September 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC2 28345 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021  7:00F PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk IT  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Maurice Stuart Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington TC Morphis Matthew Christian Gail Strickland Zach Garner  Others Present: Andy Grooms, Jean Douglas, Gavin Stone and. James Wall  1. Call to Order 2. Moment of Silence AI Moment of Silence was observed. 3. Adoption of Agenda Sellers. The vote was! 5-0. 4. Approval of Minutes  Mayor Bayless called the Meeting to Order at7 7:00 pm.  Council Member Covington motioned to adopt the Agenda. The second was offered by Council Member  Minutes from the August 10, 2021 Regular Meeting were approved by motions of Council Members  Sellers and Covington. The vote was! 5-0. 5. Comments from Attendees  Ms.. Jean Douglas who resides at 404 Pine St. spoke with Council to voice concerns of dangerous activity at the West Hamlet Grocery and Monroe Avenue area. She asked what Council could do to make the residents feel safe. Mayor Bayless responded the police department is patrolling the area but they are short 60 officers. City Manager Matt Christian added the officers are also using security cameras and following up the investigations with charges. Council Member Sellers suggested the citizens report the activity to the police department. Both Council Members Stuart and Sellers advised they! have spoken with the Police Chief and City Manager about the issues int the area. Council Member McQueen stated the Police Department has leverage with the store and apartment complex. Mayor Bayless suggested the police check the ALE license. Council and the Manager assured Ms. Douglas the City is working on  the matter.  1    September 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  Mr. Gerard Morrison spoke to Council by phone. He invited Council tot the Oct2nd-1 13th Annual. John Coltrane Edu-tainment Event which will be virtual, featuring local talent. Mr. Morrison provided contact information and thanked Council for the 30th anniversary recognition of the Imperial Foods Fire. He Mr. James Wall joined the meeting at this time and spoke with Council. He stated he has purchased property at 702 Washington St. He discussed 2 shootings near his residence and expressed concern of activity at the complex across the street, noting thei infested drug area. Council explained they discussed the matter priort to his arrival at the meeting. They advised they have increased patrol and are working on the problem. The City Manager thanked Mr. Walli for bringing it to the City'sa attention. He asked Mr. Wall to contact the police or call him. Mayor Bayless suggested the citizens in the area forma  expressed his appreciation to retired Fire Chief Calvin White  community watch. New Business  6. Consideration of Updated Flower Policy  Mayor Bayless advised Council has a copy oft the updated Flower Policyi ini their packet. Council Member Sellers motioned to adopt the Flower Policy. The second was offered by Council Member Martin. The  vote was! 5-0.  7. Consideration of Re-appointment to Planning Board  Mayor Bayless reported Ms. Belinda Whitley has served as an ETJ Member of the Planning Board for 3 years. Her term expires October 8, 2021. ETJ Members are appointed by the County Commissioners. Council Member Sellers motioned that the County Commissioners re-appoint Ms. Whitley as an ETJ Representative on the Planning Board. The second was offered by Council Member Stuart. The vote was  5-0.  8. Consideration of COVID Vaccine Initiative Policy  Mayor Bayless informed Council a copy of the Policy was int their packet. The City! Manager reported the Policy! has been well received by staff; half oft the employees are vaccinated at this time and he hopes the policy will increase the numbers. Council Member Sellers motioned to adopt the Vaccine Policy. The  second was offered by Council Member Covington. The vote was 5-0.  9. Consideration of 1st Quarter Budget Amendments Council Member Covington. The vote was 5-0.  Council. Member Sellers motioned to approve the Budget Amendments. The second was offered by 10. Consideration of Engineering Services Agreement- - LKC Engineering, PLLC-1 WWTP Expansion The Mayor advised the Engineering Services Agreement for the WWTP upgrade has been approved by USDA. He asked the Manager for a time frame for construction to begin. Mr. Christian reported approximately 18 months. Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Agreement. The second  was offered by Council Member Sellers. The vote was. 5-0.  11. Approval of Tax Releases Member Sellers. The vote was 5-0.  Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Tax Releases. The second was offered by Council  2    September 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes Other Business 12. City Manager's Report  City Manager Matthew Christian thanked the community for attending the Imperial Foods 30th Anniversary Memorial. He advised Council the Vaccine Incentive has been well received and hopes to get more employees vaccinated. Mr. Christian reported he will be attending the Seaboard Festival Committee Meeting. Theya are monitoring the COVID situation and he will bring anyi information toi the public. The City, at this time, is planning fori the Tree Lighting on November 29th and Christmas Parade  December gth. 13. Comments of Council  Council Member Martin inquired if the Seaboard Festival was cancelled, ift the City would cancel the parade. The Manager responded the decision would be up to Council, but hel has not heard of the Seaboard Festival cancelling at this time. He: stated the City may have to adapt and have alternatives to the traditional, but the events are outdoors. Council Member McQueen added the Seaboard Festival will only cancel ifa a there isa government mandate. Mayor Bayless inquired on the Senior Center activities. Mr. Christian advised they are currently serving as a meal site and offer events that do not require Council Member Sellers thanked the attendees for coming to the meeting with their concerns. He asked Council Member Stuart thanked the City for hosting the Imperial Foods Ceremony. He thanked the visitors and. asked to be invited. to their meeting, saying the City needs to be proactive, not reactive. Mr. Stuart tharked the Cityf fort their participation in Sheriff Clemmon's service and offered condolences to Council Member Covington commended the residents that voiced concerns of safety in their neighborhood. She suggested they encourage their neighbors to participate in voicing their complaints and to stand up and do the right thing. Mrs. Covington expressed her appreciation to retired Fire Chief Calvin White and commended him for his service to the Hamlet Fire Department: and for his moving speech att the Imperial Foods Memorial. She applauded City Manager Matt Christian for the implementation oft the Vaccination Policy. Mrs. Covington inquired on the date Halloween would be observed, noting it is. on Sunday and the Saturday is Seaboard Festival. In the past, if Halloween was on Sunday, it was observed on Saturday. The City Manager responded last year Halloween was the same day as the Seaboard Festival and theyi incorporated iti into their events. He believes they intend to do the Council Member McQueen thanked the attendees for their attendance and stated it is time for aggressive action to stop the problems int the Washington Street community. It has been a problem for years but not through at fault of the police department. He suggested the City! has leverage to correct the problems by shutting down the businesses. Mr. McQueen commended the Manager on the start of the Vaccine Incentive Program adding it does not cost the City anything. He asked Council to consider re-  contact.  them to form a group and invite him to attend to help resolve the problem.  the Smart family. Het thanked the City employees for their continued efforts.  same this year. The City has not planned anything.  instating COVID Paid Sick Leave. COVID Paid Sick Leave  Council Member McQueen discussed current employees with COVID having to use their time ift theyare in quarantine. The City Manager explained the City participated int the CARES Act that required employers to offer 80 hours of paid sick leave for employees in quarantine. The CARES Act ended at the  3    September 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  end ofi the calendar year, but Council extended it through June 30th. Council discussed the need to reimplement the program so sick people will: stay at home. Council Member Sellers provided a motion to implement the program. Council discussed the need to incorporate the new CDC quarantine guidelines and require testing. Council Member Covington provided the second. The vote was 5-0. Mr. McQueen expressed sympathy to the Clemmons and Smart families and any other families that  have experienced difficult times 14. Mayor's Comments  Mayor Bayless discussed the success ofa Community' Watch Program in Briarwood. He encouraged the' citizens to call 911 ifthey see something. He stated Chief Calvin' White willl be missed. The Mayor discussed the Imperial Foods Ceremony and stated we need to remember it every year. He offered condolences to. the. Jim Smart and Bob Wright families and expressed his appreciation to the City 15. Motion to goi into Closed Session per NCGS 5143-318.11 (a)(3)(6) for Attorney-Client Privilege and At7 7:44 pm, Mayor Bayless asked for the motion to go into Closed Session and read the Statute. Council Member Covington provided the motion. The: second was offered by Council Member McQueen.  employees. Personnel The vote was 5-0. Return to Open Session  At 8:29 pns Council Members Sellers and Covington motioned to return to Open Session. The vote was  5-0.  Mayor Bayless reported no action was taken in Closed Session.  16. Motion to Adjourn meeting. The vote was 5-0. Respectfully submitted,  At8 8:29. pm; Council Members Covington and McQueen provided the motion and second to adjourn the  1 OF HAHIS OFFICIAE SEAL T CAR  Gail M. Strickland, Clerk  City  4