STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GASTON TOWN OF CRAMERTON February 16,2023  Members Present: Mayor Wills, Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley, Commissioner Atkinson,  Commissioner Ramsey, and Commissioner Kincaid Members Not Present: Commissioner Helms  Staff Present: Zach Ollis, Town Manager; Josh Watkins, Assistant' Town Manager; Jeff Wilkins,  Finance Director.  1.Call to Order and Determination of Quorum  Mayor Wills called the meetingt to order at 6:00 p.m. and determined that there was ac quorum.  2.1 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance  Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley provided thei invocation. The pledge of allegiance was said by all.  3. Adoption of Agenda for this Meeting  A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley to adopt the proposed agenda. The motion was  seconded by Commissioner Kincaid. The vote was 4t to Oinf favor.  4.F Public Comment  No one signed upt to make a public comment att this meeting.  5.F Proclamations and Presentations  A.Proclamation recognizing Februaryas Black History Month the proclamation will be placed in ther minutes book.  Mayor Wills read ap proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month. A signed copy of Mayor Wills also stated that the Historical Society willl host al Black History Month event on Feb.  23 at 6:30.  B.Audit Presentation Martin, Starnes and Associates  Lutchia Johnson from Martin, Starnes and Associates gave a presentation about the pertinent topics oft the Town's FY22 audit. She stated that they have issued a clean, unmodified opinion. She saidt they notedi noi findings during the course of the audit. The presentation slides can be  foundi in the agenda packet. 6.Consent Agenda  A. Board of Commissioner meeting minutes from. January5,2023    B. Board of Commissioner meeting minutes from. January 19, 2023  A motion was made by Commissioner Kincaid to approve the consent agenda. The motion was  seconded. by Commissioner Ramsey. The vote was 41 to Oinf favor.  7.Agenda Items Requiring a Public Hearing There were noi items requiring a public hearing 8. Agenda Items NOT Requiring al Public Hearing a.COBGoldespocdursphn.rsolution: and ordinances  Mr. Watkins stated that Grant Administrator Steve Austin submitted a packet of policies, procedures, plans, resolutions, and ordinances that must be passed in order to accept the Community Development Block Grant funds fort the Baltimore School project. These documents must be approved! by the Board of Commissioners before thet funds can be transferred from the Mr. Austin provided additional information to the board about the documents int the packet. Commissioner Atkinson asked for clarification about the procurement process mentioned int the packet. Mr. Austin further discussed the procurement process. Commissioner Atkinson asked for clarification about the document that mentions thatt the Town is responsible for the design and bidding for the project. Mr. Austin stated that this will be his job to design how the procurement willt take place. Mr. Austin discussed the next steps fort the project. Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley and Commissioner Atkinson asked for clarification about the grant funding going to owner occupied houses versus rental properties. Mr. Austin provided information aboutt the grant requirements and Fair Housing law. He stated that the houses that willr receive grant assistance havel beeni identified. He also discussed where he is ati in the grant Mayor Wills askedf for clarification about the grant administration duties that will be completed by Mr. Austin ort those that will be completed by Town Staff. Mr. Austin discussed how he will administer many aspects of the grant, and he stated when staff may! be involved. Mayor Wills and Mr. Austin discussed howt thet funding willl be distributed. Mayor Wills asked for clarification about thet timeline fori the repairs. Mr. Austin saidt that there is difficulty across the state finding contractors. Mr. Austin stated that licensed general contractors can contact him to be added to Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley a motion to approve the Resolution to Adopt the Policies and Procedures for the Community Development Block Grant Program, the Fair Housing Resolution, andt the Project Budget Ordinance. fort the Baltimore Community Development Block Grant program. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Atkinson. The vote was 4to0inj favor. b. Resolution of support for a RAISE grant application for the Catawba Crossings  State tot the Town of Cramerton.  process andr next steps.  abidI list.  Mr. Watkins discussed the proposed resolution of support for al RAISE grant application for the Commissioner, Atkinson made a motion to approve the Resolution of Support for the RAISE Grant application for the Catawba Crossings project. The motion was seconded by Commissioner  Catawba Crossings.  Kincaid. The vote was 4t to Oinf favor.    C.P Project prioritization discussion  Mr. Ollis discussed the final project prioritization list. He stated that when the calculations were completed, some of the rankings on thel list were tied andt there may need to be a system to address those situations. Project rankings are included int thet final agenda packet. Mayor Wills discussed the project prioritization list and the narrowing of top priority items. He provided additional information about the items at the top oft the list. Commissioner Atkinson: stated that he believes iti is important tol have some budget information and that this mayl help determine how tol break thet tiel between two projects with the same ranking. He discussed how the Board willl be meeting with representatives in Raleigh andt there could be grant funding available tol help with: some of the projects. He discussed how the Commissioner Kincaid stated he agreed with Commissioner Atkinson. He stated that when he submitted his ranking list, there were comments in cells that provided further information about his priorities. He discussed some of the projects that are ranked as top priorities. Commissioner Ramsey stated that she also agreed with Commissioner Atkinson and Commissioner Kincaid about the budget considerations with the prioritization. She discussed thei importance off finishing projects that have been started and provided information onl her Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley stated that she agrees with what has been said byt the three previous Commissioners. She provided additional information on hert top ranked projects. Mayor Wills further discussed the projects, prioritization and developing timelines. Commissioner Atkinson discussed grant possibilities for some of the projects.  priority order may change based on available funding.  top prioritized projects.  Commissioner Kincaid stated that he appreciates staff efforts for helping to guide next steps for the projects. He discussed how some of the projects may be more difficult than theyi initially  appear.  Mayor Wills discussed non-fixed asset items and discussed his priorities.  Commissioner Atkinson discussed some oft thei items and projects on the non-fixed asset list. He said he had difficulty ranking some oft thei items on this list duet to not having enough information and that hel hopes that there can be more information about thesei items when Commissioner Kincaid discussed the items he views as a priority on the non-fixed asset list. Commissioner Ramsey discussed thei items she views as a priority on the non-fixed asset list. Commissioner Kincaid and Mayor Wills discussed the artwork around the stormwater drains.  discussing thel budget.  9. Manager's Report  Mr. Ollis discussed the staffr reports that were sent to the Board. He stated that the board would be attending the Town Hall the next week. He said that the board would also be attending the upcoming CityVision conference. He stated that the budget retreat would be at the River Room. He said interviews have began for the accounting technician position, and the  finance director position has been posted. 10. General Staff Reports (as needed) a. Update from Two Rivers Utilities    Kyle Butler provided an update about the utilities. Thei full report willl be int the final agenda packet. He stated there is al Lakewood pumpstation grant andi the plans havel been completed. He has provided a packet tot town staff to review. He stated they would be goingt to the Board  and the Gastonia City Council for approval, potentially concurrently. b.A Additional update/ reports from department heads (if needed)  Planning and Zoning: Nothing to report Legal: Nothing to report Parks and recreation: Nothing to report Police: Nothing to report Fire: Nothing to report  Finance: Mayor Wills thanked Mr. Wilkinsi for his time ast the Finance Director.  11. Topics of Discussion for Each Commissioner  Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley stated that she attended thes swearing in ceremony for several of thej judicial and elected officials. She discussed the growth of pickleball. She stated that Dr. Morgen Houchard, executive director of operational services with the schools system, said that pickleball is now at North Gaston High School, South Point High School and Ashebrook High Mayor Wills discussed the growth of pickleball and thep pickleball opportunities available at the Commissioner Ramsey stated thats she has heard both positive and negative feedback about the stop light tos stop sign change on gth Avenue and 10th Street while working at Floyd and Blackie's Coffee and Ice Cream. She discussed how explaining ther reasoning behind this change is an example oft the importance of providing information tot those who may be hesitant about making a change. She stated that when she explains the reasons fori the change, people have Commissioner Kincaids statedi in a follow up the Confluence presentation during the prior meeting, he would estimate that there were 100 people in attendance for the 4 piece bluegrass band performing at Confluence. He said that there were children dancing, and that people from town and outside of town were in attendance and many ate atl Mayworth's before the event. Hes stated thisi is what Confluence is fori in that iti is ane extension of community: and an opportunity for people to meet and mingle in a safe andi fun environment. He stated that he would highly encourage those who have not visited Confluence to go to an event. Commissioner Atkinson provided more information on the Historical Society's Black History Month event that is on Feb. 23 at 6:30. He stated that Dot Guthrie would be the keynote speaker and Fred Glenn will provide an update on the Baltimore Village School restoration. Mayor Wills stated that he attended the NC League of Municipalities Mayors Association Meeting thatt took place last week. He discussed the opportunities to learn at ther meeting and to meet other mayors andl learn about their experiences. He discussed the stoplight on gth street. He stated that the stoplights would be covered and stops signs put into place initially to makes suret there are not any unknown issues with the change, andt the lights willl be removed permanently after about a month ift there are no incidents in this time. Mayor Wills provided an update ont the discussion around potential solutions fori the underpass. He stated that he has met with the owner of thet former Twister Goat space and he looking for ther next tenant andi is committed tot finding at tenant thati isaf fit for the vision for that space in town. He stated that  School.  CBI Huss Recreation Complex.  agreed that the change makes sense.    he willl be attending the Mayor-Manager lunch, whichi is at Confluence for this meeting. He thanked Mr. Ollis and Mr. Watkins for their work on Phase 1 and 2a oft the parking lot project. He stated that thep parking lot project entrance work would be completed atz zero cost to the Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley asked for an update about the right turn lane on! North Main Street to gth Avenue. Mr. Watkins stated that Rodney Baker, director of public works, has reached out  town.  tot the Department of Transportation to complete the project.  12. Adjournment  A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley to adjourn at 7:27A p.m. and Commissioner  Ramsey seconded. The vote was 4to0inf favor.  Nelson Wills, Mayor  ATTEST: AhL Bton Hannah Brown, Town Clerk