TOWN OF VANCEBORO BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING  Held their regular monthly meeting on October 4, 2021 at 8:00PM in the. Jimmie L.. Morris Boardroom  I. Call to order by Mayor Chad Braxton.  II. Roll call. Those Present: Mayor Chad Braxton, Alderman Steve Belrose, Alderman Keith Cannon, Alderman Thad Jones, and Alderman Todd McMillen.  III. Invocation by Alderman Cannon. IV. Pledge of Allegiance.  V. Approval of minutes from last meeting. Alderman McMillen made a motion to approve minutes. Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and carried. Vote 4-0. VI. Approval of Cash Receipts and Disbursements. Alderman Jones made a motion to pay bills. Motion was seconded by Alderman Cannon and carried. Vote 4-0. VII. Swift Creek Academy. Lisa Crawford with Swift Creek Academy stated that twenty children were enrolled in Kindergarten and First Grade at this time. Mrs. Kimberly Coltrain is the first teacher and she is doing an awesome job with the students. They are working on site words already. The area churches are allowing the students to come in for chapel time. Atthis time the center employees twenty people, we are looking at hiring twenty-five when the new center opens. School Resource Officer James Herring has stopped by and visited with the kids. The Ribbon cutting for the new facility will be October 11"h at 10:30 a.m. Snowie Time and Firehouse Kitchen will be on site to give the children icies and chicken nugget meals. We will also hold a Night of Praise at West  Vanceboro Church of God on December 3rd at 7 p.m.  VIII. Vanceboro Public Library. Julie Cox stated that during Summer Camp they had 50 to 60 visitors per week that included Our Children Child Care and Overflow Afterschool. With approval of the Board of Alderman we would like to add a handicap door opener replacement to the front entrance door. We are also interested in placing a carport onto the right side of the building at the exit door to accommodate outside activities. We are Katherine Clowers shared the statistics with the Board of Alderman over the last few years. The library has increased by visits, attendance etc. greatly since the Covid impacts last year. I'd like to thank the community for supporting the library. We are looking  working on a new sign for the library.  into some more grants to help bring more for the community.    Alderman Cannon made a motion to allow the library to make upgrades as needed to the library. The motion was seconded by Alderman Belrose and carried. Vote 4-0. IX. Police Report. ChiefJenkins stated the department held a DWI checking station on September 18th which resulted in traffic and drug charges. Do the Right Thing winner for September was Lily Murray. Radar sign has been repaired and should be up and X. Recommendation for Alderman. Mayor Braxton stated that Ms. Denise Smith made: a recommendation for Russell Ipock, Chairman of the Planning/Zoning Board to fill Dennis' seat for the remainder of term. There were no further recommendations made. Mayor Braxton appointed Russell Ipock to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Alderman.  working soon.  AIl of those in favor raise your right hand. Vote 4-0.  XI. Mayor's Report. Mayor Braxton stated the guidelines for public comment period. Speakers must sign-in on Public Comment Sign-In sheet, list the topic of concern, the speaker will be given up to three minutes to speak and action of the board is not to be expected or required for items discussed during the public comment period. The obstruction on the corner of Second Avenue/White Street has been taken care of since last meeting. The emails have been updated on the Town website and should be working correctly at this time. We have mowed the grass at 8514 Main Street and have sent an invoice to the owner. Birthdays this month include the Town Clerk, Beverly Drake celebrating a big birthday tomorrow and Officer Robert Baker. We had three deaths this month in the Vanceboro area, Pastor Billy Hacker of] Freewill Holiness Church, Linda Lee and Charlie Anderson. Mr. Anderson worked at the Wastewater Treatment Plant from 1986 through 2001. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families during their time ofloss. Strawberry Jam Festival went well, thanks to Alderman Cannon and his team of! helpers for making this a successful year. The 5K run was a success. The next Board of Alderman meeting will be held on November 1"at 8 p.m. Next recycling date will be November 11th. Trunk of Treat will not be held this year, hopefully it will resume in the future. Craven County Sheriff Deputy was shot and airlifted to the hospital. Heis in stable condition and alert. Thanks to ChiefJenkins and staff and all other law enforcement agencies for serving and protecting the citizens in our community. Planning/Zoning board members are not eligible to participate in thel life insurance through the NCI League ofl Municipalities, because they are not elected officials. Thanks tol Pam Belrose and the City of New Bern for organizing and sweeping our streets before the Strawberry Jam Festival. They removed six loads from our streets, it looks very good. The' Town Clerk attended the first of six ARP zoom meetings today to get a better feel ofwhat items can be purchased through this program. We will definitely be able to apply the $13,000 spent on pumps at the lift station to the ARP funds. I'd like to thank ChiefJenkins for having partnerships and good repore with other departments in our area. Eleven houses are being built in the Elks Park on Morningside Drive. Weare happy to see this development progressing. The same company will be building thirty more houses out on Streets Ferry Road. It'sgreat to see the area being developed and it is good for our small businesses in Vanceboro. Our payment drop box outside ofTown  Hall is being repaired and should be back up soon.  Meeting Minutes  October 4, 2021    XII. Alderman Reports.  Alderman McMillen thanked Alderman Cannon and all involved in making the Vanceboro Strawberry Jam a great success. The weather and attendance was great for Alderman Jones thanked Alderman Cannon and all involved with the VSF. Everyone seemed to enjoy their time. Iappreciate all of the hard work and dedication involved Alderman Belrose thanked Alderman Cannon for a great job with the festival. Would like to know when we will fill the vacant position on the Planning/Zoning Board? Alderman Cannon thanked the library for all oft the hard work to make improvements and increase the attendance. He thanked Lisa Crawford for bringing out the kids from the daycare. October 26th will be the next board meeting for thel library. The parade and festival was a great success. Thanks to Vernon Edwards and the guys for all of the hard work. Thank you to Alderman McMillen and the Police Department for all of they work they did tol help in the success. We had several agencies on hand to help with the festival. Itwas a great team effort. Thanks to Holly Hill Church for running the bouncy houses, they did a wonderful job. Brittany Mumford did an awesome job accepting the registrations and money for the festival. This is our. 39th, year of the VSF. Look forward  the event.  with this event.  to making the 40th a great festival as well.  XIII. Public Comment.  Robert Ipock-209 College Street stated that the grass was covering some of the graves at Celestial Memorial Gardens in the flat section on the left side of cemetery.  Adjournment.  There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m. Ihereby certify that the above is true and accurate record of said minutes.  OodEBohu CHAD E. BRAXTON MAYOR  Bwilyl-Dale BEVERLY W.DRAKE TOWN CLERK  Meeting Minutes  October 4, 2021