Board Minutes

April 18, 2005

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Room of the Courthouse with the following members present:

Attorney Wil Johnson

Chairman Taylor deleted Item 2, Public Hearing Regarding CDBG Application for Economic Development, from the Agenda.

County Attorney Leslie Johnson introduced Wes Johnson of Johnson Law Firm and advised that Mr. Wes Johnson would provide representation for the April 18 meeting.

Approve Memorandum of Understanding with Bladen County Hospital:

Memorandum of Understanding Between
Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown, North Carolina
County of Bladen Elizabethtown, North Carolina

This agreement is made and entered into on the 18th day of April 2005, by and between Bladen County Hospital and the County of Bladen. This agreement shall be for the purpose of providing skilled nursing services for jail health and occupational health.

Now, therefore, Bladen County Hospital and the County of Bladen agree as follows:

h Bladen County Hospital agrees to provide:

A. Jail Health Services:

1. Nurse case management for inmates in the custody of the Bladen County Jail to include assessment, triage, treatment, and referral under Medical Director's supervision. Onsite nursing services will be provided I S hours per week at times mutually agreed upon by both parties

2. Twenty-four hours, seven days a week, on-call nursing triage for Bladen County Jail inmates

B. Occupational Health Services:

1. Provide initial and annual blood borne pathogen/standard precautions Trainings to employees identified by the county as needing such

2. Provide accident reporting education to employees per county policy upon initial hire and annually

3. Follow-up on occupational exposures for county employees

4. Coordinate Worker's Compensation claims or potential claims with Human Resources

5. Provide annual back/transfer safety training for county employees as requested by county departments

6. Provide annual CPR training to employees identified as needing such training

7. Coordinate and provide assistance to the medical provider for annual respiratory medical evaluations to employees identified by county as being at risk for respiratory exposures.

8. Coordinate pre-employment physicals and pre-employment, random, occurrence, and/or post-accident drug testing at county's request.

9. Participate in Bladen County's Safety Program meetings {usually held every other month}

II. County of Bladen agrees:

A. To provide adequate office space, office equipment, telephone, computer, fax, and all medical supplies for the jail health and occupational health programs.

B. Upon prior discussions and mutual agreement of parties, County of Bladen will agree to pay for supplies and materials utilized in the Occupational Health Program at cost incurred by Bladen County Hospital.

C. For satisfactory services Bladen County Hospital will be retained at a compensation level of $2,083.33 per month, payable in arrears, according to State regulations governing County disbursement to vendors. Bladen County Hospital will send an invoice to the County of Bladen at the end of each month.

III. Contract Terms:

A. A11 parties to the Agreement agree to abide by ALL Laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of patient information, and further agree to vigorously safeguard privileged information.

B. Bladen County Hospital and the County of Bladen agree to voluntarily indemnify each other from negligent acts or omissions of its employees, contract personnel, or personnel proximately causing damages to the employees or personnel of each party.

C. Either party may terminate this agreement upon sixty {6Q} days written notice to the other party.

D. This agreement shall terminate June 30, 2006 but may be renewed on an annual basis with sixty (60) days prior notice to the termination date.

North Carolina Fair Share – Bladen County Chapter Representative Haywood Mason addressed the Board regarding several issues. He distributed copies of the publication “North Carolina Voices on Jobs and Unemployment” prior to his remarks.

Mr. Mason advised that North Carolina Fair Share is a grassroots organization led by low income residents of the State who are striving for fair wages and those who are unable to work. Mr. Mason encouraged the Board members to read the publication and the section on Bladen County. He discussed several issues:

1. Board of Education’s Public Hearing scheduled at same time as Board of Commissioners’ meeting tonight. Mr. Mason advised that many of the citizens he represents feel they were not informed in a timely manner about the public hearing. He indicated that he would like for the Councils to seek other means of getting the news out and recommended the community cable channel on TV. Mr. Mason advised that all of the Boards seem to have meetings on the same date, night and time and asked that the matter be reconsidered.
2. Jobs – Mr. Mason referred to a recent Bladen Journal article which stated that Bladen County has the highest unemployment rate within the region. He advised NC Fair Share brought this matter to the attention of State representatives through the Unemployment Commission. Mr. Mason indicated that citizens that were no longer eligible to receive unemployment compensation were not included in the count and advised that he hoped local governments are doing all they can to bring jobs to this County.
3. Head Start Building – Mr. Mason referred to a building in Elizabethtown that Head Start could have moved into. He advised that the United Way Organization moved into the building instead of Head Start. Mr. Mason described how dilapidated the Head Start building is and asked for the assistance of the Board of Commissioners in working with the Board of Education to find a more suitable l location.
4. Sholar Road – Mr. Mason advised that for the past ten years residents have been trying to get the road maintained by the State and that he talked with Representative Edd Nye who assured him that the matter went to the State, thanks to the assistance of the Board of Commissioners. However, Mr. Mason indicated that Sholar Road has been pushed back, and he asked for the assistance of the Board to keep the matter in the forefront.
5. BARTS – Mr. Mason advised that he has been using the BARTS system since 1997 and that the system was more dependable then than it is now. He discussed funding cuts and the effects it had on the BARTS system. Chairman Taylor asked the County Manager to look into the matter.

   Mr. Mason concluded his presentation and advised that he has asked fellow citizens to examine themselves by asking these questions: When was the last time I attended a Board of Commissioners, Board of Education, or City Council meeting? Mr. Mason reiterated the fact that Bladen County has people that are struggling and hurting and that it is not due to laziness. He mentioned citizens that have homes in need of repair and cannot afford to fix them. Mr. Mason expressed appreciation to the Board for listening.

   Various Board members responded to comments made by Mr. Mason. Chairman Taylor advised that Bladen County has not missed any Community Development Block Grant monies. Commissioner Neill indicated that the process is a very slow one and that during the last application phase, lots of people in several communities were told not to take the money by people that were not involved in the application process. Chairman Taylor asked Mr. Mason to inform the Board of Commissioners if there is another grant that the County can apply for. He advised that the Board does actively pursue these issues concerning Community Development Block Grants.

   Dr. Blanks advised that she attended the community meeting last year that Mr. Mason referred to. She stated that knowledge and education are powerful and requested an assessment by Mr. Mason’s group as to what the Board of Commissioners can do to assist. She indicated that the Federal Government is the level to be looked at and that the action is there. Dr. Blanks advised that she wants to help, but cannot help without direction.

   Mr. Mason advised that Fair Share is present at all levels of government and indicated that he realizes the hands of local government officials are tied.

   Chairman Taylor expressed appreciation to Mr. Mason for bringing these issues to the attention of the Board of Commissioners.

Revenue Director Marguerite Coble addressed the Board to request consideration of a date for the Board of Equalization and Review to meet.

Consider Procurement Exemption Regarding Engineering Services – County Manager Greg Martin advised that with regard to a proposed Surface Water

Treatment Plant, Bladen County initially used a Request for Proposal process to solicit engineering consulting services, in accordance with G.S. 143-64.31. Three proposals regarding qualifications were received and reviewed, and Smithfield representatives made trips to visit Surface Water Treatment Plants designed by each firm.

Mr. Martin advised that it appeared that each firm had been involved in similar projects and it was determined that more specific information was needed regarding technologies, river reclassification process and project time frame.

He advised that because this more in-depth process exceeds the provisions of G.S. 143-64.31, he was recommending that Bladen County exempt itself from the formal bidding process which bases firm selection solely on qualifications.

Rural Center Grant Agreement – County Manager Greg Martin requested consideration of an Engineering Services Agreement – Mr. Martin referred to a contract for engineering services with Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, P. A. that was included in the agenda packet. He advised that the agreement pertains to certain services related to the surface water project and is funded by the Rural Center grant. Mr. Martin advised that specifically Hobbs, Upchurch and Associates will perform an Environmental Assessment/Permitting Scoping Process at a cost of $15,000. Hobbs, Upchurch and Associates will also conduct a Regional Water Supply Feasibility Study for the Southern Coastal Plan Stakeholders group, at a cost of $40,000. Mr. Martin requested consideration of the Engineering Services Agreement by the Board. A motion was made by Billy Ray Pait, seconded by Delilah B. Blanks to approve the Engineering Services Agreement. The vote was unanimous.

Hospital Chief Executive Officer David Masterson reported that Bladen County Hospital has been able to operate at a slight profit for the first half of the current fiscal year. He indicated that according to audited financials, this follows six years of consistent operational losses. Mr. Masterson advised that his evaluation of the hospital operation is that there is still opportunity to build margin and reduce expenses as we work to improve the image of our local healthcare system.

Mr. Masterson advised that in response to the cash crisis the hospital is facing, he has reduced expenditures, increased the capture of hospital revenues, rectified the accounting of our commitments and implemented general accepted accounting principals in recording payables as they are accrued. Mr. Masterson further indicated that the hospital has struggled with the financial dilemma as long as it could, but a sound plan to resolve hospital debt while building a bottom line indicates that the hospital needs some short term assistance from the county.

Mr. Masterson proposed a structured loan that will advance the hospital $50,000 per month for the next ten months. He advised that at that time, projections indicate an ability to repay the debt to the county for the following twelve months. He further advised that the advances will be designated to the payment of existing debt dating back as far as FYE 2000. Mr. Masterson explained that in essence, the hospital will be transitioning debt from vendors to the county and then repaying the county as the hospital builds its operating margin.

Commissioner Lewis Tatum requested a financial report that breaks down the hospital, each satellite office and Bladen Fitness Center. Mr. Masterson advised that membership at the Fitness Center is over 800, but it will take 1,000 members to get to a break even status.

Commissioner James G. Smith requested a waiting period of 10 days before any official action is taken regarding Mr. Masterson’s request.

Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson advised that he does not feel good about the hospital’s request. He questioned accountability of the previous administration. Mr. Masterson advised that there has been a change in auditors, and that he is trying to move the hospital forward.

Dr. Blanks revisited a time when the County requested the hospital to make the bond payment when the County was in a stressed financial situation. She stated that the County was led to believe that the hospital was in good financial shape at that time and as a good faith effort, she does not want the County to charge interest to the hospital if a loan is provided. Dr. Blanks further stated that history should be taken into consideration and that she will not support charging interest to the hospital.

A motion was made by James G. Smith, seconded by Charles Ray Peterson and approved to study the request for ten days and vote on it at the May 2, 2005 Board meeting.

Social Work Program Manager Louella Street addressed the Board to request consideration of 2005-2007 Work First Plan Revisions.

Calendar Update – The County Manager updated the Board regarding upcoming events.

Crisis Housing Assistance Fund Program – Storms of 2004 – Mr. Martin advised that Bladen County was declared to be a disaster county due to the storms of 2004. He indicated that if the Commissioners feel there is a need to participate in the Crisis Housing Assistance Fund Program (CHAF), the North Carolina Redevelopment Center needs a letter of intent by April 28, 2005.

Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson wanted to table the matter until the May 2, 2005 meeting.

A motion was made by Delilah B. Blanks, seconded by Billy Ray Pait that Bladen County does not participate in the Crisis Housing Assistance Fund Program.

Discussion was held regarding the need in Bladen County.

Commissioner Blanks withdrew her motion.

Mr. Martin advised that Emergency Services Director Mitchell Byrd had advised that there was no damage in Bladen County due to storms of 2004.

Further discussion was held regarding need and the fact that Extension Director Kent Wooten, and Farm Service Agency Director Chubby Starling had also investigated Bladen County and found no substantial storm damage due to storms of 2004.

Commissioner Blanks restated her motion:

Motion by Delilah B. Blanks, seconded by Billy Ray Pait that Bladen County does not participate in the Crisis Housing Assistance Fund Program due to storms of 2004.

Chairman Taylor called for a vote on the motion.

7 AYES – (Lewis Tatum, W. D. Neill, Jr., Billy Ray Pait, Margaret Lewis-Moore, Greg Taylor, Delilah B. Blanks, Larry Smith) to 2 NOES (Charles Ray Peterson, James G. Smith)

Longevity Compensation – Mr. Martin advised that members of the ad-hoc committee working on revisions to the Bladen County Personnel Ordinance met on April 11 th. He advised that discussion was held regarding longevity and that the group recommended an additional step in Bladen’s plan to provide 6% upon 30 years service with the county. Mr. Martin indicated that the percentage is based on the average annual employee salary, which is approximately $24,500 in FY 05 and 6% would be approximately $1,470.

Consider Closed Session – A motion was made by Billy Ray Pait, seconded by Larry Smith and approved to enter Closed Session in accordance with N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6).