Approval of Minutes - Public Hearing and Regular Session - January 7, 2002
Mayor Boyette announced that the minutes of the January 7, 2002 Public Hearing and Regular Session were open for review and approval. There being no corrections to the minutes, Councilman Ebron made the motion to approve the minutes. Councilman Baker seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0.

2001 Community Development Block Grant - Concentrated Needs (CDBG-CN) Contract Awards
Mayor Boyette stated that the Town had received notification of the award of the $700,000 Community Development Block Grant - Concentrated Needs (CDBG-CN) for the area of Old County Road, West Pungo and Harbinger Street. Mayor Boyette stated that according to procurement guidelines the town had to seek proposals from qualified firms for the administration, legal and engineering portions of this grant. Mayor Boyette stated that Town Manager Johnson had received proposals and made the following recommendations for Administration Contract - Holland Consulting Planners, Inc. of Wilmington, NC; Legal Services Contract - The Raynor Firm of Belhaven, NC; and for Engineering - Cavanaugh and Associates of Winston-Salem, NC. Mayor Boyette asked for a separate motion for each contract.

Councilman Baker made the motion to award the contract for administration of CDBG Number 01-C-0850 to Holland Consulting Planners of Wilmington, NC. Councilwoman Heath seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0.

Councilman Ebron made the motion to award the contract for legal services of CDBG Number 01-C-0850 to The Raynor Firm of Belhaven, NC. Councilman Baker seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0.

Councilwoman Heath made the motion to award the contract for engineering services of CDBG Number 01-C-0850 to Cavanaugh and Associates of Winston-Salem, NC. Councilwoman Wilkerson seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0.

Storm Mitigation Update - Mr. Reed Whitesell, Holland Consulting Planners, Inc.

Mayor Boyette introduced Mr. Reed Whitesell with Holland Consulting Planners, Inc. (HCP). Mayor Boyette stated that HCP was administering the elevation grant program for the town and was present to give an update on that program. Mr. Whitesell stated that through the funding from Hurricane Fran, 162 homes were complete with elevation with 210 under contract. Mr. Whitesell stated of the 210 in the process some of these were bid in units of 50 which Webster Construction was completing the retro-fit contract. Mr. Whitesell stated that the last package was bid in units of 30 which RTM received the retro-fit contract. Mr. Whitesell explained that RTM was not working a fast as Webster Construction due to the fact that RTM was a much smaller company. Mr. Whitesell stated that after completion of the contracts already bid there would be approximately $700,000in remaining funds which he will bid an additional 25 homes which will end the project approximately on 310 of the priority list. Mr. Whitesell stated that this project has been very hard to administer as there are always complaints from the homeowners, he further explained that when the project complete, Belhaven residents will be glad their homes were elevated. Mr. Whitesell further stated that this is the largest project ever funded by Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) for elevation of homes.

Mr. Whitesell stated that one confusing factor with the elevation project is the many different funding agencies are involved with different guideline such as the Hazard Mitigation Monies which only elevate the homes not based on income whereas, the rehabilitation of homes may be handled through programs such as Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) and monies from Hurricane Floyd channeled through the Crisis Housing Assistance (CHA) are for low to moderate income families. The CHA monies were applied for through the local CDC=s (Metropolitan) and then the monies and applications were given to the local municipalities to distribute. This caused many problems as the CDC=s were not experienced in this type of application and the criteria to qualify. Mr. Whitesell stated that the mitigation program also funded a Geographic Information System (GIS) which will benefit the town with maps of water lines, electric lines and addresses which the public works and inspection office will be able to access.

Mr. Whitesell stated that the DRI program was complete with eighteen or nineteen units which qualified through this program. Mr. Whitesell stated that they were looking into possible duplication of benefits where some home owners were paid by their flood insurance to make repairs and repairs were not made and then they received additional repairs from the programs administered through the town. The Mayor and Council thanked Mr. Whitesell for his presentation and Councilwoman Heath stated that overall she felt the citizens were pleased with the elevation project.

Fiscal Year 2001/2002 Budget Amendment #3

Mayor Boyette stated that a budget amendment was needed due to the Town taking on the Christmas Parade project from the Chamber of Commerce. Town Manager Johnson stated that the expenses, for labor to set up and prepare for the parade and clean up after the parade, were absorbed by the Town. Mayor Boyette asked for a motion. Councilwoman Heath made the motion increasing revenue line item 10-335-010 from $0 to $645 and increase expenditure line 10-420-024 from $0 to $645. Councilwoman Wilkerson seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0. Councilman Baker questioned would the Christmas parade be included in

Christmas Parade Planning - Ms. Del Stutzman
Mayor Boyette called upon Ms. Del Stutzman, Chairman of the Christmas parade committee, from the audience and asked for a report from the meeting which was held immediately prior to the Council meeting tonight. Ms. Stutzman stated that planning was underway in hopes to get military participation with a band and hopefully a flyover. She also stated that the parade would be on Saturday, December 14 and would coincide with Pungo District Hospital=s Stars of Hope.

Out of Town Sewer Connections
Mayor Boyette stated that since the town provides sewer to Northside High School, Northeast Elementary School and to the Delta City Community on Terra Ceia Road, many residents in the area have contacted the Town and stated their interest in being connected to the sewer. Mayor Boyette stated that a lot of this property will not perk therefore, the property can not be utilized for homes, businesses, etc. Mayor Boyette stated that at this time it was necessary to hold a public forum to let the property owners who are adjacent to these lines know how the system works and what is needed for connection. Town Manager Johnson stated that the Town needed to adopt a fee schedule and suggested the following charges for residential and small commercial: impact fees $1,150 per site; tap on fees $600 per site and a deposit of $70. The fees for large commercial would be as follows: impact fee would be based on projected flow and load factors of effluent, tap on fees at actual cost and a deposit would be based on estimated two months bills.

Town Manager Johnson explained that in order for a residence to be on the sewer other than their property being adjacent to Hwy 264 from Belhaven to Northside High School and from Terra Ceia Road at Hwy 264 to the community of Delta City; they would have to be on county water so that a bill could be generated based on the water bill. Town Manager Johnson stated that the property owner would be responsible for suppling their own grinder pump, of minimum specifications the town chooses and stressed that should the grinder pump stop working, for whatever reason, it is the owner=s responsibility. Town Manager Johnson stated that the billing for the sewer would be from the town and generated from Beaufort County=s water billing and would be billed at the same rate as in town customers. After some discussion, Councilman Ebron made the motion to approve the following fee schedule as submitted and set a date of Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. for a Public Forum concerning out of town sewer connections. Councilwoman Heath seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

	Impact Fees	Tap	Deposit
Residential and Sm Commercial	$1,150	$600	$70
Large Commercial/Industrial	Based on Projected Flows	Actual Cost	Based on 2 mos. bills

Mayor's Comments
Mayor Boyette reported briefly on the following: Department of Transportation - requests and conversations with DOT Board Member Mr. Collice Moore have resulted in notification that additional curb and gutter will be placed on 264 Business and the future re-paving of 264 Business and 264 West; Library Dedication and Open House well attended on January 27, 2002, he commended the library board for a job well done; sidewalk repairs are ongoing in the downtown area, Town Manager Johnson stated that $15,000 - $20,000 annually was spent on sidewalks.

Town Manager=s Report
Town Manager Johnson warned the Council that the town was Agoing after@ delinquent tax payers with garnishments and foreclosures as the low tax collection rate was holding up the bond sale to begin construction of the water plant. He further stated that the bond sale was tentatively scheduled for March 5, 2002.

Citizens Comments
Mayor Boyette recognized the following who spoke briefly:

Mrs. Jane Dilday, resident of Water Street, who questioned the right-of-ways and responsibility of upkeep. Town Manager Johnson aswered Mrs. Dilday's questions and stated that many of our streets have different widths of right-of-way and that should specific questions arise she can contact him for accurate information.

Ms. Stutzman, resident of Lamont Street, questioned if the sidewalk on Pamlico Street, in front of Granny's Fabric was scheduled for repair. Town Manager Johnson stated no.

Councilman Ebron questioned the status of a new post office. Mayor Boyette stated that the Post Office had been temporarily housed on land given the town after the demolition of the flooded school gym. Mayor Boyette further explained that the property was to have no permanent structure. Mayor Boyette stated that the Post Office Aproperty officials have made no decision for a site for a permanent structure.

Mrs. Pat Holz, resident of Water Street, suggested that a petition of citizens be forwarded to the Post Office "property officials" suggesting permanent sites for location of a post office.

Ms. Carole MacKay, Editor, of the Beaufort Hyde News questioned the amount of the contracts, awarded earlier in evening, for the CDBG-CN project. Town Manager Johnson stated that the fee for Administration for Holland Consulting Planners was $62,500; Legal - The Raynor Firm - $125.00 per hour; and Cavanaugh had quoted the same rate as with other projects for the engineering portion of the grant.

Mrs. Deb Sparrow, resident of East Main Street, questioned the status of repairs to the Wynn's View Building. Mayor Boyette stated that the Town did not own the building but he was the Chairman of the Wynn View Board. Mayor Boyette reported that there was some concern of the settling of the west side of the building next to the fire lane. He further explained that the Engineer and Contractor would not take responsibility and the issue would probably go to court. Mayor Boyette stated that there were no repairs scheduled for the building in the near future.

Adjourn
There being no further business, Councilwoman Heath made the motion to adjourn. Councilman Ebron seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.