By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
A top Rowan official says the county and state agencies are standing by to help Freightliner employees who are losing their jobs, as well as all other laid off workers.
Carl Ford, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, responded Friday to a call by a fellow commissioner to have a special, called meeting to discuss layoffs.
“We’ve got agencies and people in place to provide help,” said Ford, adding that County Manager Gary Page will be working on a report for the upcoming board meeeting.
Vice Chairman Jon Barber also suggested the county create a “Layoff Assistance Fund” to provide money to agencies to assist laid off workers with home mortgages, food, care for their children and utilities.
Barber sent a two-page e-mail to commissioners and various media outlets late Thursday after learning of the Freightliner and Carter Furniture layoffs.
On Friday, Ford responded that he decided not to call a special meeting, pointing out that the Department of Social Services, Employment Security Commission and others are ready to help. Ford noted that the same agencies helped last year when Freightliner had an even larger layoff.
And Ford noted that these same agencies dealt with the thousands who lost their jobs when Pillowtex closed ó the largest layoff in the state’s history.
Ford went on to say that the best way to help those affected by the layoffs is to keep the focus on the unfortunate situation that many of the county residents are now dealing with or will face in the near future.
After meeting with Page, Ford said the board will discuss the matter at the Jan. 20 scheduled meeting.
“The board needs time to obtain all the facts prior to holding a meeting on this issue,” he said.