MINUTES OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF GUILFORD COUNTY

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF GUILFORD COUNTY Greensboro, North Carolina December 3, 2012 The Board of County Commissioners met in a duly noticed regular meeting on December 3, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro, North Carolina. PRESENT: ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: INVOCATION Chairman Melvin Skip Alston; Vice Chairman Kirk Perkins; Commissioners Bill Bencini, Kay Cashion, Carolyn Coleman, Bruce Davis, Paul Gibson, John Parks, Linda Shaw, Mike Winstead, Billy Yow. None. Commissioners-Elect Alan Branson, Hank Henning, Jeff Phillips, and Raymond Trapp; Brenda Fox, County Manager; Sharisse Fuller, Assistant County Manager/Human Resources Director; Mark Payne, County Attorney; Effie Varitimidis, Clerk to Board; Crystal Maurer, Deputy Clerk to Board and members of the media. Ben Chavis, Tax Director, provided the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Board led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. I. REMARKS FROM RETIRING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Yow thanked his supporters and the staff. He said he was confident the new Board would steer the County in the right direction and will bring new ideas. He said he was proud to have been a County Commissioner for three terms and he wished everyone the best of luck. Commissioner Winstead thanked the voters for allowing him to serve as a Commissioner, thanked the staff, and thanked the other Board members. He said he appreciated the time he has spent as a Commissioner.

2 Commissioner Parks thanked the citizens and his family for their support. He recounted a number of successes the County has experienced during his term of office. He said he has enjoyed serving on the Board and he wished the new Board well. Commissioner Perkins said it has been an honor to serve for two terms and he has enjoyed his service to the County. He thanked the citizens, his wife, and all the County staff for their work. He also thanked several Commissioners for working with him over the years as well as all the Department Directors. He congratulated the new Commissioners. Commissioner Gibson said it has been an honor to serve the citizens of Guilford County. He wished the best to the new Board. He thanked his wife and the Clerk s Office for their work. He also thanked all the employees of Guilford County for their hard work. He thanked the outgoing members of the Board as well as those remaining Commissioners for their work. Chairman Alston thanked his faith for guiding him and thanked his wife, his sons, the citizens of District 8, the Clerk s Office, County Manager Brenda Fox and Assistant County Manager Sharisse Fuller. He also thanked the 25 Department Heads who have continued to do more with less. Finally, he thanked his fellow Commissioners for their work and providing him the opportunity to serve as Chairman for the last four years. Commissioner Cashion thanked the outgoing Commissioners for advocating for their constituents. She thanked Chairman Alston for his leadership as Chairman. She wished all the Board members well. Commissioner Shaw said she said her farewells at the last meeting and said she felt that all the outgoing Commissioners would be back in public service in some capacity. She said she considers the Commissioners a family as they are always there for each other. She stated everyone has given much of their time to serve the citizens of Guilford County and she has enjoyed working with all the members. Commissioner Davis said his fellow Commissioners fight hard for their constituent and he hated to see the outgoing Commissioners leave. He stated he learned a great deal from Chairman Alston, especially the fact that Sometimes it is not about you when serving as a Commissioner. He thanked the outgoing Commissioners for providing their perspectives and he looked forward to working with all of them in some capacity. Commissioner Coleman said it has been a joy working with all of the Commissioners as they represent all the views of Guilford County. She believed they have done what is in the best interest of the County and looked forward to working with the outgoing Commissioners again. Commissioner Bencini thanked the outgoing Commissioners for their guidance and their service. He said he was looking forward to graduating from being the rookie on the Board. III. PRESENTATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN. Chairman Alston presented the outgoing Commissioners with small tokens of appreciation for their service to Guilford County.

3 IV. PRESENTATION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN. Vice Chairman Perkins presented Chairman Alston with a token of appreciation for his service. VI. NEWLY RE-ELECTED REGISTER OF DEEDS JEFF THIGPEN ADMINISTERED OATH OF OFFICE The Honorable Patrice Hinnant, Guilford County Superior Court Judge, thanked Jeff Thigpen for his exemplary service to Guilford County as Register of Deeds over his last term. She administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Thigpen who was re-elected for a new four-year term and subscribed the oath. VII. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED CHAIRMAN TO ENDORSE BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE BOND FOR JEFF THIGPEN, REGISTER OF DEEDS. THIS BOND WILL BE RENEWED AS REQUIRED UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL OCCUPYING THE POSITION CHANGES OR THE BOND EXPIRES. Motion was made by Commissioner Gibson, and seconded by Commissioner Yow to approve the faithful performance bond. VOTE: Motion to approve carried 11-0 AYES: Commissioners Alston, Bencini, Cashion, Coleman, Davis, Gibson, Parks, Perkins, Shaw, Winstead, and Yow. NOES: None. VIII. REGISTER OF DEEDS JEFF THIGPEN ADMISTERED OATH OF OFFICE TO ALL DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT REGISTERS OF DEEDS. Jeff Thigpen, Register of Deeds, thanked the Board of Commissioners and his staff for their service. He administered the oath of office to his Deputy and Assistant Registers of Deeds. The Board took a short recess at 10:51 a.m. and reconvened at 11:10 a.m. I. NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER ALAN BRANSON ADMINISTERED OATH OF OFFICE The Honorable Paul Newby, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, said it was an honor to be asked to be part of ceremony since he grew up in Guilford County. He said the oath of office ceremony is the most important, solemn act that will occur in their service as Commissioners. He stated those in governmental service must always strive to seek to do justice. Justice Newby administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Alan Branson who was newly elected for a four-year term and subscribed the oath.

4 II. NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER HANK HENNING ADMINISTERED THE OATH OF OFFICE Justice Newby administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Hank Henning who was elected for a new four-year term and subscribed the oath. III. NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER JEFF PHILLIPS ADMINISTERED THE OATH OF OFFICE Justice Newby administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Jeff Phillips who was newly elected for a four-year term and subscribed the oath. IV. NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONER RAYMOND TRAPP ADMINISTERED OATH OF OFFICE Judge Hinnant congratulated Commissioner Raymond Trapp and thanked Chairman Alston for his service to his district. Judge Hinnant administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Trapp who was newly elected for a new four-year term and subscribed the oath. V. CLERK TO BOARD CONDUCTED THE ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. Clerk to Board, Effie Varitimidis, opened the floor for nominations for Chairman for the ensuing year. Commissioner Bill Bencini nominated Commissioner Linda Shaw for Chairman for the ensuing year. Commissioner Carolyn Coleman seconded the nomination. VOTE: Motion to approve the nomination carried 9-0 AYES: Commissioners Bencini, Branson, Cashion, Coleman, Davis, Henning, Phillips, Trapp, and Shaw. NOES: None. VI. NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN CONDUCTED THE ELECTION OF THE VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. Chairman Shaw opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chairman for the ensuing year. Commissioner Henning nominated Commissioner Bill Bencini for Vice Chairman for the ensuing year. Commissioner Coleman seconded the nomination. VOTE: Motion to approve the nomination carried 9-0 AYES: Commissioners Bencini, Branson, Cashion, Coleman, Davis, Henning, Phillips, Trapp, and Shaw. NOES: None.

5 VII. REMARKS FROM THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSIONERS. Chairman Shaw thanked all the Commissioners and welcomed the new Commissioners. She recognized her daughter Joni and son Kyle. She said that her late husband Bob was there in heart and spirit. She hoped all the Commissioners would work together to keep taxes down and looked forward to an open process. She also thanked County Manager Brenda Fox and County Attorney Mark Payne, Assistant County Manager Sharisse Fuller, and the Clerk s Office. She said she looked forward to the coming year and added she would like more citizen involvement. Finally, she thanked the Board again and said she was honored to be elected to serve by her peers. Vice Chairman Bencini expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Vice Chairman. Commissioner Trapp stated his father passed away this past Friday and he dedicated his next four years of service to his father s legacy and memory. He thanked his family for their support and looked forward to working with the Board. Commissioner Branson thanked God, his wife and his family, his supporters, the local Republican Party, and his church family. He stated he would do his best to make Guilford County a great place to live, work and play. He expressed his respect to the current and former Commissioners and he thanked the citizens for the opportunity to serve the County. Commissioner Henning expressed his condolences to Commissioner Trapp. He thanked the citizens of Guilford County for the opportunity to serve as Commissioner and he thanked his family for their support, especially his wife. He thanked the outgoing Commissioners and the staff for being open and welcoming. Commissioner Phillips thanked his wife and family, his faith, his friends and supporters. He congratulated Chairman Shaw and Vice Chairman Bencini and the other new Commissioners. He expressed his condolences to Commissioner Trapp. He said he would do his best to stand for and carry out the principles and values that he thinks are in the best interest of the people of District 5, this County, and his country. He read a letter from a student at Northwood Elementary thanking him for recently visiting the class to talk about civics and he said the letter exemplified what this morning was about. Commissioner Kay welcomed the new Commissioners and she said she looked forward to working with everyone. She said the new members will be proud to serve the public and their spirit is in the right place. Commissioner Davis congratulated Chairman Shaw and Vice Chairman Bencini. He said Vice Chairman Bencini represents his constituents in High Point well and it is important to have leadership from High Point. He expressed his deepest condolences to Commissioner Trapp. He said he looked forward to working with the new Commissioners. Commissioner Coleman congratulated Chairman Shaw and Vice Chairman Bencini and she is excited about the work they will do. She welcomed the new members and said it is a steep

6 learning curve but the knowledge will come in time. She also extended her condolences to Commissioner Trapp. Chairman Shaw said she has appreciated the bi-partisan leadership on the Board the last few years but she would like to allow the Republicans enjoy this victory for a while. She also recognized the former Commissioners in the audience. X. ADJOURNED. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. Chairman Clerk