City Council

MINUTES WENTWORTH TOWN COUNCIL July 11, 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, July 11th, 2023, at 7:00pm. Council Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner, Daryl Crowder, Cheryl Moore, Dennis Paschal III Council Members Absent: Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr. A quorum was met. Staff Present: Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk/ Finance Officer 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 Pro Tem Evelyn Conner called the meeting to order. Article II. INVOCATION Councilmember Dennis Paschal, III gave the invocation. Article III. APPROVAL OF TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA A. Requests and Petitions of Citizens B. Approve/ Amend Agenda Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “To approve the Agenda”. Councilmember Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting – June 6, 2023 Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “The minutes stand approved as written”. Councilmember Daryl Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes July 11, 2023 – pg. 1 Article V. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration of Scope of Work for Window Seal Issues at Wentworth Consolidated School Gym Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk/ Finance Officer reviewed the scope of work provided by Stonewall Construction. Councilmember Paschal mentioned small gaps under the new windows. Ms. Russell confirmed that the scope of work addresses those gaps. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We accept the scope of work for the window seal issues at Wentworth Consolidated School gym.” Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: The scope of work for the window seal issues at the Wentworth Consolidated School gym is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes July 11, 2023 – pg. 2 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS B. Consideration of Grant Project Ordinance for Construction and Installation of the SCIF Grant Project Amendment No. 3 Ms. Russell reviewed the amendment. She explained that the contingency originally approved for the asbestos and lead paint abatement has been reclassified to cover the entire project. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve Amendment No. 3 of the Grant Project Ordinance for Construction and Installation of the SCIF Grant Project”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: The Grant Project Ordinance (SCIF Grant) Amendment No. 3 is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes July 11, 2023 – pg. 3 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS C. Consideration of United States Postal Service Lease Renewal – 200 County Home Rd. Ms. Russell explained that the current lease is up for renewal in April of 2025, and the United States Postal Service has hired a broker, JLL, to negotiate their leases. There is a 4% broker fee incorporated into the new lease rate. The new lease rate is $9,020.00 per year ($751.67/month). That’s a $68.34 per month increase over the current rate. Town Attorney Ellis Martin said he looked over the agreement and didn’t have any concerns. He said, “I’d like everybody to take a look at it in terms of the specifics of the landlord obligations and make sure everyone is comfortable with that. It’s not too excessive or anything. I didn’t think it was.” Councilmember Paschal said, “There doesn’t seem to be anything terribly different in this lease agreement that we’re responsible for”. Mr. Martin replied, “No, it’s updated but it’s pretty similar to the last lease”. Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “We renew the lease agreement with the United States Postal Service located on our property at 200 County Home Road.” Councilmember Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS D. Consideration of Appointments to Boards/ Committees 1. James Nicholas Harmon, 690 Camp Dan Valley Rd. – Historic Preservation Committee and Planning Board 2. Wendy Evans Franks, 252 Sims Road – Planning Board and/or Recreation Committee Ms. Russell explained that there are alternate member vacancies on the Planning Board. She noted the Historic Preservation Committee could take on new members, but the Recreation Committee has been inactive for some time. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We appoint James Nicholas Harmon as an alternate member to the Wentworth Planning Board & Board of Adjustment, and as a member to the Historic Preservation Committee. Mayor Pro Tem Conner and Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Councilmember Paschal said he felt it would be best to wait until construction repairs are complete at the Wentworth Consolidated School before appointing new members to the Recreation Committee. He made a MOTION, “We appoint Wendy Evans Franks as an alternate member to the Wentworth Planning Board & Board of Adjustment”. Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes July 11, 2023 – pg. 4 Article VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. Councilmember Paschal reminded Council of the 100th Anniversary of the Wentworth Consolidated School. He has talked to the Wentworth Historic Preservation Committee about helping to coordinate a program on October 22, 2023. He doesn’t think the gym will be ready to have an event there, but he’d still like to have some type of program, perhaps at a different location. He asked if Council is still okay with preparing an event to recognize the 100th Anniversary. Council agreed they are in favor of that. Councilmember Paschal suggested having speakers that were former staff of the school and possibly have some of the Wentworth Elementary students perform a musical number. Further plans will be discussed at the August 1, 2023 Council meeting. Article VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Pro Tem Conner made the following announcements:  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The Town of Wentworth 25th Anniversary Celebration will be held in the Wentworth Park on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 10:00am until 1:00pm. Article IX. ADJOURN Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “to adjourn.” Councilmember Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted By: __________________________ Yvonne Russell Town Clerk & Finance Officer Approved By: _______________________ Dennis Paschal, Jr. Mayor Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes July 11, 2023 – pg. 5