MAYOR Jessie Bellflowers MAYOR: PROTEM Dr. Kenjuana McCray TOWN MANAGER Chancer McLaughlin  TOWN BOARD Elyse Craver Jerry Legge Bryan Marley Joanne Scarola TOWN CLERK Ashley Wyatt  OWN  HOPE MILLS NORTH CAROLINA PROUD PAST.A BRIGIT FUTURE  TOWN OF HOPE MILLS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  Meeting Agenda - March 7, 2024 9:00 a.m. Special Meeting  Mayor Jessie Bellflowers called the Special Meeting of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners to order on' Thursday, March 7,2024, at 9:00 a.m. and welcomed those in attendance.  STAFF PRESENT  Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin, Town Clerk, Ashley Wyatt, Finance Director Drew Holland, Parks & Recreation Director Lamarco Morrison, Public Works Director Don Sisko, Police Chief Stephen Dollinger, Senior Planner Emily Weidner, Building Inspector Kenneth Tatum, and Fire  ChiefCharles Lopez. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Bellflowers led the pledge of allegiance. OPENING REMARKS/ WELCOME  Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin gave opening remarks regarding the budget process and the changes that were implemented during the current yeari in comparison to prior years. Mayor Bellflowers echoed the comments madel by the Town Manager regarding thel budget process and spoke to the Town engaging with the NCLM as one oft the major differences. Finance Director Drew Holland outlined the course ofthe day, spoke to the materials that he passed out regarding the budget, the CIP, state of the current budget, sales tax changes, and projected  revenues.  Commissioner Legge asked ift the tax revenues had changed.  Mr. Holland stated that a 171l-thousand-dollar tax increase was expected compared to what was  being received in years prior. SUBJECT: CIP  Mr. Holland stated that Community Improvement Projects were long term initiatives that would  need funding over the course ofmore than one fiscal cycle.  Commissioner Scarola asked when projects were removed from the CIP.  Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7,2024    Mr. Holland stated that projects came off the CIP when they were completed.  Mayor Bellflowers asked ifthere were 4 police vehicles and 1 fire department vehicle listed on the  CIP.  Mr. Holland stated that that was correct.  Mayor Bellflowers spoke to the grant program hopefully being able to supplement part ofthe CIP  list and asked for a monthly update oft the status oft the grants.  Mr. McLaughlin stated that he would provide updates in his manager'sr report. Commissioner Legge asked iftransportation information was included in the materials. Mr. Holland stated that there was information for transportation included, however it did not Commissioner Marley asked where the town was regarding the construction oft the splash pad.  include a bus service since there was no specific cost associated with it.  Mr. Mclaughlin stated that it was: scheduled for completion by the Spring.  SUBJECT: PAY STUDY  David Hill the pay study analyst, started his presentation by noting that the Town of Hope Mills starting salaries across all employees was 52.9% greater than the minimum market rate in those positions and were 17.41% greater than the average minimum rate. He explained that that the current salary ranges were not competitive enough and it caused the Town to historically bring on employees at higher salaries in some positions. Mr. Hill described the methodology in comparing other towns to conduct the pay study. Those towns were: Cary, Aberdeen, Fayetteville, Laurinburg, Fuqua-Varina, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Garner, Lumberton, Red springs, and Cumberland County. However, Mr. Hill noted a difference in comparing the pay grade ranges. Hope Mills was 18.43% lower than the market rate and then 16.48% lower than market rate for Mayor Bellflowers asked how the Town came to be in the current financial situation regarding Mr. Hill responded that other jurisdictions were. likelyaddressing theiry pay rates more aggressively Mayor Bellflowers asked if the current pay situation would become worse if there was no Mr. Hill stated that assessment was correct, the town would not be in a competitive market, and Commissioner Marley advocated for moving more aggressively to stay current with the proposed  actual salaries. salaries.  than the town ofhope mills was.  intervention.  would not be able to have the best pick of candidates for several positions.  pay plan. Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7, 2024    Commissioner Scarola asked when the last pay study was done.  Mr. Holland stated that as far as he could recall there had not been aj pay study in at least 8 years and the result oft that study was a minimal 20k that was divided by all employees. Commissioner Scarola asked for clarification as to how the pay study implementation would work. Mr. Hill stated that anybody that was not at market rate would be brought up to that salary and Commissioner Legge asked if the new plan would help the problems the Town was facing Mr. Hill suggested that the new plan would allow for better applicants in most positions. Motion by Mayor. Pro Tem Dr. McCray to approve the pay study plan as presented by David Hill, Mr. Holland noted that the first responders would see pay adjustments as early as April and all  there would be a clear path forward for advancement. regarding first responder staffing levels.  seconded by Commissioner Legge and approved unanimously.  other staff would see adjustments after July 1st. Commissioner Legge asked what the current tax rate was.  Mr. Holland advised it was 46 cents and that an increase in 5 cents would bring the rate to 51 cents. Commissioner Marley asked if the tax increase would make an impact with the projected 1.8- million-dollar shortfall expected after Cumberland County changed its current tax structure. Mr. Holland responded that the tax increase was separate; however,iftaxes were not increased the money to fund the full pay study at a rate ofs 671k moving forward, would have to come out of Commissioner Marley expressed his support for the tax increase in order to support the city  the general fund.  services that residents depended on.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray supported the proposed 5 cent tax increase.  Commissioner Craver asked about future revenue increases due to the projected growth. Mr. McLaughlin stated that the tax increase would get the town to al base level in order to be used Commissioner Craver advised that she was not in support of a tax increase to fund the pay study Mayor Bellflowers clarified that a decision on raising taxes was not taking place at the meeting,  as at recruitment tool and retain staff. and suggested waiting another year.  but would be addressed at the budget meeting in. June.  Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7, 2024    Mr. Holland advised that waiting another year to increase taxes would put the town in a 3.2-  million-dollar deficit.  SUBJECTTAXREVALUATION  Mr. Holland spoke to the upcoming revaluation of the Town as determined by the Local Government Council and noted that one had not been conducted in more than 8 years. However, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray asked for the current staffing levels in the Police Department. Mr. McLaughlin stated that there were 33 police officers on staff when there needed tol be 55.  he did not know how much revenue this would bring into the town.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray expressed her support for the first responders. Commissioner Scarola echoed the sentiments made by Mayor Pro Tem.  Commissioner Legge did not support starting the pay study implementation earlier for some ChiefDollinger expressed his need to retain current officers and recruit new ones in order toj protect The Town Department Heads all expressed support for the first responders to receivep payi increases Motion by Commissioner Scarola, seconded by Commissioner Marley toj fund the full pay. study in the amount of $671k, and the corresponding budget amendment #19 in the amount of $106,650k to go towards increasing salaries for first responders as soon as possible, was  departments as opposed to others. the Town ofHope Mills. prior to. July 1t.  approved unanimously.  SUBJECT: BOND REFERENDUM  Mr. Holland provided the overview of the bond referendum process and advised what the board would need to do in order to move forward with one in the future. He also reviewed the current debt of the municipality and corresponding repayment schedule which provided a basis for the Commissioner Scarola asked for a hard copy of the information that was being presented. Mr. Holland also noted that if approved, the proposed bond referendum would not be presented  proposed bond.  until 2025 for a vote.  Commissioner Scarola asked ifl Fayetteville or Spring Lake did referendums. Mr. McLaughlin that both cities had done referendums previously.  Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7, 2024    Mayor Bellflowers asked ifac decision was needed at the meeting and ifnot, to table the discussion until more information could be gathered from other internal and external departments and/or  agencies.  SUBJECT: PARKS AND RECREATION  Lamarco Morrison, Parks and Recreation Director spoke to the large projects being managed by his department. He addressed the proposed Senior Facility and financing for the tennis and pickle Motion by Commissioner Marley, seconded. by Commissioner Legge for the Town Manager to negotiate a purchase price for land to house the tennis and pickleball courts and to pursue  ball courts.  architecture plans for the Senior Facility, was approved unanimously. Mayor Bellflowers asked ift the Senior Facility would only be for seniors.  Mr. Morrison advised that it would not just be for seniors; however there would be two parts to the building, split by an atrium. One side would be for senior activities and the other side would Kenneth Tatum, Building Inspector suggested using the proposed building as an emergency  be multi use.  shelter in the event ofa natural disaster.  Mr. Mclaughlin thought that would be an additional good use oft the space.  SUBJECT: PUBLIC WORKS  Don Sisko, Public Works Director explained different aspects of the growth in the town and how that impacted services his department provided. He spoke to limited manpower, resources, and equipment as areas of concern forl his department as well as services that they provided that were  not supposed to bei included such as furniture pick up. No votes were taken ini regard to this discussion.  ADJOURNMENT.  Seeing no additional business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 pm. Motion by Commissioner Legge, seconded by Commissioner Scarola, and carried unanimously to  adjourn the meeting.  ATTEST: Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7, 2024  DR6    04Q0000284 Ashley Wyatt, CMC, NCCMC Town Clerk  Special Budget Retreat Meeting March 7, 2024