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£.2 THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2,2018 6M STAFF PHOTOS BY PETER WILLIAMS Boys check out one of the radio controlled planes at the Riverbash festival in Hertford Saturday. RIVERBASH continued from 1 WAV linger event and make it fun for everybody.” But as with any event, Smith said organizers could find a way to improve River bash moving forward. “One issue is Winfall and Hertford are still separated. ‘We had a water taxi but I would have promoted that 'more. Still it’s encouraging to [see.” ; She said planners intend to [take the summer off and start [meeting again in September. • “We’d welcome anyone [who wants to get involved,” [^he said. “At least people !now have seen it with their [own eyes and they can see [this is a great foundation to [build on.” Among the unrelated [events last weekend were the annual unHilly Hundred Bike (Ride and the annual Master ECSU on pace to enroll more students [ BY REGGIE PONDER The Daily Advance 1' * Elizabeth City State Uni- .versity continues on pace [to enroll more students [this fall than it did this year. [However, the university [still has a ways to go before enrollment covers the cam- wus’s needs in areas such as Kiility maintenance. gmlthea Riddick, who Sends enrollment manage- went for ECSU, reported gthe ECSU Phase 2 Work- Group last week the ggriversity has “confirmed implications” for the fall se- ^ster from 304 new fresh- ^n students and 75 new J^nsfer students. [ggfrhat means 51 percent ECSU’s projected 600 ®w freshmen this fall, and ^percent of its projected ®) new transfer students [®s fall, have confirmed Implications on file with university. A confirmed Silication isn’t the same Sing as enrollment, but it Kies indicate serious intent 3g? a student to enroll. ^University of North Caro- Ka System President Mar- Sfe’et Spellings, who was ht- ®iding the working group 1RHS to expand governing board, budget Mathis Grieve puts his head and hand through stocks at Missing Mill Park during the Riverbash festival Saturday in Hertford. Gardener’s Garden Show. Both had solid participation. The garden show at the Per quimans Comity Recreation Center had 31 vendors. That’s about normal said Katy meeting by teleconference, noted the confirmation per centages are only slightly above where they were at this time last year. She asked if that suggests the NC Promise tuition dis count isn’t providing the enrollment boost for ECSU that had been expected. NC Promise is a state- subsidized tuition discount that sets per-semester tu ition at three UNC cam puses — ECSU, UNC- Pembroke and Western Carolina University — at $500 for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students. Riddick said she was hesitant to say NC Promise is not making a difference because she hears all the time from parents and stu dents that they appreciate the discount. Josh Lassiter, ECSU’s vice chancellor for business and finance, also pointed out the confinnation per centages Riddick refer enced ar e based on projec tions that are much higher than last year’s enrollment. Therefore, the increase in the actual number of stu dents who’ve confirmed Shook, the extension agent who handles the Master Gardener’s program. What helped draw a big crowd was last weekend was the first truly nice one this spring. their applications is much higher than the slight per centage gain would show, he said. “We’re almost doubling the class,” Riddick noted. Riddick also said the university is working hard on financial aid packages, housing deposits and simi lar items to avoid having “false positives”—students who end up not actually en rolling in August. Last fall ECSU posted its first enrollment increase in seven years. The university is eyeing an even larger up tick in enrollment this year. As state lawmakers pre pare to convene May 16 for their short session, ECSU is also working with the UNC System Office to develop a request for additional resources for the campus. ECSU officials say the ex tra money will help cover costs like facility mainte nance until student enroll ment grows enough to cov er those expenses. The draft request, which is still being reviewed by ECSU officials, includes $1.04 million for a feasibil ity study on adding allied health and nursing pro ¬ “Sometimes we’ve already had a few weeks of nice weather and people have al ready bought all the plants they are going to buy,” Shook said. grams, development of a campus master plan and completion of a public-pri vate partnership demand study on student housing; $4.7 million for a system allowing campuswide card access to buildings as well as upgrades to campus surveillance technology; and $14 million for a new library. ECSU has started a num ber of campus beautifica tion projects with existing funding. Improvements have included landscaping and interior improvements to the Thorpe Administra tion Building and cafeteria. “We’re very, very proud of the kinds of things that have been done,” said Gwen Sanders, administrative assistant to the chancel lor. “The students are very pleased with the invest ment that has been made in their second home.” ECSU Trustee Harold Barnes said university of ficials are committed to making improvements that are needed to facilities, programs and operations. “We are going to succeed and failure is not an op tion,” Barnes said. BOARD Continued from 1 nicipalities. Wright said he could try and find a quali fied person to fill in until a permanent replacement is found. But he said given the time of year, he couldn’t promise anything. He said most people he knows are retired, and they retired for a reason, plus it’s coming up on vacation season. Wright said it’s critical that the board goes into the process with the same idea on what they want. And he said what the board does now is very important. “Hiring the town manager is the most important thing you will do in this term in of fice,” Wright said. “The town manager is the one you send out into the community to represent you.” He said hiring a consul tant to handle the screening applicants would speed up the process. He estimated it would run between $15,000 and $20,000. But Wright said whatever happens, it falls on the five- member board and nobody else. “The League’s role is to try and assist you in the pro cess.” Wright said the public’s participation in the hiring process would be limited. He said releasing the names and qualifications to the public before the contract is offered would violate the legal right to confidentiality unless the candidate waves that right. Not replacing Shoaf is not an option Wright said. “You are required to have a town manager,” Wright said. Before he left, Jackson asked Wright if Mayor Reid could serve both roles. Wright said that is not al- VOTING Continued from 2 his first try running for the school board. While there are three people and three seats, voters can only cast a ballot for one of them. Any voter can cast a bal lot in the school board race, but only Republicans and unaffiliated voters can vote on the others. There is a three-way race for U.S. Congress will be de cided in May because there is no Democrat challenging them. Republican Congressman Walter Jones is being chal lenged by Republicans Phil Law and Scott Dacey for the CHIEF Continued from 1 ing a stop Feb. 1 when he was found guilty of resist ing an officer. He was found guilty but is appealing the case. Back in 2011 a Hertford police was fired over an in cident involving Jackson. Chief Joe Amos posted a link to the police depart ment’s Facebook page about Jackson’s arrest for failing to pay child support. When he was named in terim chief, Mitchell said he’d be interested in the permanent position if the board wanted to do that. At the time Mitchell lowed. The manager or in terim manager can’t be an elected official under state law. Hertford isn’t the only town looking to hire a man ager. Wright said there are 300 municipalities in North Carolina and 100 counties, and 30 of the municipalities are also in the market for a manager. He said given the limited market it’s important that the town doesn’t put too many hard and fast quali fications in the screening process. “The more you put on that list, the more you have to pay for that,” Wright said. Since Hertford went with a manager/council form of government, it doesn’t have much of a history on the process of replacing a man ager. Shoaf was promoted from within when John Christensen retired. Wright recommended that when the town knows what it wants, reaching out to professional groups for city and town managers is a good step. He said spend ing money for advertising in a statewide paper would be “the biggest waste.” He did recommend adver tising in local newspapers in the area. “You may have a retired manager from somewhere else and you don’t know it.” Ultimately Wright said that no matter what the board does, it should be prepared to walk away if it’s not sure. “The moral is it’s better to start over again,” he said. Wright also said the board should expect to offer the new manager a contract that would protect them if they get fired for anything beyond cause. “I love you to death, but I wouldn’t come here without a contract,” Wright said. District 3 Seat. The GOP challengers for the House seat are Can- dice Hunter of Perquimans County and Eddy Goodwin of Chowan County. Hunter has never run for public of fice before. Goodwin held a seat on the Chowan Coun ty Commission in 2008-12 and ran unsuccessfully for N.C. Secretary of State in 2012. In the race for N.C. Sen ate, Bob Steinburg and Clark Twiddy, face off in May. Steinburg, a Chowan County resident, currently holds the N.C. House seat for this district. Twiddy is a Dare County businessman. For election information, call 426-5598. admitted at a small de partment, it’s a matter of constantly recruiting for of ficers. But he said it’s more important to get the right individuals vs. just hiring people. “Your police department should always reflect on the community they serve. We would love to have a more diverse workforce. In a small department every body draws on their own experiences. But it’s a mat ter of finding the right fit. “Some officers are better suited for larger jurisdic tions. I would never fault another officer for wanting to go to a different depart ment to better their lives and their family.” BY JON HAWLEY The Daily Advance •••Albemarle Regional ^alth Services will expand governing board and its get by almost $2 million en Hertford County joins regional health depart- nt, ARHS Director Battle detailed in an interview ’Kit week. Betts reported last month to join the regional health agency, and the merger is on track for July 1. The ARHS board will be asked to re form the agency in June to add Hertford, he said. Betts also said Hertford will, like other ARHS mem ber counties, get to appoint two members to the ARHS Board of Health, giving it 16 members. One of those members will be a county will also need to “buy in” to ARHS’ fund balance. Count ing funds ARHS has set aside to cover retirement benefits, Betts said the department’s fund balance is about $10 million. Member counties who decide to leave ARHS would be able to claim part of that fund balance. That makes it fair for Hertford to contribute to the balance, he explained. for current employees. However, he said ARHS isn’t posting for all of the Hertford agency’s positions. The director’s position held by Ramona Bowser will not be continued, he said. One of the goals of the merger is to streamline administration, but he reiterated all the Hert ford agency’s employees are welcome to apply for avail able postings. that the Hertford County Public Health Authority, the state’s only remaining angle-county health author ity, wanted to join ARHS. The PHA’s most recent audit shows it’s been struggling with declining revenues over the years. Betts said that the boards of commissioners in all sev en of ARHS’ counties have approved allowing Hertford commissioner, while the other should bring relevant occupational expertise to the board. Hertford will have flexibility about who it wants to appoint to the board, he explained. Betts also explained that, as a new member, Hertford County will not only need to make annual contributions to ARHS — as all member counties now do — but it Betts also said ARHS is asking Hertford to pay about $1.5 million over 10 years to buy into the health depart ment. Given the Hertford Public Health Authority is dissolv ing, Betts also detailed ARHS will have to rehire employ ees to continue its services. He said ARHS has posted 16 positions to continue servic es, with a strong preference In expanding its health ser vices to Hertford, ARHS will also inherit more clients, and the revenues and expenses that come with them. Betts estimated adding Hertford will grow ARHS’ overall budget by almost $2 million. Betts reported to the ARHS board Tuesday that ARHS will propose a budget adjustment after July 1 to re flect Hertford’s membership. Perquimans ^.[WEEKLY (USPS428-080) Vol. 86 No. 18 Published each Wednesday. A publication of Cooke Communications North Carolina, LLC Established 1934 111 W. Market St., Hertford, NC 27944 Mike Goodman Publisher Peter Williams News Editor Bev Alexander Advertising Representative Phone 252-426-5728 • Fax 252-426-4625 Email: perquimansweekly@ncweeklies.com Subscription Rates In Daily Advance home delivery area $26.25* All other continental U.S $32.50* *Plus applicable sales tax. Activation fee of $1.99 will be collected with all new subscriptions. Deactivation fees may apply for early cancellation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Perquimans Weekly, Hertford, NC 27944
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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May 2, 2018, edition 1
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