By MARVIN HAMLETT
Editor
Appomattox County supervisors agreed on Monday to maintain the Social Services Board in its current policy-making capacity.
The supervisors' decision came three weeks after they had agreed to research whether or not to dissolve the Social Services Board due to the group's decision to ignore County policy concerning holiday schedules.
The flap occurred because the Social Services Board allowed its employees to be given the full day off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, while the rest of the county's employees were forced to work a half-day.
Supervisor policy calls for local agencies to follow the same holiday schedule as set forth by the governor, which meant that local offices shall be open for a half-day on Thanksgiving Wednesday.
The Social Services Board's decision to grant the full day off irked several supervisors, including Gary Tanner, who read aloud a personal resolution asking for the county attorney to research methods of dissolving the Social Services Board and turning it into an advisory committee with no policy-making authority.
Supervisor Chairman Jerry Small nodded in approval, and because no other supervisors voiced opposition, Tanner's request advanced via consensus.
The decision sparked an uproar from Social Services Board supporters, many of whom attended Monday's supervisors meeting.
The supervisors heard from several of those supporters before agreeing that the Social Services Board should be left as is.
"There's been too much back-and-forth and a lot of rumors," Supervisor Willie Craft said. "I think we should leave well enough alone."
County Attorney Johnnie Overstreet had provided information to the supervisors concerning the logistics of forming a Social Services Board or an Advisory Committee.
The supervisors also heard from Regional Director of Social Services Susan Reese, who described some pros and cons of a policy-making board vs. an advisory-only committee.
Reese also heaped enormous praise on the staff of the Appomattox County Department of Social Services, as well as Director Barry Elder.
Supervisor Ronnie Spiggle suggested that more data was needed about the topic of a board vs. a committee.
"I don't know enough about it to do either one," Spiggle said.
Supervisor Sam Carter encouraged his fellow supervisors to make a decision at that moment, although Carter would not initiate a motion because he is a member of the Social Services Board.
"A lot of employees are worried about what will happen," Carter said.
Craft then made a motion to retain the Social Services Board, and Spiggle seconded the motion. The supervisors then approved the motion unanimously on a 5-0 vote.
The supervisors' vote puts to rest, for now, any potential dissolution of the Social Services Board.
Nelson Mann, who is of the Social Services Board's three members, spoke to the supervisors at the beginning of Monday's meeting.
Mann mentioned the Times-Virginian headline two weeks earlier that stated, "Supervisors irked at Social Services Board."
"I wonder," Mann said, "how many times citizens have been irked at something the supervisors did when they shouldn't have or something they didn't do when they should have."
Mann indicated that Appomattox County's Social Services employees have not received a raise since 2008 and that an extra half-day of holiday time did not cost the County any extra expenses.
He added that Social Services employees have seen their workload increase 28 percent in the last four years.
Shortly after Mann spoke, Reese addressed the supervisors and complimented the County on having a "such a well run" Department of Social Services.
"The Appomattox Department is one of the best," Reese said, adding that Elder's status as director is well respected because of his temperament, management style and integrity.
"Your department is stellar," Reese continued. "The benefits staff always rises to the occasion and is super-responsible."
Reese added that a recent list compiled internally ranked Appomattox County at No. 1 out of 15 for the region's Social Services departments.
"You can be proud of this agency," she said.
Reese said that Roanoke and Lynchburg were the only two localities in the district to adopt an advisory-only Social Services committee.
Reese added that she will be attending a meeting on Richmond on April 25, where "we'll talk about closer partnerships between localities and the state."
Former Appomattox County supervisor Tom Conrad actually initiated the proposal to disband the Social Services Board.
Conrad, who did not seek re-election, brought up the issue in November 2011 after the Social Services Board agreed with employees' request to grant the extra half-day of holiday time.
The extra half-day off created some resentment with other county employees who were forced to work the half-day.
Conrad accused the Social Services Board of attempting "to usurp what the Board of Supervisors advises for the employees of the County."
"It does nothing for morale," Conrad said. "We could think of seriously alienating the Social Services Board and improving ourselves in the County."
The Social Services Board currently consists of Supervisor Sam Carter, Nelson Mann and Roberta Womack.
Carter is also a member of the Board of Supervisors.
Mann's term will expire on Dec. 31, 2015.
Womack's term will expire on June 30, 2012.
Carter's term will expire on June 30, 2013.
The Appomattox County Board of Supervisors appoints the three-member Social Services Board, one of which may be a member of the Board of Supervisors.
The County pays each member of the Social Services Board $900 annually.
According to County Administrator Aileen Ferguson, the Social Services Board's responsibilities are "to monitor the formulation and implementation on social welfare matters and make recommendations."
The Social Services Board meets once a month, usually on the fourth Tuesday of each month.