October 8, 2007

MINUTES
Snow Hill Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Monday, October 8, 2007—7:30 p.m.
Snow Hill Town Hall
201 North Greene Street, North Carolina 28580

The Snow Hill Board of Commissioners regular meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 8, 2007, in the Snow Hill Town Hall with the following members present: Mayor Don Davis; Commissioners Percy Edwards, Phyllis Burruss, and Allison Thomas; Acting Town Clerk Michelle Strickland; Town Administrator Bob Clark

1.  Call to Order – Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m.

2.  Prayer – Prayer was offered by Commissioner Edwards

3.  Pledge of Allegiance – The pledge was recited.

4.  Roll Call – Mayor Davis announced that Commissioners Washington & Shackleford would not be able to attend the meeting.  Roll call was suspended and a quorum was declared.  The absent members were excused without objection after reasons were offered.

5.  Consider Approving Meeting Agenda – Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with changes to item 7a and item 10, Band Booster request should be added as item 7a2 and consider request of Band Boosters should be added as item 10a.

6.  Consider Approving Meeting Minutes: September 26, 2007 regular meeting – Reading of the minutes was suspended.  Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to approve the minutes as written.

7.  Report of Officers:

    1. Mayor:
    1. Concerns over enforcement of boarding home regulations – Mayor Davis read a letter from Laura W. Exum (a copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).  Mayor Davis felt that this letter needed to be brought to the attention of the Board.  Mayor Davis answered the questions that were asked in the letter.  He stated that he and Bob Clark continue to work on the problem at hand and that he has been in close contact with Mr. Clark and the attorney on the issues at hand.  Mr. Clark spoke to the Board about the state regulations, zoning

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October 8, 2007 Regular Meeting

    • issues, and other things that have stood in the way of zoning ordinance enforcement.  He stated that 206 W. Greene Street had been vacated and this was a residence that he felt was in violation.  The second party that he feels is in violation does not feel that they are.  Mr. Clark would like to make sure that the violations are clear and that the Board of Commissioners stands behind the actions that he as Code Enforcement Officer takes.  The addresses in question are 210 and 310 W. Greene Street.  These owners have been notified that they have zoning ordinance violations.
    • Mayor Davis asked Becki Scarborough to join the board at the table to discuss the issues that are being raised by the citizens regarding group and boarding homes.  Mrs. Scarborough talked to the Board about the complaints, threats, and concerns surrounding the group homes. She discussed the meetings in Raleigh that citizens have attended to talk to groups about the loopholes in the State laws that govern group homes.  Board members asked questions of Mrs. Scarborough.  It was mentioned that the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners were the only board that has jurisdiction over the homes that don’t have a license from the state.  Mrs. Scarborough listed other homes that she felt might need to be looked into.  These homes were a house on SE Fourth Street, Kingold Blvd., and the Alawar house.  Mayor Davis handed out recommendations (a copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes) that Mrs. Scarborough had given him previously regarding the group home concerns.  The Mayor thanked Mrs. Scarborough for talking to the Board and asked her to think about giving a regular report to the Board on how things are going.
    1. Band Booster Request – Mayor Davis handed out a request he had received from the GCHS Band Booster Club (a copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes) and asked the Board of Commissioners to consider earmarking funds for the Band to help them get to play at the Outback Bowl in Florida this year.  The Board received this report by consent.
    1. Public Works & Utilities Director: Report on automated meter reading system – Mr. Hill gave an overview of the automated meter reading system that he has been researching.  He informed the Board that he would like their approval to implement the system on a small scale with the funds that had already been earmarked for the replacement of 2 handhelds.  He would like to buy the system and 50 – 100 meters to begin the implementation as a test.

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    • Commissioner Wilkes asked Mr. Hill to come up with a plan to come before the Board.  Mr. Hill advised that he just wanted to sell the automated meter reading idea to the Board before investing any additional time into research. The Board received this report by consent.

8. Report of the Boards, Commissions, Committees and/or Taskforces: Neighborhood Affairs—Citizens’ Academy October 11-November 1 – Mr. Clark announced that the Citizens’ Academy that had been set up was going to be rescheduled due to only one application being received.  The Neighborhood Affairs Committee had discussed promoting the Academy during the Holiday Extravaganza and possibly having the academy in February. The Board received this report by consent.

9. Unfinished Business and General Orders: 2007-2008 Snow Hill Town Council Strategic Goals and Objectives – Mr. Clark handed out an overview of the goals and objectives (a copy hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes) discussed at the previous meeting and asked each member to take them home and look over.  The item was tabled without objection due to the number of members absent.

    1. New Business: (a.) Consider request of Band Boosters – Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas to donate $250.00 to the Band Boosters.  A request for a second was called for three times.  The motion died due to lack of a second.  Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss to donate $500.00 to the Band Boosters.  Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Thomas and carried unanimously to amend the motion to specify that the $500.00 be donated to the Band Boosters for the Outback Bowl.
    (b.) Consider closed session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(6) – Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to enter closed session at 9:35 p.m.
    Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to reconvene at 9:43 p.m.
  1. Announcements and Public Comments – none
  2. Adjournment – Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to adjourn at 9:44 p.m.

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October 8, 2007 Regular Meeting

        • _________________________________

        • Donald G. Davis

        • Mayor

ATTEST:
_______________________________

Michelle L. Strickland