Northampton County approves joining local reentry council; final MOU to receive legal review

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners voted to participate in the Halifax–Northampton Local Reentry Council and to administer related grant funds through county systems, with the memorandum of understanding to be finalized subject to legal review.

County officials said the county would receive grant funds, pay vendor invoices through the county’s systems and retain an administrative portion to cover fiscal oversight. “I would ask that that final MOU be approved subject to a final legal review,” said Mr. Phillips, a county staff member who participated in the reentry discussion.

Commissioners discussed operations and staffing. County staff stated the reentry partner would hire and manage case managers and other program staff; those employees would be processed through the county’s payroll/administration systems, but hiring responsibility would remain with the reentry program. Commissioners were told the county would not be required to provide matching funds for the grant.

The county noted an administrative fee estimated at roughly $33,000 that could be used to reimburse the county for fiscal work or, at the board’s option, to pay for a part-time position dedicated to grant administration. Commissioners asked that details of the executed MOU be returned for legal review and final approval before signatures.

A motion to join the local reentry council and accept the program as presented (with final MOU review) passed on a voice vote; those present responded “aye” and the chair declared the motion carried.

The board moved oversight of the reentry program to county administration and asked staff to return the final MOU to the board after legal review. The board did not set a separate local funding commitment beyond the administrative reimbursement described during the discussion.