Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / March 23, 1978, edition 1 / Page 8
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Several appear before Commissioners By KATHY M. NEWBERN The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners met in regular session Mon day night with all members present. Several in dividuals appeared before the Board. The first was Charles Skinner Jr.. chief of the Hertford Volunteer Fire Department and County Fire Marshal. Skinner presented a report of fire activity in the county dur ing the last calendar year. He asked that his report (which appears elsewhere in this edition) be recorded in the minutes in order to allow permanent record of fire department activity. He pointed out that most calls come in between noon and 6 p.m. with the second heaviest shift being from 6 p.m. until midnight. Skin ner also pointed out that of the 22 volunteers in the Hertford Fire Department, an average of 12 answer each call. "This I feel," said Skinner, "is an ex cellent situation. We feel pretty good that we do have better than half of the department responding to each call." Skinner also pointed out that an average cost to answer a fire call is 1329. He said the Hertford department was alerted and dispatched to 14 calls last year that were not the responsibility of the depart meat. This resulted, sc- . cording to Skinner, Is about $4,200 of unnecessary cost. He explained that more careful review of the situa tion before dispatching units might alleviate the problem. Skinner also discussed some problems with the county's central dispatch system. He said. "I think the majority of the dispat chers are doing the very best they can." He added, "We've got the best equip ment money can. buy and Perquimans County is looked to as a leader in cen tral communication." The Board agreed to work with those involved to insure a smoother operation of the dispatching service. Skinner also presented a report of his activities as County Fire Marshal ex plaining that the cost for the year was $156.70. He said, "I think this is a low operation figure for the amount of effort put forward." Skinner then discussed the need for group in surance coverage of firemen as opposed to hav ing each department in the county purchase separate insurance. Board Chair man Lester Simpson authorized Skinner as Fire Marshal to look into this matter and report back to the board. Skinner then expressed Police report recent activity The Hertford Police Department has released the following arrest for this week. ARREST Michael Wayne Spivey of 132 Market St., Hertford, (Age 21) was arrested on March 15 at 8:45 a.m. by Chief Marshall Merritt and Patrolman J.R. Logan on charges of breaking and entering and larceny of Hertford United Methodist Church and breaking and entering and larceny of Pitt Hardware and possession of stolen property. The break-ins occurred on March 11 at the Methodist Church and March 15 at Pitt Hardware. Stolen from Pitt Hardware was $542.34 in merchandise that has been recovered, and $97.04 of church proper ty was recovered. Trial date has been set for the May term of Superior Court. Spivey was taken before District Judge Grafton Beamon on March 15 for a first appearance. Judge Beamon set bond at $5000. Spivey could not make bond and is presently in the Albemarle District jail. He has a court appointed lawyer, Walter Edwards Jr. of Hertford. Yearly fire report Charles Skinner Jr., Chief of the Hertford Volunteer Fire Depart ment, presented the follow ing report of activities for 1977 to the Perquimans County Board of Commis sioners in their regular meeting Monday night. The department answered 39 calls in the county during the year, 24 in Hertford, 8 service calls, and 3 out of county calls. During the year, the following calls per township were answered: Parksville ? 17; Bethel ? 9; New Hope ? 7; Hertford ? 5; and Belvidere-Nicanor ? 2. Mutual Aid res(>onse was given to the following by the Hertford Volunteer Fire Department during 1977: Intercounty ? 8; Winfall ? 5; Bethel ? 4; Belvidere Chappell Hill - 3; N.C. Forestry Service ? 1; N.C. Highway Patrol ? 1; and Elizabeth City ? 1. The following is a breakdown of the type of fire calls answered during the year: 23 dwellings of which 3 were a major loss, 4 mobile homes of which 3 were a major loss, 4 com mercial buildings, 3 related to farm equipment, 4 farm structures, 10 vehicles, 14 grass and woods fires, 1 false air alarm, 1 chemical related fire, and 8 service calls. At the meeting, Skinner also presented a report of his activities for the year as County Fire Marshal. During the year, Per quimans County Schools were inspected three times, 8 nursing homes were in sepcted; 5 foster child homes were inspected, 1 elderly nutrition food center, 1 day care home, 1 Headstart center, and 4 civic club meetings were attended to present fire safety programs. He also assisted the Bethel Fire Department to secure department rating. Comedy scheduled "The Fourposter", a warm and tender comedy about the joy and trauma of marriage by Jan de Hertog, will be presented at College of The Albemarle on April 7 aa the final event of the COA Community Lyceum's 1977-7S series. Jerome U. Rhees, Lyceum chairman, said today that Stage Two, a division of Fedyssyn Associates of Norfolk, Virginia, will stage the pro duction at COA's gym natorium. Stan Fedyszyn, well known Tidewater theatrical figure, directs the sensitive comedy. He is the artistic director of the Norfolk Theatre Center and produces the Stage Two series. The theatrical company produces professionally performed intimate theatre and offers a repertoire of five shows of which "The Fourposter" is included. Lyceum subscribers will be admitted to the per formance by membership card. A nominal charge will be made for general admission. the opinion of needing writ ten agreements for mutual aid for between fire depart ments. The Board asked Skinner to take this idea to the individual departments in the county. Before moving on to other business, the Board heard a request from Skinner to establish a fire prevention code in Perquimans Coun ty. It was pointed out that such a code exists for the Town of Hertford. No action was taken. Second to appear before the Board was Ms. Janice Fountain, representative of International Systems, Inc. That group, she explained, can be hired to research and apply for grants for its customers. She presented information concerning the business and its operation in an effort to have the county subscribe to its ser vices. She explained that the firm has had 80-85 per cent of all grant applica tions funded and these funds have been used for a variety of things from civic centers and highway im provements to swimming pools for recreational use and day care centers. The firm currently serves four counties and seven cities in North Carolina and is now seeking to add seven subscribers in the eastern part of the state. She outlined the services of fered and explained that the county's fee for par ticipation (based on popula tion of 0-10,000) would be $15,000 per year. That fee she explained would be refunded if International Systems, Inc. failed to secure at least that much in grant monies during the year. No action was taken, but the Board agreed to consider the proposal. The Board also heard from Naomi Hester con cerning the Albemarle Area Council on Aging ac tlvities. She pointed to pro gram involvements of the group and interaction with other - agencies involved with services (or senior citisens. Following her presentation. Ms. Hester summarized four points relative to the county. She said, first, "the agency is recognizing more and more that there seems to be strong support of senior citizens at the county level." A group of 12 senior citizens was present with her for the meeting. This in terest she said might war rant a senior citizens' coun cil on the county level. Secondly, she pointed out, a need exists in Perquimans County and Region R for a homeboud meals program. Her third point was the ma jor problem related to lack of transportaiton for senior citizens. And finally, she said there is strong interest locally in the development of a senior citizens' center. Budget was the next item on the agenda. Paul Gregoray, Gregory, Direc tor of the Perquimans County Department of Social Services, presented the department's proposed 1978-79 budget to the board. The total budget for the year is $1,278,469 of which $181,578 represents county funds. This total shows a $14,567 increase represent ing an 8.7 percent increase over last year. Gregory went through the proposed budget explaining unusual circumstances in any of the 13 budget areas. In action taken, the Board tentative ly approved the budget as presented pointing out that formal approval had to come with the total county budget. In other budget matters, the Board heard from Nan cy Bailey representing the Museum of the Albemarle. Also present was Mrs. Donald Heatherington of Hertford. Chairman of the MOA Board of Director*. Before presenting the re quest for Perquimans County. Ms. Bailey outlined some long-range plans of the museum including an effort to have the local museum affiliated with the N.C. State Museum of History. She outlined the benefits of such action. I}te museum's total proposed budget for 1978 is $26*15. The request to Perquimans County is $1,200. Ms. Bailey explained that budget ex penses are up 8.4 percent over last year, but that the request to the counties are up higher than that basical ly due to the fact that the total funds requested of participating counties were not received last year. Ap proximately 7JD00 people visited the museum last year, she said, and an estimated 315 people from Perquimans County were included of which 170 were students. While no formal action was taken, the Board agreed to consider the re quest and offered support of the museum and its pro gram offerings. The Board then went into executive session to discuss hiring and salaries related to the countywide water system. In other action. Chair man Simpson read a letter from the Perquimans Coun ty Board of Education re questing five two-way radios to use on the schools transportation vehicles if the county has this extra equipment. The Board agreed to check with departments on hand con cernign this. In action taken, the Board approved a motion to transfer by means of a con tribution the funds in the capital reserve school building fund and turn this over to the Perquimans County Board of Education. Board of Education meets The Perquimans County Board of Education met in regular session Monday night with all members present First on the agenda was discussion of budget preparation lor lt7S-79. The Board expressed the idea of having several special budget meetings to review the budget prior to admit ting it to the County Com missioners for approval. In other fiscal matters, the Board discussed invest ment of capital outlay funds. No action was taken. In personnel matters, it was agreed that school principals would meet with the Board on two days in April to review faculty and to make personnel recommendations. The Board also approved the employment of Rosa llodlin as an aide in the special education program at Perquimans High School. The Board then went into executive session on several personnel matters with no action takes. In program areas, the Perquimans County Com munity Schools program was discussed as well as how the local program would tie-in with the six county Alliance (or Pro gress Community Schools project. The Board also discussed requirements for gradua tion and diplomas and whether or not these re quirements are to be deter mined by the local board or the state. Information concerning non-promotional data was presented to the Board as recommended from the state department. In action taken, the Board approved a com munity based alternative program to work with students with discipline problems, truancy, indif ference to school, etc. A status report on the field house project at Per quimans High School ?u presented. It was pointed out that the architect ha^ plans well underway acA the Board is hopeful thaT plans will soon be complete and ready for Board review. The Board also heard ? status report on Phase I of construction-renovation at Perquimans High School. The architect, it was ex plained is proceeding with plans. Phase I will consist of both renovation and new construction. That new con struction will be adjoining the present library building and will include some new classroom areas. Renova tion to the present library building in order to tie it in with new construction is also planned. Another area of renovation outlined in Phase I is to the gym nasium and agricultural area. This should include dressing rooms in the gym and classrooms in the shop area. Some new expanded library areas are also plan ned. ESC (Continued from Ptge 1) sororities who paid $1,000 or more in wages in any calendar quarter last year, are required to pay unemploy ment insurance taxes to the Employment Security Commission. Farmers who paid wages of $20,000 or more for agricultural labor during a calendar quarter last year or employed 10 or more workers for 20 weeks, are required to pay unemployment insurance taxes. Employers who pay these wages during 1978 will also be liable for taxes. The tax is 2.7 percent of the first $6,000 paid in wages to each worker. Taxes are paid on wages commenc ing January 1, 1978. There is also a seven-tenths of one percent tax on wages due the federal government through the Internal Revenue Service. "Since this is new coverage, we're afraid that many employers of domestic and farm workers are not aware of their liability," says Mrs. Bond. Taxes for the first quarter of 1978 are due by April 30. Late payments will result in a six percent annual interest penalty plus a flat ten per cent penalty rate of all monies due. Late reporting will result in a five percent per month penalty. "For this reason, agricultural and domestic employers who have not received liability determina tions from us should contact the nearest Employment Security Com mission Job Service office im mediately to obtain the necessary reporting forms," according to the local manager. Field Tax Auditors are stationed at ESC offices and are available to answer questions and assist employers who believe they're liable for unemployment insurance taxes under the new law.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 23, 1978, edition 1
8
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