Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones has resigned from the Arts & Science Council’s board of directors, citing a conflict of interest.

As the county’s top administrator, Jones plays a key role in recommending how much money Mecklenburg will give each year to nonprofit groups. The ASC, meanwhile, is an annual recipient of county dollars.

The ASC provides grants and other support services for dozens of arts-related organizations.

ASC President Scott Provancher released a statement Monday noting that Jones was one of several public officials on ASC’s 50-member board.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the city of Charlotte and the mayors of the six cities within Mecklenburg County are also represented on the board, he said.

“As with all ASC board members,” he said, “public officials are not allowed to vote on funding that would directly benefit them.”

The Arts & Science Council last month announced grants totaling $7.7 million to various organizations, including nearly $192,000 for the Harvey B. Gantt Center and lesser amounts to fund dozens of community and diversity projects.

ASC will receive about $2.9 million from the city of Charlotte this fiscal year. But Mecklenburg County, strapped for cash and facing its own cutbacks, reduced its ASC support to $150,000 from last year’s nearly $800,000.

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