As published in the Courier-Tribune on August 26, 2012
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
TROY — Montgomery County Board of Commissioners have approved a resolution to put the health and social services boards under county supervision.
Montgomery is the first county to make this move since it was allowed under legislation passed in June. Until then, only counties with populations over 425,000 could establish a human services advisory board under the supervision of the county manager or a human services director.
The resolution, approved at commissoners’ Aug. 21 regular meeting, puts directors of health and social services under the supervision of the county manager and establishes an advisory committee for public health to replace the boards of health and social services.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Chairman Jackie Morris said the move will eliminate a layer of bureaucracy, provide better leadership and lead to a more efficient delivery of services to residents.
“The citizens won’t see any difference in services they receive and, over time, the departments’ internal operations will become more efficient, which will mean better service. The leadership is now in the building,” Morris said. “The administration, instead of the boards, will hire the directors and issues can be dealt with immediately instead of waiting for the next board meeting.”
County Manager Matthew Woodard said this was a pro-active move to protect county services at a time when the state is moving toward regionalization of services and the power shift in the legislature is toward the urban areas of the state.
“The state is already moving toward common computer programs for human services,” Woodard said. “The county pays 97 percent of administrative costs for the health department, so we should supervise them.”
No jobs will be affected, Woodard said.
Former commissioner George Knight was the only resident to comment on the resolution that would dissolve the existing Board of Health and Board of Social Services and allow the county administration to assume direct control over both entities. Knight is also former chair of the Board of Health.
Knight cautioned the commissioners against making a hasty decision.
“I hope you have all read the statute and understand what it is saying,” said Knight. “I know you are trying to save some money, but you need to take another look.”
Knight told the board that the statute, HB 438, was designed for the state’s largest counties. “The state’s trying to save some money, too,” he said.
HB 438 amends N.C. General Statute 153A-77 to give all counties authority to assume administrative control over human services. Prior to the amendment, that authority was limited to counties with a population in excess of 425,000.
Knight told the board that HB 438 “requires the county to have certain people on the board.” He said that, in the past, it was difficult to find local doctors who were willing to sit on the board.
“This is a small county,” he said. “We don’t have a large number of lawyers and attorneys to choose from who know anything about running a board like this.”
Knight added that county commissioners change from time to time and that new members may not understand the workings of the boards.
“Don’t rush in because you want to be in charge of it,” he said.
The resolution says the move would “work toward more effective and efficient human services … and promote organizational efficiency and flexibility needed to serve the residents of the county.”
The existing contractual partnership for administering mental health services will be retained.
The advisory committee for public health, also called a county human services board, is required in the law. This board is to be organized along the lines of existing health boards, so Montgomery County will utilize the existing health board as the advisory board.
The resolution would also move local health department and social services staff employees who are under state personnel policies to county personnel policies.
Woodard said directors are county employees in Montgomery.
Following the public hearing, Commissioner Edgar Morris made a motion to approve the resolution. Commissioner Anthony Copeland seconded and the resolution passed 5 - 0.
Mary Anderson contributed to this story.
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