Halifax County supervisors approve $135,000 forensic review and authorize Premier Group contract tweak after closed session

Halifax County Board of Supervisors voted to certify a recent closed session and approved several steps aimed at addressing identified financial shortfalls, including hiring an outside firm for a forensic review and allowing a contract modification with Premier Group tied to new information from a voluntary assistant.

Vice Chair Smart moved that the board "authorize the County Administrator to engage Berkeley Group" to address forensic-investigation recommendations, specifically to review and update the personnel and policy procedures manual, develop information-technology and financial policies, and carry out a finance-department assessment. The motion included a funding estimate of $135,000 and authority for the County Administrator to shift that cost among fiscal years as needed; Supervisor Oaks seconded the motion. The board approved the measure by a 7-1 roll call vote, with Supervisor McDow recording the lone no vote.

In a separate action, the board voted 5-3 to delegate signatory authority to the County Administrator to approve a modification to Halifax County's contract with Premier Group. Vice Chair Smart moved the authorization, saying the modification should be "based solely on additional information provided resulting from Ms. Stephanie Jackson's voluntary assistance." During the discussion the dollar amount for that modification was presented as either $37,692 or $42,692, with the $5,000 difference reflecting the additional cost if Premier Group personnel travel to Halifax County; the board left the final determination to the County Administrator's discretion.

A related motion to have Premier Group continue an unfinished audit into a previously mentioned $262,000 discrepancy was brought by Supervisor Claiborne and seconded by Supervisor McDow. The board took a roll call on that motion; the recorded votes show Supervisors Riddick, McDow and Claiborne voting yes and the chair plus four other supervisors voting no, producing a 3-5 result and failing to advance expanded audit work.

The board also adopted a resolution certifying the closed session by an 8-0 vote earlier in the meeting.

The actions leave the County Administrator with delegated authority to execute the Berkeley Group agreement and to finalize the Premier Group contract modification. The board did not adopt the separate motion to expand Premier Group's audit into additional financial transactions; no further vote was taken on that item before adjournment.