The board may excuse a member from voting, but only upon questions involving the member's own financial interest or official conduct or on matters on which the member is prohibited from voting under G.S. 14-234 or G.S. 160D-109. For purposes of this section, the question of the compensation and allowances of members of the board does not involve a member's own financial interest or official conduct.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-44