Chad Rouse is sworn in as the newest Lenoir County Commissioner by the Honorable Dawn G. Stroud, Clerk of Superior Court. Photo: Kristy Bock/Neuse News

The County Commissioners met Monday morning and elected Linda Rouse Sutton as the Chair, and Eric Rouse as the Vice-Chairman. After swearing-in for new terms, the board voted on the additional three days of vacation for county employees.

Linda Rouse Sutton, June Cummings, and Preston Harris were sworn in at the start of the meeting, followed by Chad Rouse being sworn in as the board’s newest member. The Honorable Dawn G. Stroud, Clerk of Superior Court, administered the oaths of office.

“I appreciate the confidence you all have entrusted it me, and I will do my best,” said Sutton.

Sutton was nominated by Preston Harris, and Eric Rouse was nominated by J. Mac Daughety.

“Thank you, and I appreciate the trust and bipartisanship cooperation. I think it says a lot for this board to have a member from each party to now represent. I will do my best to be fair,” said Eric Rouse.

One of the first items up for discussion was the proposed addition of three vacation days for county employees in 2021.

“Several of our departments have had many employees absent due to exposure to COVID-19,” said Human Resources Director Lashanda Hall. “With no clear endpoint insight of the pandemic, this would be a goodwill gesture to approve these three additional days to show employees that you all understand and are well aware of the pressures they have faced and that they have adapted to and in responding to the pandemic.”

The reappointed board chair, Sutton offered further insight into the proposed vacation days.

“I think a lot of times that folks don’t realize just how much pressure it is putting on our employees,” said Sutton. “This is just a small thing we could do considering the pressures they’ve had under COVID-19.”

The motion to approve the three additional vacation days was voted unanimously by the commissioners.