BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING

TOWN OF SYLVA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 5:30 PM Board Room, 83 Allen Street Sylva, North Carolina MINUTES PRESENT: Blitz Estridge, Commissioner Paige Dowling, Town Manager Mark Jones, Commissioner Amanda Murajda, Town Clerk Natalie Newman, Commissioner Johnny Phillips, Mayor ABSENT: Mary Gelbaugh, Mayor Pro-Tem Brad Waldrop, Commissioner CALL TO ORDER Mayor Phillips called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Jake Scott (Public Works Director), Robbie Carter (Police Lieutenant), and Chris Hatton (Police Chief). VISITORS: Chuck Hall, Carol Hall, Luther Jones, and Nelia Waldrum. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Newman made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner Jones made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Phillips reported that he had met with NCDOT representatives regarding landscaping for the new Highway 107 construction project. He noted that NCDOT would be willing to entertain funding for the landscaping part of the project if the Town of Sylva submitted a letter of request. Commissioner Jones made a motion to send a letter of request for funding for landscaping to NCDOT for the Highway 107 construction project. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: Commissioner Newman reported that she attended the Mainstreet Conference in Goldsboro, NC. MANAGER’S REPORT: Manager Dowling reported the following:  The next regular board meeting will be, Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. This meeting will be followed by a budget work session.  Jay Coward will present a history of Pinnacle Park at the March 21, 2024 regular board meeting.  The Bridge Park Green Infrastructure project is progressing quickly. The grant report has been submitted to the TDA.  Odell Thompson is working on drawings for the Bryson Park restrooms for the Town to provide to interested contractors.  Employment Update: Officer Abbygayle Swayney has accepted a position with Cherokee PD. PUBLIC HEARING RENAMING OF A PORTION OF MUNICIPAL DRIVE TO VANCE STREET: Mayor Phillips opened the public hearing and explained that at the February 8, 2024 board meeting, the board approved a resolution of intent to schedule a public hearing on March 14, 2024 to consider a proposed street name change in honor of long-time Sylva resident and Regular Board Meeting March 14, 2024 business owner R.O. Vance. This proposed street name change would be for a portion of Municipal Drive from the Sylva Fire Department to the intersection of Allen Street. Being no comment, Commissioner Estridge made a motion to close the hearing at 5:37 p.m. NEW BUSINESS RENAMING OF A PORTION OF MUNICIPAL DRIVE TO VANCE STREET: Commissioner Jones made a motion to approve a resolution to rename a portion of Municipal Drive from the Sylva Fire Department to the intersection of Allen Street to Vance Street in honor of R.O. Vance. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. PUBLIC RESTROOM PROJECT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT: Manager Dowling explained that there needs to be a transfer of an additional $22,000 from ARPA related funds to increase the contingency set aside for the project. The additional contingency is needed to mediate the unsuitable soil. It has been requested that the contractor hire a local subcontractor to do the site and gravel work at a more cost-effective price. Commissioner Estridge made a motion to appropriate $22,000 from fund balance using ARPA related funds for the contingency. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. FY 2024-2025 AUDIT CONTRACT: Audit bids were recently requested, and the Town received three bids. Sheila Gahagan, CPA was the lowest bid at $24,500. This is a three-year contract. Commissioner Newman made a motion to approve the FY 2024-2025 audit contract with Shelia Gahagan, CPA. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. DOWNTOWN PUBLIC RESTROOM—EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR—DISCUSSION ONLY: Mayor Phillips reported that he had verified from history books on the Town, that the original color of the Depot was gray. Commissioner Newman noted that she preferred the gray and did not know it was the original color. The board discussed the sign background color of red versus the green presented. A decision on the colors will be made at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Jones made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:46 p.m. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. _____________________________________ _________________________________________ Johnny Phillips Amanda W. Murajda Mayor Town Clerk