City Council

TOWN OF WENTWORTH MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING WENTWORTH, NORTH CAROLINA October 3rd, 2023 7:00 p.m. The regular monthly meeting of the Wentworth Town Council was held on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, at the Wentworth Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. Council Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner, Cheryl Moore, Daryl Crowder, and 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 - Town of Wentworth Brenda Ward - Historic Preservation Committee Kay Hammock - Historic Preservation Committee 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 There were no Requests or Petitions of Citizens. B. Approve/Amend Agenda Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION to add item D. Consideration of Quote for Additional Camera at Wentworth Consolidated School to Article VI., New Business. Councilmembers Paschal and Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 1 of 7 Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting – September 5th, 2023 Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “The minutes stand approved as written.” Councilmember Daryl Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article V. OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration of Annual Employee Evaluation for Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Budget-Finance Officer Mayor Pro Tem Conner read a memo from the Personnel Committee recommending a 3% merit increase in Ms. Russell’s annual salary, retroactive to her anniversary date of September 16, 2023. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We give Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Budget-Finance Officer a 3% merit increase in her annual salary retroactive to her anniversary date of September 16, 2023”. Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Later in the meeting Mayor Pro Tem Conner said, “Yvonne, thank you for everything you have done”. Ms. Russell replied, “You’re welcome. Thank you guys for always supporting me and being great to work for.” Mayor Pro Tem Conner added, “You’re a dedicated employee”. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS B. Consideration of Check Signers List Ms. Russell explained the Town’s Financial Cash Management Policy requires the Council to approve the Town’s check signers list for banking accounts each year. The current list consist of Yvonne Russell, Hunter Wilson, Dennis Paschal Jr. and Evelyn Conner. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “That Dennis Paschal Jr., Evelyn Conner, Hunter Wilson, and Yvonne Russell continue to be the check signers for Fiscal Year 2023-2024”. Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 2 of 7 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS C. Discussion of Wentworth School Centennial Celebration - Brenda Ward, Historic Preservation Committee Mrs. Ward shared a list of ideas the Historic Preservation Committee recently discussed regarding the Centennial Celebration of the Wentworth Consolidated School. She said it may take some time to plan the event. She added, “Even though we don’t have a potential date, we think it is important to at least start promoting it. Kay (Hammock) had mentioned maybe the Town putting it on their Facebook page. Some of the different classes still meet and have little reunions. It could be talked about and generate some interest and excitement about it.” Mrs. Ward explained that the Historic Preservation Committee would like Council to look at the notes Ms. Ward provided tonight and give the Committee some of Council’s own ideas and suggestions as to what they would like to see happen. She noted some of the Committee members suggested having softball and basketball games. Mrs. Ward said, “We’d like your input because we don’t know if you just want like a Sunday afternoon thing with punch and cookies, or would you be open to a two day event or maybe the ballgames on a Saturday and the other thing on Sunday afternoon. Just think about that and sometime get with the Committee and let us know what you have in mind.” Mrs. Ward said, “We have ten (10) members on the Historic Preservation Committee and when you get ten (10) people trying to decide something it can get kind of complicated, and so we thought maybe appointing a committee or team or whatever you want to call it, to handle some of the different phases like publicity, programs, history of the school, fact finding, safety and security, and the budget which we would have to put Yvonne (Finance Officer) on that committee I guess.” She continued, “If you (Council) would like to serve on one of those teams and whenever they start to get together, and give your ideas if there’s something there that interest you, just let us know.” Councilmember Paschal asked, “Did the Mayor give you an idea of when he thought it might be feasible?” Mrs. Ward replied, “My understanding he was not sure if we could do it by next fall”. Kay Hammock said, “He told me that at present, maybe summer but probably next fall”. Councilmember Cheryl Moore asked, “But does everything have to be ready before we can have something?” Mayor Pro Tem Conner mentioned the softball game suggestion. Mrs. Ward asked, “Isn’t the ballfield ready?” Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 3 of 7  Ms. Russell answered, “The ballfield is ready. The gym is not finished yet, and then once the gym is finished they’re going to start on the bathrooms down that main hallway. They’re having to do more there than we thought initially. I don’t know for sure, but I think maybe that is why Dennis (Mayor Paschal) is thinking it might take longer and might not be ready by spring.” Mrs. Ward said, “He wanted the bathrooms and the gym to be ready. That’s where we would have a tour and exhibits or whatever we come up with.” Mrs. Ward continued, “I even mentioned that we could get Roy (Roy Sawyers of Rockingham Update) to sit down with some former graduates or teachers… hopefully there are some teachers left…just to do some interviews and maybe we could do a little film or something. It would take time between now and then, even in a year, to get people involved and do that. I think Roy would be willing to do that." She thanked Council for their time and consideration. (Note: The Wentworth Consolidated School – Centennial Celebration: 1923-2023/ Ideas (notes) that Mrs. Ward referred to are herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) WENTWORTH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL—CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: 1923-2023 / I D E A S HOW DO WE BEGIN? • EVENT CO-ORDINATOR(S) (to coordinate the TEAMwork) • Appoint TEAMS in order to assign responsibilities 1. Publicity - Media Create announcement introducing the anniversary event. Share via social media, posters in various places, newspaper articles, professional sign at the celebration site, giving updates when appropriate. 2. Planning Develop a theme (Honoring the Past—Celebrating the Present— Planning for the future) Solicit input from former staff, students and surrounding community. Ask them to share their school experiences (e.g., sports teams, clubs, etc. they were a part of, teachers they remember for different reasons, or who had an impact on them in a particular way. Consider Documenting the Celebration (Roy Sawyers) or a “Slide Show” of pictures of classes and sports teams from year books. 3. Program Establish time-frame (Weekend / One Day) Determine Activities— Outside & Inside (Basketball - Softball games; Sock-hop/music; Food; Exhibits/Displays, etc.) Master of Ceremonies (When…Where…What…Who) 4. History/Fact-Finding (A written history on the school—origin of the school, changes through the years, the reason for the school’s mascot and colors, etc. Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 4 of 7 5. Safety-Security (Building & Grounds - Parking & Traffic) Provide a safe environment to ensure that people are not exposed to risks to their health and safety: Event access and egress Traffic Flow Emergency Procedures Fire Prevention First Aid 6. Budget (Need Input from each TEAM as to anticipated costs) - Volunteers from Council to serve on each team alongside Historic Preservation Committee members. WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS… • MARC (Museum and Archives of Rockingham County) • RCENO.com (Rockingham Update – Roy Sawyers • Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department • Wentworth Volunteer Fire Department • Rockingham County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) • Rockingham Community College • Rockingham County Board of Commissioners • Rockingham County Schools • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________ “Extra-Credit” Event Activities Tree Planting (April – Arbor Day) Flower or Plant Sale Sell imprinted bricks Contests (?) Facebook Trivia Questions Locate & Recognize the oldest living person who attended the school. • TIMING IS EVERYTHING—DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE • WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE TIME AND COST INVOLVED • PROMOTING THIS CENTENNIAL EVENT WILL GENERATE BUZZ AND HELP ENSURE IT IS WIDELY RECEIVED AND WELL-ATTENDED. Together Each Accomplishes More WENTWORTH CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL—CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: 1923-2023 / IDEAS Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 5 of 7 Article VI. NEW BUSINESS D. Consideration of Quote for Additional Camera at Wentworth Consolidated School Ms. Russell explained that because the CPI motion detector in the main hallway at the Wentworth Consolidated School Site keeps going off, Mayor Paschal asked for a quote to add a Verkada camera, like we have on the outside of the building, to the hallway beside the security motion detector. Ms. Russell said she received a quote from Noctem Solutions for the Verkada camera, licensing, and installation. The quote is $2,769.07. Ms. Russell mentioned some vandalism that had taken place over the weekend at the school. Ms. Russell said the CPI alarm was activated and law enforcement was called to the school. While on the phone with Mayor Paschal, who had also been called by CPI, Ms. Russell checked the security cameras and saw some boys waking around the school, and saw one of them exiting the side entrance of the school. The Sheriff Deputies on call were told that the Town had video of possible suspects. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We purchase an additional camera for the old Wentworth School at a cost of $2,769.07”. Mayor Pro Tem seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. (Note: The quote from Noctem Solutions for an additional camera is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Noctem Solutions 301 S Elm St Ste 914 Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 378-5050 NoctemSolutions.com Estimate ADDRESS Yvonne Russell Town of Wentworth 124 Peach Tree Rd Reidsville, NC 27320 ESTIMATE # 1052 DATE 10/02/2023 Estimate for adding one camera to the school. Service Call Labor Parts and labor for running a new line, mounting camera, setup/install/adjust, and parts 1 300.00 300.00 Hardware Verkada CD52-E Dome Camera 1 1,049.25 1,049.25T Consulting Verkada 10 Year Cloud Licensing 1 1,349.00 1,349.00 SUBTOTAL 2,698.25 TAX 70.82 TOTAL $2,769.07 Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 6 of 7 Article VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no Public Comments. Article VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Pro Tem Conner gave the following announcements:  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polls are open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm. Early voting begins Thursday, October 19, 2023 and ends Saturday, November 4, 2023.  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday November 5, 2023.  The Wentworth Town Hall will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2023 in observance of Veterans Day. Article IX. ADJOURN Mayor Pro Tem Conner made a MOTION, “To adjourn”. Councilmember Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Respectfully Submitted by: _____________________________ Yvonne Russell, NCCMC Town Clerk Approved by: _____________________________ Robert Dennis Paschal, Jr., Mayor Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – October 3rd, 2023 Page 7 of 7