Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 3, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volumt 52, Wo. 24 USPS 4M-?0 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Wednesday, July 3,1M5 25 CENT) Proposed county budget rejected Commissioners split vote on FY 85-86 budget By JANE B. WILLIAMS Perquimans County Commis sioner Wayne Winslow proposed a change in the county's Fiscal Year 1985- '86 budget Monday morning that would potentially cut the county's projected tax levy by two-cents to 66-cents per $1,000.00 property valuation. Winslow proposed to the board that the tentative budget be changed, cutting proposed salary increases for county em ployees by two and one-half per cent, a request for additional funds by the Perquimans County Library by 50-percent, and an increase requested by the Perquimans County Parks and Recreation Department by 50-percent. Winslow also advo cated dropping $30,000.00 from the Perquimans County Board of Education budget. In a special budget meeting held last week, Winslow had suggested these cuts, but did not present them in the form of a motion. Winslow commented at that meeting that he would like to see the Uuc levy cut two-cents somewhere, but he didn't know where. Winslow later stated that he didn't make a motion at that meeting because he felt that "there was no support behind it at the time. After Monday's meeting Winslow stated that he was "very disappointed in the bud get meeting" held last Tuesday night, "because no action was taken." He went on to say that "it was hard with so many peo Child seat belt law enacted On July 1, a new state law took effect which requires all children in a motor vehicle who are younger than three years of age be secured in an approved safety seat. ; Three, four and five-year-olds must at least be wearing seat belts. Drivers who break the law are subject to pay a $25 fine or bear the guilt for having con tributed to the death or injury of a child. , Caswell Center's First Setp Project urges you to obey the Child Passenger Restraint Law. Car, safety seats for children do work, according to state Highway Patrol statistics. From 1962 to 1964, 33 children aged three and younger who were not riding in safety seats died from injuries received in motor vehi cle crashes. During the same period, two children riding in safety seats died in accidents. One child was placed in the seat improperly. The other was involved in an accident judged unsurvivable. Give your young passengers a fighting chance and don't start the engine until everyone under age six is strapped in. It's the law. pie there asking questions. I wish we could have closed work sessions, but we can't. We could get more done." Winslow's proposal on Mon day came after a meeting on Sunday with Commissioner Thomas Nixon. Winslow said he was con tacted by Nixon and asked if he was serious about getting the two-cents off. After the two met on Sunday, Winslcrw said that they came up with basically the same thing that he had sug gested. Winslow also added that prim* to Monday's meeting Nixon went to see County Fi nance Officer Durwood Reed and Superintendent of Schools Pat Harrell before the idea was presented to the board. After Winslow presented his motion on Monday it was pointed out by Reed that it takes $23,900.00 to take one-cent off the tax levy. Reducing the Board of Education's budget would relieve the tax burden by one-cent, but there would have to be a larger cut than salaries, recreation dept. budget and li brary budget to constitute the other penny. Members of the board then discussed a 66-cents tax levy for FY 85-96, which began at mid night on July 1, that would take one-half cent off from general assistance, one-cent off the Board of Education budget and the other one-half cent from sal ary increases, recreation dept. increases and library increases. Commissioner Lester Simpson said, "I hate to see our employ ees cut. If this county's got enough money to start new pro grama, we ought to be able to give our employees a raise. You July Fourth festivities slated for Missing Mill Park The Perquimans County Jaycees and Jaycee Women have once again begun to set the stage for a fabulous July Fourth Celebration at Missing Mill Park in Hert ford. Plans for the event include activities for the entire family, with a fireworks demonstration over the Perqui mans River scheduled to end the evening. The events will get underway at 3:00 p.m. with games, food and fun. Later in the evening there will be a gospel sing and a community-wide worship service. Concessions will be available throughout the evening, offering barbecue sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs, snacks and soft drinks. Everyone is invited to come out and share in the festi vities to help make the celebration a success. Tentative Schedule for July 4th Miming Mill Park Grubb St., Hertford 3:06 P.M. Boatridea touring waterfronts Hertford and Wtnfall Dunking Booth Games for Children 34egged race, egg toss and more f# Bingo for Adults Concessions ' Bar-B Q, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs ;i 5:30 P.M. Pie in the face Auction 6:30 P.M. Gospel Singing -*:30 P.M. Church Services with Rev. Thomas Biggs Interlude Fireworks alter dark SPONSORED BY JAYCEES AND JAYCEE WOMEN zm \i ? haven't cut the Sheriff's De partment or the welfare depart ment, but you've cut the two lit tlest department's we've got." A motion by Winslow to adopt the budget with a tax levy at 66 cents was approved by the board, with Commissioners Winslow, Nixon, and William Wray Chappell voting in favor. Commissioner Simpson opposed the motion. Welly White, chairman of the board, will ?ign the new budget ordinance after it is completed by Reed later this week by the agreement of the board. Citizens speak out after commissioner's disclosures From Staff Reports "I voted for him the first time, but I couldn't vote for him again." This statement was one of the numerous comments made after reports from local citizens began to circulate that County Commissioner Thomas Nixon took a copy of the coun ty's proposed budget to a local establishment and discussed with patrons the salaries of county employees. Nixon reportedly followed through on a remark made at an earlier meeting of the Per quimans County Commissioners during a discussion on the coun ty's FY 85-86 Budget when he said, "Boys, give me the budget and a pair of scissors and I'll take it out to (a local eatery) and lay it on the table and those boys will show you how to cut it. That's where it's going to be de cided anyway." (The name of the county es tablishment, as well as that of the owner are omitted to protect the business' interests.) Wayne Layden, a Beech Springs resident, confirmed re ports that Nixon took a copy of the proposed county budget, in cluding a list of county employ ees and their salaries, to the es tablishment where be proceeded to name county employees and disclose their individual sala ries. Layden said, "I heard them talking about the budget. When they mentioned Social Services employees salaries it hit home." Layden's wife, Gail, is em ployed as a receptionist with the Perquimans County Department of Social Services. The proprietor of the estab lishment confirmed Layden's reports during a telephone inter view on Monday evening stat ing, "You can take what he (Layden) said for the truth." When questioned about the in cident Commissioner Nixon's only response was, "I ain't say ing yea and I ain't saying nay." Nixon refused further com ment. When asked to comment on Nixon's actions County Commis sioner Chairman W.W. White, Jr. stated, "The budget is public record, and I don't control the decisions of other county com missioners or what they decide to do, because they are elected by the people." When asked if he condoned Nixon's behavior White replied "I wouldn't have done it unless I was asked to by the constituents." A regular patron of the estab lishment when interviewed said, "I swear I was surprised that he called those names, I thought it was terrible." This patron, like many of those interviewed, requested an onymity because of their per sonal and business relationships with Commissioner Nixon. A poll of other county com missioners found similar re sponses of concern over Nixon's actions. Commissioner William Wray ChappeU stated, "I don't know that he did it, but I've heard it. I don't think it would be proper for anyone to do such a thing." Commissioner Wayne Winslow said, "I think Mr. Nixon has done some things that I probably would not have han died that way. But, then we all react differently, and who am I to say that he was wrong?" "The budget was available for anyone who wanted to see it," commented Commissioner Les NIXON ter Simpson. ' "It was at the courthouse." A customer who witnessed the discussion said, "I don't think that's the place to carry on about it. I always thought things like that should be confidential. I know that if I worked for the county I wouldn't have liked it." It should be noted that when the Board of Commissioners dis cuss personnel and payrol it is done in groups by step in creases. Individual employees salaries and other employment information are generally dis cussed behind the closed doors of an executive session. Nixon's refusal to comment on the matter left unanswered the question of why he took the proposed budget to a business establishment. Layden also re ceived no comment when he di rectly questioned Nixon's rea soning behind disclosing the salaries in public. BOE receives word on salary increases By SUSAN HARRIS The salary issue for school board employees has been re solved on the state level, according to Perquimans County Schools Superintendent Pat Harrell. Recent legislation in the Gen eral Assembly granted those certified employees with two or more years of service a 9.6 per cent increase for fiscal 85-86. Beginning salaries will not change, while those certified employees with one to two years of service will receive a 4.8 per cent pay raise. Non-certified personnel are slated for a five percent across the-board increase plus a 4.8 percent step increase. Harrell said it appears that the legislature will approve an $11.4 million appropriation for pilot systems for the career lad der plan. Twelve local teachers participated in a SO-hour state training session required before application to the state far in volvement in the program can be made. Plans are underway for a lo cal training program in teacher effectiveness in preparation for progam implementation. The board was informed of to day's $23,900 budget cut from the current expense fund by the County Commissioners. Harrell said the board made no decision as to how to rework the budget, awaiting word from the state on their allocation. The board approved a $2,298.57 payment to architect Sam Ashford for the coats of specifications and drawings on the construction-renovation pro ject at the high school. Bids will be received on July IS at 3 p.m. for the project. Joan Faye Mansfield was hired as an art teacher for the school system. Harrell apprised the board of the arrival of two new rtisssi school buses last week. All Mir school buses will be dieeel, Har rell said. A request for the ratoase of Robert and Sarah King to the Edeoton-Chowan School system was granted.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 3, 1985, edition 1
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