City Council

MINUTES WENTWORTH TOWN COUNCIL FEBRUARY 7, 2023 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 7, 2023, at 7:00pm. Council Members Present: Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr., Cheryl Moore, Dennis Paschal III, Daryl Crowder Council Members Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner A quorum was met. Staff Present: Hunter Wilson, Accounting Clerk/ Deputy Clerk Others Present: Ellis Martin, Attorney, Fox Rothschild LLP – Town of Wentworth Rockingham Update - Media 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, “We approve the agenda as written.” Councilmember Dennis Paschal III seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting – November 1, 2022 Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “The minutes be approved as written”. Councilmember Daryl Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article V. OLD BUSINESS A. Wentworth Consolidated School Site – Ballfield Fencing Quote Background: On October 4, 2022, the Town Council approved a quote from Garcia Fence in the amount of $12,500 for restoration of the baseball field fence. Materials that could be reused were taken into consideration. On October 10, 2022, Garcia Fence provided two more quotes. The first one for an additional $2,000 to add 100 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 1  feet to the quote of $12,500, totaling to $14,500. The purpose of the additional 100 feet was to prevent baseballs from running beyond the foul line. That quote was approved at the November 1, 2022 Wentworth Town Council Meeting. The second quote from Garcia Fence provided was for the entire ballfield to be fenced in, for a total of $21,959.78. That is the quote under consideration at this council meeting. Mayor Paschal shared pictures with Council, showing lots of deer tracks over a portion of the field. He expressed concern over the condition of the field especially after the rains, which did not help the situation. He said he thinks the entire ballfield needs to be fenced in order to keep the deer out. For clarification, Mayor Paschal went over the quote provided by Garcia Fence for enclosing the entire ballfield, explaining the pricing differences and the additional work required. He explained the estimated difference is $7,800 more than the $14,500 that was previously approved by Council on November 1, 2022, or $10,500 over the first quote of $12,500. Councilmember Dennis Paschal III asked, “So, $7,800 in addition to the $21,000 quote? Mayor Paschal said Council is to consider approval of the quote for $21, 959,78 to enclose the entire ballfield in order to keep the deer out. He said the amount is approximately $7,800 more than the previously approved quote of $14,500 (or $10,500 over the original $12,500). There was no further discussion, and Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “to approve the additional quote for the fence of $10,500.” Councilmember Cheryl Moore seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: The Garcia Fence quotes are herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 2 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 3 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 4 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 5 Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 6 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion of Special Events at Wentworth Park Mayor Paschal began the discussion saying Council will need the attorney’s expertise on this agenda item. He explained, “A gentleman wants to rent the park and provide inflatables for their event, which we may not want to allow under our liability. He states he has his own liability and asked Yvonne to bring it to Council in order to make a decision.” Mayor Paschal also asked the attorney, “If the applicant has their own liability, does it have to be something equal to or above the town’s liability… if something were to happen and someone tried to come after the Town of Wentworth in any way.” Attorney Martin replied, “There is a threshold that it would have to get to before it would transfer to the town, but their liability insurance should cover it.” Councilmember Cheryl Moore made the statement, “He said he has four million.” Mayor Paschal asked, “Ours would just be secondary to his?” Attorney Martin stated he will gather more information regarding the town’s responsibility concerning liability. He added, “I do not have any general concern as long as you are allowing everyone who rents the park to have the same opportunity.” Mayor Paschal stated that from this point on, other individuals will need to provide a certain amount of liability insurance compared to the town’s liability, in order to allow inflatables in the park. He told the attorney he will have the Town Clerk provide him with a copy of the applicant’s liability insurance for him to look over. He said, “If the Town needs to adjust our policy, we will do so.” Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “to approve the special event for Clint Walker at the park under him using his own liability policy and sending us a copy for Ellis to look over.” Councilmember Daryl Crowder seconded the motion. Mayor Paschal asked if there was any further discussion. Councilmember Dennis Paschal III asked, “So, if he were to not provide a copy of the liability or something in the liability policy did not equal our policy, then we are given the right to turn it down?” Attorney Martin said that Councilmember Paschal is correct and that this motion gives Mr. Walker the opportunity to provide his information and then a decision can be made. He states that the Town of Wentworth has government immunity and his liability should be at or above the Town of Wentworth’s. Mayor Paschal stated “the motion and second is on the floor”. He asked for a vote. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 7 Article VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS No one signed the speaker register for public comments. Article VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Paschal made the following announcements: • The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall. • The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall. • Funding Requests for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 are due by February 24, 2023. Councilmember Dennis Paschal III asked a question, Is the PTA ball program going to use those fields this season?” Mayor Paschal said,” Yes, the ballfields will be used at the Wentworth School Site and it is understood that fences will be built soon.” He said storage availability was also a concern and he thinks the building in the back could be used. He said the roof needs new shingles but could be utilized for storage and equipment. Councilmember Daryl Crowder asked about restrooms down at the ballfields. Mayor Paschal replied, “Right now we will have to put port-a-johns down there, and we will get Yvonne to check on aluminum bleachers, too.” He added, “It is possible to use part of the old building for restrooms at some point in time, as the sewer line is close by, and there is a possibility of getting extra lights from a grant, but the Town would have to get the poles.” He also mentioned that there is a light at the field now, as well as security cameras all around the buildings. Article IX. ADJOURN Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We adjourn”. Councilmember Dennis Paschal III seconded the motion, and the meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted By: __________________________ Hunter Wilson Deputy Clerk/ Accounting Clerk Approved By: _______________________ Dennis Paschal, Jr. Mayor Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes February 7, 2023 – pg. 8