Board of Commissioners

TOWN OF BURGAW BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING DATE: April 20, 2017 TIME: 8:00 AM PLACE: Burgaw Municipal Building BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Eugene Mulligan Mayor Pro-tem Wilfred Robbins Commissioners Jan Dawson, Bill George, Vernon Harrell and James Murphy STAFF PRESENT: Chad McEwen, Town Manager Sylvia W. Raynor, Town Clerk Robert Kenan, Town Attorney Louis Hesse, Building Inspector Karen Dunn, Planning Administrator Kristin Wells, Deputy Clerk MEDIA PRESENT: None INVOCATION: Mayor Pro-tem Robbins PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: All The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mulligan at 8:00AM. Review and approve draft artwork for proposed mural on Arts Council Building Mayor Mulligan introduced Denae Brissonnet who is the artist that will be painting the mural on the side of the Arts Council Building. Rochelle Whiteside advised there has been a meet and greet at the Arts Council at which stories were shared by those present to give input on ideas for the painting. She advised there have been meetings in the skilled care unit of the hospital to get some stories and ideas from the elderly residents there. There was also a meeting at the library. Ms. Whiteside advised that Ms. Brissonnet has been given lots of ideas about Burgaw. Ms. Brissonnet asked if anyone had seen her work on her website. There were several affirmative nods in the room. At that time Ms. Brissonnet presented a sketch of her planned painting for review by the Board. She pointed out several items in the drawing that she feels depicts something about Burgaw. She advised there is some blank space for the children and others from the public to paint their ideas on. After the presentation and explanation of the ideas behind the drawing, Mayor Mulligan asked for comments. Commissioner Harrell said it is inclusive but he is having trouble wrapping his mind around how much is in there. He said his first impression is positive and he likes it. Commissioner Dawson said she dislikes the interpretations of the half human half something else. She said we are a very southern traditional town and that is a bit much for the majority of the individuals in this town. She reiterated she doesn’t like the aspect of the half human half other creatures aspect. Commissioner Robbins said he concurs with Commissioner Dawson in that it is not historical enough. He said he was thinking more of historic instead of futuristic. Ms. Brissonnet said the term for the drawing is ‘mystical’. Commissioner Robbins said he agrees that the humans should be all human not half something else. Commissioner Dawson said she wanted it to be more traditional; we were hoping to see more of things like our courthouse, the EMS building and what it represented before it became the arts council building as well as more about the depot and the historical significance of the town. She said we were thinking more of the beginning of the town’s history to the present. She said that is what she was hoping for. Commissioner Robbins said if she could to maybe touch on a little bit of history such as the Pender County Rescue Squad. He said he can visualize all the colors which will be beautiful but we need to bring a little history into the BOC Minutes April 20, 2017 special meeting 1 picture. Ms. Brissonnet advised she plans to let the kids paint the rescue squad people. Commissioner Robbins said he’s not negative about the concept but isn’t sure about the half human half animal characters. Commissioner Murphy said he kind of likes it; it is a little bit overwhelming and without the color it is difficult to visualize it but overall it is okay. Mayor Mulligan said it’s an incredible piece of art; it is way outside the box and you have to sit down and look for the pieces of history that she has included in there because there is so much to see. He commented that this is not necessarily a Burgaw town project it is more an arts council project and we might want to lean a little more on the artistic side than on the realistic side. He said it is going to be different and he likes it. Commissioner Robbins said it will entice people to stand there and study the art and pick out the historical aspects. Charles Rooks asked if he could speak. He said he agrees with Commissioner Dawson regarding the traditional items and whatever we put up there will represent the Town of Burgaw for a long time. He said there are things in it that he likes but has questions about other things such as the alligator. He said he has lived in Burgaw for forty five years and has never seen an alligator here. He said he has never seen blueberries on a deer’s horns. Mr. Rooks said he is too traditional and his reason for being here is to represent local interest. He said we don’t want something up there that does not represent the Town of Burgaw. Commissioner Harrell said in order to make it more traditional it sounds like the biggest the change you want (speaking to Commissioner Dawson) is to remove the people from the plants and things that dominate. Commissioner Dawson said she doesn’t like the half human creatures. She said we are a traditional town although there are some people that want to be on the wild side but ninety percent of our town is traditional and we (the board) represent everyone. She said Ms. Brissonnet’s artwork is beautiful but we have to be careful of what we put up there. Ms. Brissonnet said she came here believing that she was just doing a job and not actually getting judged by like fifteen people. She charged a certain amount of money because she is doing something she loves but if it is being judged and you want it to be more historical that is something that would cause her contract to be renegotiated. She advised the Board that they need to get together because she is not going to change. Commissioner Dawson said that maybe our wishes were not shared with Ms. Brissonnet because we voted to approve the artwork with specific requests in mind. Ms. Brissonnet said communication was really bad and it is not your fault or anyone’s. She said she was really far away and communication was crummy but she wants to do something she is excited about but this is a lot of work. She said she has already done a lot of things to please and if she has to change it more it will not be good for her portfolio or her future. She said she always does really crazy creatures and she decided she would go really soft with beautiful flowers and a deer. She said she is doing what people told her about in their stories. She said the town may be really traditional and conservative but the kids are not; she said the kids are growing and that is what is going to make the town in a few years. She said if the board wants more historical things she can ask the kids to do it and they can learn about their history. She advised that Board that if there is something really important that they want they can come and paint it because she left a lot of space for that reason. She said she can teach them to paint. Rochelle Whiteside said she can see everything that everybody has said and it makes perfect sense to her. This is a mural that is going to represent a town and a community. She said when people who live here see it we want them to feel proud of their heritage and where we are now and where we are going. She also wants people who are passing by to see it and be interested in what they are seeing. She said she admittedly had some trepidation when she first saw some of Danae’s work on the computer. She said she thought the colors were beautiful but thought it would be a hard sell for fantastical creatures to some people, herself included. She said she came prepared to be scared this morning but she really loves the sketch. She said this is a crossover of our history and the future of our world. She said this is a treasure hunt in looking for the information that people have told in their stories. She said if you are not comfortable holding a paintbrush and there is something that you want put in there then you tell me and I will put it in there for you. BOC Minutes April 20, 2017 special meeting 2 Commissioner Dawson said she apologizes to Ms. Brissonnet because she realizes that the Board’s expectations were not relayed to her and that seems to be the cause of the misunderstanding about the content of the mural. Ms. Whiteside said she totally knows that lack of communication was the problem. Commissioner Dawson said we thought Ms. Brissonnet knew that we had to give our stamp of approval. She said the artwork in general is beautiful but we feel it needs to be toned down because we are a very traditional southern town. Commissioner Dawson said if the half human creatures were not in the painting it would be fine. She apologized again because it was not fair to the artist that their wishes were not communicated to her. Commissioner George said there is probably not anyone in this room any more traditional than he is. He said (speaking to Ms. Brissonnet) that you have said if we don’t like what is there you are not going to change it. He said so if we (for example) want the alligators taken out you will not do that? She nodded her head “no”. Commissioner George responded “okay”. Ms. Brissonnet asked what disturbs you about the half human characters. Commissioner Dawson said she is uncomfortable in whatever this symbolism is called which depicts a half human half animal or a half human and something else. Ms. Brissonnet approached the board table drew some faces in the draft and asked the board if that was acceptable. During this time there was much inaudible discussion. Commissioner Harrell made a motion to accept the drawing with minor changes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Robbins. Commissioner Robbins asked if he could add that someone needs to approve what goes on there. He suggested that Rochelle Whiteside oversee the project. Ms. Whiteside commented that she would oversee the project. Commissioner Dawson said she cannot vote in favor unless she has assurance that there will be no half human half whatever and that she understands that a human must look like a human. Ms. Brissonnet asked if she was okay with the changes that she just made. Commissioner Dawson said she just wants it to look like a human. Commissioners Harrell, Robbins, Dawson and Murphy voted in favor. Commissioner George voted no. Motion carried four to one. Review and approve job description & organizational chart for a Parks/Recreation Coordinator Mayor Mulligan commented “good job” on the job description for the Parks & Recreation Coordinator position. He asked the Board if they had any comments. There being no comments, Commissioner Harrell made a motion to approve the job description and the organizational chart for the Parks and Recreation Coordinator position. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Robbins. Commissioners Harrell, Robbins, Dawson and Murphy voted “aye”. Commissioner George voted “nay”. Motion carried. RESOLUTION 2017-13 AMENDING THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR POSITION IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY WHEREAS, the Town of Burgaw Board of Commissioners approved the use of the Personnel Policy on September 11, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Town of Burgaw Board of Commissioners created the position of a Parks & Recreation Community Development Coordinator at the Board of Commissioners meeting on July 12, 2016; and WHEREAS, the Town of Burgaw Board of Commissioners modified the title to Parks & Recreation Coordinator and amended the job description at the Board of Commissioners meeting on April 11, 2017. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN OF BURGAW BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT the Town of Burgaw Board of Commissioners hereby amends the Personnel Policy to reflect the changes in the job description and organizational chart as stated above. Adopted this 20th day of April 2017. BOC Minutes April 20, 2017 special meeting 3 Closed session pursuant to GS 143-318.11 (a) (3) Attorney/Client Privilege Commissioner Dawson made a motion to go into closed session. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Robbins and carried by unanimous vote. (8:45AM) Open session reconvened Commissioner Dawson made a motion to reconvene to open session. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Robbins and carried by unanimous vote. There was no action taken in closed session. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Harrell made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Murphy and carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:22AM. __________________________________________ Eugene Mulligan, Mayor Attest: _____________________________________ Sylvia W. Raynor, Town Clerk BOC Minutes April 20, 2017 special meeting 4