Minutes - Dec. 3, 2012 Regular Meeting

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BK - 00025 PG and proof of residence upon registering to vote and then by only stating his /her address when voting. Mr. Womack stated that each of our neighboring states requires positive identification of each voter at the polls. He stated there are loopholes in the process for registering voters, including scenarios in which a person can be added to the voter rolls without actually producing photo identification. As a result, voter confidence is diminished and the potential for abuse or fraud is elevated. The General Assembly is expected to take up legislation to require Voter ID early in the upcoming session. Commissioner Womack moved to approve the Resolution as presented, a copy of which is attached to these minutes and by this reference made a part hereof. Commissioner Frazier stated he would like to see the Resolution tabled for further discussion. After much discussion, and upon a vote of Commissioner Womack's motion, the results were as follows to approve the Resolution as presented: Aye: Parks, Shook, Smith, and Womack Nay: Dalrymple, Frazier, and Reives The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted by a four to three vote. The Board considered a Resolution for Reform of the North Carolina (K -12) Public Education System. Commissioner Womack presented and moved to approve a Resolution to Support Legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly to reform public schools for better educational outcomes. Mr. Womack stated that North Carolina public schools continue to lag national performance averages on college aptitude and placement testing. Half the graduates of North Carolina high schools attending community college require costly remediation in reading, writing, and /or math before they are prepared to take credit - bearing courses towards a college education. He further stated the state's "one size fits all" approach to public education is failing the 20% of students who do not graduate and those that graduate only to find their fundamental skills are lacking on entering college or the workforce. The General Assembly has a number of education reforms in mind for the upcoming session. Among the more highly publicized reforms are increased interventions for grades one through three students; elimination of teacher tenure; provision for merit or performance pay; and reducing the size of the bureaucracy in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Future reforms may include expanded education grants for privately schooled students and tax deductions for private schooling. After discussion, Commissioner Dalrymple stated she would like to see the matter tabled for further study. Commissioner Reives stated he wanted to hear from those dealing in education as to how this would affect them. Upon a vote to approve the Resolution, a copy of which is attached to these minutes and by this reference made a part hereof, the results were as follows: Aye: Parks, Shook, Smith, and Womack Nay: Dalrymple, Frazier, and Reives The Chairman ruled the motion had been adopted by a four to three vote. At this time the Board took a short recess. Upon returning from recess, with all members present, the meeting resumed. The Board considered reorganization of the Environmental Affairs Board with a new Environmental Review Advisory Committee. Commissioner Womack discussed with the Board the dissolving of the Environmental Affairs Board in favor of an Environmental Advisory Committee that more directly serves the Lee County Board of Commissioners and County staff needs. Mr. Womack stated this matter was for discussion only at this time. The present Board has provided a valuable service to Lee County citizens for nearly 25 year, during which time there has been little change in its charter and tasks. With Lee County now on the verge of major new industrial developments in the highly technical and complex energy fields, of Horizontal Drilling for Natural Gas and Biofuels, the t: