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Cumberland County approves Safe Baby Court grant and small pay supplement after split vote
Summary
The Cumberland County Commission accepted a $100,000 Safe Baby Court grant and approved a $2,910 supplement for the Youth Services Director to serve as supervisor, carrying the measure 10–4 after debate over supplement pay and workload.
Cumberland County commissioners voted 10–4 on Feb. 17 to accept a $100,000 state grant to establish a Safe Baby Court program and to pay a $2,910 supplement to the county Youth Services Director to serve as the court supervisor.
The vote followed a discussion in which Commissioner Tom Isham said he opposed using county funds to provide supplemental pay to a county employee. Commissioner Deborah Holbrook, who moved the measure and was seconded by Commissioner Joseph Sherrill, said the program is state-sponsored and that other rural counties include similar differentials in their budgets.
Judge Amanda Worley, who described the program’s structure, told the commission the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Department of Children’s Services and the Department of Mental Health oversee the Safe Baby Court grant. She said the grant focuses on children who remain under court supervision with parents or relatives rather than children placed in foster care, and that the program requires a supervisor separate from the judge. Worley said the supervisor would track Safe Baby Court expenses and budgets, facilitate child-and-family team meetings, attend quarterly stakeholder meetings and that the role is likely to include after-hours work.
Commissioner Isham cast one of four no votes, saying the supplement represented an exceptional payment to a county employee when such incentives have not previously been standard. The record lists Commissioners Wiley Potter, Sue Ann York, Karen Shanks, Darrell Threet, David Gibson, Wendell Wilson, Joseph Sherrill, Mark Baldwin, Greg Maxwell and Deborah Holbrook as voting yes; Commissioners Tom Isham, Jack Davis, Terry Lowe and Jerry Cooper voted no.
The motion approved a one-time or specified pay supplement in the amount of $2,910 for the Youth Services Director, to be paid from the general fund as part of the grant implementation budget. The commission did not specify any ongoing salary adjustments beyond the approved supplement.
The commission approved the measure by roll call and then continued with remaining agenda business. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 P.M.; minutes were approved for entry March 16, 2026.
