MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING
November 10, 1999

The North Carolina Board of Mortuary Science met for a duly scheduled Board Meeting on November 10, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board’s office located at 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Present: Darryl Hart, President; Michael McGhee, Vice President; Nancy Rorie, Secretary; Stuart Cozort, Jimmy Swaringen, Harvey Leavitt III, Elliott Futrell, Paul Harris and Julia Jordan.

Also present: Andrew Ritter, Executive Director; and Michael Weisel, Attorney for the Board.

President Hart called the meeting to order.  Michael McGhee gave the invocation.  The reading of the minutes of the October 12 meeting was dispensed with until the December meeting.

President Hart called for the following committee reports:

Mr. Leavitt deferred to Mr. Ritter for the report of the finance committee.  Mr. Ritter directed the Board’s attention of the financial statements contained in the meeting packet.  He noted that the only line item above budget was for legal expenses and this was due to the increased activity by the disciplinary committee.  He reported that the first draft of the 2000 budget would be ready for a meeting with Mr. Leavitt in early December and the proposed 2000 budget would be presented to the Board at the December meeting.  During discussion, Mr. Swaringen questions whether the cost of investigation could be retained from penalties.  Mr. Weisel agreed to research the question.

Disciplinary Committee Report:

Mr. McGhee distributed copies of the disciplinary committee report.  Regarding #8, he explained that no interest would be paid from the Recovery Fund as this arose out of circumstances occurring before the establishment of the Preneed Recovery Fund.  Mr. McGhee stated that the disciplinary committee was making the recommendation that the following policy be adopted: Any funds the Board pays out of the Preneed Recovery Fund on contracts dated prior to the inception of the Recovery Fund, July 9, 1992, will not include interest.  Payments out of the Recovery Fund on contracts dated on or after July 9, 1992 will include interest at a rate determined by the Board.  The motion carried.

Examination Committee:

Mr. Futrell reported that the exam committee was recommending that future exams be given at the McKimmon Center because the Barber Board Examination Room does not meet the criteria recommended by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.  The motion carried.

Preneed Committee:

Mr. Swaringen reported that a proposed contract from Boone Family Funeral Service had been received and had been reviewed and approved by the committee with the exception of a minor change; that it will be resubmitted with that change added.

Clinic:

Mr. Harris suggested a rotation list of break sponsors be developed so that in the future all companies who care to sponsor breaks will have an opportunity to do so.  A discussion followed but no policy was adopted.

Mr. Harris reported that on the Governor’s Crime Commission Child Maltreatment Fatality Committee draft some changes had been made and the final draft would be available to the Board in December.

Election of Officers for 2000:

President Hart opened the floor for nominations of officers for 2000.  Mr. Cozort nominated Michael McGhee for president; seconded by Mr. Futrell.  There were no further nominations.

Mr. Cozort nominated Nancy Rorie for vice president; seconded by Mr. Futrell.  There were no further nominations.

Mr. Cozort nominated Paul Harris for secretary; seconded by Mrs. Jordan.  There were no further nominations.

Mr. Cozort made a motion that the nominations be closed and the nominees be elected by acclamation; seconded by Mr. Futrell.  The motion carried and they were elected.

Executive Director’s Report:

Mr. Ritter reported that a letter had been sent to all funeral homes reminding them of the preneed forms approval timeline and the dissolving of the Mutual Burial Associations.  He reported on the ICFSEB meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, and on the Funeral Rule Review by the FTC on November 18.  Mr. Ritter and Mr. Weisel were instructed to attend the workshop.

Old Business:

There was no old business to be discussed.

New Business:

Mr. Jody Tyson from Taylor-Edwards Funeral Home, Snow Hill, NC, had requested the opportunity to speak to the Board and was recognized by President Hart.  Mr. Tyson expressed his displeasure with the Board’s adoption of new forms.

President Hart recommended to President-elect McGhee that statutes pertaining to Mortuary Science be reviewed.

Attorney’s Report:

Mr. Weisel recommended that Board members review the opinion of the South Carolina Administrative Law Judge contained in the meeting packet concerning sale of caskets by unlicensed individuals.  He discussed the need of the disciplinary committee to make a thorough review of the laws and rules and stated that the increase in legal fees was due to the Board’s seriousness in enforcing the statutes and rules.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

	Darryl Hart, President
	Nancy Rorie