Stanly commissioners fill upcoming vacancies on SCC Board of Trustees

Published 4:56 pm Tuesday, June 6, 2023

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At Monday’s meeting of the Stanly County Board of Commissioners, two upcoming vacancies on the Board of Trustees for Stanly Community College were filled.

The terms of Joseph Burleson and Gerald Efird, both previously appointed by commissioners, are set to expire June 30.

Vice Chairman Mike Barbee nominated Dr. Gerald Poplin for one seat while Commissioner Mike Barbee nominated Melvin Poole. During the vote, Poplin received five votes, with Barbee and Commissioner Patty Crump voting for Poole.

Three citizens were nominated for the remaining seat on the board. Poole was again nominated by Barbee, with Commissioner Trent Hatley nominating Cody Huneycutt. Brandon King nominated Joseph Burleson.

During the vote, Huneycutt received votes from Chairman Scott Efird and commissioners Hatley, Peter Asciutto and Bill Lawhon. Barbee and Crump voted for Poole, and King voted for Burleson.

Huneycutt and Poplin are scheduled to serve four-year terms.

Asciutto asked County Manager Andy Lucas about Senate Bill 692, which proposes to take the job of community college trustee appointments from commissioners to the state legislature.

Lucas said for the majority of community colleges, of the 12 positions, four are picked by the governor, four are by the local school board and four are by county commissioners. In the case of SCC, however, eight are picked by commissioners and four by the governor.

The legislation, Lucas said, would cut commissioner appointments in half, and the general assembly would choose eight. He said if the bill is signed into law before July 1, commissioners may have to revisit the issue with just one appointee.

“I think the chance of that happening is somewhat limited because July 1 is moving here quickly,” Lucas said. “My guess is, if appointees are in place and (the General Assembly) adopt this some time in July, they’re not going to go retroactive to July 1. I think they would grandfather those in, then through attrition, they would implement that.”

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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