ashe

I beleive this is the link. https://www.sog.unc....hics_1.pdf

§ 153A-44. Members excused from voting. The board may excuse a member from voting, but only upon questions involving the member's own financial interest or official conduct or on matters on which the member is prohibited from voting under G.S. 14-234, 153A-340(g), or 160A-388(e)(2). For purposes of this section, the question of the compensation and allowances of members of the board does not involve a member's own financial interest or official conduct. (Code, s. 706; Rev., s. 1317; C.S., s. 1296; 1945, c. 132; 1951, c. 904, s. 1; 1961, c. 154; 1967, c. 617, s. 1; 1969, c. 349, s. 1; c. 1036; 1973, c. 822, s. 1; 2001-409, s. 8; 2005-426, s. 5.1(b); 2013-126, s. 6.)

I can see very well he could be a conflict. I'm just wondering if the captain of the squad did not help Mr Osborne gain his president of the board position for a political move and Mr Blevins thinking if Mr Osborne won as a Commissioners position he could get what he wanted for the Rescue Squad. I've been expecting a newspaper article before now from mr. Blevins to help boost Mr Osborne's campaign

Link doesn't work. Onlyinashe.

Unless otherwise established by law, an organization's conflict of interest policy would control how an individual vote is considered. If, as is being stated, it is NC law that states an abstention counts as a yea vote on a topic then governmental entities have it spelled out for them and their conflict of interest policy should conform with the law, for private entities they may establish their own rules regarding how the person impacts the final vote. I'd be interested in seeing the statute from NC stating that an abstention is counted as a yea vote.

Which makes abstaining pointless......if it counts as a yes vote, Should not count as a vote.

I mean he can help write whatever is favorable for his organization then abstain and it counts as a vote yes, sounds very crooked to me....

The reason for abstaining has no bearing on the voting. The abstention still counts as a vote in favor of the motion being considered.

Fins I would think so. At least they should recuse themselves from discussion and voting

Yes, but that’s besides the point. Abstaining is allowed when there is a personal conflict of interest for an elected official.

Under NC Law, abstaining from a vote, counts as a vote in favor of the motion.

But if the person was elected and had to vote on tax based funding for that 501, wouldnt they have to abstain from that vote? Especially if they draw a salary from that 501 organization?

That doesn’t mean that a member of the rescue squad can’t run for office. It means the 501c3 can’t donate to campaigns or endorse candidates. However, if that person is a board member of that 501c3 and that 501c3 receives tax funding, then yes, there could be a conflict of interest.

I would like to ask each of you that are Rescue Squad Members if you have been being blackmailed over anything at all please come forth and talk with someone about this matter

You are right on the 501 c 3 . I haven't thought about but i seen where Mr Osborne was had advertised that he was the Ashe Rescue President of the board . Under the 501 c 3 you can't advertise for a political position here is part of the regulation.
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operatedexclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

I believe Creston is registered as something other than a 501 c 3. I don't remember exactly, but when they were originally forming, I believe they registered as some sort of community association.

An audit should be required before they receive any tax money. If they do not wish to submit to an audit, as a couple of departments have previously stated, they do not have their contract renewed, and do not receive any county money. Also, if they are found to have spent money on things not related to their mission of fire prevention, suppression, education and backup EMS services, that money should be reclaimed by the county. If they want to assert their "rights" as a private entity, they should revoke their 501c3 status and close.

Lets see if my memory is what it used to be fins. I think funds have disappeared from Lansing, Fleetwood, Todd, and now the Ashe rescue. Obviously a blind eye has been turned by the county for too long. The county has a fiscal responsibility to the tax payer and these funds.

I agree with you completely aFicloNadoS. This should have been handled a long time ago with the county

That’s the thing, with just Todd FD alone this has happened too many times. Add in the rescue squad and I thought at least one other FD had someone caught embezzling. The county should have found a way to change the policy a long time ago and have real audits performed regularly. Not those reviews they have been doing. Another option is each year randomly pick two or three departments and have complete forensic audits performed.