St. James Town Council Regular Meeting

Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 6, 2024 The St. James Town Council met in Regular Session at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in the Earl Dye Council Chamber. Council Members Present: Mayor Jean Toner, Mayor Pro Tem David DeLong, Councilors Dennis Barclay, Jim Board, and Lynn Dutney Staff Present: Town Manager Jeff Repp, Finance Director Pauline Haran, and Town Clerk Laura Williams Others Present: State Port Pilot Reporter Eliot Duke, Mr. David Morgan, and 33 residents. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Toner opened the meeting at 4:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All in attendance joined Mayor Toner in honoring our flag. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no changes or corrections to be made to the Agenda. Mayor Toner made a motion to approve the Agenda as presented. Vote: 5/0 PRESENTATIONS a. Former Councilor David Morgan Mayor Toner presented an award and a certificate of appreciation to Councilor David Morgan for his time served on Council, 2021-2024. She stated that the Town and residents appreciate everything he has contributed to while on Council and everything he has done for the town and its residents. Mr. Morgan thanked the Mayor and the Council. b. BEMC Advisory Council - Councilor Barclay Councilor Dennis Barclay stated that he has been on the BEMC Advisory Council for approximately a year and a half. He explained that BEMC is a cooperative in which customers are also members. BEMC does not have their own power plants, and they buy electricity from electric power companies, and then it is sold to the consumers. The goal of BEMC is to be reliable and affordable. They are 50% carbon-free and they plan to be carbon-free by 2050. Councilor Barclay and other members of the advisory council meet quarterly. He will update Council and residents with any pertinent information while serving on the advisory council. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA  Page 2 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 6, 2024 Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which consists of the minutes from the October 2, 2024 Regular Meeting and the minutes from the October 17, 2024 Work Session. Vote: 5/0 MAYOR/COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS a. NCOSBM Certified and Standard Population Estimate for St. James - July 1, 2023 Town Manager Jeff Repp discussed that the North Carolina Office of State Budget Management generates the population estimates for all municipalities and counties in North Carolina. As of July last year, the estimated population is 7,932. The importance of this number is this is what the state uses for state shared revenues or the sales tax revenues. Currently the Town receives approximately $3 million, which is a significant revenue source. OLD BUSINESS – None. NEW BUSINES 24-30 Proclaiming November 4-11, 2024 as Operation Green Light for Veterans in the Town of St. James. Mayor Toner read the Proclamation. 24-31 Resolution # 2024-06: Adopting Regular and Work Session Meeting Dates for the Town of St. James Town Manager Repp discussed the Council meeting resolution is adopted annually for the upcoming calendar year. Regular meetings are held on the first Wednesday and Work Sessions are held on the third Thursday. If the monthly meetings are in consecutive weeks, Council will typically move the Work Session date to the following week. Mayor Toner stated that both the months of January and May had this issue, and she proposed moving the Work Sessions to the following Thursdays. Council was in agreement. Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to approve Resolution # 2024-06: Adopting Regular and Work Session Meeting Dates for the Town of St. James, as amended. Vote: 5/0 24-32 Motion to Approve Ordinance 2024-02 Amending ARPA Budget Ordinance Mr. Repp discussed on August 3, 2022 the St. James Town Council adopted an ordinance to spend the ARP money that was received on a water pressure improvement project. At the time, there were 5 items that the Town could spend the money on, and revenue replacement and water/sewer infrastructure projects were included in these five items. Mr. Repp stated initially revenue replacement was based  Page 3 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 6, 2024 on documented expenses responding to Covid but then was modified by the federal government so that up to $10 million could be considered revenue replacement without documentation or expenses being detailed. In order to do this, the town needs to make sure the funds are obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. This ordinance obligates the funds from the original water infrastructure project to revenue replacement which puts the town in compliance with the federal requirements. The project is currently under design and 60% design will be completed February 2025 and the construction project will be completed by June 2026. Mayor Toner added that the Town also plans to add additional fire hydrants. Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-02 Amending ARPA Budget Ordinance. Mayor Toner asked if there were any addition questions or discussion from Council, there were none. Vote: 5/0 24-33 Motion to Rescind Council Policy # 2019-01 - Naming of Public Buildings Town Manager Repp discussed that in 2019, the sitting Council established a policy that would prohibit naming municipal buildings in St. James, since there were only two. It is a policy that is internal to St. James and can be rescinded by any Council after adoption of a motion to rescind. It was requested to be placed on the agenda so Council could consider the next item on the agenda. Mayor Toner stated that currently the St. James Community Center does not have a name. She stated Mr. Steve Brennan, the Center’s manager, has increased the use of the Community Center by external groups for events. It would assist with interest to have a name that would reflect that it is an event center, rather than a Community Center. The Town wants to provide a tie to Homer E. Wright, Jr. since he established the community. Councilor Board made a motion to rescind Council Policy # 2019-01 - Naming of Public Buildings. Mayor Toner asked if there were any discussion or questions from Council. There was none. Vote: 5/0 24-34 Motion to Name the St. James Community Center the Homer E. Wright Jr. Event Center at St. James Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to name the St. James Community Center the Homer E. Wright Jr. Event Center at St. James.  Page 4 of 4 TOWN OF ST. JAMES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 6, 2024 Mayor Toner asked if there were any discussion or questions from Council, there were none. Vote: 5/0 24-35 Motion to Award the Access Road Improvement Project to Morgan Trucking in the Estimated Amount of $407,759.20 (Base Bid & Alternate #1) Town Manager Repp stated in the FY 25 budget, the council budgeted improving the access road which would create an 18’ wide paved road and additional 23 parking spaces for Town Hall and Community Center complex. The Town received three bids for this project, the lowest bid was Morgan Trucking in the amount of $407,759.20 for the base bid and bid alternate #1. The Town’s budget for this project was $550,000 and this was below the Town’s budget. Mr. Repp stated the second lowest bid was $435,775. He also stated that it will provide 23 additional parking spaces. Mayor Toner asked if there was any public comment, there was none. Mayor Pro Tem DeLong made a motion to award the Access Road Improvement Project to Morgan Trucking in the Estimated Amount of $407,759.20 (Base Bid & Alternate #1) Mayor Toner asked if there were any discussion or questions from Council, there were none. Mayor Toner stated one reason Council was interested in moving forward with this project was also due to safety concerns with only currently having one entrance/exit to the complex. This will provide a more efficient and safe exit. Vote: 5/0 PUBLIC COMMENT – None. ADJOURNMENT At 4:32pm Councilor Board made a motion to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor. Vote: 5/0 Respectfully Submitted, Approved, __________________________ _________________________ Laura Williams, Town Clerk Jean R. Toner, Mayor