Regular
Meeting
Dec. 1, 2009
MINUTES
The
Holly Springs Town Council met in regular session on
Council Members Present: Councilmen Parrish Womble, Vinnie DeBenedetto,
Chet VanFossen, Tim Sack and Hank Dickson and Mayor
Sears.
Council
Members Absent: None.
Staff
Members Present:
Carl Dean, town manager; Chuck Simmons, assistant town manager; John Schifano,
town attorney; Joni Powell, town clerk (recording the minutes); Linda Harper,
deputy town clerk; Drew Holland, finance director; Len Bradley, director of
parks and recreation; Gina Clapp, director of planning and zoning; Erika
Phillips, human resources director; Barb Koblich, public information assistant;
Ricky Blackmon, code enforcement director; Luncie McNeil, public works
director; Cecil Parker, fire chief; Eric Tayler, IT department manager; Michelle
D’Antoni, publications specialist; Kendra Parish, senior engineer; Lois
Ragsdale-Houck, administration; Police Chief John Herring; Police Lieutenants
Robbie Parrish and Mike Patterson; Jenny Mizelle, director of economic
development; and Stephanie Sudano, director of engineering.
2 and 3. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the
meeting opened with an invocation by Rabbi Ederly of
Temple Beth Shalom.
4. Agenda Adjustment: The
Motion By: Sack
Second By: Dickson
Vote: Unanimous
Items Added to the Consent
Agenda: Appointment of Ken Henke to
serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
Items
Removed from the Agenda: None.
Consent Agenda Items Removed for
Discussion: None.
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:
Marianna Heim,
6a. Organizational
Meeting: Oaths of Office - Mayor Sears presented an award of appreciation
to outgoing Council member Vinnie DeBenedetto who has served on the Council for
four years.
Mayor Sears then presented a
proclamation and service award to retiring Council member Hank Dickson who has
served on the Council since 1997.
Councilman Dickson retired from his seat,
giving a farewell address urging the Council to continue its good work, to not
forget the details that add to the quality of life in Holly Springs and to
support staff, who he feels are top notch.
Ms. Powell then administered the oath of
office to incumbent Town Council member Chet VanFossen, Mayor Dick Sears and newly-elected
Council Members Linda Hunt Williams and James Cobb.
Written copies of the oaths of office that were
administered are incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
A new quorum was established as the
mayor and all five council members were present as the meeting resumed.
Council Members Present: Councilmen Jimmy Cobb, Parrish Womble, Chet
VanFossen and Tim Sack and Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams and Mayor Sears.
6b. Organizational
Meeting: Election of Mayor Pro Tem – Mayor Sears
explained that a part of the Organizational Meeting is the election of a
council member to serve as mayor pro tempore, serving as vice chairman of the
council and as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor.
He said that currently, Councilman Sack
serves as mayor pro tem, a position he has served during his past two years on
the Council.
Mayor Sears opened the floor for nominations
for mayor pro tem.
Councilman VanFossen nominated Councilman Sack.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to close the nominations and designate
Councilman Sack as mayor pro tempore.
Motion By:
VanFossen
Second By:
Cobb
Vote:
Unanimous
6c. Appointment of
He then reviewed a list of those who have
expressed an interest in individual positions.
Mayor Sears reported that the terms on these
agency representatives would expire at the next Organizational Meeting, which
will be the first Tuesday in December 2011 following the next municipal
election.
Nominations to the agencies were as follows:
·
Triangle
J Council of Governments Board Member: Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Councilwoman Linda Hunt
Williams to serve the Triangle J Council of Governments as a Board Member.
Motion By: Sack
Second By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous
·
Triangle
J Council of Governments Board Member Alternate: Councilman Parrish Womble
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Councilman Parrish Womble to
serve the Triangle J Council of Government as an Alternate Board Member.
Motion By: Sack
Second By:
VanFossen
Vote:
Unanimous
·
Triangle
J Smart Growth Committee: Staff
members Jeff Jones and Gina Clapp
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Jeff Jones and Gina Clapp to
serve on the Triangle J Smart Growth Committee.
Motion By: Sack
Second By:
Womble
Vote:
Unanimous
·
Transportation
Advisory Committee of CAMPO: Mayor
Sears and Councilman VanFossen as alternate.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Mayor Sears to serve on the
Transportation Advisory Committee as a Board Member and Councilman Chet
VanFossen to serve as a Board Member Alternate.
Motion By: Sack
Second By:
Womble
Vote:
Unanimous
·
Holly
Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Ex-Officio (non-voting) member. Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Councilwoman Linda Hunt
Williams to serve on the Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
as an ex- officio member.
Motion By: VanFossen
Second By:
Womble
Vote:
Unanimous
·
Holly
Springs Technical Review Committee: Councilman
Chet VanFossen and Councilman Jimmy Cobb as alternate.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to appoint Councilman Chet VanFossen to
serve on the Holly Springs Technical Review Committee as a Board Member and
Councilman Jimmy Cobb to serve as Alternate Member.
Motion By: Sack
Second By:
Womble
Vote:
Unanimous
7. Consent Agenda: The Council approved a motion to approve all items
on the Consent Agenda. The motion
carried following a motion by Councilman Sack, a
second by Councilman Womble and a unanimous vote. The following actions were affected:
7a. Town Council Schedule – The
Council adopted the calendar of regular meetings in calendar year 2010. A copy of the CY Town Council
meeting schedule is incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
7b. Budget Amendment, $3,660 – The Council adopted an amendment to the FY
2009-10 budget in the amount of $3,660 to receive insurance proceeds for repair
of a damaged police vehicle. A copy
of the budget amendment is incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
7c. Budget Amendment, $3,235
– The Council adopted an amendment to the FY 2009-10 budget in the amount of
$3,235 to receive insurance proceeds for repair of a damaged public works
vehicle. A copy of the budget
amendment is incorporated into these minutes as an addendum page.
7d. Resolution 09-41
– The Council adopted Resolution 09-41
declaring certain personal property of the Town to be surplus to the needs of
the town. A copy of Resolution
09-41 is incorporated into these minutes as addendum pages.
7e.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Member – The Council appointed Ken Henke to
serve as a member on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
8a.
Planning and Zoning / Board of Adjustment Appointments – Ms.
Clapp explained that on Dec. 31 of each year, the terms of several members of
the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment expire. She said at the Council’s first December
meeting, the Council is to review the applications for vacancies and re-appoint
interested members or appoint new members to the respective boards.
Ms. Clapp said the Council is
responsible for the appointment of “in-town” members to the Holly Springs
Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
The members representing the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction officially
are appointed by the Wake County Board of Commissioners; however, the Town
Council makes recommendations to the county board.
Ms. Clapp said the Council needs to appoint two
in-town members to the Board of Adjustment with a term ending
Ms. Clapp said that
if Glen Walker, a current alternate, is appointed as a regular in-town member,
the Council will need to appoint another alternate in-town member to fulfill
the remainder of Walker’s vacated term ending
She added that the Council is to
appoint two in-town members to the Planning Board with terms ending
Ms.
Clapp reviewed the list of applicants who expressed interest in serving as
in-town or ETJ members of the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board.
Mayor Sears asked the
Council members to make individual nominations before acting on appointments as
a board.
Board
of Adjustment: 2 In-Town Members (3-year
terms,
Action: The Council approved a motion to appoint Brian
Adornetto as an in-town member of the Holly Springs
Board of Adjustment, with a three-year term to expire
Motion By: Sack
Second By: Cobb
Vote: Unanimous.
Action: The
Council approved a motion to appoint Glen Walker as an in-town member of the
Holly Springs Board of Adjustment, with a three-year term to expire
Motion By: Cobb
Second By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous.
Board
of Adjustment: 1 In-Town Member (1-year
term, ending
Action: The Council approved a motion to appoint Robert
Goldfinger as an in-town member to the Holly Springs
Board of Adjustment, with a one-year term to expire
Motion By: Sack
Second By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous.
Board of
Adjustment: 1 Alternate In-Town Member
(3-year term, ending
Action: The
Council approved a motion to appoint John Sadler as an in-town alternate member
to the Holly Springs Board of Adjustment, with a three-year term to expire
Motion By: Williams
Second By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous.
Board of Adjustment: 1 Alternate In-Town Member (vacated term ending
Action: The Council approved a motion to appoint Vinnie
D’Agostino as an in-town alternate member to the
Holly Springs Board of Adjustment to fulfill the remainder of a vacated term
ending
Motion By: Sack
Second By: Womble
Vote: Unanimous.
Planning
Board: 2 In-Town Members (3-year term,
Action: The Council approved a motion to appoint Joe
Signoretti as an in-town member to the Holly Springs Planning Board, with a three-year
term to expire
Motion By: Cobb
Second By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous.
Action: The
Council approved a motion to appoint Pete Utley as an in-town member to the
Holly Springs Planning Board, with a three-year term to expire
Motion By: Womble
Second By: VanFossen
Vote: Unanimous.
8b.
NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant – Ms. Parrish said the North Carolina
Department of Transportation has announced the initiation of a program to
encourage the development of comprehensive municipal bicycle plans.
She said staff concurs with NCDOT that a
comprehensive planning document would be very beneficial to the Town, and would
allow a prioritized list of future bicycle improvements throughout the town.
Ms. Parrish said all North Carolina
municipalities are eligible to apply.
The Town of Holly Springs is eligible for up to $28,000 to prepare a
bicycle plan from these grant funds. The
Town would have to contribute a matching amount of $12,000. The grant plus Town contribution would total
$40,000 for a consultant to prepare the Town’s bicycle planning document.
Action:
The Council approved a motion to adopt Resolution 09-42 authorizing
submission of a grant application to NCDOT for funding assistance for a bicycle
and pedestrian plan.
Motion By:
Womble
Second By:
VanFossen
Vote:
Unanimous.
A copy of Resolution 09-42 is incorporated into
these minutes as an addendum page.
9.
Other Business: Mayor Sears asked
Ms. Mizelle to explain the 25th Emerging Issues Forum.
10. Manager’s Report: Mr. Dean reported that the Novartis ribbon
cutting dedication event was a success.
Mr. Dean invited the Council members to the Town employee Christmas
party scheduled for 12 to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the W. E. Hunt
Community Center gym.
11. Closed Session: The Council approved a motion to enter Closed
Session, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143.318(a)(4) to discuss
an economic development incentive agreement and pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143.318(a)(6)
to consider qualifications, competence, performance or character of a public
employee.
General
Account Closed Session –
In Closed Session, the council received
a report from John Herring, Holly Springs Police Chief, regarding an internal
investigation of an unnamed former employee of the police department. He advised the council that his investigation
is ongoing, that the employee is no longer employed with the town, and that if
there was any information he could provide to the council, he would. No member of the town council had any
questions for Chief Herring.
Secondly, the council discussed the
possibility of entering into an economic development incentive agreement with Novant Healthcare for the location of a hospital in Holly
Springs. The council was advised by the
town manager and economic development director that the company was denied a
Certificate of Need from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human
Services, and that the company has withdrawn its appeal. The council reached the consensus that any
economic incentive would be futile absent the state’s approval of the health
care facility and decided against further action.
In Closed Session, no action was
taken other than a motion to return to Open Session.
12. Adjournment:
There
being no further business for the evening, the Dec. 1, 2009 meeting of the
Holly Springs Town Council was adjourned following a
motion by Councilman Sack a second by Councilman VanFossen and a unanimous
vote.
Respectfully
Submitted on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.
_________________________________
Joni
Powell,
Addendum
pages as referenced in these minutes follow and are a part of the official
record.
