LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners on Monday revisited its vote from last month to hire Robert Conner as acting tax administrator, but with the same result.
The commissioners voted 5-3 to hire Conner, a 14-year veteran of the county Tax Office, after hearing from County Attorney Gary Locklear that their vote on May 20 was invalid because the four affirmative votes did not constitute a majority of the board, and they failed to poll negative votes.
Raymond Cummings, Roger Oxendine and Faline Dial voted against the hire. Tom Taylor made the motion that was seconded by David Edge, and the motion carried with votes from Pauline Campbell, Lance Herndon and Chairman Jerry Stephens.
Stephens accepted fault for the failed vote in May, and said the commissioners were in agreement for a second vote.
“I take the blame,” Stephens said. “It was unanimous that we retake this vote.”
The sticking point in May was Cummings’ vote, Stephens said. Cummings’ wife, Betsy, currently is serving as interim tax administrator and was a candidate for the job.
“We learned that Commissioner Cummings could vote for or against Robert Conner,” Stephens said. “He could not vote for his wife because of the conflict of interest.”
During the May 20 voter, Edge, Taylor, Campbell and Herndon voted to hire Conner, but there was no show of hands for those against.
Discussion before the vote centered on Conner’s certifications as a tax administrator. County Manager Kellie Blue said the county advertised for a certified administrator, and “Conner is not eligible according to the advertisement.”
Conner will have the acting part of his title removed after receiving certifications from the state.
“You have somebody doing the job now with certifications,” Oxendine said, referring to Betsy Cummings.
“The person we have now is qualified,” Cummings said in support of his wife.
Apparently, the matter was hammered out before the meeting. The commissioners’ 6 p.m. meeting did not begin until almost 6:30 p.m.
“That matter, hopefully, will be closed,” Stephens said.
In other business, the commissioners tabled for a second time a rezoning request on more than 50 acres from highway-commercial to residential-agriculture. The property is located across the road from Seven Hawks subdivision.
Commissioner Oxendine made the motion to table the matter in May also, citing a change of zoning could allow for chicken houses on the land.
County Planner Dixon Ivey said “no chicken houses are planned for the property,” and that people had gotten mistaken information about plans for the land. Century 21 of Lumberton made the zoning request and plans are to develop it for residential use, he said.
That did not satisfy Oxendine, who is a farmer himself. He wanted to know if the rezoning could be limited to residential use only.
Ivey said the owners requested agricultural zoning in the event that the developers are unable to complete their plans for a subdivision.
“If rezoned back, it can be used for any purpose,” Ivey said. “If the residential development falls through, it could fall back to other uses.”
There were at least three homeowners in the audience Monday ready to speak against the rezoning, but no one was present to speak for it.
“I’m uncomfortable about doing something without the representatives here,” Oxendine said. “If they are not here next month, I am going to move on with this.”
In another housing development, the commissioners had no trouble throwing their support behind the Lumbee Tribe’s plan to building affordable housing for the elderly in Rowland.
Lumbee Tribal Administrator Freda Porter asked for and received the county’s support to apply for a federal Community Development Block Grant worth $750,000 to develop the property, including four houses and a community center in the first phase.
The property is located on N.C. 130 next to the former Rowland Motors. The town of Rowland already has given its support, and the approval will cost the county nothing.
“This is the first project by the Lumbee Tribe in the Rowland area,” Porter said. “Affordable housing is badly needed there.”
The commissioners approved a one-year franchise for a new provider of non-emergency medical transportation. Med1 Plus, a locally owned company, will replace Med1, an Atlanta company.
The commissioners delayed a vote on Jerry Woodell for a seat on the Lumbee River Workforce Development board of directors. Woodell, a human resources executive with Campbell Soup, will have to wait while the commissioners get more information.
