§ 153A-103. Number of employees in offices of sheriff and register of deeds. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 153A‑103.  Numberof employees in offices of sheriff and register of deeds.

Subject to the limitations set forth below, the board of commissionersmay fix the number of salaried employees in the offices of the sheriff and theregister of deeds. In exercising the authority granted by this section, theboard of commissioners is subject to the following limitations:

(1)        Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people hasthe exclusive right to hire, discharge, and supervise the employees in his office.However, the board of commissioners must approve the appointment by such anofficer of a relative by blood or marriage of nearer kinship than first cousinor of a person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

(2)        Each sheriff and register of deeds elected by the people isentitled to at least two deputies who shall be reasonably compensated by thecounty, provided that the register of deeds justifies to the Board of CountyCommissioners the necessity of the second deputy.  Each deputy so appointedshall serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, approval ofthe board of commissioners is not required for the reappointment or continuedemployment of a near relative of a sheriff or register of deeds who was notrelated to the appointing officer at the time of initial appointment. (1953, c. 1227, ss. 1, 2; 1969, c. 358, s. 1; 1973, c.822, s. 1; 1977, c. 36; 1979, c. 551; 1987, c. 362.)