VA.  TOWN OF VANCEBORO BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING  Held their regular monthly meeting on September 13, 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 Jones. IV. Pledge of Allegiance.  V. Approval of minutes from last meeting. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve minutes. Motion was seconded by Alderman McMillen and carried. Vote 4-0. VI. Approval of Cash Receipts and Disbursements. Alderman McMillen made a motion to pay bills. Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones and carried. Vote 4-0. VII. Police Report. ChiefJenkins presented Officer Robert Baker with a "Rookie of the Year" plaque. We thank Officer Baker for his hard work and dedication to the department. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Smith family, Dennis will be missed greatly. Vanceboro Night Out/Back to School Bash was a great success, special thanks to the VFW, Alderman Jones, Jo-lynne Braxton and the Nation Honor Society for all of their work. The department is raffling a 50 caliber muzzle loader, ifi interested in purchasing tickets please let us know. Tom Toler with the VFW will be helping cook for our plate sale in October. Officer Baker is now radar certified. SRO Herring will be starting the "Do the Right Thing" program back up this month at the Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary. We have received $450 in donations from Dennis Thomas with Vanceboro Mini Storage and Brynn and Joe Thomas with Thomas Development Inc. Yearly firearm VIII. Recommendation - Mayor Pro Tempore. Mayor Braxton recommended Alderman Todd McMillen for Mayor Pro Tem. Alderman Jones made a motion to make Alderman McMillen Mayor Pro Tem. Motion was seconded by Alderman Cannon and carried. IX. Mayor's Report. Alderman Dennis Smith passed away August 16th unexpectantly; our hearts and prayers are with his family. Alderman/Preacher Todd McMillen did an awesome celebration of] life ceremony for Alderman Smith. The Smith family sent a thank you card to the town thanking them for the flowers, prayers and love shown to the  training for the department will be held in November.  Vote 3-0.    family during this time of loss. Hope everyone had a safe and fun-filled Labor Day. My wife and Iwill be celebrating 22 years of marriage on the 25th oft this month. Our next scheduled Board of Alderman Meeting will be held on October 4"at 8 p.m. Recycling pickup is this Thursday. Vanceboro Strawberry Jam festival will be held on October2 2d. We received $60 from Debt setoff this month. Iattended the 15th Anniversary Celebration for Pastor Wells at St. James Church of Christ. Special thanks to everyone who helped with the Vanceboro Night Out/B Back to School Bash, it was a great success. The new Welcome to Vanceboro banners are up throughout town, they look very nice. Thanks to Alderman Belrose and his wife Pam for planting flowers out by the Bowers Park, it looks really nice. Public works has had a busy month with several limbs, water leaks; weed eating at the plant, and patchwork on Farm Life Avenue. Would love to see Farm Life Avenue completely repaved in the future. Continue to pick up litter throughout town and report littering when someone: is in violation. It makes the streets and town look bad. Ditch mowing throughout town is scheduled for November. Sidewalk curbing/edging will be done soon. Our Annual Tree Lighting service will be held on December 2"d at 7 p.m. here at the Town Hall. The signs located at Elks Park have been replaced and the work has begun to build new houses in this development. The playground and the basketball court are still being used; this is great asset to the town. Swift Creek Academy will be progressing soon, we will invite Lisa Crawford out to give us an update. The house behind the library is pending sale, I'm glad to see new residents moving into town. December 13th will be our employee Christmas Party at the X. Clerk - Public Hearing Rezoning property at 8401 Main Street. Alderman Jones made: a motion to go into open session for the Public Hearing. Alderman McMillen seconded the There was no one in attendance to speak for the public hearing to rezone property at Alderman Belrose made a motion to close the public hearing. Motion was seconded by Alderman Jones made a motion to rezone the property located at 8401 Main Street from R-8 to Commercial. Motion was seconded by Alderman McMillen and carried. Vote 4-0. XI. Clerk-F Resolutions - Drinking Water Asset and Inventory Assessment (AIA) Project. Alderman Jones made a motion to give Mayor Braxton the authority to sign the resolution for the AIA project. Motion was seconded by Alderman Belrose and carried.  VFW at 6 p.m.  motion and carried. Vote 4-0.  8401 Main Street from R-8 to Commercial. Alderman Jones and carried. Vote 4-0.  Vote 4-0.  XII. Clerk - Resolutions - Grant toi improve Wastewater Collection System.  Alderman McMillen made a motion to give Mayor Braxton the authority to sign the resolution for the grant for our Wastewater Collection System project. Motion was  seconded by Alderman Cannon and carried. Vote 4-0.  XIII. Clerk-P Proclamation - Constitution Week - September 17th-231d.  Meeting Minutes  September 13, 2021    Mayor Braxton signed the proclamation declaring September 17th through the 23"as  Constitution Week in the Town of Vanceboro.  XIV. Clerk-Municipal Insurance Trust- - Quote for Life Insurance for Board of Alderman and the Mayor. Municipal Insurance Trust quoted a price of $1.60 per person for $5,000 oflife Alderman Jones made a motion to accept the quoted price of $1.60 per Board of Alderman, Planning/Zoning Board Member and the Mayor. Motion was seconded by  insurance per active board member.  Alderman Cannon and carried. Vote 4-0.  XV. Clerk-I Budget Amendment #1 - American Rescue Plan/E Backup ORC Services. Alderman Jones made a motion to accept the budget amendment to increase the American Rescue Plan funds and to add money to the Backup ORC Services. Alderman McMillen  seconded the motion and carried. Vote 4-0.  XVI. Alderman Reports.  Alderman Cannon stated that the Vanceboro Strawberry (Jam) Festival will be on October 2"d in the vacant field beside the gym at the Elementary School. We will have a parade, a 5K run and one mile walk to benefit Lainee Jordan. There will be a smokehouse, entertainment and vendors as usual. Story Walk was held on August 3"at thel library and the kids from Our Children Child Care attended the event. Steven Aster with Craven County stated that we may be able toj purchase a backhoe for the Town Alderman Belrose stated that there was a sight obstruction at the corner of Second Alderman Jones appreciated the Public Works department and Vernon Edwards. Alderman McMillen stated that he was encouraged by the number ofyoung families moving into Vanceboro. Would love to see more activities be developed for families. The Town and Board of Alderman will miss Alderman Smith and the knowledge he brought to the position. Attended the Unsung Hero Scott Whitford Ceremony at Carolina East Hospital where Alderman Dennis Smith was the recipient of this award. Dennis did a lot,  through a State contract.  Avenue and White Street that needed to be attended to.  he would always go the extra mile and he will be missed.  XVII. Public Comment.  Andrew Black-8 805 College Street stated that the email for the Town Board/Mayor was not working properly. He: stated that he ran in thel last election and would love to be Hudson Jordan - 704 College Street stated that the grass needed to be cut beside his  considered for the seat that Alderman Smith leaves vacant.  Grandfather's House. XVIII. Adjournment. Meeting Minutes  September 13, 2021    There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Ihereby certify that the above is true and accurate record of said minutes.  OodEBh CHAD E. BRAXTON MAYOR  BwlyW-Dal BEVERLY W. DRAKE TOWN CLERK  Meeting Minutes  September 13, 2021