April 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC: 28345 TUESDAY,APRIL 12,2022 7:00PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington TCI Morphis Matthew Christian Gail Strickland  Maurice Stuart arrived at meeting at 7:20 pm  Others Present: Gavin Stone, Lloyd Gill, Margaret Williams, Howard Wallace and' Willie Baldwin  1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at7:00 pm.  Al Moment of Silence was observed. 3. Adoption of Agenda  Council Member McQueen motioned to adopt the Agenda with the addition on Item 6A- Consideration of Resolutions 2022-03 and 2022-04 regarding grant applications to the state and adding to Closed Session NC General Statute $143-318-11 (a) (4) Economic Development. Council Member Sellers  provided the second. The vote was 4-0.  4. Approval of Minutes Martin. The vote was 4-0. 5. Comments from Attendees  Minutes from the March 22, 2022 Meeting were approved by motions of Council Members Sellers and  Mr. Lloyd Gill spoke on the empty buildings in Hamlet. He would like helpi identifying the owners and purchasing the buildings. Mayor Bayless reported business owners are working on several buildings in downtown. Mr. Gill indicated he would like to purchase the buildings fort the taxes owed. The Mayor suggested if he had a building in mind, to contact the City Clerk to get the property owner'sname.  New Business  6. Consideration of Resolution 2022-02 ARP Fund Policies  The City Manager informed Council the Resolution has policies that are required to ensure compliance with the provisions oft the Federal Uniform Guidance (UG). He read al list of the policies, explaining they  1    April 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  were adapted for the City of Hamlet from the School of Government templates and have been reviewed by the City's Attorney. Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Resolution and Policies. The 6A. Consideration of Resolution 2022-03 and 2022-04 Regarding Grant Applications to the State. The City Manager explained the 2 Resolutions are for applying for grant funds from the State from a pool of money they received from Federal funds. The City is applying fori funds to improve the Water Treatment Plant facilities: clear wells, demolition of some older buildings and asphalt paths around the plant. For the Wastewater Collection projects it would be utilized for improvements to pumping stations and collection lines. The maximum grant request is $15 million which would be split 60-40 between the 2 projects. Mayor Bayless inquiredi if the grants required matching funds. Mr. Christian stated it will depend on what is awarded. Ift they do not grant all the money requested, the City may have to borrow money to do what needs to be done. Council Member Covington motioned to approve both Resolutions.  second was offered by Council Member Sellers. The vote was 4-0.  The second was offered by Council Member Sellers. The vote was 4-0.  7. Budget Amendments for 4th Quarter  The Mayor announced the budget amendments are in the amount of $25,000.001 including $14,000.00 for Police Department fuel. The City Manager advised other departments' fuel adjustments have been in their line items. Council Member Covington inquired on the perpetual service. The Manager advised itis software for car equipment that was not accounted for int the 2021-22 budget. Council Member Martin motioned to approve the budget amendments. The second was given by Council Member Sellers. The  vote was 4-0. 8. Approval of Taxi Releases  Mayor Bayless gave the amount of Tax Releases as $137.00. Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Tax Releases. The second was provided by Council Member Sellers. The vote was 4-0.  Other Business 9. City Manager's Reports  City Manager Matthew Christian announced City Offices will be closed April 15th with no change in the garbage schedule. He reported crews are working on the water tank on Main St. and advised if anyone has any concerns to contact City! Hall. The work is routine maintenance that will take several weeks to complete. Mr. Christian read a list of upcoming events at the Hamlet Depot and Museums. Council Member Covington added she has received good comments on the Food Truck and Car Show. Council Member Martin inquired on1 the sponsorship of the events. The Manager replied the City budgeted for Special Events. Mayor Bayless inquired on the fire works for. July 4th. Mr. Christian advised the company has been secured, money was available int the budget and Mechelle Preslar is planning additional  activities fort the celebration. 10. Comments of Council  Council Member Martin suggested the City's activities need to be promoted in various places. Council Member Covington inquired if the Chamber would assist. Mr. Christian answered Mechelle Preslar and Jonathan with the Chamber work closely together on events.. Jonathan is helpful with the materials. Council Member Sellers thanked Council and the employees for doing a great job and wished all a safe,  happy Easter Holiday.  2    April 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  Council Member Covington announced Buie's Restaurant will have al Ribbon Cutting, Friday, April 15that noon. She inquired on the progress at Memorial Park. Mr. Christian announced they started painting today, have started renovations on thel bathrooms, ordered clay to revitalize the turf and ordered the scoreboard. Trying to order the lights has been challenging sO they have shifted the focus to repairing the lights that are inj place. They need to rent equipment to reach the lights and make repairs. He advised Duke Energy may help with the netting ati the park and possibly donate surplus poles. Council Member McQueen discussed the condition of Memorial Park. He advised grass is overgrown, pallets are leaning against al building and the bushes are out of control. The Manager inquired if he wanted the bushes removed. Mr. McQueen answered the bushes were planted to keep people from standing neart the road to watch the ballgames. The Councilman added the area around the sign on Spring Street needs attention and thet tennis courts. Also reported was overgrown grass ati the Fairgrounds. He inquired on the generator that was running at the water tank while the repairs were taking place. The City Manager commented the Friday before, a generator was cycling a maintenance cycle; it was the City'sgenerator. The crew has a sand blaster, welder air, compressor and another crew has a generator. Mr. McQueen suggested ifag generator was running to try to funnel the fumes away from the residential dwellings. He also reported someone had driven through a property owner'sy yard. Council Member McQueen complimented the Hamlet Police Department on recent arrests for illegal drugs. He stated the HPD was able to obtain warrants on a death that came from the distribution of Council Member Stuart advised the HPD needs to have a partnership with the Washington Court Apartments to stop the loitering in the area. Hel feels the Citys should be proactive. Mr. Christian advised he has spoken with one of the property owners int the area and assured him the City would do what it could. He gave the owner police contact information and sent an email to the Police Chief. Council discussed the need for citizens to report the illegal activities but were aware they are afraid to come  drugs. He commended the officers for thei investigation.  forward. 11. Mayor's Comments  Mayor Bayless offered appreciation to Duke Energy for the new streetlights and advised the Lions Club Fair will be October 12th-1 16th. Mr. Bayless advised people are dumping trash ati the City limits sign on Wiregrass Rd., outside the city limits. Council Member Martin suggested putting a camera there. Council Member Sellers suggested adding signage with fines and putting the notice of fines on water bills. Mayor Bayless stated it would be a state infraction, not City. Council Member McQueen asked that the City watch for contractors that bring debris into the Cityl limits for the City to pick up. Mr. Bayless wished everyone a Happy Easter and advised anyone having outside fires should be careful with current 12. Motion to goi into Closes Session per NC General Statute $143-318-11 (a) (3)(4)(6) Attorney- Client At7:40 pm, Mayor Bayless asked for a motion to go into Closed Session and read the statutes. Council Member McQueen made the motion. The second was offered by Council Member Sellers. The vote was  conditions.  Privilege, Economic Development and Personnel  5-0,  Return to Open Session  At 8:47 pm, Council Member Covington made the motion to return to Open Session. The second was  offered by Council Member Sellers. The vote was 5-0.  3    April 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes Post- - Closed Session Action  Attorney Morphis advised Council discussed the City's Inclement Weather Policyi in Closed Session; specific employees were part of the discussion. Council has determined the need to amend the current Regular, full-time and regular part-time employees may be eligible to request leave during the curtailment or delay occurring during their regularly scheduled work hours due to extreme weather tosupport snow removal operations are not eligible to request leave under this policy.  Inclement Weather Policy. He read the proposed amendments as follows: Appendix C-l Inclement Weather Policy Section IV(F)  conditions. i. ii.  Emergency response personnel, such as Police and Fire, and: snow removal employees assigned Regular,. full-time and regular, part-time employees who do not report forv work, are on leave or are not scheduled during the curtailment or delay due to extreme weather conditions are. not eligible to request leave under this policy. Persons absent due to a previously. scheduled vacation shall not have vacation days deducted if they would otherwise be entitled to leave due inclement weather pursuant to Council Member McQueen motioned to amend the policy. The second was given by Council Member Stuart. The vote was! 5-0. City Manager Matt Christian verified the amendments included the 2 changes  this policy.  he recommended. Council confirmed.  13. Motion to Adjourn meeting. The vote was 5-0. Reypetfulysupmite, erdhlbnk Gail M. Strickland, City Clerk  At 8:50 pm, Council Members Sellers and Martin provided the motion and second to adjourn the  HAML SPCNL SEAL RTH  4