Minutes - Dec. 3, 2012 Regular Meeting

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BK - 00025 PG Aye: Dalrymple, Frazier, Parks, Reives, Shook, Smith, and Womack Nay: None The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted unanimously. The Board considered a Resolution to Transfer School Resource Officers to the Lee County Sheriff. Commissioner Womack stated that Lee County is one of only ten or so counties in North Carolina still using a special policing organization to provide school safety. In the vast majority of counties, a local police force or sheriff's office performs this function in coordination with the school system. Mr. Womack further stated the Lee County Sheriff's office has the skills, expertise, and training to prepare and manage school safety officials. The Sheriff, himself, was formerly a School Resource Officer and is very familiar with all requirements. Moving the SROs from the direct supervision of the high school and /or middle school principals should free those staff from the burden of directing law enforcement tasks and providing management oversight of their SROs, leaving those tasks to the Sheriff who is much better trained and equipped for those responsibilities. Commissioner Womack moved to approve the Resolution to Transfer School Resource Officers to the Lee County Sheriff. Sheriff Tracy Carter stated he could use the seven SROs during the summer to help his department with patrolling. He has not talked with the City or school personnel in reference to this matter. Commissioner Dalrymple stated she would like to see the matter tabled until the school system could be notified and the matter discussed with them. Commissioner Reives stated he wants to allow others to speak on the matter before a decision is made. After further discussion, Commissioner Reives moved to amend the motion to delay the matter until the January 7 th meeting. Upon a vote of the amended motion, the results were as follows: Aye: Dalrymple, Frazier, and Reives Nay: Parks, Shook, Smith, and Womack The Chairman ruled the amended motion failed with a four to three vote and therefore the motion passed to approve the Resolution to Transfer School Resource Officers to the Lee County Sheriff, a copy of which is attached to these minutes and by this reference made a part hereof. The Board considered a request to approve additional Family Planning Funds to the Health Department that had been pulled from the Consent Agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Health Director Terrell Jones stated the $7,404.00 awarded by the Division of Public Health would be used to help support the Coalition for Families of Lee County for their Sister Love Program through the Health Departments Family Planning Program. The Board of Health approved the acceptance of these monies at their November meeting. Commissioner Womack stated he would like an update on what the Sister Love Program did. After further discussion, Commissioner Womack moved to approve the acceptance of $7,404.00 in additional Family Planning Funds to the Lee County Health Department as presented. Upon a vote, the results were as follows: Aye: Dalrymple, Frazier, Parks, Reives, Shook, Smith, and Womack Nay: None The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted unanimously. The Board considered a Resolution in Support of Requiring Voter Identification Prior to Voting in Local Elections. Commissioner Womack asked the Board to consider a Resolution to support North Carolina General Assembly legislation for voter identification of all voters in future elections. Mr. Womack stated that currently, North Carolina does not require standardized identification of each voter when casting his /her ballot at the polls. Each voter is only required to produce a photo identification