Town of Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina

MINUTES
Snow Hill Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Monday, June 12, 2006—7:00 p.m.
Snow Hill Town Hall
201 North Greene Street, North Carolina 28580

The Snow Hill Board of Commissioners regular meeting convened at 7:00 pm on Monday June 12, 2006 in the Snow Hill Town Hall with the following present: Commissioners Phyllis Burruss, Percy Edwards, Geraldine Shackleford, and Lorrine Washington; Town Clerk-Finance Officer Mauren Baker; Town Administrator Bob Clark. Mayor Don Davis and Commissioner arrived late. Others present included Carolyn Newcomb, Jill Whitson, Frank Warren, Stephen and Sharon Ginn, Sheriff Lemmie Smith, Brenda Chamberlain, Martha Lura Glossip and Katie Marshall.

1. Call to Order—In the absence of the Mayor, Commissioner Percy Edwards, Mayor Pro Tem, called the meeting to order.

2. Prayer—Commissioner Edwards offered prayer.

3. Pledge of Allegiance—The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

4. Roll Call—Mayor Pro Tem Edwards called the roll. Mayor Davis would be late due to an obligation. Commissioner Thomas was absent at roll call. A quorum was declared.

5. Consider Approving Meeting Agenda—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford to adopt the agenda as modified with the following—add 8 a 4, Water Tank Maintenance; continue 8 a 2, request from Lenoir/Greene Partnership for Children; continue 11 a, Lenoir/Greene Partnership for Children.

6. Consider Approving Meeting Minutes—Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Washington, and carried to approve the May 31, 2006 regular meeting minutes.

7. Public Hearing: Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Burruss, and carried unanimously to open the FY2006-07 Budget Public Hearing. There were no comments from the citizens present in reference to the FY2006-07 Budget. Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford to close the public hearing.

8. Report of Officers:

a. Town Administrator—accepted by consent of the Board.

1. Town Hall Day, “A Legislative Action Day”, Wednesday June 7, 2006 sponsored by the North Carolina League of Municipalities—Mayor Don Davis and Town Administrator Bob Clark attended this event.

2. Request from Lenoir/Greene Partnership for Children to authorize an additional 10-day grace period for payment of utility bills—This item continued by consent until June 28, 2006.

3. Recommendation of adopting a resolution accepting and endorsing the Greene County solid waste management plan—Bob Clark introduced the Greene County Solid Waste Management Plan developed by Municipal Services. Commissioner Edwards asked if we could have Onslow Container do the shredding for the town again. Mr. Clark said he would make the contact to find out.

4. Mr. Clark reported that Greene County would finally support the Tank Maintenance Program with a one time donation of $30,000.00, of the $90,000.00 agreement. The county will not pay the balance of $60,000.00. Utility Services is drafting a maintenance plan for the water tanks.

b. Greene County Sheriff—Commissioner Edwards welcomed Sheriff Lemmie Smith to the table to discuss his budget request. High fuel costs govern the sheriff’s request. He stated that he was using more experienced personnel in the town rather than the rookies he had used in the past. Deputy Wheeler left the department. The town has a rookie, Kent Beaman, whose pay grade is Step 1. The sheriff’s report was accepted by consent of the Board.

9. Reports of Boards, Commissions, Committees and/or Taskforce:

a. Public Works Committee—Commissioner Burruss gave the Public Works Committee Report, stating that the committee met on June 5, 2006 and offers the following recommendations:

1. Recommendation of adopting a Veterans Supplemental Burial Benefit Policy—Commissioner presented each Board member with a copy of the proposed policy. A copy is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes. The target date for implementation is July 1, 2006.

2. Recommendation of adopting a Parks, Recreational Facilities and Places Deposit—Commissioner Burruss read this proposed policy to the Board and presented a copy of the policy to each member. A copy is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes.

3. Recommendation of increasing water rates per 1,000 gallons over 4,000 minimum from $2.50 (inside users) to $3.00 and $2.75 (outside users) to $3.50—The Public Works Committee approved these rate increases and recommends that the Board approve the new rates.

Mayor Don Davis arrived at 7:45 pm. Commissioner Edwards turned the meeting over to the mayor.

b. Historic Commission—Jill Whitson and Carolyn Newcomb gave an impressive presentation on the status of the Commission, its mission and the plan for the year to come. The commission will have a retreat on June 26, 2006 at the Coward-Dixon House, a Greene County Historic Site, located in the Ormondsville area of the county (copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

9. Unfinished Business and General Orders: N/A

Commissioner Thomas arrived for the meeting at 8:10 pm. This made all members present.

11. New Business:

a. Consider request from Lenoir/Greene Partnership for Children to authorize an additional 10-day grace period for payment of utility bills—continued until June 28, 2006.

b. Consider the recommendation to adopt a resolution accepting and endorsing the Greene County solid waste management plan—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to adopt a resolution accepting and endorsing the Greene County Solid Waste Management Plan (copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

c. Consider adopting a Veterans Supplemental Burial Benefit policy as recommended by the Public Works Committee—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to adopt a Veterans Supplemental Burial Benefit Policy as recommended by the Public Works Committee (copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

d. Consider adopting a Parks, Recreational Facilities and Places Deposit policy as recommended by the Public Works Committee—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to adopt a Parks, Recreation Facilities and Places Deposit Policy as presented by the Public Works Committee (copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

e. Consider approving an increase in water rates per 1,000 gallons over 4,000 minimum from $2.50 (inside users) to $3.00 and $2.75 (outside users) to $3.50—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried 4 to 1, to approve an increase in Water rates per 1,000 gallons over 4000 minimum from $2.50 (inside users) to $3.00 and $2.75 (outside users) to $3.50. Commissioner Thomas voted against the increase, stating that it was not fair to families and high
end users.

f. Consider approving Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried 4 to 1 to approve the Fiscal Year Budget for 2006-2007 (to include moving $500.00 from 10.4200.5700 Miscellaneous to 10.6200.1000 Historic Commission). Commissioner Thomas voted against the FY 2006-07 Budget stating that she could not support the budget with the water rate increase.

12. Program: N/A

13. Announcements and Public Comments—
a. Mrs. Sharon Ginn presented a report from the Greene County History and Arts Society (copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

b. Mrs. JoAnn Stevens stated that Alice Rosenwald had presented Rosenwald Center for Cultural Enrichment a $15,000.00 Challenge Grant. She also announced that a summer camp will be held June 26-29, 2006 at the Community Center. She is raising money to purchase a school bus for the children of the Rosenwald to take trips.

14. Adjournment—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to adjourn this session of the Town Council.