THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 21, 1996 TAG: 9606210501
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 53 lines
Detailed reports Thursday of how $222,554.39 in funding for ``special services'' was paid out by the Northeastern Economic Development Commission showed the money went for consultants, lawyers, travel, meals, gifts and a variety of other expenditures.
When the pump-priming panel met Wednesday at a monthly meeting in Williamston, a more general accounting didn't reveal how the funds were spent for the 11 months ending May 31, 1996.
But the Thursday printouts had the details:
Former state Rep. Vernon G. James, D-Elizabeth City, received more than $12,000 in pay and expenses through 1995, the records showed. James was hired by the commission last year as a consultant-lobbyist, but his services were later dropped.
James spent nearly a quarter of a century in the Legislature and is eligible for retirement benefits.
The ``special services'' payments showed that each of the 15 commissioners received $100 a day while on commission business plus travel expenses for a total of $26,850, the report showed.
Dues and membership for Raleigh's exclusive Cardinal Club amounted to $330. A laptop computer for use in the commission's new system of linked computers, part of a state network, required $8,788.16.
A ``gift'' purchased in Mackey's Ferry in Washington County for unidentified beneficiaries required $1,149.96.
Out-of-state travel costs on commission business required $7,569.93.
Food, catering and refreshments added up to $2,214.81.
Various charges against the commission came from lawyers, accountants and outside planners hired to develop more and better business in the Albemarle:
J.P. Timberlake III, an Edenton CPA, received a reported $20,555.72.
Max Busby, an Edenton lawyer, got $13,815.
Leak-Goforth of Raleigh, economic consultants, received more than $100,000, the report showed.
A payment of $614.80 went to an unidentified badge supplier for lapel nameplates for commission members.
The commission also gave grants to several area counties for economic assistance. Included in the funding was $5,000 for Tyrrell County; $5,000 for Perquimans County; $4,202.50 for Chowan County; and $2,032 for Camden County.
When the commission was created in 1992, the General Assembly gave it $1.2 million in annual operating funds.
At the regular meeting in Williamston on Wednesday the commission treasurer reported he had $1,442,759.13 in the bank.
Two Centura bankers are on the commission, and the financial statements showed that nearly all of the financial transactions were handled by Centura. Last year a Wachovia banker was treasurer and commission money went to that bank. by CNB