Commissioners approve employment contract for court coordinator after questions about $75,000 term

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 3 to approve an employment agreement for Kimberly Bain to serve as a court coordinator.

County Attorney Rick Moorefield told the board the employment agreement attached to the agenda had been discussed previously in closed session and that the contract’s terms were set out by the senior resident superior court judge. Moorefield said the agreement is an employment contract (not a personal-services contract) and that it would be reviewed for legal sufficiency.

Commissioner Don (first name not stated on the record) Adams said he reviewed the materials and raised concerns about transparency and whether the duties described in the contract supported the $75,000 payment. Adams said the previous personal-services contract had been invalid and that the board needed to ensure this agreement would withstand legal scrutiny and not expose the employee to a potential repayment obligation. Moorefield pointed to Section 5 of the agreement, which he said defined duties tied to the speedy disposition of cases involving drug offenses, domestic violence and other offenses involving threats to public safety and noted that the employee would report to the senior resident superior court judge and not be subject to county control over the method of performance.

Vice Chair Sheryl Jones moved to approve the employment contract; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board chair said he would review the contract to ensure execution only after legal sufficiency and pre-audit approvals were on file.

Procedural note: the motion approved the employment agreement as presented; the contract will be subject to legal sufficiency review and pre-audit before final execution.