TOWN OF STOKESDALE Regular Town Council Meeting 8325 Angel Pardue Road Stokesdale, NC: 27357 June 9, 2016  The Regular Town Council Meeting of the Stokesdale Town Council was held on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at the Stokesdale Town Hall on 8325 Angel Pardue Road in Stokesdale, North Carolina. COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Randy Braswell, Mayor Pro Tem William N. (Bill). Jones, Frank Bruno, Vicki OTHERSP PRESENT INCLUDED: Senator Phil Berger, Town Attorney (Replaced Katy Gregg who was out onr maternity leave); Kim Hemric, Town Clerk; Diana Marcus, Deputy Clerk; Philip Pulliam, Finance Officer; Oliver Bass, Guilford County Planning Department; Deputy Scott Casey, Guilford County Sheriff's CALLCOUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER: Mayor Braswell called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.  White-Lawrence, Tim. Jones.  Department.  INVOCATION: Given by Thearon Hooks.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Recited by Council members and citizens in attendance.  REVIEW. AND ADOPT AGENDA: Mayor Braswell switched the two Public Hearings under New Business. Frank Bruno made a motion to adopt the agenda with that one change. Vicki White-Lawrence seconded READING AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE FOLLOWING: December 10, 2015 Regular Town Council Meeting; March 10, 2016 Regular Town Council Meeting; May 2, 2016 Budget Workshop; May 12,2016 Regular Town Council Meeting: Tim. Jones requested to hold the December 10, 2015 Regular Town Council Meeting minutes. Frank Bruno said that he would like to hold the March 10, 2016 Regular Mayor Braswell made a motion to approve the May 2, 2016 Budget Workshop and the May 12, 2016 Regular Town Council Meeting minutes. Tim. Jones seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye  He placed the rezoning case before the budget report.  the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried.  Town Council Meeting minutes.  and the motion carried.  COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR: There were no comments from the floor.  NEWBUSINESS:  Finance Report - May, 2016: Philip Pulliam provided the General Fund, Water Enterprise, and Water- Sewer financialr reports for May, 2016. (Please refer to the financial reports for details).  1  June 9, 2016-1 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2925    Report from Guilford County Sheriff's Department: Deputy Scott Caseys said that from the last meeting until this one, the calls responded to in Stokesdale generated eight reports and three oft them were Part One crimes. There was at theft of construction materials at 8013 Manakel Drive. There wasamotor vehicle theft at the Bi-Rite parking lot on US Highway 158. There was a B& E (Breaking and Entering) at 9029 Ellisboro Road where, guns and tools were taken. Other than that, it has been pretty quiet. PUBLICHEARING: REZONING CASE #16-04-STPL-01707 (REVISED): Arequest to change zoning from LO to GO-M. Itisacontinuance: ofapublicl hearing on the originalrequest: to rezone from LOtol HB. Property is located at 7823 US Highway 158 (Guilford County' Tax Parcel #0164064) in Stokesdale, NC; totaling approximately1.53 acres. (Applicant: XYZE Enterprises, LLC): Oliver Basss said that this is a case to rezone property located at 7823 USI Highway 158i in Oak Ridge Township. The request is to rezone from LOtoGO- M (Light Office to General Office-Moderate Intensity). He certified that Staff! had provided all notices that are required by the Stokesdale Development Ordinance. In reviewing the case, Staff and the Stokesdale Planning Board found that the proposed zoning is consistent with the Stokesdale Future Land Use Plan which recommends office space and light manufacturing. The approval ofthis request will allow moderate intensity office use and moderate density residential development which is compatible with the adjacent property and the property along a major thoroughfare which US Highway 158 is classified as in the Stokesdale Collective Street Plan. The Stokesdale Planning Board recommends that Town Council approve this request based oni that iti is consistent with the Land Use Planand thati it isc compatible with the general Mayor Braswell opened the Public Hearing and asked the applicant to come forward to speak. Mindy Wesely said she owns Stokesdale Veterinary Hospital at 8208 US Highway 158 in Stokesdale. She isr requesting the rezoning of this property for a proposed doggie day-care and boarding facility that also includestraining. Shei is hoping to help the citizens of Stokesdale with training issues in order to have less turnover to animal shelters. There will also be a veterinarian on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which will be herself. However, the daycare will transport the animals to another veterinarian the owner may Tim Jones asked if these animals would only be outside during business hours sO neighbors do not complain about barking at all hours of the night. Dr. Wesely said that no dogs will be kenneled outside and will be in an environmentally controlled place. The neighbor across the street from the property requested a privacy fence be installed sO that the neighbor's dog does not see the dogs at the daycare and try to cross the busy highway. Therefore, they plan to install a privacy fence sO that the dogs will not  development along the US Highway 158 area.  workwith.  bes seenc outside in order to resolve that problem.  No one else came forward to speak in favor or against the rezoning request.  Mayor Braswell made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Vicki White-Lawrence seconded the motion. Bill. Jones made a motion to approve. the rezoning request based on it is consistent with the Stokesdale Future Land Use Plan, the business uses are generally compatible with the property located along US Highway: 158 whichi isa a main thoroughfare, and it would be al businessaddition: tot that areai in Stokesdale. Frank Bruno seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried.  All Council members voted aye and the motion carried.  2  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2926    PUBLIC HEARING: Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Budget and Adoption of Budget Ordinance #102: Mayor Braswell opened the Public Hearing for1 the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Budget and Budget Ordinance #102. Alice Hoffman, 7559 Haw Meadows Drive, said shei isar resident of Stokesdale and a motheroft two children thata attend Stokesdale Elementary School. She is representing the community: and the: school this evening. She is here to ask not to cut the Deputy's position from the budget. She feels that the community's sense ofsecurity will go down and willa affect the response timesi in our area. She and the children playing outside feel safer seeing the patrol car in the neighborhood. Her family chose to move to Stokesdale five years ago due to the low crime and great schools. She and the people that signed a petition started about a week ago are concerned about what eliminating this position could do to her community. Close to 300 signatures on the petition have been received in just one week. She read a letter written by Meredith Chandler, Principal of the Stokesdale Elementary School and provided a stack of letters written by over 480 students of Stokesdale Elementary School. The student's letters were all written about how Deputy Scott Casey makes them feel safe by coming to their school often. The Principal's letter requests that the Stokesdale Town Council reconsider eliminating funds that have been used to secure the sheriff position. Ms. Hoffman also provided a copy of as survey that was done in 2004, which indicated that 75 percent of those: surveyeds said that they wouldl like the deputyservice continued. Shes suggested that budget reserves or implementing a property tax could be ways to continue the deputy service in Stokesdale. Please William Gibson, 8705 MG Trail, said he is a 5th grader at Stokesdale Elementary and Student Council President. He read a speech in support of Deputy Casey and spoke about ther reasons why Deputy Casey's presence at the school makes him and the students feel safe. He hopes that Town Council thinks about Mary Maness, 8405 Tree Court, said shet thinks that the Town should keep Deputy Casey. She spoke about Joe Thacker, 7936 Lester Road, said hei isaf former Town Council Member. He said that Deputy Casey gives people, especially older people, a sense of security and: spoke in support of keeping Deputy Casey. He also spoke about the water budget and spending $45,000.00 fori the purchase ofe electronic read meters. Other issues were also mentioned about the water system and a Town Administrator salary that pertain to the Mayor Braswell said that that there have been over 50 Water Workshops since he has been on Town Council. Vendors and the public were invited to attend the workshops where issues about the water system were studied. The electronic read meters are a method being used to resolve the dangers associated with the current way the meters are read. The Stokesdale Water System is growing and improvements need to be made. He recommends input from the residents of Stokesdale regarding the Bill Jones said to google the starting salaries of Town Administrators which shows $40,000.00 to Karen McLaughlin, 7829 Charles Place Drive, said she is the parent of two children at Stokesdale Elementary. She wants Town Council to think about what price they would payifsomething happened to  reconsider taking the deputy service out of the budget.  keeping the deputy in their town.  feeling safer with him patrolling through Stokesdale.  budget.  water system by attending the water workshops that take place.  $70,000.001 to hire one.  a child because we did not have a sheriff. The price ofa child is priceless.  3  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2927    Angel Fuller, 8114 McCrory Road, said she is a Stokesdale resident and the business owner of Kings Crossing Animal Hospital in Stokesdale. She is also the parent of a student at Stokesdale Elementary School. Her family decided to move to Stokesdale because it was a rural and beautiful community with beautiful people. She spoke ins support of keeping the sheriff. Her son feels safe having Deputy Caseyvisit the school often and she feels safe seeing Deputy Casey patrol through the shopping center where her business is located and feels that his presence is a deterrent to crime. She is asking Town Council to Nancy McCoy, 8516 pringbirchTerrace, said shej just wanted to bring up one point. We are talking about ap police officer who isa presence in our community for the protectionofo our community and it seems like you are talking about spending a huge amount of money for someone who drives a car in and out of people's driveways. Maybe we should take some of that concern and put it on our own community. I'm sure it can be worked out that we give security to everybody, but let's think of the kids and let's think of Mary Maness, 8405 Tree Court, said you have to have a Town Administrator thaty you said costs a fortune, but doesthe Townneed at full time Town Administrator or can they be part time? Bill Jones said that" Town Council does everything in the community to save money. He has been working with the County Commissioners for six months to get some of the Town's sales and use tax distribution back and that hasn't happened yet. Ideally, in a perfect world, the Town would have the money to do both (have the deputy sheriff anda a Town Administrator). Oak Ridge and Summerfield have never paid fora auxiliary police protection. He does not know how you can ask people to pay extra when you already have police service. He feels confident enough that iti is better (things have calmed down in Stokesdale). Ms. Maness asked if the Town Administrator can work 15 hours a week and then we can still keep the deputy sheriff. The Alice Hoffman, 7559 Haw Meadows Drive, asked what happens now? Mayor Braswell said that if no one else wants to speak he wants to make a motion to close the Public Hearing. He withdrew his motion when Tom McCoy, 8516 Springbirch Terrace, said if it is going to cost $125,000.00 or $150,000.00 for a Town Administrator, and the Town does not have the income, then the Town just can't afford a Town Administrator. You don't cut back on safety and that is what Deputy Casey does and is the reason he Mayor Braswell made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Tim. Jones seconded the motion. All Council Mayor Braswell spoke about the hard decisions that Town Council has to make and the hard work and many hours Town Council puts in each week in order to get the things Stokesdale needs. He asked the citizens to call the Guilford County Commissioners in support of getting the sales and use tax back for Bill Jones spoke about the work he has been doing tot try getting the sales and use tax back for Stokesdale. He spoke about the costs involved with running the Town and how getting back the sales and use tax  reconsider taking the deputy out of the budget because hei is invaluable.  Stokesdale, please.  safety issue really worries her.  someone approached to speak.  moved to Stokesdale.  members voted aye and the motion carried.  Stokesdale.  money would help Stokesdale. June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  4  Book 13, Page 2928    Tim. Jones thanked Deputy Casey for his service in Stokesdale and: spoke in support oft the Guilford County Sheriff's Department. Stokesdale was a different place at one time that benefited from having a deputy regularly patrol through the Town. However, the Guilford County Sheriff's Department provides satisfactory: service and response times to ensure that Stokesdale is safe and no longer needs to payf fora deputy. The money is now needed for other things in Stokesdale and he is opposed to a property tax and Frank Bruno said that there is no way that Town Council would do this if it impacted the safety of Stokesdale. He feels that the Guilford County Sheriff's Department provides the same coverage and the VickWhite-lawrence said that her problem with this is the process, because Town Council did not let the citizens know that eliminating Deputy Casey'sp position ini the budget was a consideration. Asking fori input fromt the Town'sresidents: should havel been requested and: she is not going tov votei fort the budget because Bill Jones said that two and a half years ago he sent a questionnaire around Town that Vicki White- Lawrence said was not asked today. He was told that was not the way to do it and if you want to cancel the contract, cancel it, but don'task forat tax. So he did attempt to get input from the community. VickWhite-lawrence said that she feels that issues about having a deputy were talked about, but to her knowledge, they did not go to the sheriff or anybody on his staff and aski if there was anything that could Mayor Braswell said that he is not willing to go public with his safety plan for the Town of Stokesdale sO that all the undesirables in our surrounding neighborhoods know what Stokesdale is doing. There have BillJ Jonesmadear motion to adopt the budget as written. Tim. Jones: seconded the motion. Mayor Braswell, Bill. Jones, Frank Bruno, and Tim Jones voted aye. Vicki White-Lawrence voted nay. The motion carried Mayor Braswell made a motion to adopt the modified Budget Ordinance #5 that was prepared on. June 9, 2016. Tim. Jones seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried. Mayor Braswell made a motion to adopt the Budget Ordinance Amendment called Water Enterprise Fund June 9, 2016. Frank Bruno seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried. Facility Use Agreement from Stokesdale Community Choir: Frank Bruno made a motion to accept the Facility Use Agreement from the Stokesdale Community Choir and waive the facility fees. Vicki White- Lawrence seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried. Facility Use Agreement from. Jennifer Siddle fora al Baby Shower: Diana Marcus said that. Jennifer Siddle  hopes to get the sales and use tax money back.  safety is the same without having to pay Deputy Casey out of the budget.  she does not think that Town Council allowed that.  be done. She knows that in the past it has been done, but noti in the recent past.  been many opportunities fori the Town residents to get involved in this process.  witha 4to 1 vote.  called Town Hall and cancelled at 3:00pm this afternoon.  5  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2929    Consider Committee Application: Mayor Braswell made a motion to move the committee application for consideration to the July 14, 2016 Town Council Meeting. Frank Bruno seconded the motion. All Frank Bruno asked Diana Marcus to call Mr. Lawson and let him know that he filled out an old committee Town of Stokesdale, NC Advocacy Goals for 2017-2018: Bill. Jones made a motion to sign the Town of Stokesdale, NC Advocacy Goals for 2017-2018 and forward them to the NC League of Municipalities. Mayor Braswell seconded the motion. All Council members voted aye and the motion carried. Sheriff Barnes Letter: Mayor Braswell asked Senator Berger if it would be okay to make a motion to insert Sheriff Barnes' letter into the minutes in the Public Hearing portion oft the budget and make that a partofi it. Senator Berger said that the Public Hearing is closed and Town Council has already acted on the purpose of the Public Hearing. It think you can include this in your regular minutes but not in the Public Hearing. Mayor Braswell asked Kim Hemric to read the letter from Sheriff Barnes out loud, which she did.  Council members voted aye and the motion carried.  application which has been revised.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS Stokesdale Water System:  Citizens' Comment Period on the Stokesdale Water System: Mary Maness, 8405 Tree Court, Stokesdale, said she wants to know what willl happen when all the people want to come off oft the water that are unhappy with their bills. Mayor Braswell said that if everyone came off of the water, then you  would be bankrupt.  Other Issues Pertaining to the Water System: None  Republic Services - Expiration and Contract Renewal- Continued: Mayor Braswell made a motion to authorize the execution of this contract as it is written. Frank Bruno seconded the motion. All Council Webinar Ethics Training I: Kim Hemric: said that the webinar has been purchased and the three Council members that are required toi take the Ethics Training have between now until the end of October to take it. She emailed it out to them this afternoon and she will follow up with them next week about this.  members voted aye and the motion carried.  COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS:  Mayor Braswell said that the Property Committee does not have anything to share. The Safety Committee is still resting. The Water Committee is resting. The Library Committee is still resting? Frank Bruno said that there have been al lot of book sales and within the next couple of weeks there will be new books put Administrative Report: Kim Hemric said that Ethics Training has been purchased. A little over 300 citizens came into Town Hall on1 Tuesday, June 7th, tovote. We: are continuing to average about! 50-60calls into Town Hall each week. She reminded the public that okedAcexOKesdacos is the main and  out for sale.  primaryemail to communicate with the Town of Stokesdale at Town Hall.  6  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2930    ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Braswell read the announcements listed on the agenda.  COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL: Tim Jones said that he does not like to say no to anybody. He remains opposed to a property taxf for Stokesdale andi is a proponent fors small government for Stokesdale andi that is how he governs himself when making decisions for the Town of Stokesdale. That in a large part is how he thinks has been the way that previous Councils have, as a whole, and we are getting to a point where money is thin. We really need to work on getting back our sales tax distribution money and anybody that Frank Bruno said that he would like to thank Bill Jones for doing a great job working to get the property sales and use tax back to Stokesdale. One of thet things that people do not understand is that the Town is dealing with a very limited budget and needs to be careful how the money is spent. Getting the sales and use tax money back would help a lot. The alternative is a property tax which he is 100 percent against, sO getting that money back would help us. Tim Jones had a good point. Once you build a building like this and you build a park, you don't have a choice at this point other than to sustain it. There were a lot of arguments before this building was built. One of the points brought up by several people was how the Town was going to maintain it but there was never a budget put together for that. So that is one of the things Town Council inherited and has wrestled with over the past five years. It is not an easy decision to cut a sheriff deputy out of the budget, something that we have had for the last 20 years or so, but to him it came down to two things. Number one, safety, and he thinks that Sheriff Barnes and his sheriff deputies do ai fantastic job with that. In Sheriff Barnes' letter, he said basically that we pretty much get the same service we have been getting. The second thing came down to cost. We just don't have the money in the Vicki White-Lawrence said she would just like to continue to encourage people to participate in the process. She knows that she is guilty of not contacting her legislatures that she does not feel like will listen tol her, because she knows that they hear from people who might not share her opinion but it isi important Bill. Jones said Mayor Braswell and himself attended the Town Hall yesterday in Raleigh with some of the congressman and some legislators from other counties too but mostly ours. They do understand what they are trying to accomplish with the sales and use tax. Right now he thinks it is all ad valorem or per capita. They are trying to figure out some way to get the law changed. It would help maintain the growth in Stokesdale. He appreciates those guys listening to them and they are, going tol help them. Mayor Braswell: said he has learned al lot from BillJ Jones, Senator Berger and his firm and the strength that he brings to the table here for Stokesdale. When he and Bill. Jones first met Katy Gregg, they thought she might not be there that long, but she assured us that our town would be covered and he greatly  can help would be great. Thank you.  budget right now to sustain it.  to participate in the process and let your voice be heard.  appreciates Senator Berger coming tonight.  7  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2931    ADIOURNMENT: Vicki White-Lawrence made a motion to adjourn. Frank Bruno seconded the motion.  All Council members voted aye and the meeting adjourned at 8:40pm.  Dianal  Clerk  Me  Marcus, Deputy  Approved:  D. Randall  ORLOK  Braswell, Mayor  Footnote: Be advised that documentation/petition for supplemental law enforcement (Deputy Casey) wasr notsubmitted to Town Hall. Town Clerk asked Ms. Hoffmant forac copy of documents and the request  was denied.  8  June 9, 2016 Town Council Meeting  Book 13, Page 2932    TOWN OF STOKESDALE P.O. BOX 465  STOKESDALE, NORTH CAROLINA27357 BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENTH#S  June 9, 2016  BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board oft the Town of Stokesdale, North Carolina, that the following amendment be made to the annual budget ordinance for the  fiscal year ending June 30, 2016:  Section 1: To amend the General Fund, expenditures for Expense:  Increase  Increase $3,500.00 $1,500.00 $2,000.00 $2,200.00 $2,200.00 $2,600.00  Admin Exp, Services & Fees Building Upkeep Equipment Printing/Office Supplies Unemployment Insurance Legal Fees Planning/nspection Fees  $14,000.00  Section 2: Copies oft this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk ofthe  Governing Board, and to the Budget Officer/Finance Officer for their direction.  Adopted this gthday ofJ June, 2016  AER  D.F Randall Braswell  ATTEST:  Town Clerk  K.E.  3e  Book 13, Page 2933    TOWN OF STOKESDALE P.O. BOX 465  STOKESDALE, NORTH CAROLINA27357 BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT Water Enterprise Fund June 9, 2016  BE. IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board oft the Town of Stokesdale, North Carolina, that the following amendment be made to the Water Enterprise Fund, annual  budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016:  Section 1: To amend the Water Enterprise Fund, expenditures for Expense:  Increase  Increase $14,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $1,000.00 $500.00 $10,000.00  Salaries FICA Professional Fees Postage Office Expense Meters/Purchase & Installation Water Sales Tap Fee Income  $22,000.00 $9,500.00  Section 2: Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk oft the  Governing Board, and to the Budget Officer/Finance Officer for their direction.  Adopted this gday ofJune, 2016  Mbha  D. Randall Braswell  ATTEST:  Town Clerk  KE.E Hemric) K3umo  Book 13, Page 2934