Board of Commissioners

Town of Swansboro Board of Commissioners June 26, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes In attendance: Mayor John Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Frank Tursi, Commissioner Pat Turner, Commissioner Larry Philpott, and Commissioner Jeffrey Conaway. Commissioner PJ Pugliese was absent. ********************************** Call to Order/Opening Prayer/Pledge The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm. Mayor Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment Susan Casper of 1132 Mt. Pleasant Road shared with the board that she had witnessed many parking issues downtown. While she was happy with the one-way streets many people were parking on the streets and she felt it was due to Air B&B’s and believed they should have parking restrictions especially when the properties had driveways to park in. Randy Swanson, owner of Boro Restaurant on Front Street shared his concerns about the one-way traffic. He witnessed often that vehicles did not stop for the stop at Front and Moore Street and suggested a speed bump and to fix the stop sign for better visibility. Additionally, he shared that there were not any signs that indicated to a driver that they were going the wrong way on the one-way streets. With regard to the Moore Street direction consideration, he shared that with the right signage and a reasonable timeframe, it could work for delivery trucks. Gregg Casper of 226 Water Street shared her concerns with the parking downtown and that there were several vehicles parking in a manner that disrupted visibility at intersections and there were parking on the street for weeks at a time. Adoption of Agenda and Consent Items On a motion by Commissioner Tuner, seconded by Commissioner Philpott, the agenda and the below consent item was approved unanimously. - February 23, 2023, Special Meeting Minutes - February 27, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes - Tax Refunds Besant, Nicolas Austin $62.02 Tag Surrender Newcomb, Roger Dale & Mary Ellen $202.41 Tag Surrender Pereira, Anthony Henry & Carol Ann $17.03 Tag Surrender Suever, Stephen William $36.57 Military Page 1 of 5  Amari, Susan Eaton $24.44 Tag Surrender McLaurin, Michael C $63.75 Tag Surrender Tate, Jennifer Leann & Freddie Lee Jr. $110.98 Tag Surrender Inman, Brian Dodradge $89.88 Tag Surrender - Audit Contract - Budget Amendment #2023-7 for multiple departments - Ordinance Amendment #2 to the Grant Project Ordinance Budget for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Appointments/Recognitions/Presentations Proclamation Honoring Ben Licko's 100th Birthday Mayor Davis read and presented a proclamation to the family of Ben Liko. Recognition of Swansboro Rotary Club The Swansboro Rotary Club was recognized for providing a generous donation for the purchase of 2 AED Defibrillators to be located at the Visitor's Center and Recreation Center. Board members shared their appreciation to Business Non-Consent One-Way Street Concerns Related to Golf Carts and Moore Street Direction Police Chief Taylor reviewed that with the recently changed traffic pattern downtown to include one-way streets had created some concerns with Golf Cart operations and Moore Street traffic direction. The current configuration had traffic traveling southwest along Front Street from West Corbett Avenue. Main Street had two-way traffic traveling southeast from West Corbett Avenue to Water Street. At Water Street, Main Street was one-way, traveling southeast to Front Street. Traffic travels from Front Street, northwest along Church Street to Walnut Street, where it travels northwest, two-way to West Corbett Avenue. Traffic travels northwest, one-way on Moore Street, from Front Street to Water Street. Chief Taylor reviewed the following concerns and solutions for consideration. Concerns:  With the current traffic pattern, there is a lack of access to Front Street for residents operating a golf cart. Operators of golf carts are required to obey the traffic laws. With Moore Street, Main Street and Church Street all moving northwest from Front Street, operators of golf carts are forced to do one of four things to access Front Street: Page 2 of 5  o Operate the golf cart against the flow of traffic on Main Street. o Operate the golf cart against the flow of traffic on Moore Street. o Operate the golf cart on West Corbett Avenue. o Operate the golf cart along the sidewalk. Each of the above movements were a violation of a Town Ordinance or of Chapter 20 of the North Carolina General Statutes.  Any change in the traffic pattern on Moore Street could affect delivery trucks that utilize Moore Street. Most delivery trucks come off West Corbett Avenue, turn northwest onto Moore Street and stand as their load is delivered. Solutions: After careful consideration, staff had developed the following possible solutions: A. Make Moore Street a two-way traveling northwest from Front Street to Water Street. This solution, however, would eliminate approximately seven parking spaces located on the northeast side of Moore Street. These spaces are mostly utilized by the employees of Swansboro Food and Beverage. B. Change the traffic flow on Moore Street from one-way northwest to one-way traveling southeast. This change, however, would affect the direction that delivery trucks would be required to travel in order to drop deliveries. This change would require the tractor trailer to make several tight turns in the downtown district. C. Make Moore Street one-way (northwest) from 5am-11am. At 11am, traffic would travel one-way southeast. This change, however, would affect employees of Swansboro Food and Beverage. The business opens at 7am for breakfast. Any employees arriving prior to 11am would be required to travel northwest on Moore Street. If these employees finish their shifts after 11am, they are now parked facing the wrong direction of travel and would be required to make a U-turn or drive in the wrong direction to leave. D. Allow golf carts to travel in the wrong direction on Moore Street. This exemption would create liabilities if a vehicle were to collide with a golf cart. E. Allow an exemption to the golf cart policy and allow golf carts to travel along the sidewalk, only, between Moore Street and Front Street. Randy Swanson was asked to share his thoughts with the board, he shared that he felt the option of two-way traffic with no parking before 11 am would be a good solution. Board members felt that the road was not wide enough to be two-away and after discussion of the options, there was agreement for staff to proceed with the steps to implement option C making Moore Street one-way (northwest) from 5am-11am. At Page 3 of 5 11am, traffic would travel one-way southeast, with the added restriction of no parking between 5am – 11am. Sufficient signage was noted as important to enforce this change. Financial Report as of May 31, 2023 Mrs. Johnson reviewed details from the monthly financial report, attached herein with the PowerPoint presentation of the meeting. Share shared that appearance of revenues over expenditure being so large was due to ad-valorum revenues were 98% received but there were still expenditures due to go out that would affect that amount to include 3 more pay periods. Future Agenda Topics Future agenda items were shared for visibility and comment. In addition, an opportunity was provided for the Board to introduce items of interest and subsequent direction for placement on future agendas. The following items were added for future review. - Ordinance Amendment related to trash containers left at the curb. - Downtown Parking Ordinance review - Consider an ordinance on regulation of Air B&B’s. Public Comment Citizens were offered an opportunity to address the Board regarding items not listed on the agenda. No comments were given. Manager's Comments Manager Webb shared the following details in addition to her report provided in the agenda packet. - Water Street from the Visitors Center to Broad Street was milled in preparation for resurfacing. - Phillips Drive would also be addressed for resurfacing within the week. - The side-by-side which was approved for purchase by ARP funding was delivered. - Town offices would be closed Tuesday July 4th for the holiday. Board Comments Commissioner Philpott shared that there are many events going on around town and recommended that they be shared in the Town Newsletter. Board members shared their appreciation to staff, complemented the recent Arts by the Sea Festival, and wished everyone a Happy 4th of July. Page 4 of 5 Mayor Davis shared that the Hometown Heroes dinner was scheduled for September 10th at 5:30 pm and extended an attendance invitation to the board. He also shared the Swansboro United Methodist Church would be hosting a Memorial Day event for 2024 and planning had begun for that, Parks & Recreation was welcomed to partner with them. Adjournment On a motion by Commissioner Philpott seconded by Commissioner Turner the meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm. Page 5 of 5