REGULAR BOARD MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

July 12, 2006

 

 

 

The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service met for a duly scheduled Board Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on July 12, 2006 at the Board’s office, 1033 Wade Avenue, Suite 108, Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Present: Jack Briggs, President; Mark Blake, Secretary; Rudy Lea, George Parrott, Larry Andrews, and Jody Tyson.  Windell Daniels, T. E. White and William Manson were absent.

 

Also Present:  Paul Harris, Executive Director; Stephen N. Dirksen, General Counsel; Patricia Hayes and Lyn Cochrane.

 

Mr. Briggs called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

 

Mr. Briggs read Governor’s Executive Order No. One.  No one recused themselves at this time. 

 

Mr. Briggs gave the invocation.

 

Exam Committee:  Mr. Blake stated the pathology item bank and questions test statistics had been sent to the International Conference of State Funeral Examining Board ( ICFSEB) for review. AMP, the testing company, will advise the Board but there is no estimate of time as to when that will occur.

 

Mr. Blake stated 12 applicants had taken the May 16 exam.  Two took pathology with one passing.  Both were first time takers.  All 12 took Laws & Rules with two failures.  The June 20 exam has six applicants (all first time) taking Laws and Rules with three failures.  Six applicants took the Pathology exam with two failures (two were retakes and both passed).

 

Mr. Harris stated Dalene Paul with ICFSEB had called to inform him that Dr. Andrew Falcone had been given the exam information and, at first glance, did not see any problem with the structure or construction of the questions.  Questions ensued.

 

Disciplinary Committee:  Mr. Parrott stated a continuance with regards to the Garnes hearing that was scheduled for Thursday had been received.  The paperwork had been sent 17 days ago and the request for continuance was received seven days later.  Discussion ensued.  Mr. Parrott made the motion to acceptance the motion for continuance until the next Board meeting and Mr. Lea seconded.  Mr. Lea, Mr. Parrott, Mr. Briggs and Mr. Andrews voted yes.  Mr. Blake voted no and the motion carried.

 

Mr. Parrott stated the Disciplinary Committee would meet prior to the next Board meeting to establish a more efficient way to proceed with the hearing process.

 

Mr. Parrott presented the Disciplinary committee Report.  Mr. Tyson made the motion to accept the recommendation of the Committee and Mr. Blake seconded.  The motion carried.

 

At this time Mr. Briggs called for a five-minute recess in order for Mr. Dirksen to make a call regarding the Thursday hearing.  The Board reconvened at 10:37 a.m.

 

Mr. Parrott made comments regarding the procedures Mr. Dirksen uses for the complaint process and the time required for these procedures.

 

Mr. Parrott stated that the Disciplinary Committee is working on a policy and letter for use in cases when cremation documents are found to be incomplete.  The idea will be presented to the N. C. Crematory Authority for recommendation.

 

Finance/Personnel Committee:  Mr. Harris presented the May and June 2006 financials in the absence of Mr. Daniels. 

 

The refinancing of the office condo has now been completed with a fifteen year 6.375% fixed rate.  Mr. Harris and Mr. Briggs have a meeting today with the representative from the auditor, Boyce, Furr & Company, LLP, to review the 2005 audit.  Mr. Harris referred to one matter that the auditors had mentioned concerning a restatement of depreciation for a prior year.

 

Mr. Tyson made a motion to allow a gas stipend of $100 each for the three inspectors for June and July.  Mr. Parrott seconded and the motion carried.

 

Preneed Committee:  Mr. Andrews presented the report for July.  Discussion ensured regarding the monthly inspector reports.

 

CE Committee:  There was no report.

 

Mr. Blake stated an application for CE had been received and referred to the CE Committee.  Part of the program includes a 50-minute video that may not actually be 50 minutes of continuing education.  It had been referred back to the presenter with a request of to include the amount of discussion time afterwards.  The presenter had returned the request with a discussion time of 96 seconds.  Discussion ensued.  Staff will obtain a copy of the video for CE Committee to view prior to approval of the program.

 

Laws, Rules & Legislation:  In Mr. White’s absence, Mr. Harris presented copies of SB 1485 which is a bill to have occupational licensing boards annually report certain information to the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee; SB 1481 (HB 2060) which makes changes to laws concerning victims’ compensation; HB 2721 which creates the N. C. Department of Veterans and Military Affairs; and SB 491 which allows for burial services at State Veterans Cemeteries Monday through Sunday.  This information will be included in the next Board E-newsletter and regular newsletter.

 

Clinics:  Mr. Lea turned the report over to Mr. Harris.  Mr. Harris stated the clinic would be held at the McKimmon Center on October 10.  Two rooms have been secured.  Jim Blackburn will have a three-hour program on ethics and the funeral profession.  Since the pandemic flu is the subject of planning and discussion now, Nelson Hayes has presented CE programs on this and would be a resource to give the embalming part in the other room.  There will probably be a two-hour FTC clinic on one of the rooms.

 

Attorney’s Report:  Mr. Dirksen presented the report.

 

At this time Mr. Briggs called for a five-minute recess.  The Board reconvened at 10:40 a.m.

 

Executive Director’s Report:  Mr. Harris stated the individual Inspector Reports were submitted for review.  Seventy-four reports have been filed since the May 10, which includes seventeen crematory inspections.  One crematory was cited for cleanliness, one establishment with minor plumbing and flooring damage under report and one establishment for prep room and instrument sanitation.  Several crematories had document issues (incomplete 56 series forms, authorizations and some death certificates without the minimum information required by crematory law. 

 

The following establishment changes were made:  New establishments—Morgan Funerals & Cremations, Rocky Mount; Salem Funeral Service and Cremation Service, Winston-Salem (former Vogler & Sons Main Street location); Change of Ownership—Strickland Funeral Service-White Memorial Chapel, Louisburg; Facility change—American Cremation, Durham; Closed—Tucker & Sons, Fayetteville and Vogler & Sons, Main Street, Winston-Salem.

 

Since May 10, 2006, Funeral Service Licenses have been issued to Jean N Fisher, Gregory F. Crouse, Clifton J. Miller, Jr. (converted), James A. Baron, Uronda McKay, Jennifer Duran, Deana P. Norton.  Funeral Director License have been issued to Delbra A. McIntyre, Michael C. Tucker, Lynwood E. Tucker, Judie M. Moore, Donnie D. Young, Timothy L. Spencer.  Trainees registered are Willis H. Groce III, L. Mark Hecht, Alice A. Hill, Curtis M. Jenkins, Rodney L. Maynor, Charles P. McNeill, Nathan V. Newlin, Sonja L. Parson, Donald M. Shearin, Dana W. Stratton, Kimberly P. Teachey, Sandra S. Tomlinson, Abdullah A. Whitaker and Karon W. Whitaker.

 

A copy of the report to the General Assembly summarizing the preneed activities of the Board for 2005 was presented for information.

 

The Crematory Authority will meet on Wednesday, July 19th at 10:00 a.m. at the Board’s office.

 

Discussion ensured regarding the dates of the August Board meeting.  Mr. Harris will get a date schedule from Attorney Charles McDaris regarding his availability and inform the Board members.  One nomination for the Crematory Authority had been received.  The Crematory ballot will be approved at the August meeting.  Mr. Harris will present a Preneed Review in Hickory on August 24 in the morning and the afternoon.  Mr. Harris will have a presentation on the Pandemic Flu on October 9 in Greensboro in conjunction with the N. C. Public Health meeting.

 

 

New Business:  Mr. Tyson suggested the Board hold another meeting at Fayetteville Tech as they did last year.  Mr. Harris will contact Mike Landon for available dates.   Mr. Blake had questions regarding the refiling of applications for the proposed corporation merger of SCI.  Mr. Harris stated that SCI would be drafting a written statement explaining how the merger will be handled.

 

Old Business:  There was none.

 

Informational Items:  Mr. Harris stated that a letter from the N. C. Board of Ethics regarding Mr. Blake was included and will be inserted in the Minute book.  The latest Board of Ethics newsletter was also included as in informational item.

 

At this time Mr. Parrott made the motion to go into closed session to consult with an attorney to discuss matter pending litigation.  Mr. Lea seconded and the motion carried.

 

Mr. Tyson made the motion to return to open session and Mr. Lea second.  The Board returned to open session and adjourned at 11:22 a.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                    Jack D. Briggs, President

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                    Mark Blake, Secretary