JACKSON — Northampton County Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring longtime Seaboard Mayor Melvin F. Broadnax at their meeting Monday morning. “This is recognition of a true public servant,” said County Manager Wayne Jenkins.

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Broadnax announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election after 38 years of service to the town.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m., the town will honor Broadnax with an event at the Lions Club in Seaboard. The proclamation will be read at that time. It will highlight Broadnax’s education, service to his country, community and state.

County Commission chairman Robert Carter introduced the student intern Antonio Squire of KIPP Pride High School in Gaston as the intern for November.

Squire is the son of Tony and Karen Squire of Gaston. He has a B average student, member of the school honor council, volunteers at Halifax Regional Medical Center and member of Cool Springs Missionary Baptist Church.

After graduation, he plans to attend college with the goal of becoming a lawyer and later a politician. “He tries to inspire others around him to be the best,” Carter said.

In Squire’s free time, he likes learning about the nation’s government, helping others and researching current topics.

Carter said each month there has been a student from an area high school serve as an intern. Interns come to county commission meeting to watch government in action and receive a package of information about the meeting. In September, there was a student from Northampton County High School-West and in October a student from Northampton County High School-East.

Finance Officer Dot Vick updated commissioners on the vacant management information position in the finance department. “I wanted everyone to know what we have done,” she said.

In June, Vicks received written notification which employee Annette Ricks was retiring. Jeff Futrell of Veteran Affairs volunteered to assist her, based upon his available time when he was not completing Veteran related tasks.

She said when County Manager Wayne Jenkins checked in with her in September, she suggested Futrell be compensated for what he has been doing. Futrell is being compensated three steps retroactive to Aug. 1. This is an equivalent of $91.80 per pay period. This is temporary assignment for him.

And she pointed out the job description needed to be updated because it was based on the mainframe system and not the new networking system.

In an information paper written to the commissioners, she noted she was grateful she had someone who volunteered to help and able to provide the day-to-day services for the county and at the same time save Northampton County some money.

Vicks also expressed some concerns which were issues concerning the recruitment for the position and the compensation paid to Futrell.

“It has been my understanding my job is to provide services to the citizens of Northampton County in the most efficient means possible,” she writes. “I have been able to provide IT (information technology) services for the county with minimum costs since Aug. 1.”

Ricks was paid a rate of $2,099.25 (with duties in finance) per pay period and with the agreement with Futrell, has him being paid $91.80 per pay period with a savings of $2,007.45 per pay period.

“I have maintained my duties as finance officer, which includes data processing and other computer/technology functions/projects during the most difficult time of my career with Northampton County, which as you all know the loss of my husband and my mother,” she wrote.

Northampton County Finance Officer Joe Holloway requested a carryover of prior year capital outlay balance of $19,799.15 to fiscal year 2010. Funds will be used to support maintenance of prioritized facilities needs.

Holloway said the reasons the funds weren’t spent was because during the last fiscal year, Northampton County Schools was considering closing some schools.

Three schools — Rich Square Creecy Elementary, Garysburg Elementary and the Northampton Alternative Schools — were closed at the end of last school year.

Commissioner Virginia Spruill asked Holloway how the money would be used. Holloway had Assistant Superintendent Phil Matthews answer the question. Matthew said since sixth graders are now at Gaston Elementary, they were putting playground equipment there for them.

Commissioner Vice Chairman Fannie Greene said it looked like there was new equipment at Garysburg Elementary.

Matthew said they plan to breakdown the equipment at Rich Square Creecy and Garysburg Elementary schools and move to Gaston Elementary School.

Commissioners will hold their annual board retreat on Friday, Nov.  20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn in Roanoke Rapids.