Mayor & Council

MINUTES Town of Smyrna Council Meeting Bi-Monthly Meeting Monday, July 1, 2024, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Council Chambers MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING by teleconference by calling 1-301-715-8592 and entering Meeting ID number: 846 8611 6459 Passcode: 899865 or by visiting Join Zoom meeting at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84686116459?pwd=aoUDiitLzAAEu49r2kMu3ZkDlAjhDm.1 1. 7:00 PM - Call to order 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence 3. Roll call Roll call taken by Danielle Pope. All present, Councilman Pressley was absent. 4. Additions/Deletions to published agenda Councilman Pope motioned to approve the published agenda. Vice Mayor Rasmussen seconded. All approved. Councilwoman Upshur said that a change was needed. Item 7a, the ordinance number needed to be changed from 006-24 to 007-24. Councilman Pope withdrew his first motion. Councilman Pope then motioned to approve the agenda with the new changes. Councilwoman Upshur seconded. 5. Consent agenda Vice Mayor motioned to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Johnson asked for all in favor. All approved. a. Council minutes of 6/17/2024 b. Executive Session minutes of 6/17/2024 6. Non-agenda items a. Mayor and Council Members Mayor Johnson - spoke about the budget process. Council needs to look at the existing budget as of June. No travel at the moment. Will leave that decision up to the Town Manager. It's Council's responsibility to review the budget and make recommend changes. It's staff responsibility to prepare it. The first budget received is the wishlist. Hopefully will be looking at the FY 2025 budget soon. The completion of the 2023 audit will help show where we are and will justify the numbers for 2025 budget. It's important to view the prior data because it will help with the future data. He went to a pray breakfast at St. Paul. Councilwoman Upshur was there. One of the things that Council needs to do is be more visible in town and going to events. He knows that a lot of members already are, he just wanted to give that reminder.  Councilwoman Upshur - had no updates to provide. Vice Mayor Rasmussen - last Wednesday one of the two downtown murals was dedicated. It is on the west side of 1 N Main St, featuring Bombay Hook. These murals are funded through the T-Mobile Hometown grant program. The second mural will be on the south side of the Stokesberry house; the white house next to the Opera House, featuring Richard Allen, a founder of the AME church. Hopefully will be up in the next couple of months. A few meetings coming up. Finance is scheduled for Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. Councilman Pope - There was a ribbon cutting at The Smile Place. In attendance were Councilwoman Upshur, Chief James, Mayor Johnson, himself, and Senator Carper. He attended the Commerce Street meeting at the Firehouse. Members of DelDOT are looking for input for the planning of the Commerce Street updates; like crosswalks. That was well attended. Initial Personnel meeting was held on June 18th. They will be held on the 4th Tuesday each month as needed, at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room. Next scheduled one is Tuesday July 23. Councilman Johnson - thanked the Town staff for all their hard work, especially the Public Works crew who have been working in the heat. Councilwoman Gott - attended the DLLG meeting where DEMEC was the guest speaker. Thanked Councilmen Johnson and Pope for joining her at a Main St/Commerce St meeting. A firefighter's perspective was given and she got a lot from that meeting. For instance, the height of the powerlines - those can be an issue for the fire trucks. July 4 parade is in town and Council will have a float. She will send details out. Parks & Rec will be meeting on the 17th. She would like it in Council Chambers because the Committee room cannot record the Zoom meetings. She'll get with Danielle Pope to work out a process to get all meetings recorded via Zoom. Mayor Johnson - one last thing. There was an Opioid Commission meeting last week. $31 million has been collected from various settlements. Over $15 million has been given out to various organizations. It was discussed to give funds to ambulance and fire services. There are grants out there that organizations can apply for if they deal in mental health and opioids. They can go to the State's website, Opioid Commission page. b. Police Chief New K9 Officer's graduation last week. They are official and on the street. c. Town Manager Provided a manager's report from each department head and what has been going on the last month. Things are looking better financially. The numbers are reducing. Jeremy Rothwell, other staff, and himself has met with the State regarding the Linden property. We obtained a new bucket truck. Another truck was in, but had to be returned; it'll be back soon. Hired some front staff, so we're working at full staff. 7. Old business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. Third reading of ordinance 006-24 to amend Chapter 26 (Elections), Article I (In General), to require a criminal history background check for candidates running for the office of Mayor and Town Council Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to approve the third reading. Councilwoman Gott seconded. All approved. 8. New business, including discussion and possible action on the following items: a. First reading of an ordinance to amend the Town Code establishing discharge regulations for the town sewer system Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to make this the first reading. Councilman Pope seconded. Mayor Johnson asked if there was discussion. Vice Mayor Rasmussen asked if PW Director Jason McNatt could explain. Jason said the purpose for this is to allow the town to be consistent with the County's discharge ordinance and to give the town the ability to hold those accountable that discharge materials that could be corrosive or harmful to our sanitary system. Mayor Johnson asked if any Councilmembers had questions. None did. Asked for all favor. All approved. b. Amend and update the current bank accounts and signatures from the 5/8/2024 Organizational meeting Councilman Pope motioned to have a discussion. Councilwoman Upshur seconded. Her concern is people not being bonded. Mayor Johnson said we have a public service liability policy. Barrett said we do have insurance policies, but it's been a while since he's seen those. Staff can look into this. Councilwoman Gott said that the auditors have mentioned it. Vice Mayor Rasmussen said it's one of the Finance items in the budget. Councilwoman Upshur asked for this to be tabled for a later discussion. Councilwoman Gott questioned who has the authority to sign on the accounts. The Vice Mayor helped with the budget, but he's also listed as a signer. It is a conflict of interest. Those who work for the town, it is their job, but not Council. Mayor Johnson said that the Vice Mayor serves when the Mayor is not available. He doesn't seen an issue with it. Councilwoman Gott said that as long as her concerns are heard. Barrett Edwards said that everyone involved in the budget process are also the signers so he didn't see a conflict either. Councilwoman Gott clarified saying that the Vice Mayor specifically helped, but as the Vice Mayor, he was also a non-employee. Typically, those who prepare the budget, doesn't also approve the budget. Mayor Johnson asked about the Town Manager position. Councilwoman Gott said the Town Manager is an employee. Barrett Edwards asked if this could be referred to the auditors and ask if they have issues with it. Mayor Johnson said that the concerns have been heard and will be tabled for a future discussion. Danielle Pope interrupted by providing some clarification that these accounts were brought up because they were incorrectly approved at the 5/8 meeting; some were closed, incorrect, or no longer belonged under the Town's jurisdiction. 9. Presentation and public comments (3 minutes) Vicky Blair - concerned about who does the budget, get all the information, and who did the 2024 budget. Mayor Johnson replied that the Town Manager is responsible and is prepared by the Accounting Manager. The Department heads submit their budgets to the Accounting Manager who then sends it to the Town Manager. Vicky asked who pulled it together and if the Town Manager had his hands in it. Chief James said not him in his current position. Mayor Johnson said that staff prepares it and the Town Manager looks at it. Pia Robinson - thanked the fire company for their response and handling of a horrendous fire in her community of Hickory Hollow. She asked when the RX box at the Police Station gets emptied. Chief James said that depends, but typically when it's full. There's usually 400-500 pounds worth of things. The Detective in charge will empty it. Unfortunately it is used as a dumping box. She also asked about the approval of the plumbing in town. Would like to know who they are? Are they just signing off on the approvals? Getting paid under the table? Ryan Homes is now telling homeowners that the pvc pipes used were incorrect. Who inspects and passes them? Is the person qualified. There's a school  starting on Rabbit Chase. Who approved that pvc because someone it's doing their job. Mayor Johnson said that the Director wasn't in the audience, but he'll be available for her questions later. Vice Mayor Rasmussen asked when her home was built? She said 2017. Jeremy Rothwell said that the Town didn't take over plumbing approvals until about 2019/2020. A lot of municipalities rely on State Agencies. The Town approves of the building plans, not what's used. He mentioned building files and certificates. She asked where she can see those plans. Jeremy Rothwell said they are at the Public Works building on Artisan Dr. Sharon Wright - 2 announcements. July 27 Focus Pharmacy is having their 5th anniversary with a 5k walk, she would like to see Council there. August 25 is the Prayer walk around the schools. She will have the times later and hopes to see everyone at one of the schools. Councilwoman Gott asked if she could have the information so it can get on the Community Events calendar. 10. Adjournment Mayor Johnson asked for a motion to adjourn. Vice Mayor Rasmussen motioned to adjourn. Councilman Johnson seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Posted on 06/24/2024 at 4:30 PM NOTE: This agenda as listed may not be considered in sequence. This agenda is subject to change to include additional items, including Executive Sessions, and/or deletion of items, including Executive Sessions that arise at time of meeting.