MAYOR Jessie Bellflowers MAYOR PROTEM Dr. Kenjuana McCray INTERIM TOWN MANAGER Chancer McLaughlin  TOWN. BOARD Elyse Craver Jerry Legge Bryan Marley Joanne Scarola TOWN CLERK Ashley Wyatt  ROWNOR AE HOPE MILLS NORTH CAROLINA APROUDI PAST.A BRIGIT FUTURE  N91  TOWN OF HOPE MILLS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  Meeting Agenda - January 8, 2024 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting  Mayor Jessie Bellflowers called the Regular Meeting of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners to order on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed those in attendance.  STAFF PRESENT  Interim Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin, Town Clerk, Ashley Wyatt, Finance Director Drew Holland, Parks & Recreation DirectorLamarco Morrison, Police ChiefStephen Dollinger, Deputy Public Works Director Bruce Clark, Town Planner Emily Weidner, Fire ChiefCharles Lopez, and Stormwater Administrator Beth Brown. Also present was Town Attorney Dan Hartzog, Jr. Former Commissioner Grilley Mitchell gave the invocation and Mayor Bellflowers led the pledge  INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  ofallegiance.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA- ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS.  Commissioner Marley asked the board for an additional closed session at the beginning of the  meeting.  CLOSED SESSION.  Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray at 7:08pm, seconded by Commissioner Legge, and carried unanimously, to go into closed session pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3) Attorney  Client Privilege and. NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6). Personnel.  At 7:35 p.m. Mayor Bellflowers called the regular meeting back to order.  Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray, seconded by Commissioner Marley, and carried unanimously, to. seal the minutes of the closed. session until. such time as the release ofthe information would no longer frustrate the purpose of the closed. session and further no action  was taken.  OFFICIAL COMMENTS  Commissioner Craver inquired about a sign replacement on Elliss Street and if Charter Day was  still scheduled to take place within the current year.  Regular Meeting January 8, 2024    Interim Town Manager McLaughlin advised that he would look into it and provide an answer at a  later date.  Mayor Bellflowers inquired about the Pat Collier sign being removed.  Mr. McLaughlin advised that he would follow up with the Parks and recreation Department and  provide an answer at a later date.  Commissioner Scarola welcomed the audience to the meeting.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray welcomed all in attendance and wished everyone a safe evening due Mayor Bellflowers announced that the Special Budget Priorities meeting was being postponed to Mr. McLaughlin read aj prepared statement regarding the termination of former Major Rountree. Town Clerk Ashley Wyatt advised the board ofthe annual NCLM conference that would be taking place from April 23rd-2 25th in Winston Salem. She also noted that all board members needed to  tothei incoming inclement weather.  January 11,2024 at 6pm due to the inclement weather.  complete their ethics requirements. PRESENTATIONS: Day 2024. Week 2024.  Mayor Bellflowers read into the record the Proclamation recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mayor Bellflowers read into the record the Proclamation recognizing National School Choice Jay Patel of Sharpe- Patel LLC spoke to the FY 2022-2023 Audit Presentation and outlined the following: the audit process was complete; the audit was "clean"; the audit was submitted timely; Commissioner Legge thanked staff and the auditor for their work on the presentation.  and went over the expenditure breakdown.  Mayor Bellflowers echoed the sentiments of Commissioner Legge.  Devon Newton, Community Services Manager for Cumberland County gave aj presentation on the Cumberland County Community Development 2024 program. She highlighted the following: Commissioner Scarola asked ifal home inspection was needed in order to utilize the HOME Ms. Newton responded that home inspections were required for repairs and that any work  services offered; applying for HOME funds, and applying for CDBG funds.  funds.  utilizing the funds needed tol be approved upfront.  Regular Meeting January 8, 2024    Commissioner Scarola asked ift the home buyers program included foreclosed homes. Ms. Newton responded that it was possible and would need to be looked at on a case by case  basis.  Commissioner Scarola asked ift the department partnered with nonprofits, Ms. Newton advised that they did partner with many nonprofits.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray invited Ms. Newton to attend the Senior Exposition being hosted by  the town in March.  Mr. McLaughlin advised that he would coordinate with her.  Commissioner Legge asked ifany aspect ofthe program covered transportation. Ms. Newton responded that they did provide those services in some instances. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray asked how the services were provided.  Ms. Newton stated that her office was able to provide funds to other organizations that had  access to transportation services. PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Ronald Starling, a resident of Hope Mills and Veteran Affairs Committee member expressed concerns regarding $50k being used for a parking lot as opposed to something else for veterans. He also asked that the board amend the voting rights ofhis committee to only allow those pointed Commissioner Marley noted that at the time the $50k was given, the VFW was in support ofthe Commissioner Scarola expressed concerns with limiting voting rights, since it was difficult to  by the board, the ability to vote.  use.  obtain quorum. CONSENT AGENDA:  Approval of the Board of Commissioners December 12, 2023 Special Meeting Minutes and the  December 18, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes Acceptance of Monthly Financial Report- November 2023  Approving a Resolution No. R2024-01 Updating Fees For Notarial Acts  Motion by Commissioner Marley, seconded by Commissioner Scarola, to remove item B and place itu under Old Business, was carried unanimously, to approve the consent agenda as amended.  Regular Meeting January 8, 2024    END OF CONSENT AGENDA"  OLD BUSINESS:  Finance Director Drew Holland answered questions regarding the COLA pay increase for staff. Mayor Bellflowers asked ifthe $77k was the total amount oft the 1.75% oft the COLA pay and ifit  included the longevity pay.  Mr. Holland stated that the amount did include longevity pay.  Motion by Commissioner Marley, to approve the budget Amendment, for Increase in longevitypay  & COLA seconded by Mayor Pro Tem. Dr. McCray, was carried unanimously.  NEW BUSINESS:  Commissioner Craver led the discussion on updating Board of Commissioners rules and procedures to temporarily remove two-year reapplication requirement. She advised that she was working on aj plan to create more engagement among current and future volunteers. Mayor Bellflowers asked what barriers were limiting applicants from applying. Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Wyatt both advised that it was a combination of a low applicant pool and current members feeling overburdened by having to reapply every two years. Mayor Bellflowers suggested possibly only requiring a letter of intent that current members still  wanted to serve. Discussion ensued  Motion by Commissioner Craver, to appoint Karen Saracen to the Historic Preservation Committee, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray, was carried unanimously.  CLOSED SESSION  Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray at 8:41pm, seconded by Commissioner Legge, and carried unanimously, to go into closed session pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3) Attorney  Client Privilege and NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6) Personnel.  At9:40p.m. Mayor Bellflowers called the regular meeting back to order.  Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. McCray, seconded by Commissioner Marley, and carried unanimously, to. seal the minutes ofthe closed. session until such time as the release oft the information would no longer frustrate the purpose ofthe closed. session and further no action  was taken.  Regular Meeting January 8, 2024    REPORTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS:  ADJOURNMENT.  Seeing no additional business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:49pm. Motion by Commissioner Legge, seconded by Commissioner Marley, and carried unanimously to  adjourn the meeting.  SEAL  ATTEST:  BA  QOOCCEIC Ashley Wyatt, CMC, NCCMC Town Clerk  Regular Meeting January 8, 2024