Person County BOC discusses EDC oversight, creates Human Services advisory committee and dissolves UDO steering committee

At the July 21 meeting the Person County Board of Commissioners took several governance actions affecting advisory boards and county departments.

Economic development oversight: County staff briefed commissioners on a proposal to change the organizational structure so the Economic Development Commission (EDC) would have authority over the county economic development director. Staff said state statute (general statute 158) allows certain authorities to hire personnel "within limits of appropriated funds" but said questions remain about how budgetary authority would be handled under county budgeting rules. Staff and the county attorney said they were consulting the UNC School of Government and the county’s auditors and recommended more research before a final change. The board asked staff to continue the legal and budgetary review and return at the next meeting with clearer draft bylaws and budget language. Commissioners discussed desired edits to the EDC bylaws, including clarifying that the commission would provide direction to the director in the job summary and adding preferred special certifications to the qualifications.

Human Services Advisory Committee: The board agreed to create a new Human Services Advisory Committee to advise the consolidated Human Services department (social services, veteran services and related programs). Staff presented an example from another county and suggested a five-member advisory body as a starting point. The board directed staff to draft bylaws and a posting for appointments and asked that a draft be returned at the next meeting. Commissioner Royster disclosed a potential employer conflict and the legal counsel said her participation in a vote to create the committee would not be a legal conflict; the board offered accommodations if she preferred to recuse from later votes that posed an actual conflict.

UDO steering committee: Commissioners voted to remove and dissolve the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) steering committee, reasoning that the committee had completed the task for which it was created (drafting a new UDO).

Board members stressed the need to coordinate EDC changes with the budget office and county attorney to ensure compliance with state law and to consult the School of Government before approving final changes. Staff committed to returning with proposed bylaw language, a revised job description, and the auditor/School of Government input before any formal transfer of reporting authority would take place.