Proposed bill creates friction in Pender Co.

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The majority of commissioners in Pender County support a bill that gives them more power, and it's already creating some friction.

Senate Bill 433 gives the option for the board to override the word of some county department heads, and dictates that health director and department of social services director would have to answer to the county manager and commissioners, rather than their own boards.

Pender County Commissioners have shown that issues in the past aren't so easily erased.

Disputes over health department and DSS matters have led some commissioners to want more control.

"If the county commissioners have to come up with the money, of course they'll want to control where the money's going," said Vernon Harrell, a business owner and lifelong Pender County taxpayer.

Harrell can see the benefit of giving commissioners the final word with human services department issues -- residents might have a better chance to get their voices heard.

"There would be a certain input that they might not have had otherwise through the county commissioners," said Harrell.

But he adds that the whole idea operates on a very fine line. "I would be weary of them being too heavy handed," he said.

DSS leaders have actually objected to the bill.

The DSS board chairman wrote a resolution saying, "Commissioners lack the time and focus to effectively govern the local DSS board." The resolution also says, "Keeping boards separated provides a buffer against political influence."

One big question remains.

"Are they going to facilitate programs or are they going to be an impediment?" asked Harrell.

Commissioner Chester Ward was the one who voted against supporting the bill, saying that the board of commissioners doesn't have expertise to make DSS or health department decisions.

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