUnderstanding within 120 days of award of funding. PSAP MANAGER COUNTY MANAGER FINANCE OFFICER Commissioner Taylor made the Motion to Approve of the Letter of Intent with a Second by Commissioner Gurganus. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). Martin County Communications MOU Regarding CAD Interoperability - Martin County and Pasquotank-Camden County Commissioner Bond Jr. made the Motion to Approve of the Memorandum of Understanding between Martin and Pasquotank - Camden County, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried Unanimously (5-0). Martin County Communications MOU Regarding CAD Interoperability = Martin County and Bertie County Vice Chair Gurganus made the Motion to Approve ofthe Memorandum ofUnderstanding between Martin County and Bertie County, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). CivicPlus Annual Agreement CivicPlus provided services for the County's website site by managing the Code of Ordinance online page, conducting the codification of any new ordinances, and submitting any changes to the ordinances. The cost ofservices increased for Online Code Hosting service in 2012 and then raised prices slightly in 2017. To keep up with the increasing pressures of inflation, the following increases were made this year: . Online Code Hosting and Other Electronic Updates: With the next renewal, the annual fee for these solutions would increase by 20% (from $395.00 to $474.00.) CivicPlus is transitioning to a Full Service Supplementation Subscription for Municode Codification services. The Full Service Supplementation Subscription offers benefits such as the predictability in budgeting for supplements and feweri invoices. The subscription billing would replace the per-page rate, including freight on printed copies to update the Code Books, Images, Graphics & Tabular Matter and the Administrative Support Fee. The option remained for the County to continue with the current billing structure (per-page rate), however the Per Page Rate would increase by 30% from $18.00 (last increase 2013) to $23.40. CivicPlus recommended the Full Service Supplementation Subscription as it had a 10% increase versus a 30% increase with the higher per page rate. Commissioner Taylor asked if other companies were researched that may provide a cheaper cost for services and asked that the research be conducted before an approval was made. Commissioner Taylor made the Motion to Table the CivicPlus Annual Agreement, with a Second by Commissioner Bond Jr. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). Budget Amendment(s) Budget Amendment #14 The purpose of Budget Amendment #14 was to appropriate fund balance to cover the expenses for parking lot and building improvements to the Kehukee Park agricultural building. Although the job is expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year, the USDA reimbursement to the County is NOT expected within this fiscal year. BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT-#14 BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commissioners of Martin County, North Carolina, that the following amendments be made to the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Section 1. To amend the General Fund, the expenditures are to be changed as follows. Increase Decrease Kehukee Office Building $ 142,470 This will result in an increase of$142,470 in the expenditures of the General Fund-Fund Balance. To provide an increase in revenue for the above, the following revenues will be changed. Fund Balance $ 142,470 Section 2. Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Governing Board and to the Finance Officer for their direction. Motion by Vice Chair Gurganus and Seconded by Commissioner Taylor to adopt the above budget ordinance amendment this 2nd day of December 2024. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). For Your Information Increase Decrease Kehukee Park-Capital Outlay 1142710-551000 $ 142,470 Fund Balance 1100090-499099 $ 142,470 CLOSED SESSION(S) - 1. N.C.G.S. 143-314(a)(6) = Personnel At: 9:35 a.m., Commissioner Taylor made the Motion to Enter Closed Session 1. N.C.G.S. 143- 318.11. (a)(6) - Personnel, with a Second by Vice Chair Gurganus. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). At: 9:48 a.m., Vice Chair Gurganus made the Motion to Exit Closed Session pursuant to 1. N.C.G.S. 143-318.11. (a)(6) - Personnel, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). OPEN SESSION Interim County Manager Financial Statement - November. 2024 County Attorney Eisner presented a financial statement for work completed and mileage as related to his additional role as Interim County Manager. The financial statement was audited by the Finance Officer and Huma Resources Director. The totals are as stated: Hours worked : $2, 619.50 Mileage: $ 463.74 Total $3, 083.24 Commissioner Bond Jr. made the Motion to Approve of the Interim County Manager Financial Statement for the Month ofNovember 2024, with a Second by Vice Chair Gurganus. The Motion was Carried unanimously (5-0). BOARD REPORTS/COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS Interim County Manager Eisner announced that the Countywide Christmas Luncheon would begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Farmers Market in Williamston on Friday, December 6, 2024. Commissioner Gurganus made comments regarding Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Commissioner Gurganus stated that he was not making any promises to get aj paramedic on a truck tomorrow, but he heard concerns from citizens and recognized the issues. Commissioner Gurganus stated that he would not debate whether a paramedic would make a difference or not, but wanted everyone to understand that the county supported the EMS system, but the County did not own the EMS systems. It was stated that the closure of the hospital gave the opportunity to revisit these issues. Commissioner Gurganus stated that permission was not requested, but he asked the EMS Director to do research to find out how much it would cost to get a paramedic. Commissioner Gurganus stated that certifications were needed, or on a co-op, or interlocal agencies. It was reported that Emergency Management Director Jody Griffin had been working on this matter for about 5-6 weeks. Commissioner Gurganus stated that there were questions to be answercd. Such questions were how much it would cost for paramedics, how stations would be equipped for the paramedics, how did the EMS units feel about having paramedics, how many paramedics were needed, and more. Ifthe county did have these answers, Martin County did not have any funding besides taxpayer money. It was stated that the matter needed to be addressed and Commissioner Gurganus wanted to inform the public by following up on a concern. Commissioner Taylor reported attending the Board of Commissioner meetings for over a year and a half until recent. Commissioner Taylor reported hearing the concerns from citizens, he wanted to look at expenses, and wanted everyone to work together. Commissioner Taylor stated that there were low fruit issues and changes needed to be made beginning with the Board. Chairman Ayers thanked the citizens and the Board for the opportunity to serve and stated that there was a lot of work to do. Commissioner Ayers stated that administration would be totally transparent, there would be an open door policy, nothing will be hidden, and thanked the citizens again. It was announced that a Special Call Meeting would take place on December 16th, Monday, 5:00 p.m. for a public hearing regarding the upcoming schedule of values. It was added that there were several issues mentioned last year that would be addressed and fixed. Commissioner Ayers stated that efforts were ongoing on the hospital and bids would go out in January, there was too much money being spent on travel, and department heads needed to be comfortable and knowledgeable in what they had to do, and continued to list a few other issues within the County that would be addressed. No further comments were made. Adjournment: At: 9:59 p.m., Vice Chair Gurganus made the Motion to Adjourn, with a Second by Commissioner Taylor. The Motion was Carried unanimously by raise ofhands (5-0). boe R. Joe R. Ayers, Chairman Martin County Board bf Commissioners Ruhi SBme Julia S. Rease Clerk to the Board