In a somewhat stunning move made out of the blue on Thursday, Sept. 2, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners came out of a long closed session and voted to approve 11 new Guilford County Security Department positions as well as four new Sheriff’s Department positions.
The county commissioners also didn’t give any explanation after the fact. The move was highly unusual because, when the board adds positions, it almost always does so each year in June when new budget is adopted.
The discussion was held entirely behind closed doors at the end of the board’s September 2 regular meeting. Some commissioners, when asked the reason for the additional security, said they could not discuss it since it was a closed session matter. When the Rhino Times asked Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston why the board added the 11 security guards, Alston said the only thing he could say publicly is that the move was made at the request of Guilford County Manager Mike Halford.
There was also no comment on the additional four positions for the Sheriff’s Department.
Guilford County Attorney Mark Payne said after the meeting that the discussion was held in closed session, as is allowable by state statute, to discuss security matters. The board does have the right to discuss in private sensitive security issues facing the county. Payne said that adding new positions had to be done in public and he pointed out that the board did come out of closed session and vote to approve the positions.
Guilford County security guards do things like keep watch over county property, secure entrances to county buildings and provide protection at Board of Commissioners meetings. In recent months, county commissioner meetings have had much greater security than in the past.
The board did not provide an estimated cost for the 15 positions added Thursday night.
Secrecy, opaqueness, and decisions made in (formerly) smoke filled rooms.
Just like the USSR – the People’s Commissariat has spoken!
So much for the transparency liberals claim to champion.
All Leftists are closet fascists.
Guilford county now run by commie bast&rds!
More like liberal democrat dumbass’s. All but two of them
When tyrants seize power and alienate the people they’re supposed to represent, they often feel the need to protect themselves at the expense of those same people.
As I mentioned, they get protection while the work; why can’t our school children get like protection while in our govt buildings?
There is no real answer why not, other than why they choose not to do it?
Any ideas?
Skip Alston speaks and the minions follow.
Open Door meetings are a thing of the past.
Transparency is something literally EVERY commissioner had as part of their platform.
Actions don’t lie but our Commissioners do.
Maybe skippy is feeling a little nervous
Skip-the-Hyp don’t care a nip. So, there! Whaddayagonnadoaboutit?