THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050565
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
No new taxes will be needed to balance this Roanoke Island municipality's general operating budget for 1995-96.
Copies of the proposed budget were released Wednesday night at a regular meeting of the Manteo Board of Commissioners. The panel will hold a budget workshop on May 17, and a public hearing on the proposal will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 7.
``We're holding the line on spending,'' Town Manager Kermit Skinner said. ``We'll have to take $36,000 from our fund balance, but there won't be a tax increase.''
Manteo's property tax rate will remain unchanged at 37 cents per $100 in value. The total proposed budget for 1995-96 is $1.03 million, up from $981,408 in fiscal 1994-95.
In other action Wednesday, the commission heard from citizens who asked for changes they say will lead to greater government accountability.
Sybil Ross asked that the commission consider adopting a policy governing conflicts of interest.
Ross, a member of the newly formed Manteo Residents and Taxpayers for Quality Government, said she was not pointing fingers at any members of the board. However, she contended, a statute setting forth conflict of interest ground rules could avert ``nightmares,'' particularly in land-use decision-making.
Ross said a policy alone will not be enough to safeguard the town against such conflicts.
``Government officials must acquire true dedication to the concept that public office is a public trust,'' Ross said. ``Yet it is clear that situations can and do arise which requires some sort of standard to determine their consistency with the public trust. The great usefulness of a conflict of interest ordinance is in the provision of these standards.''
Another resident, Bob Woody, asked that the commission alter its regular agenda so that the ``Commissioner's Agenda'' portion of the meeting be held earlier so that more citizens can attend.
Woody cited an action taken at a recent meeting, in which a motion was offered to change the traffic pattern on Uppowac Street from one-way to two-way. The motion was made near midnight during the commissioner's agenda, after most residents had gone home. The motion failed, but Woody criticized the way the matter was handled.
``If we want to have true representative government, changes should be made.''
Commissioner Rocky Midgette defended the board's action.
``The reason it was done that way is because no one was here to address it,'' he said. ``We are here until midnight, one, two in the morning, and the people should stay here, too. It wasn't like we went into executive session and tried to pull some shenanigans.''
As a result of Woody's comments, the commissioner's agenda portion of the meeting will be held earlier.
In other action, the commission:
By a 4-1 vote, endorsed Project Blue Sky, an effort launched by the Town of Southern Shores to ask home builders to build safer homes. Commissioner Edward Etheridge opposed the project, saying it would lead to more government regulation.
Passed a resolution in support of North Carolina House Bill 651, which will give communities the authority to enact noise ordinances governing jet skis, air boats and other water craft in waters adjacent to the town. Etheridge cast the lone opposition vote. The towns of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Southern Shores have already endorsed the measure.
Approved the town's participation in a regional water study to explore options in the development of a regional water system. by CNB