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Commissioners to discuss consolidation of public health and social services May 18; board members say they were left 'out of the loop'
Summary
County commissioners scheduled an ordinance discussion for May 18 to consolidate public health and social services; Pitt County health officials warned the change would shift personnel systems and hiring authority to the county and several board members said they were not consulted.
Board members and residents at the Pitt County Board of Health meeting on Monday described surprise and concern about a county commissioners' agenda item scheduled for May 18 that would consider an ordinance to consolidate public health and social services.
Wes Gray, Pitt County health director, said language for an ordinance has been drafted and that county staff have scheduled the item for the May 18 commissioners' meeting. Gray outlined the principal governance changes under consideration: "One big thing is... switch from the state personnel system to the Pitt County personnel system," he said, and added that hiring and firing authority for the health director would move from the board to the county manager under the proposed consolidation.
Several board members said they had submitted a letter asking for more information and a comparative analysis but had not received follow‑up. A committee member said for the record that the board's previous requests were not intended as opposition but as a request for a fuller information exchange: "It feels rushed, and out of the loop," the committee member said. A resident who spoke at the meeting said the process appeared to be a unilateral decision by commissioners: "It seems like they made a decision. We're gonna do this and really didn't appreciate or solicit... what the Board of Health thought," the resident said.
Gray said the ordinance could include an effective date (he suggested October 1 as a plausible target) to allow time to form a consolidated human‑services board and transition personnel systems. He also confirmed that county staff (including James Rhodes in the county manager's office) have been coordinating the effort and that the May 18 meeting will be an opportunity for public comment.
Board members asked to receive the draft ordinance when it is published so they can review the proposed language and timeline. The board emphasized it wants more data and a two‑way conversation before a decision affecting governance and staffing authority is finalized.
