Town of Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina

MINUTES
Snow Hill Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Wednesday June 27, 2007—9:00 a.m. Continued to Friday June 29, 2007—8:00 a.m.
Snow Hill Town Hall
201 North Greene Street, North Carolina 28580

The Snow Hill Board of Commissioners regular meeting convened at 7:30 pm on Monday, July 9, 2007, in the Snow Hill Town Hall with the following members present: Mayor Don Davis; Commissioners Percy Edwards, Phyllis Burruss, Geraldine Shackleford, Allison Thomas, Lorrine Washington; Town Clerk-Finance Officer Mauren Baker; Town Administrator Bob Clark; Public Works & Utilities Director Dana Hill, and Town Attorney Brian Pridgen.

1. Call to Order—Mayor Davis sounded the gavel and called the meeting to order.

2. Commissioner Edwards offered prayer.

3. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

4. Roll Call—All members were present and a quorum was declared.

5. Consider Approving Meeting Agenda —Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously.

6. Consider Approving Meeting Minutes—June 11, 2007 and June 18, 2007 Special Joint meeting with the Greene County Board of Commissioners. Minutes were not available and the Board consented to Table them to the next meeting.

7. Public Hearing: a public hearing to consider amending the 2004 C-1 CDBG Project for acquisition of the Price property—Mr. Clark asked consideration for continuing this item to July 25, 2007. This will provide time for Mr. Mike Barnette, McDavid Associates, Inc. and CDBG Project Manager and himself to include additional items in the advertisement. The Board Consented to table the hearing until 9:00 a.m. July 25, 2007.

8. Report of Officers:

a. Mayor:

1. Mayor Davis presented a memo from Cemetery Superintendent Dana Hill dated June 26, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference and made part of these minutes) with recommended amendments to Section 93.04 of the Town Code regulating recreation in the Snow Hill Cemetery. The Mayor introduced the suggested changes for consideration as means to allow non-competitive recreational walking and jogging on paved lanes during outside of burial services. The suggestions include updating the ordinance to restrict skating, skateboarding, scooters and the like similar to the existing limitation on bicycles.

2. Snow Hill representative to the Greene County Economic Development Commission—Mayor Davis read aloud a letter from Robert E. Masters, Jr. in which Mr. Masters states his reasons for resigning as the Snow Hill representative to the Greene County Economic Development Commission (incorporated herein by reference and made part of these minutes). On Davis’s invitation, Masters joined the Board and highlighted economic development initiatives currently needed and or underway, including encouraging all parties to participate in the July 18, 2007 meeting of Greene County economic development stakeholders; to follow-up with County Economic Developer Chris Roberson on implementing various initiatives including adoption of a formal development incentives policy, and collaborate with the County EDC in pursing an aggressive development program. Davis expressed strong support and thanks to Masters for the outstanding job Masters has done as Snow Hill’s EDC representative. Davis went on to state his strong disappointment and objection to negative comments attributed to County Commissioner Jesse Tyndall about Masters’ service on the EDC. Masters thanked the Mayor and Board for the opportunity to serve on the County EDC over the past three and a half years where his fellow members had supported his economic development efforts as evidenced by his service as vice-chair and chair. Each Commissioner expressed their personal appreciation to Robert Masters for his outstanding public service.

3. Home Energy Supplier Agreement between Greene County Department of Social Services and the Town of Snow Hill—Mayor Davis introduced the proposed agreement (herein incorporated by reference and made part of these minutes) and recommended its adoption as a means of working with Social Services certified clients in paying their utilities bills.

4. A Resolution of Support for the Clean Water Act of 2007 under consideration by the NC General Assembly—Mayor Davis presented a resolution prepared by the NC Rural Center urging the NC General Assembly to approve $500 million bond issue and $50 million annual urgent needs funds for public water resources.

5. Municipal elections filing opens 12:00 noon July 6, 2007—Mayor Davis reminded everyone of the filing period for Commissioners Burruss’ and Thomas’ seats.

b. Town Administrator:

1. Fourth of July – Fire Works S. Greene Ball field—The Town is sponsoring $500 toward the fireworks display through the Recreation Commission budget this year. Since the Town is a sponsor, it is recommended the Commissioners waive the field deposit.

2. Appointments to Governing Bodies—Advertisements have been made for candidates to fill available governing bodies’ seats.

3. FY 2006-7 Budget encumbrances & project budget ordinances—No report.

4. Consider a Resolution in support of the Contentnea Creek Water Management Project submitted by the Greene County (creek snagging)—Tabled

c. Public Works & Utilities Director: Mr. Hill said he was reconsidering how to proceed with filling the Animal Control Officer responsibilities—Tabled.

d. Finance Officer: FY 2006-7 Budget Amendment—Mrs. Baker reported the end of year adjustments would need a short time extension complete—Consent to Continue.

9. Report of the Boards, Commissions, Committees and/or Taskforces—Mr. Clark reported the Historic Preservation Commission recommends a contract in the amount of $6,200.00 with architectural historian Michelle A. Michael to prepare the update of the Snow Hill National Register Historic District.

10. Unfinished Business and General Orders: N/A

11. New Business:

a. Consider amending the 2004 C-1 CDBG Project for acquisition of the Price property—Tabled by consent to July 25, 2007 following the public hearing.

b. Consider amending the ordinance regulating recreation in the Snow Hill Cemetery—Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Washington and the motion carried to approve the first reading of the proposed amendments to Section 93.04 of the Town Code.

c. Consider approving an Home Energy Supplier Agreement between Greene County Department of Social Services and the Town of Snow Hill—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss. Following discussion, Edwards withdrew his motion following discussion about some amendments of the standard language form language to match Snow Hill utilities services. The Board consented to table the item until the July 9, 2007 meeting.

d. Consider a Resolution of Support for the Clean Water Act of 2007 under consideration by the NC General Assembly—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to approve the prepared resolution.

e. Consider sponsoring the Fourth of July – Fire Works at S. Greene Ball field—Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously to sponsor the fireworks display for $500 subject to review by the Fire Department.

f. Consider a Resolution in support of the Contentnea Creek Water Management Project by Greene County (creek snagging)—Tabled

g. Consider approving a contract in the amount of $6,200.00 using FY2007-8 funds with architectural historian Michelle A. Michael to prepare the update of the Snow Hill National Register Historic District, subject to negotiations—Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Washington and carried unanimously to approve the contract with Michelle A. Michael as recommended.

h. Project budget ordinances and FY 2006-7 budget encumbrances—Tabled

i. Consider FY 2006-7 Budget amendment—Continued by consent to a recess meeting.

j. Consider a closed session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to
NCGS 143-318.11(6)—Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Washington and carried unanimously to enter a closed session.

Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Thomas and carried unanimously to reconvene in open session.

Motion was made by Commissioner Shackelford, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to recess the meeting until 8:00 a.m. Friday July 29, 2007.

At 8:10 a.m. June 29, 2007 in Town Hall, Mayor Davis sounded the gavel and reconvened the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners regular meeting of June 27, 2007 with the following members present: Mayor Don Davis; Phyllis Burruss, Geraldine Shackleford, Allison Thomas,; Town Clerk-Finance Officer Mauren Baker; Town Administrator Bob Clark; and Town Attorney Brian Pridgen. Commissioner Lorrine Washington was absence was excused. Commissioner Percy Edwards was absent.

Consider FY 2006-7 Budget amendment—Mrs. Baker distributed copies of the FY2006-7 year-end Budget Amendment for consideration (copy attached and incorporated by reference as part of these minutes) —Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to approve the recommended budget amendment.

Consider FY2007-8 Budget Ordinance—Mrs. Baker distributed copies of the FY2007-8 Budget Ordinance for consideration (copy attached and incorporated by reference as part of these minutes). The ordinance sets the tax rate at 0.35 per one hundred dollars property valuation, revenues and appropriations for all funds, utility rates, and services for town operations beginning July 1, 2007—Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to approve the FY2007-8 Budget Ordinance.

By Consent the agenda was amended to add: Increase to $3.60 per month Hillview Subdivision Street Lights service cost—Per established agreement, the Town pays street light operating costs in the Hillview Subdivision and is to be reimbursed through monthly utilities billing by home owners in the subdivision. Mayor Davis recommended increasing the current $3.00 per month fee to $3.60 per month to cover projected costs for continuing the service in FY2007-8 and recouping a $74.74 deficit in FY2006-07. Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Thomas and carried unanimously to set the monthly fee of $3.60 for Hillview Lights for FY2007-8.

Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously to enter a closed session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(6)

Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously to reconvene in open session.

12. Announcements and Public Comments—Commissioner Burruss asked for clarification of the $400.00 monthly members compensation and if the number of meetings held affects it. Mayor Davis explained the compensation was by month and not by meeting. Practices vary by jurisdiction according to Mayor Davis and may include allowances for special meetings. The board consented to continue discussion at another time.

Adjournment—Motion was made by Commissioner Shackleford, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to adjourn.