Town Council Meeting

Town of Hertford Town Work Session Minutes Monday, January 4, 2021 7:30 PM Town of Hertford Community Center/ZOOM The Town of Hertford’s Town Council held their Work Session on Monday, January 3, 2021. Mayor Pro Tem Hodges called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT Mayor Pro Tem Ashley Hodges, Councilman Frank Norman, Councilman Jackson and Councilman Jerry Mimlitsch. STAFF PRESENT Town Manager Pamela Hurdle and Police Chief Dennis Brown. OTHERS PRESENT ZOOM and Facebook viewers Sara Winslow, Murielle Harman, Gracie Felton, Mrs. Becky Veasey(Zoom), Katrina Mann (Zoom), Tony Riddick and Barry Ford. QUORUM With four(4) members, a quorum was confirmed. The invocation was offered by Councilman Norman. ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilman Norman added to the agenda, New Business (A) Maintenance of Building, (B) Foreign Language Class. Councilman Jackson added 6. (C) Housing and Closed Session -Personnel between Number 9 & 10. A motion was made by Councilman Norman to approve the adjusted agenda with the added item and the motion was seconded by Councilman Jackson. The vote: Mayor Pro Tem Hodges yay Councilman Jackson yay Councilman Norman yay Councilman Mimlitsch yay Vote 4-0 Council voted to approve the adjusted agenda with the added item. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance in December. All other households may apply in January or until funds are exhausted. For questions or how to apply, contact the local department of Social Services. SCHEDULED BUSINESS MAPS GROUP-PAY STUDY There was technical difficulties. Mrs. Becky Veasey stated she was present to answer any questions. Mayor Pro Tem Hodges and Councilman Mimlitsch had no questions. Councilman Norman- The position Police Record Specialist, Councilman Norman is questioning the job title and description. Mrs. Veasey answered that each employee did a survey questionnaire on their position and job duties. The job description is based on the survey. Chief Brown spoke on the job description. Councilman Norman commented on the Charter. Town of Hertford Work Session January 4, 2021 Page 1 of 3 Councilman Jackson stated having issues with the personnel policy, grievance process, pay cycle, supervisor training, and retirement cost. Councilman Jackson stated he will email Mrs. Veasey his concerns. Mayor Pro Tem Hodges and Councilman Mimlitsch agree on their needs to be a pay increase. Mayor Pro Tem Hodges thanked Mrs. Veasey for her services and will be contacted with additional questions. The Council started to a second round of discussion. Councilman Jackson stated he agrees the employees are under paid. His concern is where will the funds come from to cover the salaries. He stated he is in favor of approving the pay study but have issues with the personnel policy. Councilman Norman had the concerns of personnel in reference to the Charter. Councilman Norman stated there is a way to change the Charter and this will be the Council make the changes and make sure the changes are legal. The manager and the attorney can look over the Charter and suggest changes to the Charter and bring it to the Council. Councilman Norman stated it is not a hard task. Councilman Norman stated the other concern is there is a differential of positions in reference to the pay. Employees should be paid according to their duties and tasks. Mayor Pro Tem stated he agrees the salaries need to be increase. An example of salaries is the longevity pay that reveals that two-third of the staff are employees with not as much longevity as the other employees. This reflects turnover which results in losing knowledge and the cost of the turnovers. Councilman Mimlitsch stated he agreed on going forward with the pay study. He also stated that he did not find anything wrong with the grievance and he was looking on pages 48-50 of the personnel policy. PC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL DUES/ANTIQUE CAR SHOW Chamber Director Katrina Mann stated she is requesting the annual dues of $1,200.00. The antique car show request was retracted by the requestor. The Council had discussion in what do the dues covers. The discussion was the parade as a County parade, equity on the Board, car show cancellation, holding date is unfair, how to pay the dues and where are the funds coming from, net effect being the same through the Chamber or sponsoring an event, efforts of planning an event and waiting until more facts are in. TONY RIDDICK-HOUSING Mr. Riddick stated his family have been in Perquimans County for over 155 years and are invested in the area. Mr. Riddick gave details on the generosity of residents of Hertford. Mr. Riddick stated that the compassion that people have in Hertford is the reason why people come to Hertford. Mr. Riddick stated when he was little, they had no money for medicine but the Pharmacy gave them the needed medicine. Mr. Riddick spoke on Mr. Rudy May playing ball with Catfish Hunter. Mr. May is from here and he played in the League from 1963-1985. Mr. May was so marveled by Mr. Hunter because he was so compassionate and caring. Mr. Riddick stated Mr. May wanted to visit where Mr. Hunter was from. When Mr. May visited, he found everyone was so compassionate. Mr. Riddick also spoke on blighted houses. His concerns are how are they determined and are the properties behind on taxes. At this point, Mayor Pro Tem Hodges told Mr. Riddick he have reached his allowed time. Mr. Riddick asked the Council to allow him extra time. The council went into discussion about the rules of time with schedule business appointments. After much discussion, the Council allowed Mr. Riddick to continue. Mr. Riddick continued with discussion of the Waterfront plan and how it relates to Missing Mill Park and Mr. Perry’s plan on housing. CONTINUED BUSINESS RENAMING HYDE PARK STREET Councilman Jackson asked that this item be added to the regular session agenda. PROCLAMATION OF THANKS TO AGENCIES Mayor Brown will take care of this item and it can be taken off the agenda. EDENTON ROAD STREET/BALLAHACK ROAD NOISE Item to added to next month agenda. TONY RIDDICK'S LETTER Manager Hurdle will send Mr. Riddick a letter of what the criteria are in substandard and blighted houses. POLICE DEPARTMENT HEARING OFFICER Councilman Jackson has been tasked to get requirements and qualifications of a Hearing Officer. NEW BUSINESS Town of Hertford Work Session January 4, 2021 Page 2 of 3 Community Center Councilman Norman identified some issues on the building. 1) Lights- lights are being left on when the building is unoccupied, 2) Roof- the roof needs to be replaced and 3) Floor- there are sections of the floor that are weak. Councilman Norman also stated the building needs power washing. All the lights inside and outside are now working. Councilman Jackson stated that a wall needs to go up to separate the area on the other side of the building, creating another office. Councilman Norman stated the Community Center is the Governing Body space and the Mayor has her own space. TOWN MANAGER Manager Hurdle stated she has received several inquiries about purchasing the Brinn House. She will get with the attorney to gather the process. Manager Hurdle will send Council any additional information during the week for the next meeting. CLOSED SESSION Pursuant NCGS§ 143-318.11(a)(6) Personnel Motion was made by Councilman Jackson and seconded by Councilman Norman to go into closed session. The vote: Mayor Pro Tem Hodges yay Councilman Jackson yay Councilman Norman yay Councilman Mimlitsch yay Vote 4-0 Council voted to go into closed session. 10:05pm Council back in open session. 10:51pm MAYOR/COUNCIL CONCERNS Councilman Mimlitsch- asked about the Tahoe. Manager Hurdle told the Board that the Tahoe is in the last week of bidding. The bid is currently at $43,200.00. After the bid closes, the highest bidder have 10- days to secure the bid with payment. Councilman Norman- NLC Congressional Conference early bird registration is open. This year it is virtual and he will be attending. Items being taken off the agenda and he will not be sending read-ahead. Councilman Jackson- Officer Polumbo and Mr. Jackson assist a family to Washington after their car broke down. Councilman Jackson stated a wall needs to be erected at the Municipal building to accommodate employees. A Public Works assistant need to be hired. Councilman Jackson will issue a statement about accusations made about him. Councilman Jackson will look into the Probation Period of the personnel policy on page 18, Section 4. Councilman Jackson applauded the Mayor Pro Tem for a smooth operating meeting. Items on the agenda such as the document read about him were done during Announcements. No one stopped her and told her to add it on the agenda. That is not the purpose of announcements and everyone should play fair ball. Mayor Pro Tem Hodges- asked about the finances and the budget. Ask for the expenditure and revenue report be sent to the Council. ADJOURNMENT With no other discussion, Councilman Jackson made the motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Councilman Norman. The vote: Mayor Pro Tem Hodges yay Councilman Jackson yay Councilman Norman yay Councilman Mimlitsch yay Vote 4-0 Council voted to adjourn the meeting. 11:14pm. Town of Hertford Work Session January 4, 2021 Page 3 of 3