Bladen County commissioners debate shrinking juvenile council amid quorum troubles

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to shrink the number of at-large members on the county’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) after officials said vacancies were preventing the council from reaching quorum.

Commissioner (unnamed in transcript) reported that the county currently has eight at-large vacancies and that the full JCPC roster is impeding the council’s ability to meet and carry out juvenile-service funding oversight. "We have 8 vacancies," the commissioner said, and recommended reducing the number of public members to make meetings and vetting more practical.

The board reviewed how nominations work: the county forwards names to the JCPC, which vets candidates against program criteria and returns recommendations for appointments. One speaker noted the statutory guidance that a county council "shall consist of not more than 26 members" and that the list of suggested positions is advisory rather than prescriptive.

Commissioners debated cutting at-large seats from eight to four as a practical step to secure quorum while preserving required statutory representation. Several commissioners cautioned that some seats are statutorily designated and cannot be removed; staff said they would review which positions are mandatory before any final change.

After discussion, a motion to reduce at-large membership was made and then a motion to table the item for further review carried. The board directed staff to return with a clarified recommendation identifying which seats are statutorily required and which at-large slots could be removed.

What happens next: staff will prepare a listing of JCPC positions, highlight statutory requirements, and bring a concrete proposal back to the board for a vote. The board did not adopt a permanent change at this meeting.