THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA

 

Monday, January 13, 2003

 

AGENDA

 

5:30 P.M.

 

Closed Session

 

The Board of Commissioners is requested to adjourn to closed session to consider the performance of public officers pursuant to G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(6).

 

Regular Session

 

7:00 P.M.

 

1.     Opening of Regular Session—Pledge of Allegiance

 

2.     Agenda Adjustments

 

Commissioner Bowser added a resolution to the agenda.

 

Chairman Reckhow added an item related to the Special Board of Equalization and Review.

 

3.     Minutes

 

a.       June 13, 2002 Special Session Minutes

b.       October 16, 2002 Special Session Minutes

c.       November 25, 2002 Closed Session Minutes

d.       December 9, 2002 Closed Session Minutes

 

The minutes were approved with a one-word correction to the June 13, 2002 Special Session Minutes.

 

4.          Recognition of Outstanding County Employees as “Ice Storm All-Stars"

 

The ice storm that hit Durham on December 4, 2002 brought with it damages and power outages of gigantic proportions.  At the worst of it, there were approximately over 200,000 residents without power and five shelters in operation.  Without the exemplary efforts of some of Durham County’s dedicated employees, the response to its citizens in need would have been severely hindered.  The contributions that many of our employees made went well beyond their basic call of duty.  Please join in applauding the following employees nominated by Department Heads for their outstanding efforts to Durham County in the midst of the ice storm:

 

§    Susan “Sue" Guptill, Director of Nursing, Public Health Department

§    Dondie “Ace" Artis, Maintenance Technician II, General Services Department

§    Melvania Briggs, PA; Toni Foxwell, Program Manager; Dr. Jim Finch, Medical

   Director; Belinda Green; Willis Sanders; Security Officer Phil Tayborn 

   and Officer Chavis; Methadone Services Team, The Durham Center

§    Spence Foscue, RN, The Durham Center

§    Chuck Armbrust, Sedimentation and Erosion Control Technician; and Michael

   Dean, Project Technician; County Engineering Department

§    Kathy Mellown and Kevin Underhill, Emergency Medical Services

§    Chris Ivy, Adult Services Supervisor and Betty Hughes, Child Protective Services

   Supervisor, Department of Social Services

§    Mark Greenspan, Director of Property and Facilities Management, City of Durham

 

Please see the attached report for additional efforts that need to be commended.

 

Resource Person(s): Mike Ruffin, County Manager

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: Receive the presentation and extend sincere appreciation to these County employees for their dedication and generosity to the citizens of Durham County.

 

County Manager Mike Ruffin thanked the County employees and detailed their extra efforts following the recent ice storm in Durham County. 

 

4a.   Chairman Reckhow added this item to honor County Manager Mike Ruffin for his exemplary efforts during the aftermath of the ice storm.  Mr. Ruffin was presented with the Durham County Anchor Award for excellence in service to the County.

 

5.          Presentation from Verizon Foundation

 

The Verizon Foundation has decided to recognize Urban Ministries of Durham for its efforts during the December 2002 Ice Storm.  A $25,000 check will be presented to assist Urban Ministries with the provision of emergency services.

 

Resource Person(s): Steve Toler, Vice President for Public Affairs, Verizon; Lloyd Schmeidler, Executive Director, Urban Ministries of Durham

 

County Manager's Recommendation: Congratulate Urban Ministries for its efforts during the Ice Storm and express appreciation to Verizon for its contribution.

 

Mr. Toler first thanked those persons recognized as Ice Storm All-Stars.  He then named and thanked the efforts of Verizon employees during that time.

 

Mr. Toler congratulated and thanked Mr. Schmeidler for the work of Urban Ministries of Durham.  Mr. Schmeidler gave thanks to Verizon for the check and commented on its proposed use in the community.

 

 

Chairman Reckhow recognized Mr. Bob Novak, who had signed to speak on this item.  Mr. Bob Novak thanked staff from the Homeless Shelter for their work in the community.

 

6.          Introduction of the New Tax Administrator

 

Mr. Kenneth L. Joyner has joined Durham County Government as the new
Tax Administrator and began work on January 6, 2003.  He has served as
Tax Administrator/Collector in the Onslow County Tax Department since January 1999.  Prior to joining Onslow County, Joyner served as Tax Administrator in Chatham County and as a Commercial/Industrial Appraiser in Harnett County.

 

He is a 1992 graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting.  Additionally, he holds the following professional certifications and designations:

 

·      N.C. Department of Revenue—Certified Assessor

·      N.C. Association of Assessing Officers—Certified North Carolina Assessor

·      N.C. Tax Collectors Association—Certified Tax Collector

 

He is currently serving as 2^nd Vice President of the North Carolina Tax Collectors Association, and as a member of the North Carolina Association of Assessing Officers, the North Carolina Property Mappers Association, as well as the International Association of Assessing Officers.

 

As Durham County Tax Administrator, Mr. Joyner will manage the customary tax functions of listing, assessing, and collections.

 

Resource Person(s): Mike Ruffin, County Manager 

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board welcome Mr. Joyner as the new Tax Administrator.

 

Mr. Wendell Davis, Deputy County Manager, introduced Mr. Joyner.

 

Mr. Joyner thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve in Durham County.  He explained the new tax listing form, which had recently been mailed to Durham County property owners.

 

7.    Consent Agenda

 

a.       Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 03BCC000035, Capital Project Amendment No. 03CPA000007, and Approval of Construction Contract for the Additions and Renovations to the Lebanon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station on Milton Road—Project No: DC064-48; Bid No: IFB 03-007 (authorize appropriation of $36,624.00 to the Lebanon capital project and execution of a contract with Patriot Building Company, Inc. in the amount of $209,493.00, and to execute any change orders or related contracts, if necessary, but not to exceed a project cost $219,968.00);

b.       Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 03BCC000036—DSS—Budget Amendment Recognizing Additional Child Care Revenue (approve this amendment to recognize additional intergovernmental revenue in the amount of $688,852 for child care subsidy payments);

c.       Capital Project Amendment No. 03CPA000008—Funding for Phase II Improvements at the Durham County Waste Water Treatment Plant (approve this amendment appropriating $25,762,935 to Phase II of the Waste Water Treatment Plant Improvements Capital Project; the County Manager would like to commend the Board for its leadership and support on this project that will continue to provide wastewater treatment services to the increasing customer base and improve water quality by significantly reducing Nitrogen Northeast Creek and Jordan Lake);

d.       Triangle J Cable Regulatory Consortium (approve membership in the Triangle J Cable Regulatory Consortium);

e.       Review of Memorandum of Understanding With the Durham Public Schools (review the proposed Memorandum and advise staff of any additional changes or issues that should be incorporated therein);

f.         Set Date and Time for Advanced Public Comment on the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Budget (approve the date and time as proposed);

g.       Agreement With the North Carolina Agreement with Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR) for Forest Ranger (approve the Agreement with Department of Environmental and Natural Resources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003);

h.       North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Community Transportation  Grant Approval Request (approve the attached resolution authorizing Durham County Cooperative Extension Center to submit the FY2003-2004 Community Transportation Program Grant to the NCDOT);

i.         Execution of Architectural Design Service Contract with Little, Diversified Architectural Consulting for the Renovation of Stanford L. Warren Library—RFQ 02-034/Project No.: DC073-48 (authorize the execution of an architectural design contract with Little, Diversified Architectural Consulting in the amount of $93,000.00 plus additional services and reimbursable expenses estimated at $42,550.00, thus totaling $135,550.00); and

j.         Execution of Architectural Design Service Contract with Gurlitz Architectural Group, P.A., for the Proposed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station #2—RFQ 02-045/Project No.: DC069-50 (authorize the execution of an architectural design contract with Gurlitz Architectural Group, P.A. in the total amount of $88,740.00 plus additional services and reimbursable expenses estimated at $14,000.00, thus totaling $102,740.00).

 

Commissioner Bowser moved, seconded by Commissioner Cousin, to approve Consent Agenda items 7(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), and (j).

 

The motion carried unanimously.

 

Items 7 (d), (e), and (i) were removed for discussion.

 

Chairman Reckhow recognized Dr. Lavonia I. Allison, who had signed to speak on Consent Agenda items 7 (d) and (e).

 

The items pulled from the Consent Agenda were approved unanimously after Commissioner discussion..

 

8. Public Hearing—Proposed Zoning Text Amendment Related to Additions to  Mixed Use (MU) Zoned Tracts (TC03-03)

 

This is a citizen-initiated proposal to modify the Zoning Ordinance's standards for the Mixed Use District (MU).  According to the proposal, additions to MU projects may be approved as long as zoning requirements, such as open space requirements, can be met within the boundaries of the overall MU project.

 

The Zoning Committee unanimously recommended approval of the proposal after conducting a public hearing on December 10, 2002.

 

The Planning Department recommends adoption of this proposed text amendment by the Board of County Commissioners.

 

Resource Person(s): Dick Hails, AICP, Durham City-County Planning

 

County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board hold the public hearing on the proposed text amendment and adopt it, if appropriate, after receiving comments on the change.

 

8a.  Chairman Reckhow added this item under “Agenda Adjustments."  Commissioner Jacobs’ nominee to serve for her is George Scott.  Commissioner Bowser’s nominee is not yet known.

 

     Commissioner Heron requested that the Tax Administrator keep an attendance record of the meetings of the Equalization and Review Board and that the members be told of the importance of attending all scheduled meetings.  She urged the board to finish this year’s scheduled meetings in a timely manner.

 

9.  Board and Commission Appointments

 

Garry E. Umstead, CMC, Clerk to the Board, will distribute ballots to make appointments to the following boards and commissions:

 

·         Animal Control Advisory Board

·         Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

·         Cable TV Advisory Board

·         Civic Center Authority

·         Durham County Emergency Medical Services Council

·         Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee

·         Open Space and Trails Commission

·         Public Health Department

·         Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

·         Transportation Advisory Board

·         Women’s Commission

 

Resource Person(s): Garry E. Umstead, CMC, Clerk to the Board

 

The Board selected its appointees by vote.

 

______________________

 

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:56 P.M.