June 22, 1965 - 8:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Recessed)

June 22, 1965 - Recessed1 3Fit widthJune 22, 1965The Board of County Commissioners of Johnston County reconvened in special session on June-22, 1965at 800 P M, in the courtroom of the courthouse, for the purpose of meeting with the EconomicsOpportunity Committee, with the following members present,H M Johnson, Chairman, Frank B Holding, Norman C Denning and Jesse H Austin, JrAbsent J D BaileyThe following business was transacted1 Economics 2aortunity Committee ReportMessrs Paul Keller and Quinton K Wall, members of the Economics Opportunity Committee, appointedby the Board on May 28,, 1965 to determine what funds were available to Johnston County under theEconomics Opportunity Program and submit specific recommendations for the Board to follow,, submittedthe following reportJune 22, 1965To the Johnston County Board of CommissionersIn response to your request that we look into the Anti Poverty Program and determine its needand applicability to Johnston County, we are pleased to submit the following reportThe current definition of poverty for purpose of consideration under the Economic Opportunity Pro-gram includes 35 million Americans, 15 million of them children and 70 white The definition is basedon food, rent, other costs, and the size and location of poor families Johnston County has itsshareof poor families The heart breaking lists of Christmas opportunities are merely once-a-year remindersof deplorable conditions which unfortunately do not disappear the day after Christmas These casesrepresent only the worst of the conditions It is now generally accepted that poverty is not merelya matter of-money, but that it affects the attitude and objectives of its victims and therefore becomesself-perpetuating The mind and imagination can be permanently stunted by the absence of stimulationin childhood just as the body can be stunted by the absence of property nutritionQuoting from Community Action Program Guide The purpose of Federal assistance to communityaction programs is to help urban and rural communities to mobilize their resources to combat-povertyBecause community needs and resources differ widely, considerable latitude is allowed in the developmentand conduct of a community action programThe long-range-objective of every community action program is to effect a permanent increase in thecapacity of individuals, groups, and communities afflicted by poverty to deal effectively with their ownproblems so that they need no further assistancePoverty is a condition of need, helplessness, and hopelessness It is rooted in a network of socialills that include inadequate education, unemployment, poor health,, and dilapidated housing To alleviatethem requires a varied and coordinated attack Remedial reading, literacy courses, employment counseling,homemaker services, job development and training, consumer education, vocational rehabilitation, andhealth services are some of the many activities that can be supported and coordinated within a communityaction program to attack povertyWhat are the facts in Johnston County Accordiftg-to a survey by the North Carolina Fund made in1963-4 official sources, our population declined by 3000 from 1950 to 1960 and will very likely declineat an average rate of 500 per year during the,ppriod 1960-1980 Our farm population is shrinking and oursmaller towns are doing so but at a somewhat lower rate Only our larger towns are growing, but not ata rate to offset the shrinkage This indicates a lack of economic opportunity in agriculture Localindustry is not developing rapidly enough to take up the slack This causes our better educated andtrained young people to leave the county for brighter opportunities elsewhereThis is substantiated by a breakdown of income figures We rank 78th in median family income at2,469; 77th in per cent of families with incomes under 3000, with 5860; 92nd in number of familieswith incomes under 3000 with 9023 Only 8 counties had a larger number of such families All of thesefigures indicate a large pool of unskilled labor, emphasizing the loss of skills and training throughemigrationEducationally, we have a very large number and high percentage of adults over 25 with less than 5years of schooling Median years of schooling in 1960 was only 77 Over 20 of our 16 and 17 yearolds were not enrolled in school in 1960The program of adult education now in operation is a beginning, but the problem requires a broadbased attack at all levels,, which is made possible by the Economic Opportunity Program -Not only must we increase our adult educat-Ion program,, but we should undertake a widely based preschool program fordisadvantaged children To this should be added a neighborhood youth corps and job training program,to give potential drop outs a goal, encouraging continuation of schooling, Such job training couldinclude teachers aides, nurses aides,, welfare aides,, recreational aides and many othersI An unemployment rate of 730 in March,, 1962, the date used in the survey and underemployment demon-strated by the fact that of all persons who worked in 1959, 392 worked less than 40 weeks indicatesthe need for adult job training,projects and job opportunities Under the auspices of a community actionprogram a Small Business Development Center could be established to screen loans up to 25,,000 offeringspecial opportunities,to impoverished people4Johnston County is one of the last in the state to take steps toward participation in the EconomicOpportunity Program It should be one of the first Not only does the Federal government pay 90,0fthe cost of programs under this effort, but in addition there are parts of the new Federal EducationBill which must be directed thru a Comm-unity Action Channel It is true that the 9oVo participation isnow promised only until August 1966, at which time it drops to 54, but it is inconceivable politicallythat an effort with this much broad based support and need should be allowed to expire for lack of localfundsThe preferred method of involvment is by establishment of a Community Action Committee, incorporatedas a non-profit corporation This committee must include some elected town and county officials, orboard members and representation from agencies involved with poverty problems,, such as the school andwelfare departments It must also include representation from civic, professional and rural organizat-ions and a representation of the improverished people themselves Minorities should be represented proportionately There must be no odor of discrimination or political preference This broadly basedboard will select an executive committee for effective action The success of the program depends uponthe quality of the Board selectedII The Economic Opportunity Act provides that areas having such oommittees will be given preferencein man power and area development programs Participation in other programs is greatly simplifiedAs soon as the Community Action Committee is incorporated, it becomes eligible for a ProgramDevelopment Grant which would permit the hiring of an Executive and staff as needed These peoplewould assist in the selection of programs and preparation of plans for effective action This executivewould convert to Program Director as activities get underwayIn summary, we believe that the range of ppportunities in education, training and economic develop-ment under this act is limited only by imagination and man power of those undertaking it The EconomicOpportunity Act-encourages local communities to solve local problems with Federal Funds It demandslocal initiative and requires local responsibility We strongly recommend that you take immediate stepstoward its implimentationPaul KellerQ K WallFollowing the reading of-the report by Mr Keller, a question and answer ensued,, which clarifiedthe next step to be taken to satisfactorily launch the programAt the suggestion of Mr Keller, W G Massey, Clerk, was directed to invite Mr Robert Ward,Assistant Co-Ordinator, Economics Opportunity Program, 130 E Morgan Street, Raleigh, N C, to meetwith the members of the Board and the local Economics Opportunity Committee on Tuesday,, July 6, 1965for the purpose of probing further into the program and receiving the benefit of his counsel2 _Salary Howard L StultzDurwood Stallings,, Sanatarian of the Health Department,, requested that the Board reconsider thesalary appropriation of Mr Howard L Stoltz,in order to retain his services in the county, since hehad accepted a position in Craven County at58000 per month, but would remain in the county if hissalary was increased to 52700 per month, representing two steps above the standard rangeAfter a discussion, it was the concensus of the members that no action be taken to increase MrStultzs salary, but that he could continue on at his present salary of,457-00 per month, if he desiredto do so310 Report Boarding Home CommitteeWallace Ashley, Jr, representing W R Britt, County Attorney,, acting as spokesman for the BoardingHome Committee appointed by the Board on May 3, 1965, gave a brief resume of the work the group had doneto date, and also presented rough-draft of lease,, which the Board tentatively concurred inAfter a discussion, the Board requested sted that the Committee continue its work and arrange for theHome to be furnished and ready for occupahe_-y at the earliest possible date4 Lpointment Nathan Lassiter and Wife Operators Boarding HomeMrs Edith Park presented information prepared by Mrs Annie May Pemberton of the State WelfareOffice relative to the five applicants to operate the Johnston County Boarding Home, which is asfollows1 Mrs Louise McGregor Letter has been received approving her applicationto be licensed2 Mr Mrs Williams These people are known by the State Department and haveoperated a satisfactory home in Edgecombe County Theyhave three excellent references They have one daughterfinishing her second year of college This is the out-standing application in terms of references3 Mr Mrs Lassiter Have four good references Application indicates theyhave four childrenranging in age from 3 to 12 This couldpose more staff problems, Their application would be approvedfor licensei4 Mrs Cathel Johnson State Department does not know Mrs Johnson Shesaid nothing about her husband in the applicationShe has two good references, one of these is anexcellent one from her present employero Her applicationwould be approved for license5 Mrs Thelma Sanders Known by State Department Had three references that weregood However, one questioned her financial ability tooperate the homeAfter reviewing the above data, H M Johnson,, Chairman,, proceeded to receive nominations fornzCmtmZ an operator of the Boarding HomeCommissioner Norman C Denning moved that Mr and Mrs Nathan Lassiter, of Smithfield, be selectedto operate the Johnston County Boarding Home,, subject to the terms and conditions of the lease in theprocess of being drafted in its entirety by the County Attorney, and to be executed by the partiestheretoCom missioner Jesse H Austin, Jr seconded the motion, which was carried5 Contracts Johnston County-Smithfield LibraryAfter examining contracts for the Johnston County-Smithfield Library, Jesse H Austin, Jr movedthat Chairman H M Johnson be authorizedand empowered to execute on behalf of the County the follow-ing contracts for the construction of the Johnston County-Smithfield Library, with the firms listedbelow4Clinton Hardware CompanyClintonPlumbing 9,56o•ooFinch Electrical CompanyRdleighElectrical363,330-00Stahl Rider, IncRaleighHeating and AC49,45o00Rogers Construction CoSmithfieldGeneral Contract237,738-00TOTAL333,07800Commissioner Frank B Holding seconded the motion,which was aarried6 Transfer of Funds from Contingent FundUpon the recommendation of W H Britt, Auditor, Commissioner Frank B Holding moved that 14,250be appropriated from the contingentfund and transferred to the following accounts for the purpose ofcovering expenditures incurred in said accountsElection Accounts 1110000Renovation of County Buildings 12,,00000Courthouse Repairs ­1215000TOTAL 14,250-00Commissioner Jesse H Austin, Jr seconded the motion, which was carried7 Provision for Adjustment Salary Ranges Health and Welfare Dep,axtmentsW H Britt, Auditor, presented letter from Mr Claude E Caldwell, Merit System Supervisor,which voiced primarily exception to the salary range adopted by the Board on June 2,, 1965 for pro-fessional employees of the Health and Welfare Departments, which did n ©t compare favorably with otherprofessional groupsAfter a discussion, Commissioner Frank B Holding moved that Commissioner Austin be authorizedand directed to represent the Board in working out a satisfactory salary range for the differentclasses in the Welfare and Health Departments with the Merit System Council-Commissioner Norman C Denning seconded the motion, which was carried­Schoo,of­ grixer8 Approval,_ ,A pApproval was given for C W Tarlton, County Extension Chairman, Ed Yancey,, Associate CountyAgricultural Agent, and Mary Alice Th omas, Associate Home Economics Agent, to attend summer schoolat State College for a period of three weeksOn motion made, seconded and carried, the meeting was adjourneda?r k­ChairmanCl