Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / May 29, 1980, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 36, No. 22 USPS 428-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, May 29 , 1980 14 pages 20 CENTS ARPDC drops five , grand in land use failure By wkx Mclaughlin The Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission is apparently some $5,000 in the hole after botching three land use plan updates that were to have been completed in June. ARPDC executive director k Robert Whitley said that the organization would only be paid for work actually com pleted on the plans, and that its compensation would not match up to its expenditures. "The figure is not a -great firgure... something we can live with. I don't think it will exceed $5,000, if that much," said Whitley. I A number of factors con tributed to ARPDC's failure to complete the updates, Whitley said, including the unexpected departure of lead planner Larry Chilton. He said that had he known Chilton was leaving, he probably would not have signed contracts to update the Coastal Area Management | Act land use plans in Gates, Chowan and Perquimans Counties. "Had I known that Larry Chilton, our lead planner, would be gone, I would have had reservations about signing them," said Whitley. But information gleaned from the files of ARPDC I shows that Chilton's letter of ' resignation was received over a month before Whitley signed the contract for Perquimans County, and nearly two months before signing con tracts for Gates and Chowan. Chilton's letter of resignation was submitted Sept. 11, 1979 and his last day of work was Oct., 19, 1979. The Perquimans update was signed on October 15, and the Gates and Chowan contracts were signed on Nov. 5. In addition, Chilton's credentials were apparently used to secure contracts that ARPDC would otherwise not have been able to receive. "This is why CRC (the Coastal Resources Com mission) authorized us to sign, based on Larry Chilton's being here," said Whitley. Questioned again on the same point Whitley said he signed the contracts "based upon the qualifications of regional planner Larry Chilton." But Chilton's exit left the land use updates in the hands of Dan Tew, a planner who. according to the CRC, was unqualified to handle the detailed up-date task. At the time of Chilton's resignation, ARPDC ad vertized for another planner, but received no applications, said Whitley. Six months later, another planner was hired, but by this time, ARPD C was so far behind on the plans that the Coastal Resources Commission recommended that its con tracts be cancelled. Tew's position, which depended on contract money (or financing, was abolished, and he has since found work on the planning staff of the city of Raleigh. And ARPDC appears to be out of the land use planning update business for now. Asked if ARPDC would at tempt to secure more con tracts in that area, Whitley responded, "Not in land use updates as such. We simply do not have the financial reserves to hire a planner whose total compensation depends on contracts we secure." Resigning ? Not now says director Another resignation was tendered at the Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission office in Hertford last week, and as of press time on Tuesday, executive director Robert Whitley was denying speculation that his own resignation might be next. Asked on Tuesday morning if he was considering resigning, Whitley said, "Not at this point in time. I don't think resigning right now would accomplish anything." He said there are still a great many objectives he would like to see ac complished in the region through ARPDC. Whitley's leadership capabilities have come under fire in recent weeks, leading to public speculation last week that he would be replaced by Hertford resident Tim Brinn. Aging administrator Rebecca Rhodes resigned from the organization two weeks ago, citing poor leadership on the part of its director. This past Friday, Aging secretary Karen Bunch followed Ms. Rhode's lead and resigned. In comments to the press following her resignation, Ms. Rhodes said that a majority of ARPDC's staff members signed a list of grievances against Whitley which she said he had failed to address. In an interview list week, Whitley said that he feels most of the disaffection at ARPDC stems from a new salary schedule. "Some employees did not fall within the range they thought they should," said Whitley. "They thought I should intervene." But Whitley said he had had a professional organization prepare and submit the plan to the ARPDC personnel com mittee (consisting of ARPDC board members) and he did not feel it was his respon sibility to step in. As a result of the protest, though, Whitley said he has asked the state personnel (Continued on page 2 ) Town budget up $200, 000 A budget of some $1.7 million, representing an in crease of approximately (200,000 over last year's town budget, has been tentatively set and accepted by the Hertford Town Council for the coming fiscal year. I The board met in executive session last Monday to finalize the budget draft. Most of the $200,000 increase results from the Electric Fund, which totals $979,770, a $191,970 jump over last year's Electric* Fund budget of $787,800. Hertford Mayor and City Manager Bill Cox said that the t $191,970 increase in the Electric Fund reflected Vepco's "ever-increasing prices," and that last year's Electric Fund was "under budgeted." The 1980-81 Electric Fund is comprised of interest ? $2,000, a department of Miscellaneous Revenue of I $939,770, (which Cox said is accrued from electric charges and usage); reconnection fees of $3,000; and electric revenue of the Wynne Fork housing of 135,000. Expenditures generating from the Electric Fund in clude salaries and wages ? $39,000; an operating expense of $6,000; utilites of $500, maintenance and repair of equipment and vehicles ? $4,000; departmental materials and supplies ? $25,000; capital outlay equipment ? $181,300; and contribution to debt service fund (water and sewer bonds) ? $31,970. The largest ex penditure included in the Electric Fund is electricity for resale -$889,000. "We based this figure ($889,000) on the actual cost (of purchasing electricity from Vepco for resale) through March 31 and added our estimation of the cost of use for the months of April, May, and June." said Cox. The actual co?t of purchased electricity through March 31 was (536,817. Cox said they have estimated the cost of projected electricty used for the months of April, May, and June to be around $153,000 and added it to the $536,817; thus, the figure of $689,000 was established for the 80-81 budget. The only other significant increase in the town's 1980-81 budget is in the General Fund, which has increased $22,000 over last year's $500,500. Among revenues an ticipated for the General Fund are Ad-Valorem (poverty) taxes which will total $75,400. Cox said that the tax rate of 65 cents per $100 valuation had not changed for the 1900-81 fiscal year, and that the rate was baaed on a total true valuation of $11.5 million and an estimated rate of 91 per cent collection which was the collection rate experienced during the 79-80 fiscal year. The General Fund's largest revenue is the $181,300 con tributed from the Electric Fund, a $2,500 increase over last fiscal year's contribution. The General Fund's ex penditures include main taining the various town departments such as street, administrative, police, fire, recreation, and inspection. A summation of additional departments within the 1980-81 town budget are: ?Water and Sewer Fund ? $118,500, a $6,500 increase over last yean ?Powell Bill Fund (for street repairs) ? $25,000, no change ?General Revenue Sharing ? $31,000, down $13,000 from last year's budget ?Debt Service Fund ? $31,970, down $1,530 from last year. A copy of the budget is available for public inspection at the town office, located in the Municipal Building on Grubb Street in Hertford. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on June 9, 7 p.m., at the Municipal Building. Artisans Work i The Spring Fling's Sunday 1 activities were cut short as an I afternoon thunder shower had I the artists packing and the ^ spectators running for cover, y But sunny skies earlier in the : day were enough to encourage I the participation from many local artists and attendance I from community members, f Among those demonstrating |i their crafts were potter, ] Sonny Fletcher, (top) and I weaver, Rita Collie. The I Perquimans ? County Rescue I Squad was there to take blood pressure and run a concession | stand, and members of the I Memory Lane Senior Citizen Club sold baked goods. The j Perquimans County High School Art Club, under the j direction of John Lavezzo, I displayed their work. The I event, originally slated for j last Sunday, lost many of its performing artists due to the rescheduling. (Photos by NOEL TODD-McLAUGHLIN) Resort water flowing smoothly Holiday Island's water problems were squared away as of Wednesday of last week, according to general manager William Jeffress. "We were pumping out own water as of Wednesday at 8:30 (p.m.). The weekend went real well," Jeffress said. A two man national guard crew arrived in Hertford Early last week, and hauled 50,000 gallons of water to the resort community on Tuesday and Wednesday. Last weekend, Perquimans County volunteer firemen had hauled some 40,000 gallons to the resort, which was ex periencing pump trouble. But now Jeffress said the water system at Holiday Island is working better than ever. He said that he has spoken with two firms on the par ticulars of drilling a new well for the community, but no decision has been reached on whether or not to do so. f V"' W omens ' conference hx: A signifigant day for Perquimans County women Mirian J. Dorsey, executive director ol the North Carolina Council on the Status of Women, called Saturday a "significant day (or the women of Parquimans It was the Albemarle area'i first Governor's Conference oa Leadership Development for Women, held at the Albemarle Regional Planning aad Development Commission BatMiog in Hertford where mm 100 women assembled to attend the day-tag event which laeladed opening remarks from Ms. Dorsey, aad all workshops led by need to improve the status of women in North Carolina. "Women in North Carolina make 61 cents to every *1 earned by men.". Mid its. Dorter, "and women with a college degree earn the equivalency of a what a man with an eighth grade education receives." She added Out there were probably more married women working in North Carolina than in any other state in the nation. "This is probably due te the state's few "sr council, according to Ms. Doraey, is actively working to improve both HKVd wages for women in North Carolina. Among their efforts is the establishment of several centers across the state designed to train women in construction jobs. "The $5-$7 an hour earned as a construction worker goes a lot further than the minimum wage earned by a> waitress," said Ms. Dorse/, and added that such wage opportunities were especially necessary for women who were supporting a family alone. The rote of family supporter is often one that a woman is thrust into, through death of spouse or divorce. Ms. Dorsey four centers across the state to help "displaced housewives" face the problems of working and managing a home and family alone. The progress of women in N.C. rests on improving their economic status, according to Ms. Dorsey. "Until we progress economically, we're not going to progress at all." She also cited the need for more female representation in government, both locally and on the state level. "We are 51 percent of the population, but make up only 7 perceni 01 eiecieu positions, ukl Ms. Dorsey, adding that it wm important to involve women in government because "women approach issues from a different per spective." Ms. Dorsey concluded by saying that improving the position of women would benefit all of society. "By improving the status of women, we'll improve the family and the entire com munity." Following Ms. Dorsey's opening speech and remarks from Hertford Mayor Bill Cox and county commissioner chairman Joe Nowell, the group dispersed for morning workshops. Morning sessions included How to Become Involved in A iiii the Political Process, led by State Senator Rachel Gray, of High Point; How North Carolina Law Affects Women, directed by Meyressa Schoonmaker, professor of law, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem; and The Media and Public Opinion, directed by Dr. Tom Bowers, associate dean of the School of Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Afternoon workshops, which followed a buffet luncheon, were Growing Up Female, directed by Winnie Wood, recent candidate for the North Carolina Senate and College of the Albemarle instructor; Coping with Stress, led by Lueta Sellers, Perquimans Union School counselor; and the Changing Structure of the Family, directed by Dr. E. Marie Johnson, professor of psychology at Elizabeth City State University. The Perquimahs County conference, one of several held across the state, was sponsored by the North Carolina Council on the Status of Women and the North Carolina Council of Women's Organisations in cooperation with the governor's office. It was locally planned under the direction of Mrs. M.B. J Taylor and Ellen Bowen, co- jq chairpersons, and the Hert- j ford Bussiness and Professional Women's Club.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 29, 1980, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75