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JAMES G. MARTIN
GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 25
REGIONAL POLICY FOR NORTH CAROLINA
In 1970, this State delineated boundaries for multi-county
planning and development regions and in 1971 a Lead Regional
Organization was designated for each region to establish goals and
objectives, and serve as the regional agent in dealing with state
and federal agencies. Thereafter, state agencies were instructed
to utilize the Lead Regional Organization for planning,
implementing, and coordinating programs which impact local
governments. The concepts of multi- county planning regions and
the Lead Regional Organization policy have been very effective in
fostering intergovernmental coordination and cooperation and this
Administration is committed to close cooperation with local
governments and their agencies . Therefore, by the authority
vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and laws of North
Carolina, it is ORDERED:
Section 1. ORGANIZATION
(a) A single Lead Regional Organization shall continue to
exist in each of the eighteen multi-county planning
development regions or such larger or smaller number of
regions as may be hereinafter delineated by the
Department of Administration.
(b) The governing board of each Lead Regional Organization
shall determine the organization's membership
composition, but such Lead Regional Organizations are
urged to 1 imi t pol icy board representation to elected
officials of the member local governments .
Section 2. FUNCTIONS
(a) Lead Regional Organizations, whether Councils of
Governments or Economic Development Districts shall have
the same powers and duties specified for Councils of
Governments in the General Statutes of North Carolina.
Section 3. ADMINISTRATION
(a) In dividing the State for administrative and/or service
delivery purposes, State agencies shall make
subdivisions coterminous with the Lead Regional
Organization boundary lines, or with combinations of
such, unless it can be demonstrated that strict
conformance would result in inefficiencies, or that the
proposed subdivision bears no relationship to regional
plans or activities.
(b) State agencies desiring to eliminate, re-direct, or
begin programs which impact local governments through
Lead Regional Organizations are hereby directed to
submit any proposed change or modification to the Local
Government Advocacy Council for an advisory opinion
prior to taking action. New programs involving service
deli very through the Lead Regional Organizations must
have the approval of local governments affected •
(c) State financial support to Lead Regional Organizations
should be limited to grants to carry out specific tasks
which are imposed by State government, or tasks which
involve a coordinated state-wide activity which will be
beneficial to both State and local governments. State
funds, if provided, shall not be utilized for general
administrative support, nor shall they be utilized to
supplant local funds.
(d) The determination of personnel procedures for Lead
Regional Organizations shall be left to the discretion
of local governments, and no State agency shall impose
its personnel procedures on the Lead Regional
Organizations. Nothing in this section shall preclude
the establishment of reasonable minimum education and
experience standards for positions funded by a State
agency, provided that such standards shall be no more
stringent than those in use by State or Federal agencies
for comparable positions. The Lead Regional
Organizations shall have complete autonomy in filling
such positions from among applicants meeting those
reasonable minimum standards.
Section 4. MODIFICATION OF REGIONAL BOUNDARIES
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Administration is
hereby charged with rev1s1ng and implementing, if
necessary, the existing guidelines dealing with the
changing of regional boundary lines, in accordance with
the following:
' ' >
(b) Boundary changes shall not be considered unless a
petition for change is received from one or more county
boards of commissioners or from the governing bodies of
one or more municipalities whose combined populations
represent at least 50% of the county population. No
boundary change shall be made until after notice of such
proposed change is given, and sufficient opportunity for
public comment is provided.
( C) Any request for boundary
within ninety (90) days
petition.
change
of the
shall be acted upon
receipt of a valid
(d) Approved boundary changes shall be effective on July 1st
of the following year, and must be announced at least
ninety days prior thereto.
(e) A request for change which is not approved by the State
shall not be reconsidered for a minimum period of three
years from the date of disapproval.
Section 5. PRIOR ORDERS
All prior executive orders or portions of prior executive orders
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed .
This order is effective this the ~ / !>,rday of February, 1986.
overnor
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