City Council

MINUTES WENTWORTH TOWN COUNCIL February 1, 2022 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 Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 7:00pm. Council Members Present: Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner, Daryl Crowder, Cheryl Moore, Dennis Paschal III Council Members Absent: A quorum was met. Staff Present: George Murphy Sr., Town Administrator Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer Others Present: Ellis Martin, Attorney, Fox Rothschild LLP – Town of Wentworth Article I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr. called the meeting to order. 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 Under Article VI, New Business, D. Consideration of Letter to the Reidsville Area Foundation supporting the Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s Grant Application, and also to add under Article VI, New Business E, Consideration of Resolution by the Mayor and Town Council Opposing the Addition of a Covid-19 Vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for Individuals 17 Years of Age or Entering the 12th Grade”. Councilmember Cheryl Moore seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting – January 4, 2022 Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “The minutes be approved as written”. Council Member Dennis Paschal III seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 1 Article V. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion of a Digital Sign for Wentworth Town Hall Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer reviewed quotes received for a 3’x6’ digital sign at the Wentworth Town Hall. Graphic Solutions was the lowest bid at $15,996.50. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We go with Graphic Solutions’ sign for $15,996.50”. Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: A memo to Town Council and three quotes for a 3’x6’ digital sign are herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 2 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 3 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 4 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 5 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration of Duke Energy Efficiency Proposal George Murphy, Town Administrator reviewed an Energy Efficiency Proposal from Duke Energy for the Wentworth Town Hall. The Town Hall was the only Town owned property that would qualify for the program. The assessment and proposal were free of charge to the Town and Council may decide whether or not they want to participate in the program. The total cost for the proposed fixture changes in Town Hall is $15,942.14. The Town would pay $11,754.00, and Duke Energy would pay $4,188.14. Over a 5 year period energy savings would cover the cost of the fixture changes. Mayor Paschal asked if the Town could change a few fixtures at a time. Mr. Murphy explained that would not work for this program because Duke Energy wants to do the project and move on. Council did not action on this item. Mayor Paschal said they will consider it during budget work sessions for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. (Note: Duke Energy’s Efficiency Proposal for the Town of Wentworth is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 6 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 7 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 8 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 9 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 10 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 11 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 12 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS B. Consideration of Appointments to Boards/Committees 1. Wentworth Minimum Housing Board of Appeals - Brenda Ward and Patricia Smith 2. Wentworth Planning Board - Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We reappoint Brenda Ward and Patricia Smith to the Wentworth Minimum Housing Board of Appeals”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Mayor Paschal asked Council to contact people they think might be interested in serving on the Planning Board before the next Council meeting. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS C. Discussion of Federal and State Grants 1. American Rescue Plan Act Funds 2. State Capital and Infrastructure Fund Grant Ms. Russell informed Council that the US Treasury published their Final Rule on the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The Final Rule allows all municipalities to use the “Replace Lost Revenue” category which allows local governments to use ARPA Funds for governmental services. Some governmental services, like capital projects, will trigger burdensome reporting and project management guidelines. However, using ARPA Funds for governmental services such as salaries and benefits frees up funds in the General Fund for capital projects. Government service expenditures like salaries and benefits are far fewer reporting requirements than capital projects or equipment. Ms. Russell explained the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund grant is specifically for capital projects or infrastructure projects. The Town of Wentworth is scheduled to receive $250,000. Before receiving the grant contract and the grant funds, the Town needs to complete a Scope of Work of the project intended for these funds. Mayor Paschal noted repairs at the Wentworth Consolidated School site that need to be done in order for the gymnasium and ball field to be usable. Mayor Paschal said he would get some information together on the repairs needed at the school site. He also mentioned the auditorium at the school. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 13 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS D. Consideration of a Letter to the Reidsville Area Foundation Supporting the Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s Grant Application Mr. Murphy explained that the Town of Wentworth has been asked to submit a letter of support to the Reidsville Area Foundation for Rockingham County and its representative Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in the County’s grant application for matching funds to obtain a professional, county-wide Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Mr. Murphy reviewed a letter of support he drafted on behalf of the Town. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve the Letter to the Reidsville Area Foundation Supporting the Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s Grant Application ”. Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: The Letter Supporting the Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s Grant Application is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 14 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS E. Consideration of a Resolution Opposing the Addition of a Covid-19 Vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for Individuals 17 Years of Age or Entering 12th Grade Mayor Paschal read a resolution he drafted in response to a petition from faculty and students at Appalachian State University to add the Covid-19 vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for students 17 years of age or entering the 12th grade. (Note: The Resolution Opposing the Addition of a Covid-19 Vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for Individuals 17 Years of Age or Entering 12 th Grade is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Resolution by the Mayor and Town Council of Wentworth Opposing the Addition of a Covid-19 Vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for Individuals 17 Years of Age or Entering 12th Grade Whereas, The young people in our schools are the future of our town, county, state and nation and should be regarded as such; and Whereas, Dr. Mike Yeadon, former Vice President and Chief Scientist of Allergy and Respiratory Research at Pfizer says the Phase 3 Pfizer trials for the mRNA vaccine will not be complete until late 2022 or early 2023; and Whereas, There is a lack of long-term research to side effects on young people; Now, Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Wentworth Town Council ask the North Carolina Commission on Public Health to deny the petition and request to add the Covid-19 mRNA vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for Individuals 17 years of age or entering 12th grade. Adopted this the 1st day of February, 2022. ____________________________ Dennis Paschal Jr., Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________ Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk (Note from Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr.: Information from Dr. Mike Yeadon came from a complaint filed in the International Criminal Court, The Hague, The Netherlands on December 6, 2021 for the People of the United Kingdom against Dr. Anthony Fauci, Top Executives at Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Boris Johnson, and Others.) Mayor Paschal asked Council for comment or discussion. Councilmember Paschal, III stated, “I think whether a person gets vaccinated is completely up to them. I’ve chosen to get vaccinated and get my booster. I understand that people make the decision not to do that, and I fully support that. I think that right now they should have that decision. For me personally, I don’t know that this is something that I feel like we need to take up, and that’s my only hesitation with it. I don’t disagree with it.” Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 1, 2022 – pg. 15  Mayor Paschal replied, “My hesitation was also should we take this up, but then a group of professors and students petitioned our State board to take this up. To me, that comes down to ground level to those kids over there at the high school. That’s one thing I will always stand and fight for. We give money to the schools and try to take care of the schools and the kids. I think a lot of people have gotten ahead of themselves on some of this stuff. The safety of those children has to be put first. I just don’t think at this time they have enough information. Had they not made that move, we wouldn’t be sitting here adding this to the agenda.” Councilmember Paschal III added, “My understanding from reading some articles about it today is that the recommendation of the Governor’s staff that will report to the Board tomorrow, is that they think it would be very premature to take such action”. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve the resolution opposing the addition of a Covid-19 vaccine to the State Immunization Requirements for individuals 17 years of age or entering 12th grade”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner and Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. The motion carried with four votes in favor and one vote opposed made by Councilmember Paschal, III. 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, February 15, 2022, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  Funding Requests for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 are due by February 24, 2022 and will be reviewed during the Town Council’s Budget Work Sessions in March and April. Article IX. ADJOURN Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We adjourn”. Councilmember Paschal III 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 February 1, 2022 – pg. 16