Holly Springs Town
Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
The
Staff Members Present:
2 and 3.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the meeting opened with an
invocation by Rev. Lewis Gentry of
4.
Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion
By: Sack
Second
By: DeBenedetto
Vote: Unanimous
Items
Added to the Agenda:
Items
Removed from the Agenda: None.
Consent
Agenda Items Moved to New Business: 8f.,
resolution to amend Section 8 of the Engineering Design and Construction
Standards to include the NPDES Best Management Practices Manual, was removed
for presentation.
Other
Changes: None.
5.
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. The
following input was recorded:
Glenn Myrto,
Mr. Myrto pointed out that for years
the property of the cultural center has been designated as parkland in
long-range planning documents. He said he
felt the Town should keep the property and maintain it as passive open space.
Van Crandall, 4813 Salem Ridge
– Mr. Crandall addressed the Council regarding the community videos featured on
the Town’s Web site. Mr. Crandall said
he felt it was not appropriate that the community video link connects to an
outside server where the videos reside and are presented with paid advertisers
displayed. He said he, particularly, is
affected because his own video streaming company cannot compete with the
program in which the Town participated.
He asked that the video link be removed from the Web site and that the
Town no longer partner with companies that use the Town as a portal for
advertising. He asked that the Town
Council adopt a resolution to that effect.
6a.
Scottish Heritage Month – Councilman Dickson read a proclamation proclaiming April as
the Scottish -American Month to honor the contributions of Scot Americans to
the nation, the State of
April 6 has been proposed to be
recognized as Tartan Day to mark Independence Day in
In
Action: None.
7a.
Public Hearing: Annexation
Petition A08-01, Blalock and Koeppen Property – Ms. Clapp said the Town has
received a petition for voluntary annexation of 123.67 acres located at
She explained that, pursuant to the 1993
annexation boundary line agreement between the Town of
Ms. Clapp said the request from Apex
notwithstanding, staff and the Town Attorney are of the opinion that this
parcel does not lie within the designated boundary of the annexation
agreement. Still, because the Town is
waiting for a survey to be done, Council is being asked to defer action on the
annexation ordinance until the first meeting in May.
That explanation completed, Mayor Sears
opened the public hearing. The following
comments were recorded: None.
Action: The
Council approved a motion to continue the public hearing of Annexation Petition
A08-01, Blalock and Koeppen properties, to resume on
Motion: Sack
Second: Dickson
Vote:
Unanimous
8.
Consent Agenda: The Council approved all items
on the Consent Agenda following a motion by Councilman
Sack, a second by
8a. Minutes - The Council approved minutes
of the Council’s regular meetings held in January, 2008.
8b.
8c.
Street Lighting Policy Statement P-004.1 – The Council adopted Policy Statement P-004.1, an
amended version of the Town’s Street Lighting policy statement. A copy
of P-004.1, Street Lighting Policy Statement, is incorporated into these
minutes as addendum pages.
8d. Budget Amendment, $52,000
- The Council adopted amendments to the FY 2007-08 budget in the amount of
$52,000 for the traffic signal at
8e.
Budget Amendment, $97,000 – The Council adopted amendments to the FY
2007-08 budget in the amount of $97,000 for the construction of a public
parking lot at
8f.
Resolution 08-12 – This item was removed from the Consent Agenda
during agenda adjustment.
8g.
Blalock Property Survey Report – The Council received a report of a contract
entered with Bass, Nixon, Kennedy for surveying services at a cost of $8,300. A copy of the Bass, Nixon, Kennedy contract is
incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
8h.
Western Wake Water Reclamation Facility Interlocal Agreement Amendment
No. 3 – The Council adopted Amendment No. 3 to the Western Wake Water
Reclamation Facility Interlocal Agreement.
A copy of the Western Wake Water Reclamation Facility Interlocal Agreement
Amendment No. 3 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
8i.
Budget Amendment, $49,000 – The Council adopted amendments to the FY
2007-08 budget in the amount of $49,000 to cover the first invoice for athletic
facility enhancements at
8f.
Resolution 08-12 – Ms. Keefer addressed the Council,
giving them key information in the town’s establishment of National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System Best Management Practices Manual that will reside
as Section 8 of the Town of
Adoption of the resolution, she said,
would enact the BMP, and she wanted the Council to have some background
information on the program in case they are asked questions by citizens or
developers.
Action: The Council adopted Resolution 08-12
modifying the Town of
Motion By: Dickson
Second By: Sack
Vote:
Unanimous
A copy
of Resolution 08-12 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages, less
the 92-page Exhibit A. The actual BMP
Manual, which is Section 8 of the Town of
9a.
She
said bids were informally solicited, and staff recommends award of the work to
the single and lowest responsible bidder, Watson Electrical Construction
Company, in the amount of $42,740, inclusive of contingency.
Action: The
Council approved a motion to award a contract for the installation of a
traffic signal at the intersection of
Motion
By: Sack
Second
By: Dickson
Vote:
Unanimous.
9b.
Water Conservation Ordinance 08-05 – Ms.
Powell explained that now that
She said a proposed draft ordinance
is geared to match
She said stage triggers are based on
available flow from the
Based on the
She said on March 28,
She said stage 2 would allow an
alternating schedule of irrigation on two days a week for each property owner, together
with a few other types of restrictions; Stages 3 and 4 would prohibit
irrigation as well as place progressively stronger restrictions on other types
of water use.
In the past the Council has
expressed an interest in addressing the problem of irrigation systems that
deposit water on sidewalks and streets.
The proposed ordinance would make this unlawful during any stage of response.
Ms. Powell explained one other item
of note, the ordinance establishes a fee for the irrigation permits that the
Town would continue to allow in most cases.
The $50 fee would be collected and put toward water conservation
education efforts; a provision is included for waiver of this fee for those who
provide evidence of having planted warm-season grasses or drought resistant
vegetation.
In discussion, council members
suggested that it might be wise to specifically state in the ordinance that no
irrigation would be allowed from the Town’s water supply on Fridays.
Councilman Sack suggested that the
ordinance should apply also to private wells and non-potable water sources.
Councilman DeBenedetto suggested
that the Town explore providing incentive to developers and builders to plant
native and drought-resistant grasses.
Councilman VanFossen went a step
further and suggested that there be no incentives, but the Town should just
require it.
Action: The
Motion By: Sack
Second
By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous.
A copy of Ordinance 08-05 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum
pages.
9c.
Resolution 08-13, Green
Action: The
Motion By:
Dickson
Second
By: DeBenedetto
Vote: Unanimous.
A copy of Resolution
08-13 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
9d.
Surplus Real Property - Mr. Schifano said that the Town has received inquiries about
the possibility of selling a small portion of land to the north of
He explained the history of
Mr. Schifano said, if the Council
desired to sell the property, that it could surplus the property with a reversionary
clause stating that if a suitable plan was not devised or the development plan
was not approved, then the third-acre would revert back to the town.
Councilman DeBenedetto asked why
would the Town surplus Town property without a site plan. He added that he had issues with the previous
Councilman Sack said, in his memory,
the property not owned by the Town in this area was designated for development
of mixed-use or residential uses. He
said he felt like the third acre was of no use to the Town. He added that he felt like Mr. Schifano’s
suggestion for a reversionary clause would give the Town adequate protection. He said the addition of this third acre may
give the developer the chance to devise something better for the Town than the
previous proposal.
Councilman VanFossen asked if the
Town could trade instead of sell the property.
He suggested that the Town could provide this third-acre for another
third-acre around the historic springs on the property to provide better access
and a better park area.
Mr. Schifano said he had suggested
the same idea to the developer, whose response was reluctant.
After much discussion, Mr. Schifano
summarized that the Town Council was looking at three possible positions: to not surplus the property and retain it; to
surplus it with a reversionary clause that the property would revert back to
town ownership of a suitable development plan was not produced; or receive a
site plan from the developer and then make the decision whether to sell, trade
or not.
Action: The
Motion By:
DeBenedetto
Second
By: Womble
Vote: The motion carried following a 3-2 vote. Councilmen DeBenedetto, Womble and Dickson voted
for the motion. Councilmen VanFossen and
Sack voted against.
9e.
Community Growth Forum,
He said staff is planning an open
house segment of the evening where exhibits illustrating pending and ongoing
non-residential projects and a wide assortment of infrastructure plans will be
displayed. During this open house in the
The second part of the evening will
be held in the
After the presentation, staff
believes the Council may be interested in taking over the program, sharing
information and viewpoints from the stage and engaging interactively with
audience members, asking and answering questions.
He said rather than emailing to get
ideas of what the Council has in mind, staff is asking for discussion at the
meeting and that a council-supported consensus be formed as to how this part of
the program should be handled and how it should end.
Direction: There was
some discussion as to the merits of holding a public hearing the evening of the
forum or on a separate night. In the
end, there was a consensus that, if the Town is going to entertain public
comments in a hearing forum, it would be best to do so the evening of the
Growth Forum when people interested in the subject would be gathered. Direction was to hold a public hearing at the
end of the Forum.
9f.
Employee Monthly Mileage Allocation,
In agenda packets,
In receipt of
Councilman Sack asked if the travel
allowance for staff was considered salary, or was it considered a benefit? He said he estimated the proposed budget
would contain $38,000 in car allowances, and he believes
He said he felt strongly that
employees who use their own cars should record and report their monthly mileage
and receive reimbursement, which he believes would amount to less than monthly
allowances.
Councilman Sack then asked why only some
department heads, the mayor, town attorney and town manager received travel
allowances and not all employees.
Mr. Dean asked the Council to look
at the situation on a case-by-case basis.
He said he understands Councilman Sack’s position, but he feels there
are some instances when reimbursement or providing a vehicle would be more
expensive than a travel allowance, and it would be best to consider each
instances based on its own merit.
Councilman DeBenedetto said he agrees
with Councilman Sack. He added that
there is no policy on who gets the benefit and who does not. He said if the travel allowance is a perk,
then it should be called what it is.
Councilman VanFossen said he felt
like $38,000 was not a tremendous amount of money when compared to what the
actual cost for mileage and additional vehicles might be.
Councilman Sack maintained that no
other governmental agency bestows travel allowances like the Town of
Councilman Dickson said he was not
inclined at this time to eliminate the travel allowances across the board, but
he would like to see a cost analysis of what would be the most cost-effective
procedure for the Town.
Mileage
Direction: The Council directed that
a history of those who receive travel allowance be prepared, together with a cost
analysis for each position. The Council also wanted more information on which employees
were offered their jobs with the understanding that a travel allowance would be
provided.
On the subject of banking land for
schools, there was much discussion.
There was also discussion that not
all property is suitable for school development and that the Wake County Public
School System has specific limitations, locations and parameters for property
it seeks.
Action: A motion to authorize council members to explore
purchasing land for parks and eventual school sites if and when the Board of
Education desires to obtain it failed.
Motion
By: Womble
Second
By: DeBenedetto
In discussion, Councilmen Dickson
and VanFossen questioned the need for a motion to allow any one or more council
members to approach land owners to gauge their interest in selling their land.
Councilman VanFossen said the
Council could provide endorsement without approving a motion to do so.
Councilman DeBenedetto called the
question.
Vote: The motion failed to carry, following a 2-3
vote. Councilmen Womble and DeBenedetto
voted for the motion. Councilmen Sack,
VanFossen and Dickson voted against.
Councilman Dickson noted for the
record that he was voted against the motion simply because it was not
necessary. He said he supports the
Town’s seeking out property for future parks and school sites.
9g.
Veterans Park – Councilman DeBenedetto reported that he had met with Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s
office in Washington D.C. and learned that federal grants are available that
could help the Town with Veterans Park. He
said Sen. Dole’s office is asking for a letter from
Action:
The Council approved a motion to
authorize a grant application and letter requesting federal funding for
Motion
by: Sack
Second
by: Womble
Vote: Unanimous.
10.
Other Business: Councilman DeBenedetto said he
would like to add the following topics to the Town’s legislative agenda: I-540, the Council’s recent Board of
Education resolution and removal of the cap on charter schools.
Councilman DeBenedetto asked if the
Town had received an invoice for $35,000 for Green Oaks Parkway permit
violation remedies. Mr. Dean said yes,
and the Town will be getting the money from Wakefield Development.
Councilman Debenedetto asked for old
budgets and that audit reports be provided prior to the meeting at which the
audit is reported.
Councilman Sack asked the Council
for action on a parks and recreation bus program to provide senior citizens at
the apartments for the elderly with transportation to WalMart and to Bingo.
Action: The Council approved a motion to establish a
pilot program to provide senior citizens at Dorothy Nixon Allen Manor and the
apartments for the elderly with weekly trips to WalMart and to Bingo.
Motion
by: Sack
Second
by: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
11.
Manager’s Report: Mr. Dean reported that town is
bidding out next year’s solid waste collection contract. He added that one thing talked about at the
winter retreat was the Town’s providing bigger recycling containers, and he
noted that some samples of the bigger containers were on display in the
hallway.
12.
Closed Session: None.
13.
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.