Town of Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina

MINUTES
Snow Hill Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Monday, October 9, 2006—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 pm on Monday, October 9, 2006, in the Snow Hill Town Hall with the following members present: Mayor Don Davis; Commissioners Phyllis Burruss, Percy Edwards, Geraldine Shackleford, Allison Thomas, Lorrine Washington; Town Clerk-Finance Officer Mauren Baker; Town Administrator Bob Clark.

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

2. Prayer—Commissioner Edwards offered prayer. A moment of silence was observed for Julius Graham.

3. Pledge of Allegiance—Mayor Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance

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 Burruss and carried unanimously to approve the agenda as drafted.

6. Consider Approving Meeting Minutes—Motion was made by Commissioner Burruss, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously to approve minutes of the September 27, 2006 Regular Meeting of the Town Board of Commissioners with the correction of the date in the beginning paragraph.

7. Public hearings:

a. Receive public comments regarding a voluntary annexation petition of the F. H. Shackelford Tide Tamer Industries located at 900 Highway 258 South—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to open a public hearing to receive public comments regarding a voluntary annexation petition of the F. H. Shackelford Tide Tamer Industries located at 900 Highway 258 South. Mayor Davis asked for comments three times from the public. There were no public comments. Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to close this public hearing.

b. Receive public comments regarding a voluntary annexation petition of the Ken and Renee Letchworth (“Worth Products”) property located at 856 Highway 258 South—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Burruss and carried unanimously to open a public hearing to receive public comments regarding a voluntary annexation petition of the Ken and Renee Letchworth (“Worth Products”) property located at 856 Highway 258 South.

Mayor Davis asked for comments three times from the public. There were no public comments. Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas, seconded by Commissioner Washington and carried unanimously to close this public hearing.

8. Report of Town Administrator: Discuss Graham incident—The Graham incident was introduced by Bob Clark. Julius Graham, a toddler, was attacked and killed by a dog owned by a neighbor. Mr. Clark invited Sheriff Smith, Linda Sewell, Director of Greene County Health Department, and Trish Mainhart to come to this meeting to discuss the incident. Rules of Order were suspended by consent of the Board so that the discussion could be open to everyone. Sheriff Smith gave the basic facts of the incident. Linda Sewell stated that this was an accident and that no one was at fault in this incident. There had been no complaints lodged against the dog involved. Ms. Sewell said that the Animal Control Work Group, who had developed the current Animal Control Ordinance, would be recalled to investigate the possibility of some restructuring of the ordinance. Trish Mainhart stated that there was a new spay/neuter program available to the low income community. Spay/neuter programs will help control unwanted animals, thereby reducing the number of wild and stray dogs. Mayor Davis asked for three items: 1) ask the Animal Control Work Group to consider requiring concrete pads for all dog pens; 2) readvertise for a Part Time Town Animal Control Officer—the Board consented; 3) develop some kind of Pet Registration—by consent of the Board, pet registration will be studied by the Public Safety Committee. Mayor Davis summed up the discussion in three words: Reduction; Adoption; Protection.

The Rules of Order were reinstated.

9. Report of the Boards, Commissions, Committees and/or Taskforces: N/A
By consent the Board amended the Agenda to hear a recommendation from the Recreation Commission. The Commission has developed a community survey to be used in Grant Applications (copy incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes).

10. Unfinished Business and General Orders: N/A—By consent, the Board
amended the Agenda to take action on two items presented by Bob Clark: 1) the Board approved the new phone system contract from Embarq by consent; 2) the Board approved the service contract from East Carolina Computers by consent. Copies of these contracts are incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes.

11. New Business:
The Town Clerk presented Certificates of Sufficiency for both of the following voluntary annexations (copies and supporting documentation incorporated by reference and made a part of these minutes). The Certificates of Sufficiency were received by consent of the Board.

a. Consider the voluntary annexation of the F. H. Shackelford Tide Tamer Industries located at 900 Highway 258 South—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to approve the voluntary annexation of the F. H. Shackelford Tide Tamer Industries located at 900 Highway 258 South, Snow Hill, North Carolina.

b. Consider the voluntary annexation of the Ken and Renee Letchworth (“Worth Products”) property located at 856 Highway 258 South—Motion was made by Commissioner Edwards, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford and carried unanimously to approve the voluntary annexation of the Ken Letchworth Worth Products, LLC property located at 856 Highway 258 South, Snow Hill, North Carolina.

c. Consider a closed session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(6) and NCGS 143-318.11(4) to discuss matters relating to the negotiations of an economic development incentive—Motion was made by Commissioner Washington, seconded by Commissioner Edwards and carried unanimously to move to closed session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(6) and NCGS 143-318.11(4) to discuss matters relating to the negotiations of an economic development incentive.

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

12. Announcements and Public Comments—Commissioner Washington announced that Mayor Davis would perform on Friday evening as Diva Donna Davis in the Womanless Beauty Pageant at the Moose Lodge of Snow Hill.

Commission Thomas asked a question on the Group Home subject. Mayor Davis took the opportunity to explain that the Town already had in place all of the items that Greene County Board of Commissioners took action on at their special called session. He also stated his disappointment that the group of citizens interested in this item would not understand that the Town had accepted its responsibility in this area.

13. Adjournment—Motion was made by Commissioner Thomas, seconded by Commissioner Shackleford to adjourn this session of the Town Board.