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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19640302336 Minutes of the Board of County Commissioners March 2, 1964 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, March 2, 1964, at 10:00 o'clock A.M., in the Orange County Agricultural Building Auditorium. Members present: Chairman Donald Stanford, Commissioners Harvey Bennett, Gordon Cleveland, Carl M. Smith, and Henry S. Walker. Members Absent: None The following road petitions were submitted, and the Clerk was authorized to forward same to the State Highway Comm] Sion: 1. Road #1950 2. Ashe Place 3. Bertram Drive and Shady Lane 4. Road #1101 5. Road x¢1517, #1506, #1508 A discussion arose concerning the participation of Burch Compton, Civil Defense Director, in state conferences and meetings. The Board felt that Mr. Compton should attend these affairs and that the expense of such events should not have to be underwritten by Mr. Compton from his personal funds. The County Administrator was requested to di.acuss.this matter with Mr. Compton and to make a report concerning same at the next regular meeting. Chairman Stanford presented the following schedule of various meetings, pertinent to local government matters, to be held during the month of March, 1964: Meeting Boar of EgnAlization & Review and property inspection tour District Commissioners Meeting N. C. Legislative Committee Place Commissioners Room Courthouse Sheriffs' Training Center Wentworth, N. C. Time March 16, 1964 10:00 A. M. March 71, 1964 10:00 A.M. Institute of Government Chapel Hill, N. C. Chairman Stanford appointed Commissioner Smith and the County Administrator to formulate plans for a program of recognition and/or letters to all Orange County industries in observance of Industry Appreciation Week, April 12--April 18, 1964, which will later be so proclaimed by Governor Sanford. This committee is to work with the Hillsboro and Chapel Rill Chambers of Commerce in this endeavor. The following department offici.als.:presented reports for the month of February, 1964: Jim Wight, Welfare Director Thomas E. Bivi.ns, Veterans Service Officer E. M. Lynch, Clerk of Court Betty June Hayes,. Register of Deeds Jim Wight, Welfare Director, brought to the attention of the Boar, for their consideration, the fact that the Board has the authority to increase the Welfare Board from the present three man Boar to a five man Board. Mr. Wight presented his opinions in favor of and against this matter. Discussion ensued and action was deferred. Mr. Wight also reminded the Board that the term of Alex McMahon, Welfare Board member, will expire on July 1, 1964. Mr. Wight presented the following.to the Board: AID TO THE BLIND AGENDA . - •March 2, 1964 FIRST TERUNSTIONS Name Effective Date Amount Reason Mte l Hall 4-1-64 No nger visually eligible REVISIONS John R. Thomas 4-1-64 ? $ -00 to $50.00 Increased Medical expenses & inclusion of an amount for laundry Frank Woods 4-1-64 $20.00 to $68.00 In clusion of wife in assistance Budget. Dr. Hubert Patterson, proposed Orange County Medical Examiner, was present and presented his views on how the Medical Examiner Program should be carried out in Orange County. The contract for the Eno Fins District was presented to the Board by Chairman Stanford. The County Administrator advised the Board that the Eno Fire District had requested-that-all. payment previously allocated to them by the Orange County Board of Commissioners be deferred until July 1, as the District wants to bring their department up to the criteria set forth in the County contract. 337 Upon motion of Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Cleveland, the following contract was unanimously adopted: RESOLUTION OF TIE BOARD OF COUNTY COWSSIONERS OF ORANGE COUNTY PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMSUI OF THE ORANGE COUNTY FIRE COMMISSION AND PROVIDING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN FIRE DEPARTM TTS OF THE COUNTY Whereas, G. S. 153-9(39) empowers a board of county commissioners to provide for the organization,. equipment, maintenance, and government of fire companies and fire departments, and Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County is of the opinion and has found and determined that it is for the best interest and necessary for the protedtion of the citizens of said county and their property (a) to encourage and financially aid in the equipment, maintenance, and government of fire departments in the county in order that these departments can protect public school buildings and other county buildings, as well as homes and other property, in the rural areas of the county, (b) to establish a protective fire fighting organization to work with and to supplement the Orange County Civil Defense Organization, and (c) in general to provide for the more adequate and efficient protection of life and property in the rural areas of Orange County and to provides trained body of men to assist the urban areas of the county in case of emergency; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: Section 1. There is hereby created the Orange County Fire Commission to be composed of three members as follows: (a) One member of the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, to be appointed by the said board and to be known as the Fire Commissioner. (b) An active volunteer fireman, who shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. (c) A member at large who shall be a citizen of orange County and who shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. As Boca as possible after the adoption of this resolution, the Board of County Commissioners shell appoint the members of the Fire Commission. These members will serve until the first Monday in December following the adoption of this resolution. Thereafter, on each first Mamday in December, appointments will be made to the Fire Commission for terms of one year. The Fire Commissioner shall be the chairman of the commission, and the commission shall choose its own secretary. The duties and powers of the Commission shall be as specified in this resolution, and the Commission shall make rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution. The Commission shall, from time to time, review the provisions and requirements contained in this resolution, and it shall recommend to the Board of County Commissioners amendments or changes which the Commission may deem advisable. Section 2. Beginning with the first day of the first month following the adoption of this resolution, Orange County will offer financial assistance for the maintenance and operation of any fire department qualifying for financial assistance under the terms of this resolution, in the amount of $ monthly, payable on or before the tenth day of each month. The monthly payment to each depasme "? shall be used for the purchase and maintenance of equipment and for the operation of the department. No individual fireman or group of firemen shall individually receive any pay or rAmunera- tion from the monthly payment herein provided for services rendered as volunteer firemen. Section 3. A rural volunteer fire department, or a municipally-operated fire department, desiring financial assistance under this resolution, shall make application therefor to the Board of County Commissioners. Upon receipt of such application, the said board will notify the Fire Commission, and the commission shall inspect the fire department, its equipment, personnel, organ- ization, and method of operation. As soon thereafter as possible, the commission shall file a written report with the board signi:ying whether such department meets the minimum standards herein contained. If the department does meet minimum standards, the board shall approve the application and the department shall be eligible for the monthly payment beginning the first of the following month. Section 4. The Fire Commission shall make regular inspections of each fire department receiving payments under this resolution. At least one inspection shall be made annually, but the commission may make such other inspections as it deems advisable. During the course of any such inspection, the Fire Commission shall determine whether the department is continuing to meet the minimum standards as here in specified, and the findings of the commission shall be reported to the Board of County Commissioners. Section 5. If during any inspection by the Fire Commission, the commission determines that the fire department is not meeting mini== standards as set forth in this resolution, notice of deficiency must thereupon be given in writing by the Fire Commissioner to the fire chief and at least two members of the department. This notice shall specify, that a period of fifteen days shall be allowed to correct the deficiencies. At the end of the fifteen day period, an inspection shall be made by the Fire Commissioner to determine if the deficiencies have been corrected. If the deficiencies have not been corrected, the Fire Commissioner shall notify the Board of County Commissioners, and the monthly payments shall cease until such time as the department shall meet the minimum standards of this resolution. Thereafter, when the fire department is of the opinion that it is again meeting the standards, it shall again apply for financial assistance in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 above. 338 If the deficiency occurs in a department which has previously met the requirements of the North Carolina Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, the Fire Commissioner shall notify the bureau as to the conditions that exist in the department causing the deficiency. Section 6. Each fire department desiring to qualify for financial assistance under this resolution shall meet the following minimum standards: (a) A rural volunteer fire department shall, be incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina. A municipal fire department shall be organized under an ordinance of the governing body of'.the incorporated city or town. (b) Each fire department shall have a fire chief, an.assistant fire chief, and other necessary officers and men, with a minimum of nineteen active members. A list of all members and their addresses and telephone numbers must be given to the Fire Commissioner on or before January 1 of each year. (c) All active members of a fire department in good standing shall have some identification, such as a card, badge, hat, or car plate to identify them as "bona fide firemen." No one other than an active member of the department in good standing shall be allowed to have this identification in his possession. (d) Each fire department shall have as minimum equipment that equipment specified by the North Carolina Fire Insurance Rating Bureau as necessary for Grade 9-A Communities. The equipment shall be kept in good condition and operative at all times. The Fire Commission shall have authority to accept 'minor deviations from the specified equipment, when such minor deviations will not affect the ability of the department to fight fires. (e) Each department shall carry liability insurance on its firemen and equipment, leaving the county free from any responsibility for damages or claims resulting from the activities of its fireman or from the operation of its equipment. Each department shall also carry workmen's compensa- tion insurance on its active members, in order to provide those members with the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Act. (f) Each fire department shall carry out an organized training program, which shall be specified by the Fire Commission. The training program shall include the training and qualifying of fire truck drivers. Each department shall participate in a.minimum of one drill each month, and each firs truck shall be operated at least once each week. (g) The fire chief of each department is responsible for stressing "safty" throughout the department and throughout all phases of the department's activities. Emphasis shall be placed on the safe driving of the firemen's own automobiles to the scene of the fire, as well as on safe practices while fighting a firm. Only qualified drivers shall drive the fire truck, and the names of qualified drivers shall be posted at the fire station and furnished to the membership of the department. Drivers shall drive with caution at all times, and they shall allow no one but active members of the fire department to ride the track when it is on call to a fire or to other emergency. (h) A proporly manned telephone shall be available at all times during the day and night to receive fire alarms and notify members of the fire department in the event of fire or other emergency. Each member of the fire department shall be furnished a copy of the names and telephone numbers of all departments within the county, and each department shall maintain an up-to-date list of the names and telephone numbers of all members of each department within the county. An electric siren or air horn shall be mounted within the community for the adequate notification df all firemen, and it shall be installed so that it can be operated from a public place and so that it will be audible to a majority of the active members of the department. (i) Each fire department shall respond to the call of the Fire Commissioner. It shall be the duty of the Fire Commissioner to take such steps as are necessary to make sure, in the event of such a call, that the district of a.department answering a call shall not be left unprotected. (j) The fire chief within whose area the fire is being fought will be the final authority at the scene of the fire, or where a fire occur, in an area outside of the area of any organised department, the fire chief of the department first arriving at the scene of the fire shall he the final authority. A fire chief, otherwise responsible, may grant permission to another person more qualifieu to assume the direction of fighting the fire, or dealing with the emergency, if such other person is willing to accept the responsibility. In such cases, other persons working under the direction of the fire chief shall be immediately informed of the change of authority. (k) The fire chief, or the senior officer of the department having responsibility presont at the scene, shall make a full investigation of each fire to determine, if possible, the cause of the fire. If any evidence of arson develops, the Fire Commissioner, and other local and state authorities, shall be notified. (1) All fire chiefs are responsible for keeping adequate and accurate records of all fire cal]s,as well as other records and reports that may be required. A regulation fire record book shall be maintained by each department. The fire chief will also be responsible for filing with the Fire Commission any additional reports which are required by the Fire Commission or by the North Carolina ?ire Insurance Rating Bureau. (m) Each department shall designate a traffic section, composed of at least one captain and three members, who shall be trained in the proper handling of traffic. Section 7. The various fire departments in the county shall, by mutual agreement, determine the areas in which each will give basin fire protection, and within which each Will solicit funds. Any disagreements shall be resolved by the Fire Commission. For those departments which may be approved for insurance rate reductions, the area of basic fire protection shall be determined with reference to the requirements of the North Carolina Fire Insurance Eating Bureau. Section 8. Each incorporated fire department desiring to qualify for county financial assistance under the terms of this resolution shall agree in the application. for financial assistance to meet the standards contained in this resolution, and such application shall be signed by the president of the corporation, the secretary of the corporation, and the fire chief of the department. Fach municipality desiring to provide fire protection to property outside its corporate limits and qualify for county financial assistance under the terms of this resolution shall agree to the standards contained in this resolution by proper action of the governing board, and the mayor, clerk of the municipality, and the fire chief shall sign the application for financial assistance wherein the municipality agrees to meet these standards. Section 9. Each fire department shall prepare an annual budget, providing for the receipt and .expenditure of county assistance and other income and revenue. A copy of the budget shall be presented to the Fire Commissioner in July of each year. Section 10. Whenever a fire department has met the requirements of the North Carolina Fire Insurance Eating Bureau, for providing fire protection to a Grade 9-A or Grade 94A Community, a fire district may, upon application by the fire department, thereupon be designated by the Board of County Commissioners. The boundaries of the district will be fixed according to the requirements of the Fire Insurance Rating Bureau. Adopted this the 2nd day of March, 1964. The following persona were appointed to serve as members of the Orange County Fire Commission until December 7, 1964: Henry Walker Louis Tetterton George Gilmore Since the April 20, 1964 Term of CriminalGourt was not scheduled, and jurors had already been drawn for this•term, the Clerk was authorized to use these jurors for the March 39, 1964 term of Civil Court. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned to meet again Wednesday, March 4, at 8:00 o'clock P.M., in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse in Hillsboro, N. C., with Dr. Hubert Patterson, Sheriff C. D. Knight, and Allen Walker, Jr., Coroner, to discuss the Medical Examiner Program. Donold Stanford Chairman Betty June Hayes, Clerk