Holder) Beach Board OKs
Police Drug Test Policy
BY DOUG KUTTER
Policc officers who want to work at Holden Beach already have to
prove they're drug-free before being hired, but the town board adopted a
policy Monday to cover the mandatory testing.
Without discussion, commissioners formally approved a policy that the
policc department has been following as a matter of procedure since state
legislators made drug testing a requirement for officers about two years
ago.
The policy requires testing for all applicants and officers seeking later
al transfers. It also allows testing if there's a "reasonable suspicion" that
an officer has used drugs.
"It's very detailed and sounds great." Commissioner David Sandifer
said of the nine-page document at Monday night's meeting.
The policy's aim u to maintain a drug-free work environment for offi
cers and ensure the integrity of the department and protection of the resi
dents.
"The public has a right to expect that those who arc sworn to protect
them arc at all times both physically and mentally prepared to assume
these duties," the policy states.
Under the policy, officers are prohibited from illegally possessing any
controlled substance and can be tested for cannabis, opiates, cocaine,
PCP and amphetamines.
Officers aren't allowed to ingest controlled substances unless pre
scribed by a licensed medical practitioner, or take any prescribed or over
the-counter drugs in amounts beyond the recomm ended dosage.
Applicants and officers seeking lateral transfers will not be considered
for employment or transfer if they refuse to take a drug test or if the test
indicates drug use prohibited by the policy.
Other officers may be required M submit to a drug test as a condition
of their continued employment if there is "reasonable suspicion" of drug
use.
Testing could be required if the chief or a high-ranking officer ob
serves an officer with the physical symptoms of being under the influ
ence of a drug.
Other bases of "reasonable suspicion" may includc a pattern or abnor
mal behavior, arrest or conviction for a drug-related offense, information
from credible sources or evidence that an officer has tampered with a
drug test
The polic> sets forth a 19-step process for collecting a urine sample for
analysis and the covers drug testing methodology.
If the first test indicates the use of drugs, the lab will automatically
perform a second "confirmation" tesL The lab will only report a test re
sult as positive if both tests show the presence of an illegal drug.
To determine whether a drug test is considered positive, Holden Beach
uses testing thresholds approved by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education
and Training Standards Commission.
Town Manager Gary Parker said he plans to write a drug testing policy
that would apply to all town departments in the near future. A similar
proposal given to a previous town board in 1990 was rejected.
Demos Set Precinct Meetings
Brunswick County Democrats will
elect delegates to the April 4 county
convention at their annual precinct
meetings today (Thursday) at 8 p.m.
at the regular polling places.
"We want all Democrats to attend
these meetings, whether they're par
ty activists or just want to get in
volved with the party," said county
party chairman Crawford M. Hart.
Han said the precinct meeting is
the first step in the state party's na
tional delegate selection process.
"The precinct level is also where
all policy making of the party be
gins," he added. "The more that peo
ple get involved in precinct meet
ings, the belter the party can repre
sent the views of all Democrats."
Besides electing delegates, local
Democrats will have a chance to
pass resolutions or party policy at
the precinct meetings.
Hart said make-up meetings have
been scheduled for next Thursday,
March 12, at 8 p.m.
For more information, call Hart
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the
county party headquarters, 754
8880.
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Brake Work
More Sidewalks Coming To
Holden Beach Boulevards
BY doug ruttf.r
Holden Beach officials arc so im
pressed with their new sidewalk that
they plan to extend il farther cast
along Ocean Boulevard.
Commissioners voted unanimous
ly Monday to continue the concrete
walkway from Neptune Drive to
ward the bridge.
After spending nearly S50,(XX) on
a sidewalk from Neptune to
Greensboro Street in November, the
town still has S32,(XX) in the budget.
Commissioners want Town
Manager Gary Parker to use the
money to continue the sidewalk as
far east as possible on the north side
of the boulevard.
Town officials think the money
will take the sidewalk at least as far
as Roger Street, and probably far
ther.
The specifications will be differ
ent for this section of walkway,
which will be four inches of rein
forced concrete instead of six inches.
Commissioners said the area be
tween Neptune and Roger is more
developed than the other section,
and there will be fewer construction
trucks running over and damaging
the sidewalk.
Town officials hope to have the
additional work completed before
the start of tourist season.
Police Can Stay
Fears that the police force would
have to move out of its house on
Davis Street or make major renova
tions have been laid to rest.
Parker said the N.C. Department
of Insurance will let the town con
tinue using the old house for police
headquarters if it makes some im
provements.
New wiring and insulation and
better restroom facilities will he
needed, but Parker said the town
won't have to elevate the bottom
floor or raise the ceiling as town of
ficials were told earlier.
The state normally requires that
buildings be brought up to state code
when there is a change of use.
But Parker said that won't be the
case if the cost of the improvements
doesn't total more than half of the
home's S40,(XX) value.
"This is not special considera
tion," Commissioner David Sandifcr
said. "The town's not being treated
different than anyone else in the
town."
Sandifcr pointed out last month
that using the house as a police
headquarters is safer than using it as
a home. The town wouldn't be re
quired to make any changes if it
were to sell the house for use as a
residence.
Complaint Dismissed
A legal battle between the town
and an island resident over a securi
ty light is apparently over, at least
for the time being.
Tow. i Attorney Kenneth Campbell
said a complaint the town filed last
July seeking the removal of an out
side light on Brunswick Avenue has
been voluntarily dismissed.
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The complaint was filed when
George Bradshaw refused to comply
with a town ordinance and remove a
light from a utility pole outside his
residence.
Campbell said attorneys from
both sides agreed to voluntarily dis
miss the town's complaint and the
counter-claim filed by the defen
dants.
The attorney announced the dis
missal Monday night following a
45-minutc executive session called
to discuss a legal matter.
Other Business
In other business Monday, com
missioners:
?Received bid proposals from
Chambers an.' Waste Industries for
garbage collection. The bids include
options to set up a central recycling
station or start a curbside program.
Commissioners are expected to
chose a hauler at their March 18
meeting. The town's contract with
Chambers expires March 3 1 .
?Asked Parker to write a letter to
the N.C. Department of Trans
portation pushing for early comple
tion of the four-laning of U.S. 17
through Brunswick County. The
DOT had asked the town for com
ments on the proposed Transpor
tation Improvement Plan.
?Heard from Commissioner Jim
Foumier about a new coalition of
town governments in the county be
ing organized through the loci of
fice of the N.C. Cooperative Exten
sion Service. Mayor Wally Ausley
appointed Fournier to serve as the
town's representative on the com
mittee.
?Asked Parker to draft a proposed
ordinance that would require owners
of oceanfront property to remove
concrete, pilings, septic tanks, walk
ways, decks, sandbags and bulk
heads when they relocate their
beachfront houses.
?Passed a resolution honoring the
late James D. Griffin Sr., a former
mayor pro tcm of Holdcn Beach
who served three terms on the town
board. The rcsoluuon will be pre
sented to Griffin's family at a cov
ered dish reception Friday, March 6.
at 4 p.m. in town hall.
?Voted to donate SI 25 to the N.C.
League of Municipalities to help pay
for local government text books for
ninth graders.
?Asked Parker to find out if the
town requires police officers to take
certain training courses, or if partici
pation is voluntary. Holdcn Beach
now pays officers S5 an hour while
taking classes such as drug aware
ness and radar certification. If the
courses arc mandatory, Parker said
the town will have to pay officers
their normal hourly rate.
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C1992 THE BRUNSWICK BE ACON
?1?2 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
ruucign, v..
right way for government to worK. 1 W dill/ vvr *???>.
all citizens, from the mountains to the piedmont to the coast.
I also want to be the Governor for the working men and women of North
Carolina, instead of answering to the high rollers and buyers and sellers of
influence who only look after their own selfish interests. As Governor, I wil
see that all citizens have a voice in decisions affecting their lives, and that
fairness and justice be a fundamental goal of government actions.
I believe in the people of North Carolina. I will be a Governor who
encourages the people, and trusts the people. I am running for Governor to
restore the people's belief and confidence in their government, and that is why
I am seeking the help of my friends in Brunswick County, and all across North
Carolina. Together, we will win.
^ Vl *
restore
I am
ina. Together, we win Yf 11
With all best wishes and highest regards, I am
Sincerely-.
Thornourg
Leadership for a Chance.
PAID FOR BY BRUNSWICK COUNTY CITIZENS FOR LACY THORNBURG, MACK HEWED*, TREASURER
Thornburg
Governor y92