City Council

MINUTES WENTWORTH TOWN COUNCIL November 4, 2021 7:00 pm Wentworth Town Hall 124 Peach Tree Road, Wentworth NC The Wentworth Town Council held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the Wentworth Town Hall, on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 7:00pm. Council Members Present: Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner, Cheryl Moore, Iris Powell Council Members Absent: Dennis Paschal III A quorum was met. Staff Present: George Murphy Sr., Town Administrator Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer Others Present: Ellis Martin, Attorney Foresa Coe, Wentworth Appearance Committee Article I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr. called the meeting to order. Council and guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Article II. INVOCATION Mayor Paschal gave the invocation. Article III. APPROVAL OF TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA A. Requests and Petitions of Citizens B. Approve/ Amend Agenda Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To add ‘Authorization for Finance Officer to Request Proposals from Local Banking Institutions for Town of Wentworth Accounts’ under New Business B”. Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To approve the amended agenda”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2021 – pg. 1 Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting – October 5, 2021 Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “The minutes stand approved as written”. Mayor Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article V. NEW BUSINESS A. Annual Audit Report for Fiscal Year End June 30, 2021 Rex Rouse, CPA reviewed the audit report for fiscal year end June 30, 2021. He noted the Town is financially sound. (Note: The audit report for fiscal year end 6-30-21 is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) 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Consideration to Authorize the Finance Officer to Request Proposals from Local Banking Institutions for Town of Wentworth Accounts Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We authorize Yvonne to request proposals from local banking institutions for Town of Wentworth accounts”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion of Landscaping at Wentworth Park Foresa Coe reviewed the quotes she received for planting trees in the Wentworth Park. She recommended the quote from Jeff Barham due to the size of the trees he proposed and his 1 year full warranty. Council agreed, but they did not like the use of Willow Oaks in Mr. Barham proposal. Mayor Paschal said he would prefer replacing the Willow Oaks with Red Maples. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve the Jeff Barham quote and replace the eight Willow Oaks with an additional four Red Maples and an additional four Crepe Myrtles, and mix the Crepe Myrtles up between white and purple”. Ms. Coe noted that availability of certain colors may be an issue. Mayor Paschal said we will try for white and purple and if they are not available, Mr. Barham can let us know what is available. Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Ms. Coe will also look into a playground canopy grant program. (Note: Jeff Barham’s proposal is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2021 – pg. 17 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2021 – pg. 18 Article VI. OLD BUSINESS B. Discussion of Christmas in the Park Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer, gave an update on plans for the event. She provided a draft of a vendor application for the event. She noted it is the same application and rules that apply to the Wentworth Farmers Market. She asked Council if they want vendors at the event to follow the same guidelines that are required for the Farmers Market. Council agreed that would be preferable. Council discussed possible prizes for best decorated entry in the mini-parade. Mayor Paschal suggested $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place. Council agreed. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2021 – pg. 19 Article VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no comments. Article VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Paschal made the following announcements:  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, Daylight Saving Time ends. Turn your clocks back by one hour, which means you gain one hour, in order to "fall back". Hooray!  The Wentworth Town Hall will be closed Thursday, November 11, 2021 in observance of Veterans Day. Article IX. ADJOURN Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We adjourn”. Councilmember Powell seconded the motion, and the meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted By: Approved By: _______________________ __________________________ Yvonne Russell, NCCMC Dennis Paschal, Jr. Town Clerk Mayor Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2021 – pg. 20