Mayor & Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING SMYRNA TOWN COUNCIL August 16, 2021 REGULAR MEETING The meeting was called to order by Mayor Robert C. Johnson at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Michael A. Rasmussen, Tabitha J. Gott, Valerie M. Forbes, William D. Pressley Sr., Margaret B. Mann, and Gerald L. Brown. Also present were Town Manager Andrew S. Haines, Chief Torrie James, Attorney D. Barrett Edwards, and Recording Secretary Valerie L. Heritage. Chief James led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Johnson asked for a moment of silence. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO PUBLISHED AGENDA Councilman Pressley made the motion to move agenda item 8(a) to just after the minutes, and to approve the agenda as amended. Motion was seconded by Councilman Brown and carried unanimously. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Councilwoman Forbes made the motion to approve the regular and executive session minutes of August 2, 2021, as presented. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Mann and carried unanimously. Swearing-in of officers – Mayor Johnson swore-in four new officers: Ian McArdle, Cameron Nash, Aaron Sarkissian, and Brooke Tucker. REPORTS A. Presiding Officer – Mayor Johnson spoke about his weekly meetings with Mr. Haines about what is going on with the town and about the finance system that is going to be put into place, and the feeling in general about the direction that we are going; and he spoke about the new basketball courts. B. Town Attorney – Mr. Edwards said he did not have anything at this time. C. Police Chief – Chief James said as everyone just saw we have four new officers. Mayor and Council Page 2 of 3 August 16, 2021 D. Town Manager – Mr. Haines spoke about there being two bid RFP’s that the town is advertising for: East Commerce Street, and the Master Plan for Parks; he is working with Ms. Young on the launch and deployment and transition for Tyler Munis. E. Commissions – Councilwoman Forbes said the Shade Tree Commission will meet August 18th. Councilwoman Gott said the Parks & Recreation Committee will meet August 17th. Councilman Rasmussen said the Economic Development Committee met August 4th. Councilman Brown said the Utility Committee met August 10th and the next meeting will be September 14th. Councilman Pressley said the Public Safety met August 12th; the Personnel Committee met last week; the Charter Review Committee met last week. Mayor Johnson said the Finance Committee will meet August 24th. F. District/Council comments – Councilwoman Mann said this summer she had a chance to do a little traveling and she said they went to Dexter, MI and she compared it to Smyrna, as it is the same size as Smyrna. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Visitors present were George DeBenedictis, Janette Tarafa, Danielle Pope, Jason McNatt, Jeremy Rothwell, Frederick N. Schaber IV, Roberta Taylor, Lillian Allen, Carlton Nash, Hershell Nash, Corrine Upshur, Rose Sarkissian, Brian Sarkissian, Kevin Sarkissian, Sanford Nassau, Fred Schaber Jr., Jason Millman, Ian McArdle, Cameron Nash, Aaron Sarkissian, and Brooke Tucker. A. Swearing-in of officers – This was done earlier in the meeting right after the approval of the minutes. Corrine Upshur spoke about the clean up out at Sunnyside Village, and the trash and debris along Sunnyside Road and Carter Road. NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution authorizing the town to acquire 621 North Main Street, Smyrna, Delaware, further described as TMP# 1-17-00916-01-0300-000, from Greens Branch, LLC for $200,000; authorizing the Mayor and Council Secretary to execute those documents necessary to effectuate the property acquisition; and authorizing other necessary actions – Councilman Rasmussen made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the town to acquire 621 North Main Street, Smyrna, Delaware, further described as TMP# 1-17-00916-01-0300-000, from Mayor and Council Page 3 of 3 August 16, 2021 Greens Branch, LLC for $200,000; authorizing the Mayor and Council Secretary to execute those documents necessary to effectuate the property acquisition; and authorizing other necessary actions. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Gott and carried unanimously. B. Appointment of Frederick N. Schaber IV to the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Utility Committee – Councilwoman Forbes made the motion to approve the appointment of Frederick N. Schaber IV to the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Utility Committee. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Mann and carried unanimously. OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS Councilman Pressley spoke about trees in the median along DuPont Boulevard. EXECUTIVE SESSION A. Executive session for the purpose of preliminary discussions on site acquisitions for any publicly funded capital improvements, or sales or leases of real property B. Executive session to discuss personnel matters in which the names, competency, and abilities of individual employees will be discussed – Councilwoman Forbes made the motion to go into executive session for the purpose of preliminary discussions on site acquisitions for any publicly funded capital improvements, or sales or leases of real property; and to discuss personnel matters in which the names, competency, and abilities of individual employees will be discussed. Motion was seconded by Councilman Pressley and carried unanimously. Council went into executive session at 7:44 p.m. Councilwoman Mann made the motion to come out of executive session. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Gott. Council came out of executive session at 8:23 by unanimous vote. C. Possible action on item discussed in executive session – No action was taken. D. Discussion and possible action on personnel matter discussed in executive session – No action was taken. ADJOURNMENT Councilman Pressley made the motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Gott. The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. by unanimous vote. vlh