BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING

TOWN OF SYLVA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM Board Room, 83 Allen Street Sylva, North Carolina MINUTES PRESENT: Jonathan Brown, Commissioner Paige Dowling, Town Manager Blitz Estridge, Commissioner Amanda Murajda, Town Clerk Mary Gelbaugh, Mayor Pro-Tem Eric Ridenour, Town Attorney Johnny Phillips, Mayor Brad Waldrop, Commissioner Joseph Waldrum, Commissioner ABSENT: CALL TO ORDER Mayor Phillips called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Robbie Carter (Asst. Police Chief) VISITORS: Dowdy Bradley APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Gelbaugh made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner Brown 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 scheduled a meeting with Manager Dowling, Chief Hatton and a representative from the Governor’s office. COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: Commissioners reported the following: Waldrop—Greening Up the Mountains was a fantastic event. Estridge—Vendors from Greening Up the Mountains reported that the event was a great success. Brown— The Pinnacle Park Board met to discuss new trails, the hiring of an intern who will work 300 hours over the summer and the board raised $2,300 at GUTM. MANAGER’S REPORT: Manager Dowling reported the following:  Dowling thanked the entire Town staff and the Hasketts for a successful Greening Up the Mountains.  The Town received a certificate of occupancy on the restroom at Bryson Park. The remaining elements are grading, sidewalk along the pavilion, resurfacing the basketball court, a new fence, installing the water fountain, and finalizing playground and fixture installation. It will likely be mid-July before the Town can open the park.  Dowling attended the WNC Managers Association budget roundtable on April 25th.  Open enrollment is May 13th at 7:00 a.m. for supplemental health benefits.  The Town’s year-end spending deadline is May 15th.  Performance evaluations are due by May 15th. Regular Board Meeting May 8, 2025 PUBLIC HEARING—STREET CLOSING: PORTION OF UNNAMED STREET OFF WALTER ASHE ROAD: Mayor Phillips opened the public hearing at 5:35 p.m. Manager Dowling explained the hearing was for a request from Mr. Dowdy Bradley to close a portion of an unnamed street off Walter Ashe Road that goes in front of his house, behind UPS, and to the corner of the Enmark station. The area is shown in red on the map in the agenda packet. This portion of the street is reserved on paper, but the actual section of the street does not exist. Comments: None. Being no further comment, Commissioner Brown made a motion to close the public hearing at 5:37 p.m. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. NEW BUSINESS: STREET CLOSING—PORTION OF UNNAMED STREET OFF WALTER ASHE ROAD: Commissioner Estridge made a motion to approve the street closing for a portion of an unnamed street off of Walter Ashe Road. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. FORMAL PRESENTATION OF FY 2025-2026 BUDGET: Manager Dowling formally presented the FY 2025-2026 budget to the board and reminded them of the public hearing scheduled for May 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. EVENT RESOLUTION: This event resolution is for a July 4th road closure in the event the Police Department needs to detour traffic during the fireworks. This detour is not always necessary depending on the size of the crowd. The resolution needs to be approved by the Board so the Town can send it to NCDOT. By adopting the resolution, the Town is accepting responsibility for safety, traffic flow, traffic control, and signage during an event detour. Commissioner Brown made a motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. CANCEL JUNE 26, 2025, REGULAR BOARD MEETING: Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to cancel the June 26, 2025 regular board meeting. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. CLOSED SESSION: Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to enter closed session pursuant to NCGS. 143-318-11(a)(2) at 5:49 p.m. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to come out of closed session. The motion carried with a unanimous vote and the Board entered into regular session at 5:52 p.m. No action was taken during closed session. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Waldrop made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:52 p.m. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. _____________________________________ _________________________________________ Johnny Phillips Amanda W. Murajda Mayor Town Clerk