REGULAR BOARD MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

October 8, 2003

 

 

 

The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service met for a duly scheduled Board Meeting on October 8, 2003, in the Board’s office located at 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Present:  Harvey Leavitt, President; Alex Lee, Vice President; Jack Briggs, Secretary; Windell Daniels, George Parrott, Jamie Boles, Nancy Rorie, Paul Harris, and Rudy Lea

 

Also Present:  Mark E. Henderson, Executive Director; Steve Dirksen, General Counsel; Dan Shackleford, Ed Burney, Pat Hayes and Cameron Shearon.

 

President Harvey Leavitt called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

 

At this time Mr. Leavitt read the Board of Ethics statement, Governor Easley’s Executive Order #1.  No one recused themselves at this time.

 

Mr. Leavitt gave the invocation.

 

Mr. Briggs submitted and made the motion to approve the September minutes.  Mr. Harris seconded and the motion carried.

 

Disciplinary:  Mr. Lee presented the Disciplinary Committee report and the Addendum to the Disciplinary Committee report.  Ms. Rorie requested that V03-042 be pulled from the report and be considered at a later time.  Discussion regarding M03-019 ensued.  Ms. Rorie made the motion to amend M03-019 to issue an embalmer license and a Consent Order with a probation of three years.  Mr. Lea seconded the motion and the motion carried.  Mr. Briggs made the motion to accept the Disciplinary Committee report and Addendum excluding V03-042 and including M03-019 as amended.  Mr. Harris seconded and the motion carried.

 

Finance:  Mr. Boles referred the report to Mr. Henderson.  Mr. Henderson reviewed the September financials and commented on several of the line items.  Mr. Harris made the motion to accept the financial report and Mr. Parrott seconded.  The motion carried. 

 

At this point Mr. Daniels arrived.

 

Preneed:  Mr. Harris submitted the Preneed Report.  Mr. Boles made the motion to accept the Preneed report.  Ms. Rorie seconded and the motion carried.

 

Attorney’s Report:  Mr. Dirksen reported that the status of cases pending was provided to the Board for their review.  He stated the cases that were to come before the Board this meeting had requested continuances for the November meeting.  Discussion ensued.

 

Executive Director’s Report:  Mr. Henderson reported the new preneed forms and the updated Preneed Manual had been mailed to the licensees.  It had been brought to his attention that one line on the back of the contract should have been removed regarding the 10% retainage.  Mr. Parrot made the motion strike this language from the contract and Mr. Harris seconded.  The motion carried.  The forms previously mailed can be used until the supply is depleted.  Mr. Henderson has notified the printer and has changed the form on the website.

 

The Board website has been changed to www.ncbfs.org.  The old website has been set up to refer visitors to this new site.  The office sign has been changed to the new Board name.  The newsletter has gone to the printer and will go out sometime after this October meeting.

 

Mr. Henderson stated he will begin work on rule making next week.  The codifier of the North Carolina Code had called and indicated that the Crematory changes would have to become Article 13F because too many changes were made to keep it as Article 13C.  This change will effect the numbering of the cremation changes but not the substance.  Revision of the name on the current Board forms is being completed.  Election of 2004 Board officers will be done at the November meeting.

 

New Business:  Mr. Henderson presented the new Board form BMS 0S2003 for approval.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Harris made the motion to accept with the addition of “Location/Locations where embalming and/or sheltering of remains will occur.”  Mr. Lea seconded and the motion carried.

 

At this time Ms. Rorie made the motion to go into closed session to consider an employee and individual applicant matter.  Mr. Lea seconded and the motion carried.

 

The Board returned to open session and recessed at 10:20 to visit the proposed purchase of property on Wade Avenue.  Upon their return they went back into closed session.

 

Upon proper motion by Ms. Rorie and second by Mr. Lea, the Board returned to open session at 12:10.   Mr. Leavitt stated it was with deep regret that the Board accepts the resignation of the Executive Director, Mark E. Henderson, and with great appreciation of what he has done for the Board.  The Board will begin immediately to seek a successor for the Executive Director position and thanks Mr. Henderson for his willingness to continue in this position for a period of time.

 

Mr. Harris made the motion to defer a decision on the Wade Avenue property until Tuesday, October 14.  Mr. Daniels seconded and the motion carried.

 

The Finance Committee had met and was submitting a proposed rule that would increase the fees with an amendment to change the preneed sales license application and renewal fee from $50.00 as submitted to $20.00.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Daniels made the motion to accept the fee increase as amended.  Mr. Parrott seconded and the motion carried. 

 

Informational Items:  Mr. Henderson stated these items were presented for information only.

 

The Board adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    Harvey H. Leavitt III, President

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    Jack Briggs, Secretary