[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6590309,"mediaKeyId","5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07","parentId",5594982,"title","Votes at a glance: Northampton County board approves agenda changes and several resolutions; tables budget amendments","audioSeconds",1286,"startMs",253000,"endMs",1539000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07&start=253&end=1539","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07/thumbnail_253000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590309/Northampton-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Northampton-County-board-approves-agenda-changes-and-several-resolutions-tables-budget-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590309-36dc5df895bccb50fad8bdd0b36b5333/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561775&Signature=cclMyrCYHDOFgCYtahLc2u7zAoKC~hU075HB3Su~gunFFM23pSUOIhThcSVYJvw2wpR5gfU2KqS4tNp2n11W9tiSXRpCDgsTw4coOEbWHSLZWcPSJWRH2ARTAQ37ZushdNIHZ-UGCGrHhqXYiJ6EOr2ruQS07lmmcMZLPZnFt5Fd7cmAFHIFubvfLFb-z8xiIMkKYe8tADV0WWL4hJk5GajIQNN2nCXr5rQori9c76r9P~i9zP4Ph0VWh8eFonukrCsp0s5aIYVGwFSsGE1XviB9LF3S1ID-1wdnZakZOY3f89uZPYn7H87teqz50Ln2tUvST57wFFrY5SS2G3yASg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton County","date","2025-08-18T21:57:13Z","article","At the meeting, the Northampton County Board of Commissioners took several routine and formal actions summarized below.

- Agenda amendment: The board voted to amend the agenda to add the Halifax-Northampton Local Reentry presentation (agenda item 19). The chair called for the vote and commissioners signified assent by voice; the motion carried.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which included routine tax department matters and refunds. The motion to approve passed by voice vote.

- Resolution authorizing sale of surplus personal property: The board adopted a resolution authorizing the county manager to sell surplus personal property (office furniture and items listed in an attachment) by private sale after a published notice period of at least 10 days. The motion to approve passed by voice vote.

- Resolution congratulating Northeast Academy boys golf team: Commissioners approved a resolution congratulating the Northeast Academy boys golf team for winning a state championship. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Resolution congratulating RoboJags robotics team (Northampton County High): The board approved a resolution congratulating the RoboJags robotics team for competing at the FIRST Robotics World Championship and earning rookie awards. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Budget amendments: After a lengthy presentation by the finance director, the board voted to table the proposed budget amendments and reclassifications until the Sept. 3 meeting so staff could correct figures and provide a clearer monthly financial report and an item-by-item explanation of audit findings. The motion to table passed with a second and the ayes recorded.

Vote procedure note: Most motions were approved by voice vote; where individual votes were recorded in the transcript, commissioners answered \"Aye.\" The board did not take a final vote on the Local Reentry request; commissioners asked for grant language, an MOU and a proposed RFP before deciding.

Ending: Board staff will supply corrected financial reports and the grant/MOU materials requested by commissioners ahead of the Sept. 3 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Meeting - August 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board amended the agenda to add the Halifax-Northampton Local Reentry presentation, approved the consent agenda and three resolutions (surplus property sale and two congratulatory resolutions), and tabled the budget amendments until Sept. 3; votes were taken by voice and recorded as carried or tabled as noted.","taxTitle","Northampton County, North Carolina","taxId",73549,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590312,"Citizen tells commissioners county attorney billed to prepare meeting minutes since 2014 without formal board authorization",363,453000,816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07&start=453&end=816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07/thumbnail_453000.jpg","/articles/6590312/Northampton-County/North-Carolina/Citizen-tells-commissioners-county-attorney-billed-to-prepare-meeting-minutes-since-2014-without-formal-board-authorization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590312-2a2e403e0326c6c76a7f598495f1547d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561775&Signature=PWrrS~3tFMpxyRqN9V~7-FRFbhFYi2XrrULw7upYTKDbraSN18-EN5xi12HUuBP3T0XxuVk0Rko3nl-Pk~Ggp0GbXQQf7baEfEeT~YmZjj6C3m1oShW5xy5nI2UnYLXUbrUvfOUOeudjqUNaySjfMZ-tz41qlEjIK10R6J1qnp9SQ1nZJc8z2Nv0J145EfOv4dmzQF8owbR-XzT7YADGbvCXGbClEE~SjtqPfISGPGqxhDRfIv2Dw569WPU-Dj983jjfBsxdJH233njXFO4hA8TDmWBAnJ~xfI8qfBHbP8hpmzZNb54HqhzzqhZbK8KdCHwb3fhFPcWTKMuI2wGT4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Northampton County Board of Commissioners meeting, citizen Earl Daniels raised concerns about who prepared the board's meeting minutes and whether the county had formally authorized the county attorney to perform that administrative function.

Daniels said he reviewed the county attorney's contract and the clerk-to-the-board job description and concluded minutes preparation is an administrative duty, not a legal service. He told the board the county attorney has \"periodically since 2014\" prepared meeting minutes and charged the county a rate of $190 per hour, and that Daniels could find no documentation of a board vote authorizing those services.

Daniels also described a period from September 2021 (one of the dates he cited) through July 2025 when the county attorney recorded minutes while the clerk-to-the-board position transitioned. He said county personnel records report that Deborah Gatlin assumed clerk duties on Sept. 23, 2024, and quoted an August 4, 2025, email from the county attorney saying he prepared minutes \"due to lack of experience and turnover in the clerk to the board\" and that \"there is none\" in reference to written documentation authorizing the work.

Daniels asked whether the county had a plan to ensure the clerk's duties would be covered without incurring additional attorney fees and argued that the practice raised questions about oversight and spending of taxpayer dollars. He estimated the county could have saved more than $16,000 in one 7-month interval if the clerk had handled minutes and suggested the county should have trained backup staff to avoid paying attorney rates for administrative tasks.

Why it matters: public records responsibilities and the use of outside counsel for administrative work raise questions about procurement, contract scope and use of public funds. Commissioners did not take formal action in response but the topic was discussed during citizen comment and in later agenda items about records and audit findings.

Ending: The board did not vote on the issue at the meeting. Daniels said he wanted assurance the county will address the matter of delegation and authorization of minutes preparation going forward.","During citizen comments Earl Daniels alleged the county attorney has periodically prepared commissioners' minutes since 2014 at $190 per hour without documented board authorization; he urged the board to clarify duties, contracts and expense approvals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590315,"Finance director presents $7.7 million in budget amendments; commissioners table vote pending corrected figures",2760,3563000,6323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07&start=3563&end=6323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07/thumbnail_3563000.jpg","/articles/6590315/Northampton-County/North-Carolina/Finance-director-presents-77-million-in-budget-amendments-commissioners-table-vote-pending-corrected-figures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590315-86f4971a888aa10a9f4f98483b148617/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561775&Signature=ENToHPDNVwXzmirhaUWlkXWbA6vIWyUNDS934zD4QFJ5wQZutMv0i4yLf4tRLM2xafAXZ~wCCkF9amS9vk59XKDvIzS2QN-JAUAq0izk5-~TCDLPCTv9gALFkcbTIwvTBOhKtjTChg6mVpc7J4SV6VQg1y~eDd3tHYwkZY7~E9lCLEzZ8LOcle-T7NKdxY3QdASfwbcburgrjBDOLTiAlDKaVqk3s4yBy93oVYiFNOi6mcCh7UND1adOZVNYOI6lcjaA9Ym6VE5f9SVN57cNipp9Ui~2v9g0ISEkMu3emDflGVqkKBTRaqSF2OT73IIRIeydvP0xCYUIdvehHV3VwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Director Leslie Edwards told the Northampton County Board of Commissioners she had completed a line-by-line review of the fiscal 2024–25 budget and proposed a set of budget amendments and reclassifications that increase reported revenues by about $7.7 million to align the budget with grants and other awards received during the year.

\"I've been here right at 4 months. Going through every budget, making sure budgets [are] correct based on grants and things like that,\" Edwards said while reading a long list of amendments and fund transfers the county needs to record before auditors complete the fiscal-year closeout.

Key items Edwards listed in the amendment packet included unbudgeted or previously awarded grants that must be recognized in separate funds: an e-911 board grant of $438,264; museum grants of $25,000 and $21,389; a HUD workforce housing grant of $3,000,000; and a North Carolina Department of Public Safety flood mitigation grant that the county placed in a new fund at $300,000. Edwards also described transfers to match capital-outlay budgets for EMS ambulance remounts and building grounds and a loan from the general fund to solid waste of approximately $348,300 to offset lower-than-budgeted solid-waste revenues.

Edwards emphasized that listing a grant in the budget does not mean the funds are already spent. \"Just because these numbers are here does not mean all these funds have been spent,\" she said, noting many grants are state or federal and require separate accounting.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on the size of the proposed amendment package and on fund balances. One commissioner called the aggregate increase \"preposterous\" and questioned whether the county could safely assume additional responsibilities such as acting as fiscal agent for outside grants while the review continued. Edwards said she would provide a more detailed monthly financial report, including departmental line items, outstanding debt and uncollected-tax percentages, at the next meeting.

At the end of the discussion the board voted to table the budget amendments so staff could correct and re-present the figures in a clearer format. A motion to table the package until the board's Sept. 3 meeting passed with a second; commissioners asked staff to produce corrected numbers and a line-by-line explanation of prior audit findings at the next public meeting.

Why it matters: county budgets and the accuracy of audit-related corrective actions affect the county's financial reporting, credit and public accountability. Commissioners said they wanted the revised packet and monthly report before approving the amendments to avoid repeat audit findings.

Ending: The board directed Edwards and county staff to prepare a corrected monthly financial report and a line-by-line review of audit findings for the Sept. 3 meeting; the amendments will be reconsidered after the board reviews the updated materials.","Finance Director Leslie Edwards presented a large set of end-of-year budget amendments and audit corrections totaling about $7.7 million in added revenue lines and reclassifications; commissioners raised questions about accuracy, audit findings and fund balances and voted to table the amendments to the Sept. 3 meeting to get corrected reports.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590318,"Halifax-Northampton reentry council asks Northampton County to serve as fiscal agent for state grant",1450,2073000,3523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07&start=2073&end=3523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594982-7674a9bbc10bd0324d6d083462f7aa07/thumbnail_2073000.jpg","/articles/6590318/Northampton-County/North-Carolina/Halifax-Northampton-reentry-council-asks-Northampton-County-to-serve-as-fiscal-agent-for-state-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590318-e60480a928a6862a74b25a077e9001a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773561775&Signature=iHnuy~ctaDbp5NtcZBFcDWPJcyMSh1hyUGcsq5pAxR9k0om7cQ5khjq7zQbJHgY7xmRusH7Shbsw4YmfR5bIELDEwW4FoTKnUbWsNj1MkpGqlR-yHIpGocZT3OwkPzLJ4yR8P37aQHcsyyjasF4TBUxJyzQNKNhOPBsSVVQNO9XnMDerMeqVynA62G5t8ZqWYUBKRuXI1rZHpfltFKAt9bjsYVhWxJGRg5oPU4KpPzhvYohi2K8FfGAR8K9NVNSXRhuBRfEHJj4FXLcLCBlMlZUPaCq9C1bndik4IUUsnVHQnfyLq04JN-SeaQVxBiOoHJhr3MSzPkqyTu19Zo77mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Orton Perry, chairman of the Halifax-Northampton Local Reentry Council, told the Northampton County Board of Commissioners that the council is seeking Northampton County to serve as its intermediate agency and fiscal agent for a reentry grant that the council expects to be roughly a quarter of a million dollars a year, with about 14% of the award available to the fiscal agent for administrative costs.

\"We're coming to the end of our fiscal year, and we are going to be asked to be reawarded,\" Dr. Perry said, and he asked the county to \"consider being our IA, intermediate agency. You will handle all the fiscal duties. You will receive a 14%—about $33,000—of the quarter of a million dollar grant.\" He told the board the program seeks reimbursement for outlays and that reimbursement typically arrives about 30 days after expenses are submitted.

The council described recent program outcomes to the board as evidence of impact. Dr. Perry said the reentry effort has referred about 150 people and served more than 80, reporting a 99% employment rate for those being served. He also said the council's work had reduced incarceration costs, asserting the program saved both counties about $210,000 over roughly five months: $31,200 for Northampton County and approximately $179,000 for Halifax County.

Why it matters: the Local Reentry Council (LRC) model routes state grant funding through a designated county or other entity that acts as the fiscal agent, handling payroll, invoicing and compliance. If commissioners agree to serve as fiscal agent, Northampton County would temporarily advance funds for payroll and expenses and file for reimbursement under the grant rules.

Board members and staff asked clarifying questions about timing, fiduciary controls and program oversight. County staff said the county would set up a separate program fund and org number to segregate revenues and expenditures; the county manager said reimbursements typically arrive about 30 days after claims are submitted. Dr. Perry said the LRC would handle programmatic hiring and day-to-day operations while the county would act as the fiscal conduit. He identified an existing program office at 339 Roanoke Avenue and said the LRC already operates a coed boarding house and is pursuing an additional boarding-house site serving both counties.

Commissioners requested to review the grant language, the memorandum of understanding and the RFP language before committing. Multiple commissioners said they would like the board to consider a special (call) meeting to vote before the end of the grant period; Dr. Perry and county staff said the grant year ends Aug. 31 and that the council plans to submit an RFP for reaward. Staff agreed to send the draft grant and related documents to the manager and commissioners for review; the board indicated it would consider a call meeting once materials were available.

Dr. Perry also told the board of an upcoming visit by representatives of the T.D. Jakes Foundation and the OWN network, scheduled for Sept. 3, and said the foundation is proposing a larger initiative (the presentation called it a \"$15,000,000 SOP\") that could bring additional attention and resources to reentry work in the region.

The board did not vote on the request at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to supply the grant language, a draft MOU and a proposed RFP. Several commissioners said they would want any final approval to be contingent on review of those documents and confirmation of reporting and compliance safeguards.

Ending note: county staff recommended that if the board moves forward it require review of the grant and the MOU, and to include contractual language that protects the county by delineating allowable expenditures and reimbursement procedures.","Dr. Orton Perry, chair of the Halifax-Northampton Local Reentry Council, asked the Northampton County Board of Commissioners to act as the council's intermediate agency and fiscal agent for a roughly $250,000 annual reentry grant; commissioners requested grant language and agreed to consider a call meeting before the Aug. 31 fiscal-year deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Northampton County board approves agenda changes and several resolutions; tables budget amendments

Citizen tells commissioners county attorney billed to prepare meeting minutes since 2014 without formal board authorization

Finance director presents $7.7 million in budget amendments; commissioners table vote pending corrected figures

Halifax-Northampton reentry council asks Northampton County to serve as fiscal agent for state grant