Four of the five Moore County commissioners split down the middle on a college trustee appointment Monday and the fifth member straddled the fence by seeking a delay.

The term of Dr. Louis J. Marchetti on the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees expires this month, and his name arose for reappointment at the Monday night meeting of the commissioners.

No other nominees were mentioned, so Commissioner Robert S. Ewing made a motion to reappoint Marchetti. Commissioner David J. Cummings made the second.

But when it came time to vote, board chair Michael R. Holden and Commissioner Colin McKenzie cast dissenting votes.

A vote was not recorded for Commissioner Paul S. Helms, who entered a substitute motion that the matter be deferred until the next meeting. His motion passed 3-2 with Cummings and Ewing voting no this time.

"We could give someone else an opportunity to serve. I know Dr. Marchetti’s been very helpful," Helms commented in making his motion.

College trustees are appointed by three different entities, the governor, the board of education and the county commissioners.

Dr. Marchetti, a Pinehurst physician who lives in Southern Pines, was first appointed to the college board in 1991

Other trustees whose terms expire this month are Debbie Riley, appointed by the governor, and Walker Oldham, appointed by the school board. Both live in Southern Pines.

In other appointments at the Monday meeting the commissioners reappointed Tyrell Britt to the planning board, appointed Tony Chriscoe and John C. Garner as new members and deferred action on a fourth appointment.

Britt was the only planning board member eligible for reappointment. Roy C. Jackson, Martha R. Blake and Jack Naylor have served two consecutive terms and are not eligible for reappointment.

The commissioners were reluctant to give up the services of Naylor, who was subsequently given a different appointment, this one to succeed W.M. Thompson on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The commissioners deferred action on appointees to succeed Charles R. Sullivan and alternate Martha Blake.

The board voted to defer appointment of three at-large members of the new Steering Committee for Economic Development but did tap Helms as the board representative and County Manager W. David McNeill Jr., both appointments required by the Memorandum of Understanding adopted by the commissioners and the Sandhills Area Chamber of Commerce.

At a previous meeting the board voted to dissolve the Economic Development Corporation as it was initially established and to contract with the chamber to provide economic development and industrial search leadership.

Responding to a request from the Hazardous Material Planning Committee, the board approved expansion of the committee and appointed these persons: Barry Britt, director, Emergency Services; Mike Cameron, supervisor, E-911; Sarah G. Foster, civil engineer, N.C. Department of Transportation; Allen Johnson, complex environmental manager, Perdue Farms, representing industry; Sid Bostic, security manager, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, medical representative. In addition, Max Muse will continue to serve as the rescue squad representative after previously serving as representative for both rescue squads and medical concerns.

Jimmie Ann Lassiter was reappointed to the Jury Commission for an additional two-year term.

A motion by McKenzie to defer action on Workforce Development Board appointments was approved. This board, serving Region H, was formerly known as the Private Industry Council.