Regular Meeting
May 1, 2007
The Holly
Springs Town
Staff Members Present:
2 and 3.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting opened with an
invocation by Rev. Ross Carter of the
4.
Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion
By: Atwell
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
Items
Added to the Agenda: Consideration
of an amendment to the Holly Springs
Items
Removed from the Agenda: None.
Consent
Agenda Items Removed to after Agenda Adjustment: None.
Other
Changes: None.
5.
Consent Agenda: The Council approved a motion to
approve all items on the Consent Agenda.
The motion carried following a motion by
5a. Resolution
07-16 - The Council adopted
Resolution 07-16, a resolution of intent to close a portion of unused
5c. Budget Amendment, $81,000 – The Council adopted an amendment to
the
5d. Budget Amendment,
$725 – The Council adopted an amendment to the FY
2006-07 budget to the fire station project fund in the amount of $725 to add
interest income. A copy of the budget amendment is incorporated into these minutes as an
addendum page.
5e.
Budget Amendment, $250,100 – The
Council adopted an
amendment to the FY 2006-07 budget in the amount of $250,100 to allocate funds
from the prior year for the purchase of a combination truck. A copy of the budget amendment is
incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
6a. FY 07-08 Proposed Budget and Budget Work
Shop - Mr. Dean distributed his recommended FY 2007‑08 Town budget
for the Council’s review. He said that in
order to accommodate the Council members’ questions and suggestions for
revisions to the budget plan, a budget workshop needs to be scheduled in
May. He said that this workshop will give
additional time to review the budget document and still allow time for changes
to be made before formal adoption during the month of June.
Mr. Dean said that the Town of
Mr. Dean said that the salary
requirements for next year include a recommended 3% cost of living adjustment
(COLA) across the
Mr. Dean said that, as part of the
budget process, staff feels it is important to have new residential
developments absorb additional expenses for infrastructure rather than passing
costs on to existing citizens. He said
the Town has increased the water and sewer capacity fees for ¾ residential meters
from $3,500 to $3,800 in order to address immediate infrastructure needs. He said that in addition, the sewer capacity fees
remains to go directly into reserve accounts.
Adding the importance for the Town to gradually reduce its dependence on
impact fees and charges for operating expenses, and staff will continue to
attempt to reduce these charges in future budgets to eliminate potential
financial problems within the operating budget.
Mr. Dean indicated that as the Town proceeds
into the next several years, staff will continue to evaluate projects and
personnel needs as they relate to the provision of services. He said that Town staff has several
substantial projects (wastewater treatment plant, transportation, park
improvements and community center) that will be initiated during this fiscal
year; therefore, it will be important to prioritize programming needs with
future budgets. He said that staff
continues to work with the Town Council and citizens to establish goals and
objectives as the Town grows to provide the level of services expected.
Mr. Dean said staff has done a good
job in development of the budget and has done a good job of controlling costs
while providing service levels expected by the Town Council and citizens. He added that the proposed budget is a best
estimate of what the Town should expect next year and represents a fair
assessment of the Town’s anticipated revenues and expenditures.
Mr. Dean explained that the proposed
budget reflects his recommendations based on department meetings, evaluation of
existing service needs, and input from the Town Council. He added that it represents a level of
funding that will allow the Town to maintain and improve current service levels
while making organizational changes, which should be cost-effective and more
efficient. He noted that, as with any
budget, external forces can affect projections, and for that reason the figures
proposed in the FY 2006-07 budget are a very conservative forecast of revenues
and expenditures for the next year.
Action: The Council approved a motion to set a budget workshop for
Motion By: Dickson
Second By:
Atwell
Vote:
Unanimous.
Councilman Atwell
made a motion to recuse Councilman VanFossen from deliberations and action of
agenda item 6b, and seconded by Councilman Womble. The vote was unanimous.
6b.
She said the applicant is proposing to
convert the house and garage to office space and to pave nine parking spaces in
front of the structure.
Ms. Huffman said that at the
Ms. Goodson
expanded that the applicant has requested not to provide curb and gutter around
the parking lot and the driveway. She
said the Town’s engineering standards requires curb and gutter in all parking
lots and driveways into the development. Ms.
Goodson said staff is comfortable not allowing the installation of curb and
gutter being this site will not be a permanent use.
Mr.
VanFossen 5104 Windance Place, Mr. VanFossen the architect clarified the
reasoning behind requesting for an exception to the
Action: The
Motion By:
Atwell
Second By: Womble
Vote:
Unanimous.
Councilman Atwell made a motion to readmit Councilman
VanFossen back into the meeting and seconded by Councilman Womble. The vote was unanimous.
6c. Hwy. 55 Bypass Name – Mrs. Clapp explained as development is beginning to occur
along NC 55 Hwy. (a.k.a. NC 55 Bypass) it has come to our attention that we
must actually “name” the street so that we can provide addresses for these
properties. She said staff is requesting
that the name be selected and approved by the Town Council.
Ms. Clapp said staff has discussed ideas
for names. However,
She said names that staff had considered
but are already in use within
Names that may be available, but have not
been confirmed are:
Alford was a man on the move. He ran a
general mercantile, sawmill, cotton gin, turpentine works and brick kiln. He
even drained a local lake to plant rice paddies. Alford, along with twenty
other
Other information about Col. Alford
includes - he built the first commercial building in
It was at this crossroads that Scottish
settler Archibald Leslie opened a tailoring business and store and began
construction on a 180-acre estate that contained freshwater springs. Today, all
that remains is the main house, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places as the Leslie-Alford-Mims House, and the springs, accessible to the
public by a short, winding dirt trail that winds through the woods and past a
family cemetery. The house is a commanding landmark, visible from
John Norris, Jr., who most likely was one
of the first English settlers of the community, was a veteran of the
Revolutionary War. In 1935, the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a
memorial stone for Norris on the west side of
Another downtown commercial structure
developed at the turn of the century that remains today is the Seagraves
Drugstore building. Initially a general mercantile, the building was later used
as a dress shop and an auto parts store. The Town purchased and renovated the
two-story brick building in 2003 and currently uses it as a police station.
During the renovations, the Town preserved much of the original old-growth
heart pine flooring and reused other original wood pieces to construct a
conference table and bookcases.
After much
discussion all Council Members were in consensus to submit
Action: The
Motion By: VanFossen
Second
By: Atwell
Vote: Unanimous
6d.
Amendment of the
After much discussion of the pros
and con’s of having the public comment section at the beginning of the regular
meeting agendas verses at the end of the meeting. Councilmen DeBenedetto, VanFossen and Womble were
in consensus of moving the public comment period near the beginning of the
meeting agendas and Councilmen Atwell and Dickson was in favor of leaving the
public comment period segment at the end of the meeting.
Action:
The Council made a motion to amend the
Motion:
Womble
Second: DeBenedetto
Vote:
The vote carried with a
7.
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.
Gerald Holleman 5625 Easton Street – He requested the
Jennifer McKeon of
Van Crandall of
Tim Sack of
8.
Other Business: There were further discussion on
the speeding of trucks and traffic on
Ms. Sudano reported on the status of
9. Manager’s Report:
Mr. Dean said the Turtle Festival is scheduled for May 12, at
He also reported that at the next
Mr. Dean explained to the Council
Members regarding the Holly Springs Baseball Field rental fee rates are based
on a joint agreement with Wake County Public School Systems for upgrades of the
fields, lighting, fencing and irrigation, scoreboard, bathroom facilities and
maintenance of the fields. The Town’s
cost is estimated at $100,000 that is not covered by Wake County Public School
System. Mr. Dean suggested that the
coach and parents meet with
10.
Closed Session: The Council approved a motion to
enter into Closed Session, pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5)
to discuss two matters with the town attorney a matter acquiring a utility
easement from Progress Energy and purchase of land for parks and recreation.
Motion
By: Atwell
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
General Account of Closed Session –
In Closed Session, the
-- End General Account
Councilman Atwell made a motion to return to Open Session
and seconded by Councilman Dickson. The
vote was unanimous.
11.
Adjournment: There being no further business for
the evening, the
Respectfully
Submitted on
_________________________________
Addendum pages as referenced in these
minutes follow and are a part of the official record.