THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Monday, February 11, 2002
AGENDA
5:00 P.M.
1. Presentation of Site Considerations
for New Library Branches
6:00 P.M.
2. Closed Session
Regular Session
7:00 P.M.
1. Opening of Regular Session—Pledge
of Allegiance
2. Agenda Adjustments
The County Manager will make a
presentation following Item 8 regarding the budget reduction plan due to the
state shortfall.
Commissioner Bowser asked to add an item
regarding the need for additional post offices in SW Durham and East Durham.
3. Minutes
November 12, 2001 Regular Session
Commissioner
Heron moved, seconded by Vice-Chairman Reckhow, to approve the Minutes of
November 12, 2001 as submitted.
The motion carried unanimously.
Vice-Chairman Reckhow
asked that the Board receive copies of any letters directed during BOCC
meetings to be created.
4. Presentation of Outstanding County
Program Award from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
Durham County has been recognized again with an “Outstanding
County Program Award" from the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners for its Library Youth Partners program. The program is run collaboratively by the Durham County Public
Library, the N. C. Museum of Life and Science, and two high school media
centers. Library Youth Partners lets
adolescents earn money while learning to create and deliver story-time
presentations to younger children. The
program competed against 20 entries in the Public Education/Participation
category, and only four winners were chosen.
Overall, nearly 100 entries were submitted for participation in this
year’s Outstanding County Program Award.
Ms. Rebecca Troutman of the North
Carolina Association of County Commissioners will make the award presentation.
Resource Person(s): Rebecca Troutman
County Manager's Recommendation: Congratulate staff and
participants of the “Library Youth Partners" program for receiving recognition
for this successful program.
Ms.
Troutman made the presentation to Ms. Dale Gaddis, Director of Libraries.
5. Recognition for “5 Yes! For Durham’s
Future" Communications Committee
Last fall, John Burness, Senior Vice
President for Public Affairs and Government Relations at Duke University, and
Dr. Phail Wynn, President of Durham Technical Community College, cochaired the
committee responsible for successfully marketing Durham County’s $74.4 million
bond referendum.
The committee members follow: Carl
Webb and Anna Semas—Webb Patterson; Mickey Tezai—Durham County EMS; Dale Gaddis
and Pam Jaskot—Durham County Library; Nancy Hester and Michael
Yarborough—Durham Public Schools; Tom Krakauer and Kim Shaw—Museum of Life and
Science; Alice Alexander—Coordinating Council for Senior Citizens; Kay James
and Terry Summers—Durham Public Education Network; Deborah Craig-Ray—staff
representing Durham County Government; and Treasurers: Lee Johnson, Mechanics
& Farmers Bank, and Lisa Yarborough, Central Carolina Bank.
Commission Chairman MaryAnn E. Black
will recognize the work of the participants and present tokens of appreciation.
County Manager's Recommendation: Congratulate members of the “5
Yes! For Durham’s Future" committee for a successful bond campaign.
The Board recognized the
participants with a paperweight, praise, and thanks.
The Committee’s co-chairs, Mr. Burness and Dr. Wynn made
comments.
Chairman Black recognized Dr.
Lavonia I. Allison for comments on this item.
6. Recognition of Arnold Dennis, 2002 Chain
Link Award Winner
Arnold Dennis, Assistant Director for Family Self
Sufficiency for the Department of Social Services, received the Durham Business
and Professional Chain’s highest award on January 25. The 2002 “Chain Link Award" was presented to Mr. Dennis for his
visionary leadership on the “Rites of Passage," a nationally-recognized
violence intervention program. He was
recognized for his excellent leadership and his strong commitment to the
development of youth in the Durham community.
This unique mentoring program, which
works with young men between the ages of
13-16, is an award-winning endeavor that serves as a model program for young
men. Mr. Dennis is one of the founders
of the program which began in 1989.
With the help of a team of mentors, facilitators, and parents, students
in the program receive nine months of training in health, survival skills, social
studies, African and African-American history, and entrepreneurship. More than 200 young men have graduated from
the program since its inception.
During the awards ceremony, two
previous participants in “Rites of Passage" gave moving testimonials about the
role Mr. Dennis played in their lives, helping them transform from so-called
“trouble-makers" to become focused and goal-oriented young men. Each credited Mr. Dennis’ work with “Rites
of Passage" to contributing to their current success.
County Manager's Recommendation: Extend sincere congratulations to
Mr. Arnold Dennis for this outstanding achievement.
The Board recognized Mr. Dennis. Mr. Dennis spoke regarding the work of the
Rites of Passage program, its need for
support, and its accomplishments.
7. Recognition of James Fields
Mr. James Fields and his camera
equipment have been fixtures at major events of the Durham community and beyond
for decades. For the past 10 years, he
has coordinated the taping and airing of Durham County Commissioner meetings on
the local cable channel.
As part of last month’s Martin
Luther King observances, Mr. Fields was honored for his work chronicling
community activities. Representatives
of the Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee presented to him their organization’s
Service Award for “devoted services rendered to the Durham community."
County Manager's Recommendation: Extend sincere congratulations to
Mr. Fields for this outstanding community recognition.
Chairman Black read the text of the award and presented the
award to Mr. Fields. Mr. Fields thanked
the Board for this surprise recognition.
8. Triangle J Council of Governments
(TJCOG) Presentation
Mr. Dee Freeman, Executive Director
of the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), will provide an annual report
regarding the COG’s program of work.
Resource Person(s): Dee Freeman, Executive Director,
TJCOG
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the
Board receive the presentation on Triangle J Council of Governments.
Mr. Freeman addressed the Board and
provided the report.
Item Added—County
Manager’s Statement—Budget Reduction Plan
The
County Manager read a statement regarding the County’s upcoming cuts to its
current budget. The County will reduce
its FY 2001-2002 budget by the state’s required $3.6 million. He advised this crisis will carry over to
next fiscal year as well—departments will be required to include a 5-percent
reduction in FY 2002-2003. As of today,
$2.8 million has been found from 27 County departments. County Manager Ruffin advised a list of
spending categories which have been frozen for the remainder of this fiscal
year.
Chairman
Black commented on a letter from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners
to Governor Easley. Cumberland County
was forced to lay off 100+ employees as a result of the state shortfall.
9.
Consent Agenda
a.
Budget
Ordinance Amendment No. 02BCC000047—Public Health—To Recognize Revenue for the
General Health Clinic (approve Budget Ordinance Amendment
No. 02BCC000047 to recognize $206,150 from the Department of Health and Human
Services for the Bioterrorism Response Team);
b.
Budget
Ordinance Amendment No. 02BCC000048—Public Health—To Recognize Revenue for the
Environmental Health Division (approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No.
02BCC000048 to recognize $55,000 from the Department of Health and Human
Services for the childhood lead poisoning prevention program);
c.
Board
Appointment—Animal Control Advisory Committee (appoint Patricia A. Croom,
President of the Board of Directors for the Animal Protection Society, to the Animal
Control Advisory Committee to be the official representative of the Animal
Protection Society);
d.
Department
of Social Services—Purchase PCs with Funds Received from State Cost Settlement
(authorize the purchase of equipment from Gateway Inc. funded by the State cost
settlement with no County dollars needed, in an amount not-to-exceed $220,362);
e.
Amendment
to Sublease at Durham Regional Hospital (approve the sublease so that Duke
University Health System can proceed with the new CON procedure);
f.
Execution
of Architectural Design Service Contract with Michael Hining Architects for the
Renovation of the Agriculture Building—RFQ 01-031—Project No.: DC068-30
(authorize the execution of an architectural design contract with Michael
Hining Architects in the amount of $38,450 and any other related contracts, if
necessary, not to exceed the estimated project budget of $42,000); and
g.
Budget
Ordinance Amendment No. 01BCC000049—Accounting Services for Water and Sewer
Agreed-Upon Procedures (award the contract to perform the accounting services
for the water and sewer agreed-upon procedures to Dixon & Odom in the
amount not-to-exceed $134,900 which represents 50% of the cost of the
not-to-exceed amount of $269,800).
Commissioner
Cousin moved, seconded by Vice-Chairman Reckhow, to approved items 9(a), (b),
(c), and (d).
The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Bowser
made comments regarding 9(e), the amendment to the Sublease. Mr. Liekweg, President and CEO of Durham
Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees, made a clarification for Commissioner
Bowser.
Commissioner
Bowser moved, seconded by Vice-Chairman Reckhow, to approve Consent Agenda Item
9(e).
The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Bowser
asked for and received clarification on Consent Agenda Items 9(e) and 9(f) from
Glen Whisler, County Engineer, and Wendell Davis, Deputy County Manager.
Commissioner
Bowser moved, seconded by Vice-Chairman Reckhow, to approve Consent Agenda
Items 9(e) and 9(f).
The motion carried unanimously.
10. Public Hearing—Northeast Durham Small
Area Plan
Northeast Durham is one of the three small areas without an
adopted land use plan. The study area
encompasses approximately 24,000 acres.
The area lies east of U.S. 70, south of Interstate 85 and the Granville
County line, north of N.C. 98, and west of the Wake County line. The population at the time of the 2000 U.S.
Census was approximately 14,000. During
the 1990s, the population grew over 32 percent. The Land Use Plan for Northeast Durham encourages and promotes
economic development while safeguarding air and water quality.
The plan promotes a mix of residential densities intended to
accommodate a wide range of citizen need and preference. The draft plan initially presented to the Planning Committee
called for a residential density of 1-2 units per acre in a 2,600-acre area
east of the proposed Northern Durham Parkway and west of Burton Road/Fletchers
Chapel Road/Stallings Road. However,
staff increased the recommended density to 1-3 units per acre to bring the plan
into closer conformance with existing zoning and land-use trends in that
area. This change has been opposed by a
number of citizens who attended public meetings during plan development.
Resource Person(s): Laura D. Woods, Planner, City/County Planning
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager’s recommendation is
that the Board receive public comment and adopt the Northeast Durham Small Area
Plan.
Chairman Black opened the Public Hearing, which was properly
advertised.
Speakers signed who came forward were:
Mr. John Parrish, 2704 Burton Road, representing the Burton Road
Neighborhood Association, thanked the Board for their efforts to make this a
good plan.
Dr. Lavonia I. Allison, representing the Durham Committee
for the Affairs of Black People, asked the Board to address her concerns
regarding schools.
Ms. Lois Murphy, 222 Santee Road, representing the Santee community,
thanked Commissioners Black and Bowser and efforts to extend water to the
community. She stated she would be
willing to pay for extension of water services.
The County Attorney answered questions for Dr. Allison.
Commissioner Bowser moved, seconded
by Commissioner Cousin, to accept the proposal by Mark Reynolds and extension
of water to Santee Road.
The motion carried unanimously.
___________________
Vice-Chairman Reckhow moved,
seconded by Commissioner Heron, to adopt the Northeast Durham Small Area Plan
as presented, with exceptions.
The motion carried unanimously.
11. Public Hearing—TC 117-01 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to
Consider Deletion of Late Fee Requirements
Adopt ordinance removing the late
fee provision from the Zoning Enforcement Section of the Zoning Ordinance
[Section 20].
Recent court rulings have indicated
that public agencies are not allowed to collect late fees imposed on zoning
enforcement civil penalties. The Zoning
Committee conducted a public hearing on April 10, 2001, and voted 7-0 to
recommend approval of the deletion of late fee requirements. The City Council has previously adopted this
amendment. This public hearing was
advertised on February 1 and 8, 2002 in the Herald-Sun.
Resource Person(s): Pratt Simmons, Planning
Supervisor; Dick Hails, Interim Planning Director
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager’s recommendation is
that the Board hold the public hearing, receive public comment, and approve the
text amendment, if appropriate, based on public comment.
Chairman Black opened
and closed the public hearing, as there were no persons signed to speak.
Vice-Chairman
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Heron, to approve Zoning Ordinance Text
Amendment TC117-01.
The motion carried unanimously.
12. Public
Hearing on the Community Development Block Grant—2002 Scattered Site Housing
County Manager's Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board
hold the second public hearings on the 2002 CDBG—Scattered Site Housing Program
and receive public comment.
No action was required on this item.
13. Public Hearing—M01-03 Cormetech Inc. Major Use Permit
County
Manager's Recommendation: The Manager’s recommendation is that the Board
hold the public hearing and evaluate the
evidence presented. The Planning staff
will make a recommendation after the hearing of this case. After the hearing, one of these two motions
is in order:
Motion A: (Approval With or Without Conditions) Direct the Planning Director to prepare a decision
granting with conditions the use permit in Case M01-03. (Commissioners should identify any
conditions they wish to incorporate into their approval. Staff will prepare the decision for BOCC’s
next meeting for action).
The motion carried unanimously.
To approve a Major Site Plan for a building and parking
expansion to an existing manufacturing facility located in the F/J-A Watershed
District.
Manager's Recommendation: The County Manager’s
recommendation is that the Board approve the site plan, if appropriate, based
upon the evidence presented in the quasi-judicial hearing.
The motion carried unanimously.
15.
Item Added by Commissioner Bowser—Need for Additional Post Offices
Commissioner Bowser requested that a
letter be written to send to the US Post Master General requesting that the SW
Durham Branch Post Office be replaced with a larger facility and that a Post
Office be built in East Durham.
Vice-Chairman Reckhow suggested that additional staff be requested in
the interim at the SW branch.
Vice-Chairman
Reckhow moved, seconded by Commissioner Bowser, that the letter be written for
the Commissioners’ signatures.
The motion carried unanimously.
___________________
There being no further
business, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
