ARPDC To Take New Direction * '' * • \ ■ 1 - .. : v / • - . The board of Albemarle . Regional Planning & Development Commission put past financial problems ip the background * A Tuesday night in accepting audit reports for fiscal 1975 and 1976 as well as a lengthy management letter. ’/'■ Lead by C. A. Phillips, chairman of Chowan County commissioners and a veteran ARPDC board, member, the decision was made not. to “draw unusual attention to an unusual situation” but to move forward “with a fresh start.” The board voted over-. ho .. -gff H Pix% mL A. Volume XjUII.—No. 29. Public Parade Back To Regionalism Demolition of Albemarle Regional Planning & Development was so swift that board members, a majority of who are elected officials along the Public Parade and throughout'. Northeastern North Carolina, couldn’t get a handle on it. The results have been painful for them, commission staff, and to a greater extent the ordinary citizens of the area. ■ Indications are now those in command are taking a page from Gov. Jim Hunt’s “new beginning” speech. If the result of Tuesday r night’s board meeting is an in- A positive steps are being , UpiTto re-establish a viable ft rogknial organization. * “It might not sound too good to you but it is sorta water over the dam,” was the statement of R.S. Monels of Perquimans County, board chairman as he presented the auditor who had just com pleted reports for fiscal 1975 and 1976. When discussions later got, heated, and names began flying, "eS&ier heads prevailed. C.A. Phillips of Chowan County, a staunch advocate of regionalism, cautioned fellow board members against “drawing unusual at tention to an unusual situation.” ■*' And Bill Miller of Hyde County added: “If revenge is our motive then we are on the wrong course.” To those who gave so much [toward the regional concept of delivery of services, etc., the destruction of the system has been * nothing short of agony. The cancer started when ARPDC tackled program im plementation and operation, something about which it knew nothing, something about which it was unable to learn anything, something which was sure to prove fatal. When a proven system falls like a house of cards as the resfilt of jealousy and greed it is extremely difficult to reconstruct something viable. All what was done over a period of time was undone in rapid order, but it appears ARPDC is talfeg a new’ direction which deserves Jbe support of the people -%fe factitive director has said for a yier that ARPDC is getting • W the program operation bosftfceas, acknowledging that it should never have gotten info it. And by following his direction, he believes ARPDC is “on (the) track to make (it) one of the greatest regional organizations in the state.” r That is what we had, but lost. Continued On Page 4 Holley Faces Forgery Charge Probable cause was found in Cbpwan. County District Court Tuesday morning in the case {(here Louis HoOey is charged Was arrested by Edeirtop Police Department recently after be allegedly forged the signature llprtiy after a break-in at Edenton \ ..ijBHMV- ttM' by Asst. W®VIQ DlaClWfll, . whekningly against a motion by Macon Johnson of Camden County to turn the audit reports over to Diet. Atty. Tom Watts for further investigation. Earlier, Herbert Mullen, attorney for the board, had said in his opinion no ARPDC funds had been embezzled. Bill Miller, director of Hyde County Department of Social Services and chairman of the defunct Albemarle Human Resources Development System, said: “If our intent is to move forward then ** good for the 10- county area. « 'venge is our Edenton, No*.a "Carolina, Thursday, July 21, 1977. County To Stick To Own Funds A Chowan County commissioner Monday called on his colleagues to authorize tax anticipation notes in order to remedy a cash flow problem rather than borrow from various county funds. Lester Copeland expressed the opinion that it would be more businesslike to authorize the notes. Also, it would allow for ■ | ■r JWr f -!/r Wm Ik 'f. i FIELD REPRESENTATIVE—Robert S. Marsh, above center, is the new field representative for the Albemarle Feeder Pig Cooperative who will be assisting area swine producers with management problems. He is shown with Jack Parker, left, area livestock specialist, and Gene Nixon cooperative manager. Marsh Assisting Hog Farmers Albemarle Feeder Pig Cooperative on Paradise Road has employed Robert S. Marsh of Roper as a field representative to assist area swine producers with various management problems, reported Gene Nixon, manager of the cooperative. Marsh, a retired Washington Downtown Study Goes To Council An architectural study of the downtown area as well as a tree survey in Edenton has been completed by the N.C. State University School of Design. Results of the study will be presented tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 P.M. at a special meeting of Town Council. The extensive study, the first of its kind in Edenton, was done without major cost to the town. W. B. Gardner, town ad ministrator, said he would par ticularly like to see the downtown merchants in attendance to view the presentation. Gardner said he understands an excellent job has been done and he personally looks forward to receiving the results of the study. Judge John T. Chaffin took the following action: Willies Augustus Moore, im proper brakes, $lO fine and costs; non-support and' assault, nine months, suspended upon payment of SIOO fine and costs and pay $45 per week for support of children. Roy Jackson Privott, trespass, 90 days, suspended upon payment ,: of s{s fine and costs. i James Williams, larceny* and Williams, larceny, and William Hemy Holley, receiving stolen hosts each and make restitution. motive then we are on the wrong course.” In his management letter, W. Speight. Burrus praised Bob Whitley, executive director, and the new bookkeeper.' He said Whitley had been successful recently in getting some $24,000 owed the state Manpower Program forgiven which puts the commission in the black. R. S. Monds of Perquimans County, ARPDC chairman, also lauded Whitley for his dedication and accomplishments. At the end of the meeting, immediate extension of the county water system. However, Chairman C.A. Phillips said the board had decided some time ago that the best option available to it was the use of money already in hand. Commissioner Alton G. Elmore agreed, saying it would be a lot of work and cost a lot of money to County extension agent, will be working, with producers in 15 i|j areas from record keepiM tainting breeding stock and eyptpAppg health practices, as wg| gffwttking to increase the cooper*M»fy level of business, said area livestock specialist. The new position is made possible by N. C. Rural Fund For Development, a federally funded state administered grant. Nixon reported that the position will be an on-going one after the grant funds are used. Albemarle Feeder Pig Cooperative is an area market now operating on a weekly basis with a sale each Thursday. Hospital Programs The Medical Staff and ad ministration of Chowan Hospital announce the addition of Con sultant services from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in the field of gastroenterology and pulmonary medicine beginning July 14. The two groups will rotate visits on a monthly basis every second Thursday . The consultants will fly to Edenton via the “UNC Air Force”. Each visit will be highlighted by a Continuing - Education session from 8 A.M. til 9 „ A.M. in the hospital Conference Room. Interesting case studies will be presented with the medical student on rotation at Chowan Hospital for the month doing the workup. Area physicians and appropriate health professionals are invited to attend these sessions.' Following the Continuing Education session p-and rounds will be atistie with the consultant seeing appropriate hospitalized Ration. outpKtwntj - tl ~* . * * : * .v • • Whitley sounded a positive note. He said he felt the board’s action puts the commission “on track to make this one of the greatest regional organizations in the state. One of the big contentions in the' audits was the development of Edenton-Chowan Day Care Center at Chowan High School. Burrus claimed it was not authorized and that ARPDC sustained a deficit of some $19,000. However, he said the recent manpower action wiped this out. Speaking of the audits, Monds Continued On Page 4 Single Copies 15 Cents. change directions “when we have money we can borrow from ourselves.” Copeland’s primary concern was the use of Water Department funds within the county’s general fund “when there are water lines that need to be run.” To borrow from that fund and not run the lines would be an “injustice to those who want and need water” in Copeland’s opinion. Phillips said the county is awaiting a final audit of the Water Department account in order to obtain some $30,000 in additional state money. “We are right on schedule,” the chairman said with regards to installing lines. Dallas Jethro, Jr., county coordinator, had suggested at an earlier meeting that the county lease a trenching machine so lines could be installed more cheaply. He was authorized to pursue this matter while advertising for bids for a new machine. Jethro also told board members the county had been authorized 20 CETA slots and $57,775 from another public works employment program. The State Board of Education had requested four teacher aides to work in the new Primary Reading Program and it was the general feeling of the board that they would be ap proved. However, Jethro was instructed to inform all agencies within the county of the availability of the slots and request written requests. During the special meeting, the Albemarle Area Resource Con servation & Development Plan was accepted. Commissioner N.J. George, who objected to ac ceptance of the plan a week earlier, said he didn’t find anything in it that “locked” the Continued On Page 4 w Ml m itfwW Ha. Vj| X HI , I '