City Council

TOWN OF WENTWORTH MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING WENTWORTH, NORTH CAROLINA June 4, 2024 7:00 p.m. The regular monthly meeting of the Wentworth Town Council was held on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 at the Wentworth Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. 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: Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk/ Finance Officer Hunter Wilson, Accounting Clerk/ Deputy Clerk Others Present: Ellis Martin, Town Attorney Lynn Cochran, Planner Håkon Nordstrand, RCHS Foreign Exchange Student Maximilian Lehner, RCHS Foreign Exchange Student 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 There were no Requests or Petitions of Citizens. B. Approve/Amend Agenda Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To add item C. Proclamations for Honorary Citizens under New Business and approve the agenda as amended.” Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – June 4, 2024 Page 1 of 4 Article IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Town Council Meeting 1. May 7, 2024 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. Article V. OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business. Article VI. PUBLIC HEARING A. Consideration of Case W2024-01, Text Amendments to the Wentworth Planning & Zoning Ordinances - by Lynn Cochran, Planner Mayor Paschal opened the public hearing. Mr. Cochran addressed Council, “Tonight is the formal consideration of the text amendments that were reviewed and discussed at last month’s meeting. The Planning Board reviewed these a couple of weeks ago and they did not suggest any changes. They were comfortable with the changes as they are and seemed to understand the intent of what we’re doing.” Mr. Cochran continued, “Just to summarize, these text amendments correct omissions and errors that occurred with the 2021 update of the ordinance. We also reorganized, specifically, the Special Use Permits into an organized fashion where it is quite clear who the deciding board will be for each of the Special Use Permits, whether it will be the Planning Board or the Town Council and either a minor or major. It also standardizes some language that was a little conflicting and confusing, making it clear that the Zoning Administrator is just that, the Zoning Administrator. The members of the Planning Board serve as the members of the Board of Adjustment.” There were no questions from Council. Mayor Paschal closed the public hearing. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve this text amendment based up the Consistency Determination statements that are included in the Board agenda packet, submitted during the presentation and as may be amended, incorporated into the motion, to be included in the minutes.” Councilmember Paschal seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Zoning Amendment Consistency Determination: The Board has reviewed Case W2024-01, proposed text amendments to the Wentworth Planning & Zoning Ordinances. As required by NCGS 160D the Board makes the following findings: 1. The proposed action is found to be consistent with the intents, goals and descriptions of the Town of Wentworth Land Use Plan and other Adopted Plans. Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – June 4, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Article VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Consideration of Budget Amendment No 3 for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 by Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer Ms. Russell explained the budget amendment reflects a transfer of $8,000.00 from Miscellaneous Other Operating Costs to Capital Outlay: Land/Property Improvements for architectural fees incurred for the planning of a new shelter at the Wentworth Park. Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To approve Budget Amendment No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.” Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article VII. NEW BUSINESS B. Consideration of Town Council Meeting Schedule Amendment – July 9, 2024 Ms. Russell explained the Town Council Meeting Schedule needed to be amended to reflect a past Rules of Procedure amendment stating the July meeting would take place on the second Tuesday of the month. The July 2024 meeting should be scheduled for Tuesday, July 9th. Councilmember Paschal made a MOTION, “We approve the amendment to the meeting schedule for 2024.” Councilmember Crowder seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Article VI. NEW BUSINESS C. Proclamations for Honorary Citizen of the Town of Wentworth - Håkon Nordstrand and Maximilian Lehner Mayor Paschal read both Honorary Citizen Proclamations for Håkon Nordstrand and Maximilian Lehner, and presented them both with framed copies. Håkon and Max are foreign exchange students at Rockingham County High School. Håkon is from Trondheim, Norway and Max is from Grieskirchen, Austria. They both resided with Councilmember Dennis Paschal, III while attending RCHS. Ms. Russell took a photo of Håkon and Max with Mayor Paschal and Councilmember Paschal. (Note: The photo of Håkon Trondheim and Maximilian Lehner accepting their Proclamations as Honorary Citizens of the Town of Wentworth is herein incorporated and made a part of these minutes.) Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – June 4, 2024 Page 3 of 4 Article VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. Article IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Paschal gave the following announcements:  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The next regular meeting of the Wentworth Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 7:00 pm at the Wentworth Town Hall.  The Wentworth Town Hall will be closed Thursday, July 4, 2024 in observance of Independence Day. Article X. ADJOURN Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To adjourn.” Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried. Respectfully Submitted by: _____________________________ Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk Approved by: _____________________________ Robert Dennis Paschal, Jr., Mayor Town of Wentworth Council Meeting Minutes – June 4, 2024 Page 4 of 4