TOWN OF GARLAND TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 6:00.F PM The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Garland was held at the Garland Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 6:00 pm. The following members of the Board of Commissioners were present: Austin Brown Carolyn R. Melvin Jo A. Strickland Barbara A Peterson Also, present: Winifred H. Murphy, Mayor, Town Clerk Pamela Cashwell, Mrs. Lethia Lee, Sampson County Commissioner, Mr. Rick Sauer, Sampson County EMS Director, Mrs. Emily Williams of the Sampson Independent: and Mrs. Sylvia Chestnutt of the Sampson Weekly. There were approximately twenty-three citizens in attendance. Mayor Winifred H. Murphy called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and welcomed everyone in attendance. Town Clerk, Pamela Cashwell, was present recording notes CALL TO ORDER for the minutes. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE INVOCATION QUORUM quorum present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Winifred H. Murphy led the attendees in the recitation of the pledge. Clerk Pamela Cashwell provided the invocation. Mayor Winifred H. Murphy and Clerk Pamela Cashwell established there was a Mayor Winifred H. Murphy requested board members review the agenda for approval. Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown requested to move Item #13. Mayoral UpdatelFarewells/Thank-You's up to after the recess for refreshments. Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the agenda with said changes, seconded by Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin and carried unanimously. (See attached). SAMPSON COUNTY EMS DIRECTOR EMS BRIEF Mayor Winifred Murphy welcomed and introduced Mr. Rick Sauer as the new Sampson County EMS Director. She stated he is here to present a brief update on 1 some vital changes in his department. Mr. Sauer thanked the board for allowing him to speak and provide them with an update from the EMS of Sampson County. He stated he has been the Director of EMS for the county for about four months now. Initially, he was tasked with improving EMS visits and services for the entire county. At total of six paramedic level ambulances were covering the county 24 hours a day seven days a week. After a detailed review of the data that encompassed call volumes, response times, wait times at facilities and the effect Covid-19 has had on EMS services, a proposal to add a seventh ambulance was presented to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners. They approved the request and as soon as qualified candidates are hired to man the ambulance, it will be placed into service. An ambulance will be staged in the Town of Garland and depending on the call volume and location of calls, it will be used to cover areas in the county based on needs. He stated volunteers are less accessible and it has become a national issue to hire qualified personnel. He would like to have the seventh ambulance staffed and ready for service on January 1, 2022. RECOGNITIONS OF APPRECIATION Mayor Murphy recognized and introduced Mrs. Lethia Lee, Sampson County Board of Commissioner who represents the Garland area and asked her to come up to the podium at this time. Mayor Murphy noted Commissioner Lee was elected in 2019 and she thanked her for advocating for the Town of Garland especially with the announcement of improved EMS for the town with the addition of a seventh ambulance. Commissioner Lee stated it was not a hard decision for the Sampson County Board of Commissioners to approve an additional ambulance for this area of the county because they were able to see the need. She spoke of a personal experience to where she waited forty-five minutes for an ambulance to respond and stated everyone in the county should have access to EMS in a timely manner. She stated the county was working on improving other services and stated she feels most areas will get what they need, not necessarily what they want. Commissioner Lee explained the new districting maps and noted she represents a larger geographic area with about the same population as other districts. She stated her willingness to speak with citizens regarding any concerns they have and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner Lee thanked Mayor Murphy for her service to the town and stated she hopes she will remain engaged in the community as she has a great deal of knowledge to impart. Mayor Murphy then presented Commissioner Lee with a framed Certification of Appreciation for all she has done for the town and then presented Commissioner Lee with an additional framed Certification of Appreciation to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners for all they have done for the Town of Garland. Commissioner Lee voiced appreciation for the recognitions. Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown presented Deputy Clerk Annette Ricketson a Certification of Appreciation for one year of dedicated service as Deputy Clerk for the Town of Garland. 2 Mayor Winifred Murphy presented Town Clerk & Finance Officer Pamela Cashwell a plaque for her dedicated service and support as Town Clerk & Finance Officer for the Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown presented Commissioner Eddie Bronson Jr. a plaque for his dedicated service for four years as Commissioner for the Town of Garland. Mayor Murphy stated Commissioner Bronson Jr. could not be present this evening and she listed some of his accompishments as having donated a gas grill for a fund-raising event for parks and recreation, repairs at the Library, Police Department and Concession stand and providing one month of personal service to clean and maintain Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown read a Proclamation Honoring Mayor Winifred H. Murphy on her retirement as mayor and in appreciation for her service as Mayor for the Town of Garland for the past ten years. (See attached). In addition to the proclamation, he presented Mayor Murphy with an engraved plaque honoring her service to the Town of Garland and a Christmas poinsettia. Mayor Pro Tem Brown thanked Mayor Murphy for her leadership to him starting back in 2011 and he shared Mrs. Mary Brown, speaking on behalf of the Garland Volunteers, stated they have enjoyed living, learning, loving, and organizing events for the greater good of the town and she thanked Mayor Winifred Murphy and board members for their support. She congratulated Mayor Winifred Murphy on her tenure as mayor and stated "job well done". Mrs. Brown said her contributions as mayor will be recognized for years Mrs. Sheila Smith stated it has truly been her honor and privilege to work as a volunteer for the town under the leadership of Mayor Murphy. She noted she has learned so much in the process. Mrs. Smith stated the volunteers hope to work with the new administration and work towards bringing everyone together. She read a poem in honor of Mayor Murphy and noted "you will always be my mayor". Town of Garland during her tenure as Mayor from 2012-2021. the streets in town. She thanked him for his dedication and service. ap personal story of how she was always prepared for meetings. to come. MAYORAL UPDATEIFAREWELLSITHANK YOU'S Mayor Murphy stated she had read that the most expensive liquid is a tear because it is1 1% water and 99% emotions. She stated that is what it has been like for her since she made the decision not to run for re-election. She stated, I have been very emotional over the decision". She thanked God, family, friends, and her ancestors for putting her in the position she is in today. She read a poem by Robert Frost entitled "The Road not Taken." Mayor Murphy stated she decided to run for office after her retirement from the school system to try and help improve activities and resources for children. She noted a lot has been accomplished during her tenure, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done. She stated each new board should build upon the accomplishments of previous boards because everyone who has served in the Town of Garland as Commissioner or Mayor had passion and they were enthusiastic 3 about getting things accomplished whether they agreed with one another or not. Mayor Murphy stated she wanted to say something about someone who has been by her side for the last ten years, someone who is forty years younger than her, and someone who was at her very first board meeting-Austin Brown. She stated at sixteen he revived the Garden Club with ladies in the community and soon became president of the Garden Club. She stated she walked in, and he was sitting in her seat at the board table with her gavel. She stated as far back as then, he was motivated to be an elected official and he was inspired by other leaders who came before him. She stated others will have their eyes on him as mayor and she encouraged him to be true to himself. She stated so this is your time, lets encourage him, build him up and support him as well as the other commissioners who will be sworn in to serve the Town of Garland. Mayor Murphy personally presented Mayor Elect Austin Brown with his own personal engraved gavel and wished them well in moving the town forward. Mayor Murphy ended with a story about life on a train and she thanked everyone who has been on the train with her during her tenure as mayor and she stated I love you all forever. RECESS FOR REFRESHMENTS Meeting recessed for refreshments. Meeting called back to order at 7:20 pm. PUBLIC COMMENTS Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin read a poem by Mother Teresa entitled- Do it Anyway in recognition of Mayor Murphy's retirement. COMMISSIONER REPORTS FINANCE Credit Card Purchases - Clerk Pamela Cashwell provided a statement of all the credit BVA & A.P. Check Listing- Reports provided to board members for review. (See Reports Completed- Clerk Cashwell reported the bank reconciliations for October 2021 for all three bank accounts have been completed. The Powell Bill Fiscal Data card purchases for the month. (See attached). attached). Report due December 1, 2021 has been completed and submitted. BUILDINGS/CEMETERY the Garland Cemetery. Cemetery Updates- Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson reported she and Deputy Clerk Ricketson are still working to resolve the issue with the unpaid burial plot at Building Updates- Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson is continuing to contact contractors to repair the men's restrooms at town hall. She mentioned the new owners of the shirt factory are looking to rent storage space. Mayor Murphy reported she has assisted them with contacting the owner of the former hardware store for rental storage. 4 PARKSRECREATION needed at the park complex. Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin reported she continues getting estimates for repairs STREETS Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown reported the paving of W. Fourth Street between Dockey Avenue and Piney Grove Avenue has been completed. PUBLIC WORKS - WATERISEWER/GARBAGE No recent updates to report. No recent updates to report. OLD BUSINESS SAFETY Comprehensive Land Use Plan Quote- Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the quote submitted by Stewart for the development of a comprehensive land use plan, seconded by Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin and carried unanimously. (See attached). NEW BUSINESS Volunteer Appreciation Mayor Murphy requested the board consider approving $50.00 from the Community Events Unrestricted fund to purchase a plaque in memory of Mrs. Amber Runion to go on the Christmas house that was donated to the town by Mr. Andy Runion. Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the purchase as requested, seconded Mayor Murphy also requested the board consider approving $50.00 from the Community Events Unrestricted fund to purchase a plaque honoring all the volunteers who have volunteered their time and effort so diligently during her term as mayor. She requested it be erected on a permanent structure for their recognition of appreciation. Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the purchase as requested, seconded by Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson, and carried by Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson, and carried unanimously. unanimously. MINUTES APPROVAL October 19, 2021 Regular Meeting- Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted, seconded by Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson, October 28, 2021 Special Meeting- Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted, seconded by Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin, and carried unanimously. (See attached). and carried unanimously. (See attached). 5 November 4, 2021 Special Meeting: Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted, seconded by Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin, July 20, 2021 Closed Session- Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown, and and carried unanimously. (See attached). carried unanimously. CALENDAR OF EVENTS/ANNOUNOUNCEMENTS/CONDOLENCES Condolences: The Town of Garland sends our sincerest condolences to all of those Organizational Meeting for the Garland Board of Commissioners will be December 2, 2021 at 6:00 pm at the Garland PFW Baptist Church Fellowship Hall located at Town Hall will be closed on November 25th and 26", 2021 in observance of the Commissioner Carolyn R. Melvin made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Austin Brown and carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:31 who have recently lost loved ones. 475 W. Second Street, Garland Thanksgiving Holiday ADJOURNMENT pm. Pamela Cashued Board Approved: Pamela Cashwell, Town Clerk/Finance Officer Austin Brown, Mayor Pro Tem B 6