The Area Board of the Western Highlands Area Authority will hold a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24 at the Western Highlands Area Authority’s Administrative Offices, located at 356 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville.

The purpose of this special meeting as follows:

(1) to receive public comments (maximum 20 minutes, maximum per speaker five minutes);

(2) to hold a closed session or closed sessions pursuant to Subsection 143-318.11(a)(3) of the General Statutes of North Carolina to consult with attorneys in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege;

(3) to receive information and reports with respect to, and to consider and discuss, an Agreement for the Management and Oversight of Western Highlands Area Authority for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, the parties to which are, or will be, the Smoky Mountain Center Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization and Western Highlands Area Authority;

(4) to take action or actions in order to approve and authorize the execution and delivery of, the aforementioned Agreement for the Management and Oversight of Western Highlands Area Authority for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services;

(5) to consider and discuss the rescission and cancellation of, and to take action or actions to rescind and cancel, the motion carried and action thereby taken at the May 13, 2013, special meeting of the Area Board of the Western Highlands Area Authority, which motion was part of that portion of the May 13 special meeting dealing with the plan or plans for staff retention bonuses, and which motion was made by board member Carl Classen, seconded by board member Arthur C. Wilson Jr., and carried by a unanimous vote; and

(6) to consider and discuss, and possibly take action or actions to approve and authorize, a retention-bonus, retention-compensation or similar plan or plans to replace the aforementioned May 13 motion and action.

– article submitted by Sonya Price