FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners recognized Clerk to the Board Candice White for more than a decade of service to Cumberland County during their regular meeting Monday morning. White, who will retire on Dec. 1, 2022, came to Cumberland County on July 3, 2011, after working as Clerk to the Board for the City of Fayetteville.
At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams recognized White and other members of the Board expressed their appreciation for White’s service as Clerk to the Board.
"Candice White, since I’ve been on this board, has been the clerk and has kept us all in line and kept everything in order and I want to personally thank you for what you’ve done for this County,” said Chairman Adams. “We wish you all the best.”
"It has absolutely been my privilege to serve my community and this local elected body, in addition to other local elected bodies, but I just appreciate all of you,” said White. “I wish you all the best moving forward as you carry this county forward.”
The Board also voted unanimously to approve White’s designation of Deputy Clerk to the Board Andrea Tebbe as acting clerk during her absence prior to her retirement. The Board previously voted to appoint Tebbe as Clerk to the Board effective Dec. 1, 2022.
In addition to White, the Board recognized several other retiring employees, including Suzanne Pate with the Library, Freida Thompson with Internal Services and Monika Fuller with the Department of Social Services. They also welcomed two employees – Chief Diversity Officer Nikeisha Waring, who started October 10, and Human Resources Director Dominique Hall, who started October 24.
Commissioners also received a presentation from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons recognizing Sylvia Ximines Allen. Allen was born in Havana, Cuba on July 18, 1923 and spent her childhood in Jamaica. She moved to Philadelphia when she was 12 years old. During the early 1940’s, Allen and her family moved to Fayetteville. She was accepted into the University of North Carolina Law School and commuted daily to attend class.
In 1962, she became the first African American female law graduate from the UNC School of Law. Later that year, she passed the North Carolina Bar in a year that only 48% of the law school class at UNC-Chapel Hill passed the bar exam.
“Sylvia was recognized as the voice for people who had no other voice,” said Judge Ammons. “She was known to be a caring person with a great sense of justice, and was tenacious in pursuing fairness and equity for everyone.
“As an assistant District Attorney, she refused to prosecute vagrancy, loitering, and panhandling charges. Charges that were almost always were brought against the poor and minorities,” added Ammons.
A scholarship for the law school has been established by Scott Peeler and Diana Florence in the name of Sylvia Allen to carry her legacy along with a portrait which is hung in the UNC School of Law.
Several County Commissioners expressed their appreciation for Allen, including Commissioners Jeannette Council and Charles Evans.
Items of Business discussed:
- Consideration of Adoption of 2023 Board of Commissioners' Regular Meeting Dates and Agenda Session Regular Meeting Dates
- Each year the Board of Commissioners considers adoption of its regular meeting dates for the upcoming calendar year and each year there are exceptions to be considered. The exceptions for calendar year 2023 include the following:
- The first meeting in January has been moved to Tuesday, Jan. 3, because the preceding Monday, Jan. 2, will be observed as part of the New Year's Day holiday.
- The second meeting in January has been moved to Tuesday, Jan. 17, because the preceding Monday, Jan. 16, will be observed as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- The first meeting in September has been moved to Tuesday, Sept. 5, because the preceding Monday, Sept. 4, will be observed as Labor Day.
- For calendar year 2023, the Board may also wish to consider an exception to its Agenda Session regular meeting dates. The exception includes the following:
- The Essentials of County Government Course will be held Thursday, Jan. 12-13. Reschedule the January 12 Agenda Session meeting to Tuesday, Jan. 10.
- Consideration of Appointments to the Tourism Development Authority
- The Board voted 6-to-1 to appoint members to the Tourism Development Authority based on recommendations from the TDA Board and to stagger the terms to ensure compliance with the State statute governing the Board’s makeup.
- Designation of Voting Delegate to NCACC Legislative Goals Conference
- The NCACC is asking each county to designate a voting delegate for the NCACC Legislative Goals Conference. The Legislative Goals Conference will be held Nov. 16-18, 2022 in Wake County. Each county will be entitled to vote on legislative goal proposal submissions brought before the membership. Voting will take place on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17 and 18.
- Commissioner Evans was appointed. This was approved unanimously.
The Board of Commissioners approved the Consent Agenda at this meeting:
- Proclamation in Support of Operation Green Light for Veterans
- Approval of Declaration of Surplus County Property, Budget Ordinance Amendment #B230988 and Authorization to Accept Insurance Settlement
- Approval of Sole Source Purchase of Imagery Software for Tax Administration Department
- Approval of Formal Bid Award for Request for Letters of Intent for General Transportation Planning Services On-Call List for Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Rejection Request for Proposal (RFP# 22-15-CTY Aid to Nonprofit Organizations)
- Approval to Pay Prior Year Invoices
- Resolution of Intent to Lease Real Property Located at 245 Person Street to the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Inc.
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 625 Chapel Hill Road, Spring Lake
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 1716 Stanberry Court, Fayetteville
- Approval of Sale of Surplus Real Property Located at 116 Rainbow Court, Spring Lake
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 828 Little Avenue, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 100 Triangle Place, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 222 Dallas Street, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 616 Deep Creek Road, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Properties Located at 808 Cedar Creek Road, Adjacent to 808 Cedar Creek Road, and 1317 Jacob Street, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 837 Deep Creek Road, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 1009 College Street, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Properties Located at 2012 Powell Street, and Adjacent to 2012 Powell Street, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 2022 Center Street, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 2220 Roosevelt Drive, Fayetteville
- Acceptance of Offer to Purchase Surplus Property Located at 5117 Hodge Street, Fayetteville
- Approval to Unseal Closed Session General Accounts
- Approval of Budget Ordinance Amendments for the Nov. 7, 2022 Board of County Commissioners' Agenda
The Board went into closed session to discuss Economic Development Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(4), Real Property Acquisition Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5), and Attorney Client Matter Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3).
Please visit cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/meetings/agendas-minutes-and-videos for the meeting notes concerning this meeting and other Board of Commissioners’ meetings.
To watch the meeting and listen to the entire discussion between meeting participants of the Board of Commissioners’ Agenda Session, please visit YouTube.com/CumberlandCountyNC and for more information about Cumberland County government, visit cumberlandcountync.gov. You can also follow the county on social media by searching CumberlandCountyNC.