TOWN OF MAXTON October 17,2023 7:00 p.m.  BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING  Minutes  The Board of Commissioners ofl Maxton, North Carolina met in formal session in the meeting chambers ofthe Town of Maxton Town Hall located at 201 McCaskill Avenue Maxton, North Attendees: Mayor Paul Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Virgil Hutchinson, Commissioner Toni Bethea, Commissioner Elizabeth Gilmore, Commissioner Paul McDowell, and Commissioner Victor Staff Present: Town Manager Angela Pitchford, Town Attorney Timothy Snead, Interim Police Chief Shirra Johnson, Public Works Director Preston McKenzie, and Water and Wastewater  Carolina at 7:00 p.m.  Womack.  Director Dennis Freeman. Call to Order- Mayor Paul G. Davis Invocation- Mayor Pro Tem Victor Womack  Does any member have any known conflict ofi interest and appearances of conflict with respect to any matter coming before the board today? Ifso, please identify the conflict and refrain from any participation in the particular matter involved. None  Approval of Consent Agenda:  1. Minutes from Board Meeting of September 19, 2023 2. Tax Adjustment September 19, 2023 thru October 9, 2023  Mayor Davis request a motion to approve Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Hutchinson made the motion and it was seconded by Commissioner Elizabeth Gilmore. The vote was unanimous  and the motion carried. Approval of Proposed Agenda:  Mayor Davis requested a motion to approve Proposed Agenda. Commissioner Womack made the motion and it was seconded by Commissioner McDowell. The vote was unanimous and the  motion carried. Presentation:  1. South Robeson Middle School Junior Beta Club - Jamie Burney 2. Southeast Regional Airport Authority Update - Seth Hatchell  Old Business: none    New Business:  a) Resolution to Approve a Municipal Accounting Services, Cybersecurity and Technical Town Manager. Angela Pitchford explained to the board and citizens the agreement between the Town ofl Maxton and thel North Carolina League ofN Municipalities about a blanket agreement at no cost to thet town for Cybersecurity & Technical Services, Finance Assistance and Blackwater Software, and legal services which can assist in finding grants and funding to assist the' Town Mayor Davis asked for a motion to approve Resolution. Commissioner McDowell made the motion and Commissioner Womack seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the  Assistance Memorandum of Agreement  with thei issues ofburned and dilapidated houses and street paving.  motion carried.  b) True Gospel Holiness Church Tent Revival  Pastor Thomas Deese addressed the Board requesting to usel Beacham Park for a tent revival for 71 to 8 days. Mayor Davis explained to Pastor Deese that the days requested had already begun October 15, 2023 and today was October 17, 2023. Pastor Deese asked for the following dates Unfortunately Recreation will be doing Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 28, 2023. Mayor Davis stated that something was going on with those dates and asked Pastor Deese ifhe wanted tol keep the same original dates. Pastor Deese agreed tol keep the original dates. Mayor Davis asked for a motion to approve the application as is. Commissioner McDowell made the motion and Commissioner Gilmore second the motion. The vote was unanimous and the Attorney Snead asked the Town Manager if we informed Pastor Deese about the required insurance and that we: needed tol be sure to do the same thing we did in the past. Town Manager Pitchford explained that Pastor Deese had been informed about the event insurance. c) Ordinance Declaring Road closed for Christmas Parade 12/9/2023 7am to 3pm Mayor Davis asked for a motion to approve the Ordinance for the street closing for the 2023 Christmas Parade. Commissioner Womack made the motion and Commissioner McDowell Public Forum: (2 MINUTES ONLY) NOTE: Please state your full legal name, address, and phone number. The board & staffwill: not respond to individual comments or questions during Ruby Gilchrist, 78 Jonathan Street, Maxton, NC. Mrs. Gilchrist has a concern about the old jail house sitting on East Central Street. She would like for the jail house to be torn down and thinks it'sasore eye. just sitting there. She said it would be nice ifit were torn down and a memorial put in place. We could put several names there for example Dr. Dean or others who has done a lot of  October 20, 2023 to October 28, 2023.  motion carried.  seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.  the public forum. The appropriate staff members will follow up ifneeded.    work in the community. She mentioned it is a bad memory in history and a slap in the face and it needs tol bet torn down. Her other concerns were does the Town have an Ordinance to clean up these old mattresses, sofas, chairs, and debris and about burned houses and dilapidated houses. She feels that the Town can do better than this to make our town al better place to live. Sandra McCallum Croom Road has concerns about transients taking over al home on Elm Street and Baldwin Street. Ms. McCallum is concerned because we havel kids out there practicing, people walking the tracks and we don'tknow who these people are, they could be pedophiles. Teresa Kelly, owner ofTKO Hair Store wanted to thank the Town for allowing her to open up her business inl her hometown. The storel hours are Tuesday 9 am -7 pm and Saturday 9 am -5 Michael Hines, 401 Scotland Street, Maxton, NC. Mr. Hines asked about Trunk or Treat and placing extra lighting out at Beachum Park because there are abandon homes with transients live Shelman Spencer, S. Florence Street, Maxton, NC. Mr. Spencer thanked the Town for filling in Emmett Chip Morton, 408 Lombard Street, Maxton, NC. Mr. Morton talked to everyone about the Town's 150th birthday tol be held on April 6, 2024. He: said wei need to declare that dayi in the near future and it will bel held atl Beacham Park where the time capsule will be pulled up and open at the park. Mary McNeill, Virgil Hutchinson, Paul McDowell, Diane Dixon, Gloria Strickland, Lorenzo and Rita McEachin, and Nicole McLean are all on the committee. Wel hope  She is asking that someone please address the matter.  pm.  near and hei is concerned about the children.  some street potholes.  tol have a true timeline at the next meeting for approval.  Reports: Recreation  Mary McNeill reported on Recreation with the following calendar of events: October 24th- will be Senior Bingo 5:00pm to 8:00 pm at Townsend Elementary Gym. October 28th- Trunk R Treat & Movie Night at Beacham Park. Individuals that wish to give candy please be there at 5:30pm. Candy giveaway starts at 6:00j pm and the movie will start at November 4th- we will have a community yard sale located in the parking lot of Old Food Folks inl between Napa & Dollar General from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Signup by November 2nd at town hall. November 11th- Collard festival from 10am - 6pm at Beacham Park (fireworks will start at December 2nd. - Community Yard Salei in the parking lot ofOld Food Folks parking lot. December 9th - Christmas Parade & Toy Give-a-way lineup at 8:30 at (Townsend Middle December 16th Senior Christmas Dinner located at Queheel Fire Department from 2pm-4pm.  6:30pm.  The cost to rent a space is $5 and will be collected the day oft the event.  dusk).  School): parade at 10 a.m. and toy give-a-way following parade.    She said the Recreation Committee is collecting donations for candy for Trunk or Treat and that the candy can be dropped off at the' Town Hall. She also stated that she has extra copies oft the  event calendars if anyone wanted one.  Police Department  Interim ChiefJohnson greeted the audience. He said since we met last month, we should be getting counter surveillance to help survey the Town and hopefully by next: month we will have two new additions to the Police Department (K-9 Officers). The Police Department is beginning aP Police Explorer Program that will be available for teenagers ages 14-17.The program will  work alongside the Boy Scout' Troop Beginning on November 20, 2023.  Manager Report  Manager reported that shel had spoken with. Janet Robertson oft the North Carolina Department of Transportation about the continuance oft the Robeson County thorough plan for long range improvement in small towns for sidewalks and bike trials. The original plan had stalled due to Coronavirus outbreaks. The Manager also spoke with. Julie Metz oft the North Carolina League of Municipalities to express concerns within the Town referring to the burnt and dilapidated houses. The Town has received a CDBG grant to begin on water replacement and is waiting on bids for that job tol begin and there is currently aj problem with small towns receiving bids. The town currently has job listings available such as Town Clerk, Finance Officer, and positions  within Public Works. Commissioners Report  Commissioner Gilmore expressed concern about the cleanliness around R.B. Dean Elementary School. The Beautification Committee has contacted the Public Schools of] Robeson County Superintendent about R.B. Dean Elementary School campus before and little change has been made. Mrs. Gilmore is asking that the Mayor or Manager reach out to the school board to seeif Commissioner McDowell stated that individuals are required to have a valid identification and Commissioner Womack mentioned that it takes little effort and doesn'tcost anything tol help keep the Town clean. He stated that Maxton is a great place tol livei ifwe all help keep it that  thej problem can be resolved.  be règistered to vote in order to vote in the upcoming election.  way.  CLOSED SESSION  Closed session G.S. 143-318.11(a) (6)-to discuss personnel issues only and consult with Town Attorney. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statue 143-318.11. Closed sessions. (a) Permitted Purposes. (3)7 To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which Mayor Davis requested to go into Closed Session. Commissioner McDowell made the motion and Commissioner Womack seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, motion carried.  privilege is hereby acknowledged.    Mayor Davis requested to come out of Closed Session. Commissioner McDowell made the motion and Commissioner Bethea seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, motion Mayor Davis requested to adjourn meeting. Commissioner McDowell made the motion and Commissioner Bethea seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous, motion carried.  carried. Adjourn  PfeDan  Mayor  Town  A luttnuyn