THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 3ft, Wo. 41 USPS4?-otQ Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, October 9, i960 20CENTS ^ HTMPfff rrTiii" ' *? . ?' , .-? ., V; ??? . ? Hertford council expected to raise electric rates An increase in electric rate* appears ^ inevitable for Hertford resident* as the 7 town makes every effort to generate more income and recover from a lack of cash flow and a deficit in the General Fund of the 1980 budget. Accountants Ottis Hurd and Edward Lang appeared before the town council at their regular monthly meeting Monday, and recommended to council members to either increase electric rates or to slash the 1980 budget in order to fund the ^ deficit carried over from the 1979-80 ? fiscal year. Whatever course the council chooses, action needs to be taken immediately. according to Hurd. "If you're going to increase electric rate* to fund the deficit you really should have done it in July," he said. "If you increase (electric rates) now, it won't be that great (of an increase) but if you wait until January, then you're going to have to make the increase a drastic one," Hurd said, "Something has got to be done now." The council was expected to meet in a work session Tuesday night to study possible utility rate hikes. Figures that emerged from a depart ment-by-department breakdown of the 1980-81 budget showed that the town is not in as great of a slump as originally anticipated. The deficit in the General Fund (which foots the bill for most services offered by the town) was slightly less than the estimated $56,000. Excess expenditures over revenue accrued in the General Fund totaled $98,375. Subtracted from this figure are monies carried over from the 1979 budget ($42,782) which then leaves a deficit sum of $55,593. But the actual deficit in the General Fund will be $43,206 once the council resolves to eliminate a $12,716 obligation, outstanding since 1963, to the Debt Service Fund. "It's a paper transaction." explained Hurd, "and although it doesn't actually mean you're getting the money, you're not losing it either and it will just make you look better on paper." In a management letter to the town, the accountants wrote of the General Fund: "A review of the June 30, 1980 actual revenues and expenditures as compared to budget indicate that the current deficit was caused by the fact that only 179,363 was received from the utility funds when $198,000 was budgeted to be recieved. "Without the use of restricted funds the town of Hertford would not have been able to continue its operations for any of its services. "We suggest that the Town review all of its services that it now provides (Police, Fire, Sanitation, Street, Ice, Cemetery, Historical, Inspection, Recreational and Administrative) and adopt a realistic budget plan that is financially feasible for the size and tax base of the Town." The accountants also pointed out what councilmembers already knew: that the deficit in the General Fund was due to spending more money than was at hand and that much of the problem was the result of the fact that the town had not passed on all of Virginia Electric and Power Company's rate increases to Hertford customers. "The fact is, you paid Vepco more than you budgeted." said Hurd, "and that's your problem in a nutshell because then your General Fund fell short." "You have got to raise your rates to keep up with Vepco," he said. Although the accountants found the Electric Fund to be operating at a profit, they warned the commissioners against (Continued on page 2 ) Open house Student guides stand by ready to answer questions- in the newly-renovated Perquimans County High School library while residents tour the facility. Open boose wu held there Sunday, with a record crowd turning out to see the renovations and the addition. At PCHS Hundreds tour addition Hundreds of town and county residents accepted the school board's invitation to tour the $1.25 million Perquimans County High School addition at the open house held Sunday. A host of student guides met visitors in the newly-renovated library to take them on what school superintendent Pat Harrell jokingly referred to as the "50 cent tour." Designed by architects of Ashford and Associates of Raleigh, the addition consists of 12 new classrooms, 2 dressing rooms adjacent to the gymnasium, an activity area, an administrative area, teachers' lounge, a renovated library, and public restroom facilities designed to accomadate school activities held in the gymnasium. Also included on the tour Sunday was the newly constructed mechanic shop, complete with hydraulic lift. Light beige vinyl wall coverings have taken the place of the traditional cin derblock walls that have been associated with public school facility design for decades. The walls are installed in panels, conducive to easy cleaning and replacement. The design of the building gives an open, airy appearance with floor-to ceiling windows that edge hallways and classrooms. Windows not only border outside walls, but also serve as partitions between classrooms and corridors. The glass is tinted slightly to eliminate glare and also to aid in heat retention. The building is zoned for heating and air conditioning, and is equipped with a system easily adaptable to solar heat, according to an earlier conversation with Harrell. The renovated library is about one third larger than its former size, with several added features including a darkroom for film and photographic processing, a soundproof preview room for audio-visuals, a professional library for faculty, and a periodical storage and study area. A reading area is set with brightly upholstered couches and chairs in the main section of the library. School librarion Lois Stokes said this year's budget allowed for the purchase of some new books to fill the expanse of new library shelves, and that many books had also been donated to the school. The addition accomodates classes in English, math, foreign language, and one section of social studies. Athletic offices are also located in the complex. An "activity area" near the gym nasium can be used to accomodate an overflowing crowd attending an athletic event. A push of a button activates the mechanical door, and the area is con verted into a classroom. Teachers, staff, and students seem well pleased with the addition. "We have room to do a lot of activites we couldn't do before," said Paul Ward, Perquimans County testing coordinator. "I pinch myself everyday," said English instructor Carroll Harrell of her new classroom in the addition. Work on the addition began in January of 1979 and was completed in time for school's opening in August of this year. Inclement weather often halted work on the project, which was originally slated for completion last Februrary. The facility is newly furnished throughout, with the exception of some -student desks. Overcrowded conditions at the high school are expected to be relieved somewhat by the new high school ad dition. Board stands firm, supplement pay is denied Four vocational teachers from Perquimans High School met with the board of education Monday night to express their concerns about being ex j\ eluded from a federal pay supplement program. The supplement would have given vocational teachers $35 per month for duties performed beyond the school day. ? But board members had voted in a prior meeting not to approve the sup plement plan in the interest of fairness to other classroom teachers who perform extra duties but receive no extra pay. The vocational teachers argued, k however, that they are virtually required by the state to perform extra duties, particularly preparing students for contests, whereas many of the duties of other teachers are not required. "Our main concern is not the extra supplement but the general idea of our unworthiness in not being granted the privilege of participating. Now, more than ever, we as teachers need en couragement, motivation and praise," said vocational teacher Elonza Joyner in a prepaed statement. The vocational teachers also argued that they had received the supplement in the past, and are no less worthy to receive the supplement in the present The North Carolina General Assembly has for the first time this year, given local school boards the option as to whether or not to allow the supplement. Board member Emmett Long pointed out that classroom teachers had only recently begun to learn about the extra pay awarded to vocational teachers, and were beginning to complain about it. The teachers, however, presented a list of extra duties they must perform, in cluding: keeping special records on vocational students; attending vocational education teachers meetings; attending conferences each summer; heading up vocational education youth organizations, which compete in local, district, and state contests; and several other duties. Schools superintendent Pat Harrell, however, noted that Perquimans was not alone in turning down the supplement. Some 35 per cent of the school boards across North Carolina that had acted on the matter as of Monday had elected not to participate. Harrell also pointed out that other teachers also prepare students for contests, and perform duties beyond the normal school day. Board members took no action on the matter but agreed to stand by their earlier decision. Several board members said that it was not out of any lack of support for vocational education but in the interest of fairness to other teachers. In another matter, board chairman Clifford Winslow said that it might be time to begin thinking about another local bond referendum, to begin Phase II at the county high school. But Winslow said that he expects to see a statewide school bond referendum on the ballot in 1981, and that would con tribute $1.5 million to Perquimans County. Board members expressed reluctance to committ major maintenance funds to the two story portion of the county high school in hopes that its future is a short one. "If that's our priority, maybe we ought to think in that direction and do some planning," said Winslow. Board member 'Flutch' Dail said that more funds need to be committed to maintaining structures already in existence in Perquimans County. ?"Otherwise, they'll say, 'Why are you going to build something if you won't take care of what you've got," said Dail. In another fiscal matter, Harrell said that teacher salaries are climbing in North Carolina, and are beginning to compare favorably with other states. Hence, teachers are changing jobs less frequently. Part two of a two part series Younger students respond well to authority in the classroom Older Perquimans County youth are subject to a series of school rules that ? resemble public laws in that punishment ? for each offense is clearly spelled out. The demerit system, which is the back bone of discipline at Perquimans County High School, is also used at the county's junior high school. Both principals consider the policy to be a satisfactory means of controlling student behavior. Perquimans Union School principal G&ry Stubbins described the demerit policy as "quite effective for this par ticular school." Although the policy is basically the same as that which is enforced at the high school, there are some discrepan cies. A student at Perquimans Union School, which houses grades 5 through 8, can recieve one demerit for such offenses as tardiness, unauthorized use of the halls, failure to observe the dress code, ex cessive talking in class, gum chewing, Power companies, election key EMC meeting Robert Fiachbach will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the k member* of the Albemarle Elecric * Membership Corporation, scheduled Oct U at 2 p.m. at Perquimans Count/ High Fischbach is currently executive director Of the public staff of the N.C. Utilities Commission. He served as a commission member prior to his present position. "Mr. Fischbach is well qualified to inform members of the rate differences between Vepco, CP4L, and Duke Power, why the rate differences exist, what projections show rates to be in the future, and the problems in replacing a power supplier with another power supplier," according to the 1M0 .meeting notice supplied to Albemarle Electric mem bers. Three new directors will be elected during the business session, and can didates have already been selected by a nominating committee. District one (Camden County) can didates are Earl Meiggs of Camden and G.H. Canfield of South Mills, district two candidates (Chowan County) include Joseph Byrum of Rt. 1, Tyner and Ronnie L. Sawyer of Rt. 2, Eden ton, and district three (Perquimans County) candidates are Floyd Matthews, Sr., of Rt. 4, Hert ford, and Albert Eure, of Rt. 3, Hertford. Again this year, electrical appliances will be awarded as prises during the meeting. Flood of complaints prompts change The torqutaans County Board of Commissioner* elects Monday to have than quarterly, after a wav. protects over Inaccurate billing doodad __ would pay two *?<=?=-?!? ;?