Holly Springs Town Council Minutes

 

Special Meeting

April 28, 2006

 

The Holly Springs Town Council met in special called session on Friday, April 28, 2006, in the Council Chambers of Holly Springs Town Hall, 128 S. Main Street.  Mayor Dick Sears presided, calling the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.  A quorum was established as the mayor and three council members were present as the meeting opened. 

 

Council Members Present:  Councilmen Vinnie DeBenedetto, Parrish Womble, Chet VanFossen and Mayor Sears.

 

Council Members Absent:  Councilmen Hank Dickson and Peter Atwell.

 

Staff Members Present: Chuck Simmons, assistant town manager; John Schifano, town attorney; Joni Powell, town clerk (recording the minutes); Larry Boykin, assistant finance director; Drew Holland, finance director; Len Bradley, director of parks and recreation and Daniel Weeks, project analyst.

 

2a. Public Hearing:  Scattered Site Housing Program - Mr. Weeks explained that this is the second of two required public hearings to receive input from the citizens to express their views concerning scattered site housing rehabilitation needs and priorities in Holly Springs.

            With the $100,000 Community Development Block Grant that is available, staff believes Holly Springs could provide rehabilitation to three homes, at an approximate cost of $30,000 each.

With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears opened the public hearing to accept input.  The following comments were recorded:  None.

            There being no comments, the public hearing was closed.

            Action:  None.

 

2b.  Public Hearing:  Financing for Avent Ferry Road Widening and Renovation of Avent Ferry Road Fire Station – Mr. Boykin explained that, in order to borrow funds for construction of road widening improvements on Avent Ferry Road and renovation of the Avent Ferry Road fire station, the Town must first obtain approval from the Local Government Commission.

He said the first step in the application process is to hold a public hearing to receive comments from citizens on the question of whether or not the town should seek installment financing, as opposed to other financing.

            Following the public hearing, Mr. Boykin said, the will be asked Council is to consider adoption of Resolution 06-17.1, which states that the Town Council has determined certain findings of fact, including that installment financing is more desirable than other types of financing.  He said the resolution also authorizes the filing of the LGC application.

            In addition, Mr. Boykin said, the Council be asked to adopt Resolution 06-24, a bank resolution approving financing terms with RBC Centura Bank.  RBC Centura offered the most favorable loan terms among the banks providing proposals.  Under the terms, the Town could borrow an amount not to exceed $1,882,140 for a period of 10 years with an annual interest rate of 3.86%.

            With that explanation completed, Mayor Sears opened the public hearing to accept input.  The following comments were recorded:  None.

            There being no comments, the public hearing was closed.

            Action:  The Council approved a motion to adopt Resolution 06-17.1 authorizing the filing of an application to the Local Government Commission for approval of installment financing to fund a project to widen Avent Ferry Road and renovate the Avent Ferry Road fire station, and to adopt Resolution 06-24 approving financing terms offered by RBC Centura for a loan not to exceed $1,882,140 for a period of 10 years at an annual interest rate of 3.86%.

Motion By:  DeBenedetto

            Second By:  Womble

            Vote:  Unanimous

      Copies of Resolutions 06-17.1 and 06-24 are incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.

 

3.  Parks Master Plan Steering Committee -- Mr. Bradley addressed the council, reporting that the Town’s consultant for a Parks Master Plan would like to kick off the project with a meeting of a steering committee the week of May 1.  So that members could be notified at least a few days before the meeting, Mr. Bradley asked that the Council informally appoint a steering committee, with ratification of those appointments to follow during the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 2.

      He provided a list of names he feels are local citizens with good backgrounds   for parks planning and a list of boards the consultant recommended should have representation on the committee.

      The consensus of the council members present was that there were no objections to the list of citizens, which included as regular members of the committee Matt Clifton, Dick Gallo, Kathy Hamilton-Brown, Art Shaffer and Joyce Shields, and alternate members Mike Blohn and Ray Criber.

     Mr. Bradley asked the Council to also designate the following to serve on the committee:  1 Town Council member; 1 Planning Board member; 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members; and 1 Parks and Recreation staff member other than Mr. Bradley.

      In discussion, Councilman DeBenedetto volunteered to represent the Town Council on the steering committee, and he suggested that there be two Council members on the Parks Master Plan committee instead of only one.

      Mayor Sears suggested that if the structure of the steering committee was to be changed from what was being presented to the Council, then that should be discussed at the May 2 regular meeting with the full Council in attendance.  He said once that is decided, then the Town Council representative(s) would be named.

      The Council directed Mr. Bradley to touch bases before May 2 with members of the Planning Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Parks and Recreation staff and provide suggested names for further appointments also at the regular meeting on May 2.

      The Town Clerk let the Council know that the May 2 agenda would need to be adjusted during agenda adjustment and approval (to remove the item from the Consent Agenda for discussion.)

 

4.  Adjournment:  There being no further business, the April 28, 2006, special meeting of the Holly Springs Town Council was adjourned following a motion by Councilman VanFossen, a second by Councilman Womble and a unanimous vote.

 

Respectfully Submitted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006,

                       

 

 

 

___________________________________

Joni Powell, CMC, Town Clerk