City Council

TOWN OF ELIZABETHTOWN Regular Meeting December 6, 2021 The Elizabethtown Town Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. Those present were Mayor Sylvia Campbell, Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, Council Members Rich Glenn, Howell Clark Jr., Herman Lewis, Ricky Leinwand, Paula Greene, Town Manager Dane Rideout and Town Attorney Goldston Womble. Department Heads in attendance included Finance Director Sharon Penny, Police Chief Tony Parrish, Public Services Director Hugh Bledsoe, Town Clerk Juanita Hester, Director of Communications and Marketing Terri Dennison and Fire Chief Hollis Freeman. Representative from the press included Joy Warren. Mayor Sylvia Campbell opened the meeting and called upon Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd to give the invocation. Item #2.1: Approval of Agenda/Previous Minutes Approval A motion was made by Council Member Herman Lewis, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., to approve the Agenda (Unanimous). Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to approve the November 8, 2021 Rescheduled Meeting Minutes (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #3.1: Oaths of Office – Council Members Rich Glenn, Paula Greene, Herman Lewis and Rufus Lloyd Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court Niki Dennis administered the Oaths of Office to re- elected Council Members Rich Glenn, Paula Greene, Herman Lewis and Rufus Lloyd. Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #4.1: Organizational Meeting of Town Council Council Member Ricky Leinwand, seconded by Council Member Paula Greene, made a motion to appoint Council Member Rufus Lloyd as Mayor Pro Tem to serve at the pleasure of the Board (Unanimous). Item #5.1: Oath of Office – Fire Chief Hollis Freeman Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court Niki Dennis administered the Oath of Office to Fire Chief Hollis Freeman. Town Manager Dane Rideout noted that Fire Chief Hollis Freeman is professional and has the ability to take on extra responsibilities. Item #6.1: Town Manager Update This agenda item was presented at the Noon Work Session. Item #7.1: Proclamation – Honoring Public Works Supervisor Keith L. Smith on His Retirement with Naming of Town Street January 1, 2022, Keith L. Smith will be retiring from the Town with 40 years of service in the Public Services Street Department. Mr. Smith will be honored by naming the entrance of Tory Hole Park and the parking area as “Keith L. Smith Lane.” Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to adopt the Proclamation (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.2: Funeral Resolution #R-2021-21 for the Deceased U.S. Air Force Colonel Daniel Alexander (Tony) McFadgen, Retired Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, moved to approve the Funeral Resolution #R-2021-21 for the Deceased U.S. Air Force Colonel Daniel Alexander (Tony) McFadgen, Retired (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.1: Approval to Conduct Preliminary Engineering Report for Live, Work and Play EDA Grant Submission Town Manager Dane Rideout noted this is for the Industrial Park Live, Work and Play Project and the last to get Federal Government Grant funds for EPA grant. The Preliminary Engineering Report should not exceed $12,000.00. Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, moved to approve the preparation of a Preliminary Engineering Report for Live, Work and Play EDA Grant Submission (Unanimous). Item #8.2: Letter of Commitment for EDA Grant Application for the Live, Work Play Campus Project, Elizabethtown Industrial Park Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to approve Letter of Commitment for EDA Grant Application for Live, Work, Play Campus Project, Elizabethtown Industrial Park (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.3: Set New Date for January 2022 Town Council Meeting Town Council Meeting for January 2022 will be on the 10th by Zoom at 5:00 pm to approve the Firemen’s Roster. Item #8.4: Set Date and Location for the Town’s 2022 Budget Retreat The Town’s Budget Retreat will be February 15, 2022. Item #8.5: Audit Contract Extension Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., moved to approve Audit Contract Extension (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.6: Proposal from Precision Safe Sidewalks – Sidewalk Repair Project Town Manager Dane Rideout noted that there is a trip hazard in the downtown area with the sidewalks and curbs. Precision Safe Sidewalk came in and did an assessment for height and curb hazards. Powell Bill funds can be used for the repairs. Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, moved to approve the proposal from Safe Sidewalks Option #2 in the amount of $37,161.00 (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.7: Budget Amendment #2022-02 Finance Director Sharon Penny noted that the amendment is due to the Town Hall roof, donations to purchase flock cameras and VC3 contract. Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, moved to approve Budget Amendment #2022-02 (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.8: Monthly Financial Report Finance Director Sharon Penny noted that the Financial Report will be on track after the budget posts. Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., moved to approve the Monthly Financial Report (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #9.1: “Briefly” Director of Communications and Marketing Terri Dennison noted the Chamber’s 30 days of Christmas has started with help from Whimsical Florist, Christmas Parade, Santa, Gingerbread Contest – 3 entries, Pet Contest 12-11, Santa Claus Walk, Bladenboro Parade, and Lighting of the Lake. The winner of the float contest was Camp Clear Water of White Lake. Item #10.1: Open Forum: Three (3) Minutes Per Citizen…Should State Name/Address Mr. Oscar Thompson at 505 E. Broad Street noted that the property beside him at 503 E. Broad Street has two trees that are hanging over his fence. He is asking for the Town’s help because the neighbor is difficult to deal with. Mr. Thompson has been before the Board before about the condition of the house. Town Council Members expressed their opinions about the situation and noted that this has been going on for years. Town Attorney and the Town Manager will check into the matter. With there being no further business to conduct, Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to adjourn the meeting (Unanimous). Sylvia Campbell, Mayor