| April
15, 2002 |
Call
to Order/Invocation
The Town Council of the Town of Belhaven met in regular
session on Monday, April 15, 2002 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council
Chambers at Town Hall. Dr. Charles O. Boyette, Mayor, called
the meeting to order with the following Council members
present: Albert Baker, Cynthia M. Heath, James B. Hodges
and Linda E. Wilkerson. Councilman/Mayor Pro-Tem George
R. Ebron, Jr., was not present at the meeting. Town Manager
Tim M. Johnson, Town Attorney Keith B. Mason and Town Clerk
Marie J. Adams were also present. Mayor Boyette gave the
invocation.
Approval of Minutes
- Budget Workshop and Regular Session - March 18, 2002
Mayor Boyette announced that the minutes of the budget
workshop and regular session of the March 18, 2002 meeting
were open for review and approval. There being no corrections
to the minutes, Councilman Hodges made the motion to approve.
Councilman Baker seconded the motion which carried unanimously,
4 to 0.
Planning Board/Board
of Adjustment Appointment
Mayor Boyette announced that Mr. Ron Blythe had resigned
from the Planning Board/Board of Adjustment due to an
employment change and that the Council needed to appoint
someone to fill the unexpired term to expire in March
2005. Mayor Boyette stated that the following had expressed
an interest to serve in that position: Mr. Walt Allen,
Mr. Terry Sparrow, Mr. Skeeter Ross and Ms. Del Stutzman,
who now serves as an alternate in that position. Mayor
Boyette stated that as alternate Ms. Stutzman could be
appointed as a member and then someone could be appointed
to fill the alternate position. Mayor Boyette clarified
that anyone within the town limits could serve in this
position as it was for a regular member not an extraterritorial
position.
Councilman Hodges made the motion to appoint Mr. Walt
Allen, as a regular member of the Planning Board/Board
of Adjustment, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Blythe
which will expire in March 2005. Councilman Baker seconded
the motion. Mayor Boyette suggested that the board consider
appointing Ms. Stutzman (currently the alternate member)
and then to fill the alternate position. There were no
additional motions. The motion carried 4 to 0 appointing
Mr. Walt Allen as a regular member of the Planning Board/Board
of Adjustment with his term expiring March 2005.
Powell Bill Paving
Priority List
Mayor Boyette stated that the 2001/2002 Powell Bill Paving
Priority List had been submitted for Council review and
approval. Mayor Boyette stated that the following streets
were proposed to be re-paved 1) Pantego Street from Pamlico
Street to East Street; 2) East Street from Pantego Street
to Latham Street; Latham Street from East Street to Riverview
Street; 3)Latham Street from East Street to Riverview
Street; and 4) Croatan Street from Pungo Street to Pantego
Street.
Mayor Boyette stated that the projected estimated cost
would be $51,335. There being no changes to the proposed
Powell Bill Paving Priority List, Councilman Hodges made
the motion to approve the above list. Councilwoman Heath
seconded the motion which carried 4 to 0.
Town Manager's
Report
Town Manager Johnson
reported briefly on the following:
1) Public Auction - there would be a
need to have a public auction and suggested that the auction
be held the first Saturday in June (June 1), informed
Council that the items would need to be declared surplus
by the Council in order to sponsor the auction and that
he would bring the list for approval at a later date;
2) Water Tank on Lee Street - after sandblasting
and painting - looks great and has passed preliminary
inspections and should be put back in service within a
week - informed Council of one problem with this portion
of the project when a relay switch on the tank was blocked
with sand blasting particles and caused the relay not
to work which caused a temporary water outage, problem
was detected and corrected - water service restored;
3) Water Plant Bond Sales on April 2
resulted in 1.62% interest by Southern Bank, a very good
rate - have received some of the funds for this project
and are investing portions to receive interest prior to
spending;
4) Budget Workshop needed perhaps at
the May 20th meeting - after some discussion and consensus
of the Council the budget workshop was set for May 20
at 6:30 P.M. immediately prior to the Council meeting
at 7:30 P.M.;
5) Hopes to award bids this week on the
last 26 homes which were bid in the HMGP project; will
probably award based on contractors who can complete jobs
in a timely manner not just based on price.
Councilman Baker asked the number of bids - Town Manager
Johnson reported that 12 bids were received;
Councilwoman Heath questioned the resolution of Ms. Mable
Satterthwaite's complaint at the last meeting - Town Manager
Johnson stated that Ms. Satterthwaite had complained that
through the DRI (Disaster Recovery Initiative) one of
her homes had been elevated and repaired and she was not
satisfied with the match of shingles on the porch; Town
Manager Johnson reported that there were no structural
defects found and that the contractor would be trying
to match the shingles.
Public Comments
Mayor Boyette recognized the following:
Proposed Basketball League - Mr. Thomas Selby who stated
that he had met with Town Manager Johnson with a proposal
to start a Basketball League for young men the ages of
16 - 19 sponsored by Mt. Gilead Holiness Church. Mr. Selby
further explained that there was nothing for this age
to do and by sponsoring this league it was hoped to deter
drug activity. Mr. Selby stated that the sponsoring group
hoped to utilize the Northside Park ball court and asked
that bleachers be placed for spectators at the site; the
court be painted with regulation lines; and provide score
books for the teams. Mr. Selby suggested that a set of
bleachers be moved from another area as he believed the
bleachers not to be utilized. Town Manager Johnson stated
that bleachers were very expensive and that the town did
not have any not being utilized to move to that location
and stated that furthermore he did not feel comfortable
providing bleachers in that area due to the possible drug
trafficking that may take place when ball games were not
being held. Town Manager Johnson further explained that
the proposed basketball program was not a town sponsored
recreation event and therefore bleachers being utilized
in other areas should not be moved for this program. Town
Manager Johnson also stated that the schedule should be
coordinated with Recreation Director Sport Sawyer as it
would not be wise to schedule games while softball games
for girls aged 9 - 12 taking place on the same property.
Several members of the public spoke including Mr. Jesse
Rogers and his wife Mrs. Gloria Rogers who questioned,
Town Manager Johnson's support of this proposed program
and the lack of his support
of bleachers.
Town Manager Johnson further explained that he, personally
was not in favor of bleachers in this area, as he stated
earlier but he thought the program, if set up properly,
could be an asset, and stated that the Council made the
decisions .
Mayor Boyette polled the Council who all stated their
support of the program with Councilwoman Heath stating
her approval of the volunteers for the program. After
much discussion, Mayor Boyette suggested that Mr. Selby
meet with Town Manager Johnson and Recreation Director
Sport Sawyer to work out details and to get the program
"up and running" before worrying about the availability
of bleachers.
Literacy Volunteers Needed
Ms. Del Stutzman announced that the Beaufort County Literacy
Program needed volunteers and invited interested volunteers
to attend a meeting on Monday, April 22 at 6 P.M. in the
Senior Center.
Drainage Problems
Mayor Boyette recognized several citizens who spoke of
drainage problems in different areas of town: Mr. Roy
O=Neal and Mr. Marion Dilday Hwy 264 By-pass, Clark=s
Canal, FoodLion Parking Lot and the Crandall Canal, according
to Mr. Dilday. Mrs. Gloria Rogers, resident of Pantego
Street, spoke of drainage problems in her neighborhood
also. Mr. O=Neal requested that a group of interested
citizens get together and contact the Department of Transportation
concerning the Clark=s Canal drainage problem.
Garbage Complaints
Mrs. Gloria Rogers spoke of health and sanitary problems
with the dumping of garbage containers, where customers
do not use trash bags, food scrap items liter the street
- asked that citizens be made to use bags and that the
garbage collection employees clean up items left on the
street.
Miscellaneous
Mrs. Deb Sparrow questioned the ownership and the safety
of the Wynn=s View Building since the building is settling
on the West End and that area also houses the elevator.
Mayor Boyette stated that ownership of Wynn=s View building
was 51% NEBCED (Northeastern Beaufort County Economic
Development) and 49% CDBH (Community Developers of Beaufort
Hyde).
Town Manager Johnson stated that he has been told the
Wynn's View building is being monitored for additional
settling,
Mayor Boyette stated that the building was safe. Mayor
Boyette stated that litigation is in process against the
architect and engineer for the building.
Town Manager Johnson stated that the building was inspected
by a town inspector (employee of the town) as inspections
were made according to the specified plans.
Mr. Dilday questioned the $10,000 loaned to CDBH. Mayor
Boyette stated that the $10,000 helped salvage a worthwhile
organization.
Mr. Roy O'Neal stated that the siding on the Wynn=s View
Building was installed backwards and asked the Council
to take notice.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Councilman Hodges made
the motion to adjourn. Councilwoman Heath seconded the
motion which carried unanimously, 4 to 0. The meeting
adjourned at 8:40 P.M.
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