City Council

TOWN OF ELIZABETHTOWN Regular Meeting May 1, 2023 The Elizabethtown Town Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Council Chamber. Those present were Mayor Sylvia Campbell, Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, Council Members Paula Greene, Herman Lewis, Rich Glenn, Howell Clark Jr., Ricky Leinwand, 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 and Fire Chief Hollis Freeman. Department Head absent was Finance Director Sharon Penny. Mayor Sylvia Campbell opened the meeting and called to order. Mayor Campbell welcomed Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy Cadets. Mayor Campbell called upon Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd to give the invocation. Item #3.1: Approve Consent Agenda Items Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, made a motion to recuse Council Member Howell Clark Jr. from Item N. Resolution #R-2023-09 – Application for NCDOC Rural Transformation Grant Fund – Ace Wrecker Property (Unanimous). Upon a motion by Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Ricky Leinwand, the Board unanimously approved the following Consent Items as presented: A. Proposed Agenda, B. April 3, 2023 Noon Work Session, C. April 3, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes, D. April 3, 2023 Closed Session Minutes, E. Proclamation – Mr. Fletcher Kemp – 101st Birthday, F. Resolution #R-2023-07 – To Recognize Nathan Dowless, former Bladen County Director of Emergency Services (Supplemental Agenda- will be rescheduled), G. Proclamation – Proclaim June 4th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day, H. Proclamation – Recognize National Police Week – May 15-21, 2023, I. Grant Project Budget Amendment #11-02 Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, J. Grant Project Budget Amendment #63-01 Infrastructure for LWP Project, K. Capital Project Ordinance – Dewitt Street Water Tank Rehab. 071-00, L. Audit Contract – Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. PA For FY Ending 6/30/23, M. At Recommendation of Auditor, transfer Loan Balance to the Rehab of the Old Fire Department from General Fund to the Water/Sewer Fund, N. Resolution #R-2023-09 – Applicant for NCDOC Rural Transformation Grant Fund – Ace Wrecker Property. Item #4.1: Special Recognitions: This item was presented at the Noon Work Session. Mayor Campbell noted that this is a milestone, and she hopes Mr. Fletcher Kemp has a wonderful birthday. Item #5.1: PUBLIC HEARING: Severn Peanut Company Incentive Agreement Mayor Sylvia Campbell opened the Public Hearing and called upon Mr. Chuck Heustess to present. Mr. Heustess noted that State incentives require a local match for 5 years, there will be job training, it is agriculture-related, will process peanut butter, will fix the building to expand production in the future. With there being no further comments, Mayor Campbell closed the Public Hearing. Item #6.1: Proposed FY 2023-2024 General Fund and Water Fund Budget This agenda item was presented at the Noon Work Session. Item #6.2: Town Manager Update Town Manager Dane Rideout noted that the Osprey training at the Airport needs to happen on the North side of the runway. They are flying lower than they should so there will be a noise and abatement complaint. Star Communication received a stop order on Friday, April 29, 2023 from the Town. They have cut several waterlines. The Town Manager met with Star Communication on May 1, 2023 and laid out some guidelines. Item #7.1: Proclamation – To Proclaim June 4th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day in Town of Elizabethtown Mayor Sylvia Campbell read and presented the Proclamation to Wyatt Lanier to recognized June 4th as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day in Town of Elizabethtown. Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #7.2: Proclamation – To Recognize National Police Week – May 15-21, 2023 Mayor Campbell thanked Lt. Mark McMichael for his heroic efforts last week with the shooting near Leinwand Park. Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item # 7.3: Resolution - #R-2023-08 – Participation or Opt-Out of One Stop Voting for Municipal Election (October 19, 2023 – November 4, 2023) Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to approve the Town to participate in One-Stop Voting for the 2023 Municipal Election (Unanimous). Item #8.1: Approval of Severn Peanut Company Incentive Agreement Council Member Paula Greene, seconded by Council Member Ricky Leinwand, made a motion to approve Severn Peanut Company Incentive Agreement (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item 8.2: Bid Award – Proposals for Professional Engineering Services – CDBG-NR Sidewalk and Street Lighting Project Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane recommends awarding the Professional Engineering Services to McGill Associates, upon receiving approval from the NC Department of Commerce. Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, moved to approve Bid Award – Proposals for Professional Engineering Services – CDBG-NR Sidewalk and Street Lighting Project (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.3: Bid Award – Proposals for Professional Surveying Services – CDBG-NR Sidewalk and Street Lighting Project Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane recommends Walker Surveying since they are local and well-qualified. Council Member Ricky Leinwand, seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, moved to approve Bid Award – Proposals for Professional Surveying Services – CDBG-NR Sidewalk and Street Lighting Project (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.4: Written Order for L Huntley/MainSyde & Huntley Farms Special Use Permit Approval Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Howell Clark Jr., made a motion to approve the Written Order for L Huntley/MainSyde & Huntley Farms Special Use Permit Approval (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #8.5: Appointment of Mr. Tommy McKoy to Serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Community Center Project Mayor Pro Tem Rufus Lloyd, seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to approve appointment of Mr. Tommy McKoy to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Community Center Project (Unanimous). Item 8.6: Monthly Financial Report Town Manager Dane Rideout noted 84% of revenue is completed, expenditures are the same, taxes 97% and it looks good. Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, moved to approve the Monthly Financial Report (Unanimous). Copy attached and incorporated herein by reference. Item #9.1: “Briefly” Town Manager briefed on the following: Town Offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, May 29, 2023. White Lake Water Festival Parade, May 20, 2023. 250th Civil War Era (1824-1873), May 6, 2023. Kids Appreciation Day, May 13, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. behind the Municipal Building. Aviation Summer Camp at Curtis L. Brown Jr. Airport for students in grades 5-9, June 5-8th and June 26-29th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Item #10.1: OPEN FORUM Mrs. Rebekah Baxter thanked Mayor Campbell for her leadership and the City Council for their service. Mrs. Baxter noted that she grew up in Elizabethtown and was glad to be back home. Mrs. Baxter noted that on April 25, 2023 she was at Leinwand Park watching the game and heard gunshots. The officers arrived quickly, she thinks it is gang-related and she has zero tolerance for gangs. Mrs. Baxter noted there should be additional patrolling during the ball games. Police Chief Tony Parrish noted that his staff is working with the Sherriff’s Department and SBI. Item #11.1: Closed Session Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Rich Glenn, made a motion to enter into Closed Session for the purpose of NCGS 143-318.11(a)(3) – Attorney-Client Privilege (Unanimous). RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION TO OPEN SESSION Council Member Howell Clark Jr., seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, moved to return to open session (Unanimous). Mayor Sylvia Campbell noted there was no action taken. With no further business to conduct, Council Member Rich Glenn, seconded by Council Member Herman Lewis, made a motion to adjourn (Unanimous). Sylvia Campbell, Mayor