THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 2, 1996 TAG: 9607020244
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 82 lines
The Dare County Board of Commissioners agreed Monday to stick it out for another year with the beleaguered Albemarle Commission, which most recently has seen the state freeze its money earmarked for summer job training.
``I personally think we should give the Albemarle Commission a chance to get on track this coming year,'' said Commissioner Geneva Perry. ``We do want to pursue the idea of regionalism.''
The Hertford-based Albemarle Commission, a coalition of 10 northeastern North Carolina counties organized to pool money and expertise for mutually beneficial programs, has been reeling in recent months from financial woes, resignations and accusations of mismanagement.
``It's just a comedy of errors, if you want to know the truth,'' Perry said. ``There's been a lack of leadership.''
But Perry, who has attended the organization's meetings as a representative of Dare, said the commission has recently pared down and established a new action plan to ensure its survival.
The commissioner said the county, as a member of the 10-county consortium, is responsible for its share of any deficit in the job training program. The state Department of Commerce suspended federal funds allocated for summer job training until each member group affirms its individual responsibility for the debt.
In an agreement signed in 1986, Dare County obligated itself to share in any commission deficits. Perry said the job program is expected to be about $100,000 in the red, although the Albemarle Commission's fund balance may cover at least a portion of the obligation.
The Dare County board agreed to approve a letter to the Commerce Department saying Dare County will honor any prior legal obligations connected with the commission.
The county pays $15,000 in annual fees to the regional commission. If the county chose to withdraw, Perry said two years' notification would be required.
Acting Chairman Clarence Skinner said the membership fees have been a good investment for the county.
``The Albemarle Commission has pumped far more funds back into the county than we have ever paid for dues,'' he said.
Monday's commissioners' panel was unusually skimpy. Commission Chairman R.V ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. was absent with the flu. And Commissioner Mac Midgett was out with a chronic leg problem. Also, County Manager Terry Wheeler did not attend because of a back injury. And County Attorney Al Cole was called away to court.
In other business, the commissioners decided to hold action on establishing an East Lake Community Center Board to give community center members a chance to discuss whom county officials would appoint to such a group.
East Lake residents Alvin Ambrose and Rosemarie Doshier addressed the board about their objections to the county's involvement in the center.
``I just don't understand why now, with a little friction, the county commission steps in and takes over,'' Ambrose said, adding he has been connected to the center for 35 years. ``We've had no dissension for the last 25 years.''
Doshier told the panel that no county funds are used in the center, and that the present board understood that the center belonged to East Lake residents - not the county.
Ambrose said one of the few things the county gave the center was two generators to use after Hurricane Emily in 1993.
``We discovered the county had given us a couple of generators,'' he said. ``Two residents had them and didn't tell anybody. . . . Every time the lights went out, only two families had current.''
On the contrary, Skinner said, the county has contributed ``significant'' funds to the center, including $5,000 for a heating and cooling unit.
The county owns vested title to the center, which is next to the fire tower on U.S. 64/264. East Lake, located in Skinner's district on the mainland, is populated by about 100 residents.
Skinner said the county wants to standardize all its community centers, like those in Wanchese, Rodanthe, and Hatteras. Though the center has operated independently for so long, more than half the residents of East Lake signed a petition several months ago asking that the present board be replaced, Skinner said.
``It was abundantly clear to me that many of the people of East Lake wanted a change in their board status,'' Skinner said.
The current East Lake Community Center board was scheduled to meet Monday evening. The county board expects to appoint an East Lake Center board of directors at its July 15 meeting. by CNB