City Council

TOWN OF ELIZABETHTOWN Regular Meeting January 9, 2023 The Elizabethtown Town Council met for its evening meeting on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Council Chamber. Those present were Mayor Sylvia Campbell, Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, Council Members Ricky Leinwand, Herman Lewis, Howell Clark Jr., Rich Glenn Jr., Town Manager Dane Rideout and Town Attorney Goldston Womble. Department Heads in attendance included Police Chief Tony Parrish, Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane, Planner Rusty Worley, Director of Communications & Marketing Terri Dennison, Public Service/Engineering Director Stephen Duffy, Town Clerk Juanita Hester, Fire Chief Hollis Freeman and Finance Director Sharon Penny. Council Member Paula Greene was absent. Mayor Sylvia Campbell opened the meeting and welcomed Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy Cadets. The presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance were given by Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy Cadets. Mayor Campbell then called upon Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd to give the invocation. Item #3.1: Approve Consent Agenda Items Upon a motion by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, the Board unanimously approved the following Consent Items as presented: A. Proposed Agenda, B. December 5, 2022 Noon Work Session Meeting Minutes, C. December 5, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes, D. December 5, 2022 Closed Session Minutes, E. Tax Releases, F. Resolution #R-2022-16 – In Memory and Honor of Mrs. Mae Ola Sheridan. Item #4.1: PUBLIC HEARING: Special Use Permit Request – Case Number SUP #2021181 – Petitioner Cynthia Campbell – To Construct a 930 Sq. Ft. Garage – Quasi-Judicial Mayor Campbell opened the Public Hearing and called upon Planner Rusty Worley to present. Attorney Goldston Womble: Do you affirm that the testimony you are about to give in this matter is entirely the truth? Rusty Worley: I do. This is a Special Use Permit for a 930 square foot garage on lot adjacent to 511 Pinkney Street. A Special Use permit is required because it is over 750 square feet. Attorney Goldston Womble: Do you affirm that the testimony you are about to give in this matter is entirely the truth? Cynthia Campbell: I do. Good afternoon, Mayor and Town Council. Thank you for the opportunity for my family to speak. I inherited the property from family, my Granddaddy. We want somewhere to put our lawnmower, tractor and motorcycle. We want the place to look neat when people ride by. Thank you for the consideration and to speak. No one signed up to speak, therefore, Mayor Campbell closed the Public Hearing. Item #4.2: PUBLIC HEARING: Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG-NR) Mayor Sylvia Campbell opened the Public Hearing and called upon Town Planner Rusty Worley to speak. Mr. Worley noted the Town applied for a CDBG-NR grant for $2,575,000.00 for a 11,000 sq. ft. Community Center. The Town will need to have 2 Public Hearings. No one signed up to speak, therefore the Mayor closed the Public Hearing. Item #4.3: PUBLIC HEARING: Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment for Accessory Buildings – Case Number TA # 112222 Mayor Campbell opened the Public Hearing and called Town Planner Rusty Worley to present. Town Planner noted the Planning Board has addressed Accessory buildings to 1 attached garage, 1 carport. 8.14.12.2 Commercial Distances – 1 Accessory building 400 sq. ft., meet building codes, 8.14.12.4 Accessory buildings will be in harmony with existing development and uses within the area, 8.14.12.5 open carport primarily metal shelters to be in only R12 zoning districts, 8.14.12.6 delete in fee schedule, 8.14.12.7 Accessory building larger than 400 sq. ft. shall be placed on a concrete foundation. Mayor Sylvia Campbell closed the Public hearing since no one signed up to speak. Item #5.1: Approval of Special Use Permit Application – Case Number SUP # 201181 – Cynthia Campbell – To Construct 930 Sq. Foot Garage on lot adjacent to 511 Pinkney Street Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to approve Special Use Permit Application – Case Number SUP # 201181 as presented (Unanimous). Item #5.2: Approval of the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment for Accessory Buildings – Section 8.14.12 Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, moved to approve the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment for Accessory Buildings Section 8.14.12 (Unanimous). Item #5.3: Grant Project Ordinances Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, made a motion to approve Grant Project Ordinances as presented (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #5.4: Resolution #R-2023-01 – Surplus Property Declaration - Wrecked Police Vehicle – 2016 Dodge Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, seconded by Council Member Ricky Leinwand, moved to approve Resolution #R-2023-01- Surplus Property Declaration – Wrecked Police Vehicle 2016 Dodge (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #6.1: Presentation to Family Members – Resolution in Memory and Honor of Mrs. Mae Ola Sheridan Mayor Sylvia Campbell noted Mrs. Mae Ola Sheridan passed in November 2022 at the age of 104. It is an honor to present this Resolution to her family in memory of her. Reflecting on some of Mrs. Sheridan’s acts and kindness, she retired from Bladen County School system, she was an avid storyteller, a seamstress, an excellent cook, a strong woman of faith and a babysitter sitter to many. Mayor Campbell called the Family members to the front of the room and read the framed Resolution aloud and made the presentation. Resolution copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #6.2: Audit Report for FY Ending 6/30/2022 This agenda item was presented at the Noon Work Session. Item #6.3: Town Manager Update Director of Communications and Marketing Terri Dennison noted the 250th Anniversary banners are up, there is so much history that it will be in 50 year periods starting March – November 2023. There will be a Founders Day Parade March 4th, Civil War Era May 6th, Agriculture is King July 8th, Homecoming Weekend September 23rd and Modern Times November 3rd -5th. Copy of schedule attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.1: Approval of Audit for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022 Council Member Howell Clark Jr. seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to approve the Audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 as presented (Unanimous). Copy of presented Audit Report attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.2: Purchase of Lights for Update to Downtown Lighting System Council Member Herman Lewis, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, made a motion to approve purchase of lights for update to Downtown Lighting System as presented (Unanimous). Copy of Purchase Order attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.3: Roster of Certified Firefighters and Relief Fund Board of Trustees Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., moved to approve Roster of Certified Firefighters and Relief Fund Board of Trustees as presented (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item # 7.4: Fire Department Funding Agreement and Automatic Aid Agreement Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, made a motion to approve Fire Department Funding Agreement and Automatic Aid Agreement (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item # 7.5: Property Purchase – Parcel # 15789 Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., moved to approve Property Purchase – Parcel 15789 as presented (Unanimous). Copy of site map attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.6: Monthly Financial Report Finance Director Sharon Penny noted some departments are over 50% and from the report in front of you, I will answer any questions. With there being no questions, Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to approve as presented (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.1: “Briefly” Town Manager briefed on the following: Town offices closed January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Parade line up starts at 9:00 a.m. Town has asked for an easement on Dunham Street. Beverly Robinson birthday was January 5th. Item #9.1: OPEN FORUM Mr. Steve Lesane, a property owner on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive noted he wants to build multiple housing units 2-5. Mr. Lesane noted he has talked with Mr. Rusty Worley and would like the okay from Council to proceed. Council Member Rich Glenn noted the Community Day event sponsored by Mr. Fletcher Collins in the Mt. Olive community and asked Council to please attend. With no further business to conduct, Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, made a motion to adjourn (Unanimous). Sylvia Campbell, Mayor