BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING

TOWN OF SYLVA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM Board Room, 83 Allen Street Sylva, North Carolina MINUTES PRESENT: Blitz Estridge, Commissioner Paige Dowling, Town Manager Mary Gelbaugh, Mayor Pro-Tem Amanda Murajda, Town Clerk Mark Jones, Commissioner Eric Ridenour, Town Attorney Brad Waldrop, Commissioner ABSENT: Johnny Phillips, Mayor CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pro-Tem Gelbaugh called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Chris Hatton (Police Chief), Robbie Carter (Police Lieutenant) and Aimee Sumner (Lt. Detective). VISITORS: Luther Jones, Jon Brown, Sarah Hirsch, Chuck Hall and Carol Hall. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Waldrop 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: None. COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: Commissioner Waldrop reported that he attended the Cowee Tunnel marker ceremony. He also read a letter from Ben Guiney in support of Sylva Pride. Commissioner Jones announced a concert on August 24th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. featuring Matt Stillwell. Commissioner Gelbaugh reminded everyone of the annual DRC UCM fundraiser on May 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Anyone wishing to participate can bring 10 cans of food for a free rafting ride down the Tuckasegee River. Commissioner Estridge reported that he and Commissioner Waldrop, along with staff, attended a utilities walk on Mill Street to discuss ways to improve the large amount of wiring. MANAGER’S REPORT: Manager Dowling reported the following:  She thanked the entire Town staff and the Haskett’s for a successful Greening Up the Mountains. The festival was successful, and it was a great day.  Dowling attended the WNC Managers Association budget roundtable on April 26th.  Upcoming board meetings to fill the Commissioner vacancy are May 23rd and May 30th .  Open enrollment is May 16th at 7:00 a.m. for supplemental health benefits.  The Town’s year-end spending deadline is May 15th. Department heads need to notify Lynn Bryant of any non- routine expenditures that are anticipated after this date.  Performance evaluations are due to Amanda Murajda by May 15th. NEW BUSINESS SPECIAL EVENT REQUEST—CONCERTS ON THE CREEK ALCOHOL SERVICE: This is a request from Innovation Brewing and Balsam Falls Brewing Company to sell alcohol at Concerts on the Creek and July 4th festivities. This would have a similar setup as the beverage-arts area at Greening Up the Mountains. The applications have been amended to add August 24th for the Matt Stillwell concert. Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to approve the requests. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. Regular Board Meeting May 9, 2024 SOUTHWESTERN NC HOME CONSORTIUM APPOINTMENT—DISCUSSION ONLY: The Board needs to appoint a replacement to the Southwestern Commission’s Home Consortium due to the resignation of Natalie Newman. No discussion was had. MAIN STREET SYLVA ASSOCIATION BOARD APPOINTMENT—DISCUSSION ONLY: A commissioner needs to be appointed to the Main Street Sylva Association Board due to the resignation of Natalie Newman. Having one commissioner on the MSSA Board helps represent the town to each board and helps MSSA meet the national accreditation standard for entities that are represented. Dowling noted that Commissioner Estridge was interested. No discussion was had. FORMAL PRESENTATION OF THE FY 2024-2025 BUDGET: Manager Dowling formally presented the FY 2024- 2025 budget to the board and reminded them of the public hearing scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. APPLICATIONS FOR BOARD SEAT VACANCY: Manager Dowling distributed the applications received and explained the voting would take place at the May 30, 2024 meeting. The three applications received were: Jonathan Brown Sarah Hirsch Luther Jones SCHEDULE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING FOR MAY 30, 2024 AT 5:30 P.M.: Mayor Pro-Tem Gelbaugh explained that the special-called meeting would be to appoint a commissioner to fill a vacancy and for the FY 2024-2025 budget hearing. Commissioner Estridge made a motion to schedule the special-called meeting. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. CANCEL THE JUNE 27, 2024 REGULAR BOARD MEETING: Commissioner Jones made a motion to cancel the June 17, 2024 regular board meeting. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. CANCEL THE JUNE 27, 2024 PLANNING BOARD MEETING: Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to cancel the June 27, 2024 Planning Board meeting. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Estridge made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:52 p.m. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. _____________________________________ _________________________________________ Mary Gelbaugh Amanda W. Murajda Mayor Pro-Tem Town Clerk