REGULAR BOARD MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

December 15, 2004

 

 

 

The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service met for a duly scheduled Board Meeting on December 15, 2004, at the Board’s office located at 1033 Wade Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Present:  Alex Lee, President; Jack Briggs, Vice President; Jamie Boles, Secretary; Jerry W. Hawks, Jeanette Sherrod, Windell Daniels, Harvey Leavitt and Rudy Lea

 

Also Present:  Paul Harris, Executive Director; Stephen N. Dirksen, General Counsel; Patricia Hayes, William Joyner, Tim Butler, Peter Burke, Jay Roberts and Lyn Cochrane.

 

President Alex Lee called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

 

Mr. Lee 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. Lee opened the floor to receive public comment and there was none.

 

At this time Mr. Lee called upon Superior Court Judge Michael Morgan to administer the oaths of office for the two new Crematory Authority members, Peter Burke and Jay Roberts.  Mr. Lee presented Judge Morgan with a gift of appreciation and congratulated and welcomed Mr. Burke and Mr. Roberts.

 

Mr. Boles stated the minutes for the November 10, 2004 meeting had been previously mailed. Ms. Sherrod made the motion to accept the minutes as presented and Mr. Hawks seconded.  The motion carried. 

 

Disciplinary:  Since Mr. Parrott was absent Mr. Lee presented the Disciplinary Committee report.  After review, questions and discussion ensued.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the report as submitted.  Ms. Sherrod seconded and the motion carried.

 

Finance/Personnel:  Mr. Daniels presented the finance report for November 2004.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the finance report and Mr. Daniels seconded.  The motion carried.  Mr. Daniels stated that the Personnel portion of his report would be discussed at the end of the meeting after a closed session.

 

Preneed:  Mr. Leavitt presented the Preneed Report.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the report and Mr. Daniels seconded.  The motion carried.

 

Attorney’s Report:  Mr. Dirksen reported that the status of cases pending was provided to the Board for their review.  Mr. Harris would like to run newspaper ads in selected newspapers with regards to preneed for one active funeral and one closed funeral home.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the motion to allow these ads to be run and Mr. Leavitt seconded.   The motion carried.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the Attorney’s Report.  Ms. Sherrod seconded and the motion carried.

 

At this time the Board recessed for a fifteen minute break.

 

Executive Director’s Report:  The Governor’s office has been provided a report with information regarding the Board appointment licensees but no one has been appointed at this time.  All necessary documents had been sent to ethics review.

 

The seminar at the McKimmon Center, Tuesday, December 14, had 140 licensees in attendance with mostly positive comments.  Mr. Harris thanked Mr. Hawks, Mr. Boles and Mr. Parrot for their help.

 

In response to questions at the November meeting regarding Crematory inspections, Mr. Harris stated that out of the 67 crematories, all but 22 had been inspected this year. 

 

Mr. Harris has had discussion with several Virginia licensees and will wait until after the first of the year before pursuing the Virginia CE issue.

 

The new law books had been printed, published and will be shipped the week of December 27.  These books will be mailed with the 2005 license renewals and each licensee should have one by the end of January.

 

2005 renewals as of December 13, 2004, indicate 505 active licensees, 23 inactive licensees, 92 establishments, 22 crematories, 1 chapel, 1 unaffiliated and 62 preneed establishments.

 

The Board’s website will be updated the last week of December.

 

There are 89 active mutual burial associations at this time.  After the Board approves the Order today dissolving one, there will be 88.  These 89 associations have $5,972,997.34 in assets.

 

Mr. Harris has received bids on the set up of the three new office computers.  He is also reviewing a new computer service for the Board.

 

After 2005 license renewals, continuing educations guidelines for new rules will be developed.

 

The Board’s website may be converted to dual language in the future with forms to be converted later.

 

Mr. Harris has received documentation from Virginia Harris regarding the Mutual Burial Association procedures.   A computer database for MBA information is being discussed.

 

New Business:  In the matter of the dissolution of Bowman-Capps Mutual Burial Association, a motion was made by Mr. Briggs to accept the Order.  Mr. Leavitt seconded.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Lee called for the vote and the motion carried.

 

Mr. Harris recommended January 12, 2005 for the next Board meeting.  Mr. Daniels made the motion and Mr. Lea seconded.  The motion carried.

 

At this time Mr. Harris presented Mr. Hawks, Mr. Boles, Mr. Lee, Mr. Leavitt and Ms. Sherrod with gifts of appreciation for their service to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service.

 

Mr. Daniels made the motion to go into closed session to discuss terms of an employment contract.

 

Mr. Briggs stated it had been his privilege to serve with each member on the Board and the licensees of the Board and public had been well serviced by this Board.

 

Mr. Daniels stated appreciation of his time on the Board and thanked Mr. Harris and the staff for their good works.

 

Mr. Boles seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Upon proper motion, the Board returned to open session.  Discussion ensued regarding the 2005 budget expenditures and receipts.  Mr. Hawks made the motion to accept the 2005 budget as submitted and Mr. Daniels seconded.  The motion carried.

 

Old Business:  There was none.

 

Mr. Harris presented the informational items.  Mr. Harris thanked the Board for their good work and for the opportunity to serve as a Board member and now as Executive Director.  Mr. Leavitt and Ms. Sherrod thanked the Board for the opportunity of serving as members.

 

Mr. Lee opened the floor to receive public comment and there was none.  The Board adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                    P. Alex Lee, President

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                    James L. Boles, Jr., Secretary