MAYOR Jessie Bellflowers MAYOR PRO1 TEM Dr. Kenjuana McCray TOWN MANAGER Chancer McLaughlin  TOWN BOARD Elyse Craver Jerry Legge Bryan Marley Joanne Scarola TOWN CLERK Ashley Wyatt  HOPE MILLS NORTH CAROLINA PROUD PASTA BRIGIT FUTURE  TOWN OF HOPE MILLS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 6:00 p.m. Special Meeting- School Resource Officer Discussion  Meeting Minutes - May 30, 2024  Mayor Jessie Bellflowers called the Meeting for the School Resource Officer oft the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners to order on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 pm and welcomed those in attendance. Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin, Town Clerk Ashley Wyatt, Deputy Town Clerk Coronda Regan, Mayor Pro Tempore Drl McCray-absent, she was in. Japan on an educational trip with students.  STAFF PRESENT  Financel Director Drew Holland, Police Chief Stephen Dollinger.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  Mayor. Jessie Bellflowers led the pledge of allegiance RECOGNITION OF DIGNITARIES Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr Superintendent Cumberland County Schools Dr. Kevin Coleman - Associate Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Val Applewhite North Carolina State Senator Frances Jackson - District 45 House State Representative Nathan Warfel- Vice Chair Cumberland County Schools Deanna Jones Chair ofCumberland County School Board Sona Cooper Spring Lake Mayor Pro Tempore Phyllis. Jackson- Southview High School Principal Dr. Karen Atkins- Southview Highschool Assistant Principal Shawn O'Connor- Southview Middle School Principal Larissa Perkins - C. Wayne Collier Elementary School Principal Eric Bradley- C. Wayne Collier Assistant Principal Lisa Ann Crawford -1 Rockfish Elementary Assistant Principal Kem Braden- City of Fayetteville Chief ofl Police Marvin Lakeman - Town of Spring Lake. Alderman  APPROVAL OF AGENDA- ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS.  No changes to the agenda  Special Meeting May 30, 2024    DISCUSSION the schools safe.  Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin gave an introduction on thei importance off finding solution to keep  Presentation by Dr Kevin Coleman on School Resource Officer Information.  Commissioner Jerry Legge inquired whether state tax dollars fund the School Resource Officers. Dr Kevin Coleman stated the SRO for the high schools are paid for 100% from their budget and 50% for Dr. Marvin Connelly. Jr. stated the state only provides $88,000.00 per high school SRO and all other Commissioner. Joanne Scarola asked why the town needed to find the solution for the leadership failures Dr Kevin Coleman stated had no immediate answer, and advised after. June 6"h more information should Commissioner Elyse Craver asked when the conservation about removing the SROs began and how long Dr Kevin Coleman stated there was no forewarning, and that they found out on May 2151 Commissioner Elyse Craver- ifthet town provided the money for the SROs will the town be reimbursed. Dr Kevin Coleman stated there was no answer, but they should know more by. June 6th.  the middle schools and a 41 tol match on elementary schools  funding was from the local budget. oft the Sherriff's Office. come to light.  before that was thei information known.  Commissioner Jerry Legge asked what happened to the money from the lottery that was supposed to be  allocated for school funding.  Dr Kevin Coleman stated that money goes into the capital budget.  Commissioner Bryan Marley addressed the utilization of taxpayer dollars for the maintenance and upkeep ofcounty-owned properties. He expressed that he would have appreciated more notice, the town did not have the money to: fund SROs and urged the county to reconsider the 1.9 million dollar tax deficit. Mayor. Jessie Bellflowers stated the county had allocated 5.3 million dollars for their budget that would be Commissioner Elyse Craver - stated citizens in Hope Mills paid county taxes that included education. Commissioner Joanne Scarola - stated the town did not have the funding for the SROs they could resort Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. stated some schools have contracted security companies. In general, believes  adopted in June.  toonline learning.  schools are safe learning environments. More will come from the. June 61 meeting.  Special Meeting May 30, 2024    Dr Kevin Coleman stated, safety upgrades and investments had been done, but they would do everything  they could to make schools safer.  Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin expressed concern regarding funding and taxes. Commissioner Jerry Legge asked where the funding come from inj past years  Dr Kevin Coleman stated from the county.  Mayor Jessie Bellflowers decided to suspend the rules to allow comments from the public. State Senator Val Applewhite stated it was a complicated situation, public education had always been State Representative Frances Jackson stated funding was not an issue. She noted that filling the positions would be an issue as she had not trealized the town would have to hire people. She noted her appreciation Ronald Lance Hope Mills resident- asked what would happen when a new sheriff was hired. Patrick Mitchell owner of security company stated he was more than willing to assist the town with Grilley Mitchel Hope Mills Resident stated the sheriff's office could assist with the implementation Lakewood Hope Mills Resident stated he was baffled by the situation and the town should not have to be Marvin Lakeman Town of Spring Lake Alderman stated this was a failure on the sherifft to do this and put Shawn O'Connor Southview Middle School Principal stated Hope Mills police helped out a lot, and that Chiefof Police Stephen Dollinger stated SROs were more than just law enforcement officers, and expressed that the town could figure out some common ground, but it would require a lot of hard work. Mark Hess Hope Mills Resident - was very concerned for security, and that officers were: a short-term  priority, and hopefully the. June 6th meeting would clear up al lot.  for the towns proactive response.  resources.  process,, just have to make sure the process is done right sO everyone feels safe.  responsible.  thei information out in a short period oftime. having that figure oflocal policing was invaluable.  solution.  Mayor Jessie Bellflowers- expressed concerns for safety.  Commissioner Jerry Legge thanked everyone for coming, and expressed everyone working together could Commissioner Elyse Craver thanked everyone for coming, expressed she does not agree with  resolve issue.  transitioning to online learning as a result ofthe SRO issue. Commissioner Bryan Marley thanked everyone for coming.  Special Meeting May 30, 2024    Mayor. Jessie Bellflowers hoped the SRO discussion would lead to a good outcome. Hes stated that leadership was having the courage to take on hard issues and expressed a desire to be aj part oft the  solution.  ADJOURNMENT.  Seeing no additional business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:44 pm. Motion by Commissioner Jerry Legge, seconded by Commissioner Joanne Scarola and carried  unanimously to adjourn meeting.  ATTEST:  Bbe  Qazeeake  Ashley Wyatt, MMC, NCCMC Town Clerk  Special Meeting May 30, 2024