Regular Meeting
Feb. 7, 2006
The
Staff Members Present:
2 and 3.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting opened with an
invocation by Rabbi Ederly of The Temple Beth Shalom.
4.
Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion
By: Dickson
Second
By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous
Items
Added to the Agenda: Resolution
06-07 modifying the maturity of the town’s refunding bond order was added to
the Consent Agenda.
Agenda
Items Removed: None.
Other
Changes: None.
5a.
Public Hearing: Annexation
Ordinance A06-01, Thomas and Utley Heirs
- Ms. Bobber explained that the Town has received
a petition for voluntary annexation filed by the Thomas and Utley Heirs,
requesting annexation of 54.669 acres
located south of
She explained that the public hearing originally was scheduled and opened on
Jan. 17 and was continued to Feb. 7 at the request of the applicant. She said the engineering department still is
working out details of an infrastructure reimbursement agreement with the
developer and recommends that the public hearing be further continued to Feb.
21.
With that explanation completed,
Mayor Sears opened the public hearing to accept input. The following comments were recorded: None.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to continue the public hearing for Annexation
Ordinance A06-01 until the
Motion By:
Womble
Second By:
Dickson
Vote:
Unanimous
6. Consent Agenda:
All items on the Consent Agenda were approved
following a motion by
6a. Minutes - The
Council approved the minutes of the
6b.
6c. Budget Amendment, $91,000 – The Council adopted an amendment to the Womble Park
Project Fund in the amount of $91,000 using Parks
and Recreation reserve funds to be used toward the completion of
6d. Budget Amendment,
$2,500 – The Council adopted an amendment
to the FY 2005-06 budget in the amount of $2,500 to receive an NCLM
wellness incentive grant. A copy of the budget
amendment is incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
6e.
Fire Station Contract Change Order, No. 5 – The Council approved a fire station construction contract
change order (No. 5) in the amount of $34,424 and adopted an amendment to the
project budget to appropriate $85,430 in project contingency funds. A
copy of the contract change order and the budget amendment are incorporated
into these minutes as addendum pages.
6f.
Community Development Block Grant Scattered Sites Close-out Resolution
06-06– The Council adopted Resolution 06-06 authorizing the closing out of
the town’s 2003 Community Development Block Grant Scattered Sites housing
rehabilitation project. A copy of Resolution 06-06 is incorporated into these minutes as an
addendum page.
6g.
2003 Community Development Block Grant Scattered Sites Close-out
Ordinance 06-02 – The Council adopted Ordinance 06-02 closing out the
town’s 2003 CDBG Scattered Sites housing rehabilitation project.
A copy of Ordinance 06-02 is
incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
6h. Town Council Winter Retreat, Feb. 10 –
6i. Resolution 06-07, Bond Maturity – The
Council adopted Resolution 06-07 modifying the first maturity of the town’s
refunding bond order. A copy of Resolution 06-07 is incorporated
into these minutes as addendum pages.
7a. Pedestrian Planning Grant – Ms.
Stephenson reported to the Council that the engineering staff applied for a pedestrian planning
grant, which was awarded to the town by the N.C. Dept. of Transportation. The grant will enable the town to develop a
master pedestrian plan.
Ms. Stephenson asked the council to consider entering a
contract with Greenways Inc. in the amount of $35,000 for development of a
pedestrian master plan.
Ms. Stephenson added that town staff conducted the process for selecting a consultant,
and Greenways Inc. was chosen for this project.
Action: The
Motion By: Atwell
Second
By: DeBenedetto
Vote: Unanimous
A copy of the Greenways,
Inc. contract is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7b.
To access the
site, she said,
Engineering
staff is working on design of this project; however, staff needs field surveys
to move forward, she explained.
She said
Davis-Martin-Powell is proposing to provide field surveying to include
200-foot-wide cross-sections approximately every 50 feet of road corridor;
topographic survey of the proposed 400" x 400" compost area; location
of property corners within the project; location of stream and other surface
features within the project corridor; tie to existing control established
during effluent force main design; and locate control points near Ballentine
Road and the WWTP.
Ms. Stephenson
said the firm is already providing surveying services for the adjacent
wastewater treatment facility, and by providing these services, the town can
tie the surveys together.
Councilman
VanFossen said he did not realize the town was investigating locating a
composting/mulching operation on the wastewater treatment plant site. He said he felt the BFI site, once it is
closed, would be a better location.
Councilman
Atwell said he did not feel the town would be assuming ownership or lease of
the BFI property upon closure of the construction and demolition landfill. He said he would oppose such a proposal.
Action: The
Motion By: Atwell
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: The motion carried following a 4-1 vote. Councilmen DeBenedetto, Womble, Atwell and
Dickson voted for. Councilman VanFossen
voted against.
A copy of Davis-Martin-Powell
and Associates, Inc. contract is incorporated into these minutes as addendum
pages.
7c.
She
also noted that a budget amendment would be required.
Ms. Stephenson
said that Narron Construction has done an excellent job on the
Ms. Stephenson
explained to Council members that Alternates A and B of the proposal consist of
reworking the handicapped accessibility from the police station to the sidewalk. She said Alternates C & D consist of
using new brick pavers for the sidewalk along Avent Ferry and in between the
Police Station and Town Hall (Alt C) or using the stockpiled brick pavers (Alt
D).
She said that Town
staff is recommending Alternate A, because it allows the best accessibility and
Alternate D, because it saves the Town $7,000 and uses materials that are
already stockpiled.
Action: The
Motion By: Atwell
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
A copy of the contract
change order and budget amendments are incorporated into these minutes as
addendum pages.
7d.
Stephanie
asked that the request, however, be tabled because the residents did not know
that the topic was going to be discussed this evening.
Councilman
Womble expressed displeasure at the verbiage used in the letter referring to
the residents of
Action: The
Motion By: Atwell
Second
By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous
8.
Public Comment: At this time, an opportunity was provided for members of the audience
who had registered to speak to address the Council on any variety of topics not
listed on the night’s agenda.
Robert Edwards – Mr. Edwards addressed the Council,
saying that he has questions and concerns about the proposed expansion of the
Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant. He added
that he felt the area’s infrastructure and evacuation routes need to be
improved before the plant is expanded.
9. Other
Business: Councilman Womble said he received a complaint
from Charlie Woodhouse,
Councilman Womble asked if the
town’s policy on not picking up mattresses without an extra surcharge could be
adjusted to take into account the fixed incomes of elderly residents. Mr. Dean said he would look into it.
Councilman DeBenedetto asked if the Council would be
inclined to adopt a resolution or write a letter urging Wake County Board of
Education to expand its search for a new school superintendent to include
outside the system to ensure that the best qualified candidate is recruited.
Councilman Womble said he heard on
the news earlier in the day that the school board has decided to look inside
the system first and then expand the search outside the system if needed.
Councilman Dickson said he expressed
directly to the school system his personal opinion that the school system
should consider all candidates for the job.
Councilman DeBenedetto said he felt
a resolution from the Council-as-a-whole would lend more weight and have more
impact with the school system.
Councilman Atwell said he would
think it would be a Chamber of Commerce role to write such a resolution,
because he has a small question in his mind that it may not be the role of the
Town Council to take such a stand as representative of all citizens in the
town.
Councilman VanFossen said he agreed
with Councilman Atwell and he also wondered how much weight a resolution would
have with the school board.
Mayor Sears suggested that while the
concept is valid, he would suggest that it would be most appropriate for the Chamber
of Commerce to author such a resolution.
Councilman Atwell brought up the
subject of the landfill. He said he
feels the town should publicize through all means possible the true economic
facts to which the partner municipalities have sentenced their residents.
10.
Manager’s Report: Ms. Powell provided agendas for the upcoming
2006 Winter Retreat. Mr. Dean introduced
Daniel Weeks, the town’s new project analyst.
11.
Closed Session: The Council approved a motion to
enter into Closed Session, pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4)
to discuss a topic involving an economic development project.
Motion
By: Atwell
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
General Account of Closed Session –
In Closed Session, the town manager
updated Council members on the progress of a potential new company expressing
interest in acquiring the
-- End General Account
The Council approved a motion to return to Open Session.
12.
Adjournment: There being no further business for
the evening, the
Respectfully
Submitted on
_________________________________
Joni S.
Powell, CMC, Town Clerk
Addendum pages as referenced in these
minutes follow and are a part of the official record