THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 6, 1995 TAG: 9506060442
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Dare County Commissioners Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens and Shirley Hassell skirmished yet again on Monday over an old subject.
Hassell - who in the six months she's been on the board has twice asked for County Manager Terry Wheeler's resignation - this time complained that his service on a state commission was hampering his duties for the county.
Wheeler, paid $69,000 annually by the county, is a member of the North Carolina Property Tax Commission. He was appointed to the panel earlier this year by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., and draws $200 a day from the state for each day the panel meets. The commission meets monthly for an average of two days.
``I am a salaried employee of the county,'' Wheeler said. ``I work Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. I don't get paid by the hour.'' Wheeler also said the $200 per diem he is paid by the state helps to defray travel expenses to the commission meetings in Raleigh.
``I could see where it would be double dipping if I took money from the county to pay for my commission meetings,'' Wheeler said. ``I will open up my travel vouchers and you will see that I have not taken one nickle from Dare County,'' he said.
``I question the fact that he is out of the county three days one week and two days another week . . .'' Hassell said before she was interrupted by Commissioner Clarence Skinner. He said the issue was a personnel matter, and should be discussed in a closed session.
``This does not have to go into executive session,'' Hassell said. ``Don't you people read the book?''
Hassell said she would bring the open meetings law governing executive session into the next meeting, if that would make the commissioners happy.
``Mrs. Hassell, I could care less if you make me happy or not.'' Owens responded.
County spokesman Charles Hartig said the issue of possible ``double dipping'' from the public payroll was discussed when Wheeler was appointed.
Owens defended Wheeler, saying his appointment was a plus for Dare County.
``I think it's an honor that we have someone like Mr. Wheeler appointed to a state tax commission. It's one of the most important commissions in the state. His salary is set by statute, I'm sure that he is reimbursing the county.''
The exchange between Hassell and Owens drew an outburst from the usually quiet Commissioner Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett.
``This is not aimed at Mrs. Hassell or anyone else,'' he said. ``I've been a commissioner for 2 1/2 years. And I have better things to do than sit here and listen to people argue with each other. We should go into a back room and fight it out. I'm not doing what the people put me here to do. I think we should start getting along.''
Commissioner Geneva Perry agreed, saying the commission was elected to make policy, not discuss personalities.
When discussing the formation of a human relations panel to serve as an ombudsman between residents and their government, Hassell said: ``We don't need a human relations panel, we need an ethics board.''
In other business, the president of a northern beach property owners' association asked for county water service.
David E.M. Johnson, president of the Saltaire Property Owners Association, provided commissioners with projections concerning costs for water service. Those property owners rely on wells for their water service.
Johnson said that 43 of the 51 property owners who responded to a survey were in favor of hooking up to county water service.
Wheeler said that before taking any action, the county will survey residents of Saltaire and neighboring subdivisions to determine the demand for county water.
County officials are scheduled to meet next month with members of the Duck Civic Association concerning the issue. by CNB