HITEL EL 1833  MINUTES  Regular Meeting of the City Council 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 22, 2022 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472  The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Whiteville was called to order on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., at 317 S. Madison Street, Whiteville, NC,  28472. 1) ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT:  Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B Holden,  Vickie Pait, and Kevin Williamson Tim Blackmon  OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Darren Currie, City Manager; Carlton Wiliamson, City Attorney; Bonnie Williams, City Clerk; Colburn Brown, Finance Director; Doug Ipock, Police Chief; David Yergeau, Fire Chief; Roger Lee, Building Inspector; Hal Lowder, Emergency Services Director; Crystal Stith, Permit Technician; Ivey Schofield (The News Reporter); AJ Worley; Steve Smith; Ricky Boswell; Norma Yanez; Sean Hayes; Steve Melton; Members of the  Public 2) CALLTOORDER By Mayor Mann at 6:30 pm. 3) INVOCATION Provided by Mayor Pro Tem Clarida. 4) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Mann. 5) ADOPTION OF AGENDA Vickie Pait SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Vickie Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Tim Blackmon)  Jimmy Clarida MOVED to approve the adoption of the agenda as presented.  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B Holden,  6) APPROVAL OF MINUTES  6.1) Consideration for Approval of Minutes Terry Mann MOVED to approve the minutes for the regular and closed session meetings held on February 8, 2022 as presented. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Holden, Vickie Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Tim Blackmon)  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B  7) PUBLIC COMMENT 8) PRESENTATION  Mr. AJ Worley: Mr. Worley shared his desire to see the City build a skate park on the property formerly known as the Lewis Smith Shopping Center. He provided information to the Council from his personal research on thet topic.    8.1) Annual Update from Columbus CounlyBeekeepers Association Mr. Ricky Boswell and Mr. Steve Smith made the annual Bee City USA report to the Council. Mr. Smith provided statistical data regarding bee population and other pollinators, education and training opportunities, and elaborated on how important bees and other pollinators are to crops. Mr. Smith shared photos from festivals and other bee related  areas.  9) BUSINESS  9.1) Contract Approval with GFL for Solid Waste Services  Mr. Currie reminded Council at their last Council meeting (February 8), Council authorized staff to negotiate a contract for solid waste services with GFL, after making a tentative bid award. He advised that the contract is for a five year period, there is an escalator in the contract capped at 3% and ift the CPI is lower, thei increase willl be the actual CPI, and a fuel surcharge, if fuel reaches $4 per gallon for a 90 day period. Ms. Yanez introduced her team to Council, Mr. Steve Melton and Mr. Sean Hayes. She explained that a local office is in the area. Discussion ensued with Council asking for the following changes be incorporated into the contract, 1)a date correction from 20151 to 2022, 2) Paragraph2 d), "All commercial businesses" will be provided a front load container (dumpster) thoug there are a number of "commercial accounts" the do not require a dumpster; reference the type of container for those businesses., and 3) Exhibit A refers to Commercial Waste Collection Carts and Downtown Cans this statement should also include the Kevin Williamson MOVED to approve the proposed contract for Solid Waste Services with GFL with the following changes 1) a date correction from 2015 to 2022, 2) Paragraph 2 d), "All commercial businesses" will be provided a front load container (dumpster) thoug there are a number of "commercial accounts" the do not require a dumpster; reference the type of container for those businesses., and 3) Exhibit A refers to Commercial Waste Collection Carts and Downtown Cans this statement should also include the Uptown" area also.  "Uptown" area also.  Helen BI Holden SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Holden, Vickie Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Tim Blackmon)  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B  9.2) Consideration for the Proposed FY22-23 Budget Workshop Calendar Mr. Brown asked that Council consider and approve a proposed special meeting calendar for the purposes of holding FY22-23 budget workshops in preparation oft the FY22-23 budget. He recommended that an hour and half be allocated for each special meeting. These meetings will allow staff to provide more in-depth information to Council on the inner workings of each fund within the budget. He reported that staff has worked diligently over the last several years to develop planning documents and gather as much information as possible about the City's infrastructure and public safety needs. He commented that the sharing of this information with Council will provide staff guidance on how aggressive the City desires to renovating water, sewer and storm-water infrastructure as well as public safety. He reported that the proposed dates for special meetings are March 8, April 12, April 26, and May 10, Kevin Williamson MOVED to approve special meetings scheduled for March 8, April 12, April 26, and May 10, 2022 beginning at 5 pm.  2022 with each meeting beginning at 5p pm. Vickie Pait SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Holden, Vickie Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Tim Blackmon)  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B  10) COUNCIL COMMENTS  Mayor Pro Tem Clarida commented on how well the property formerly known as the Lewis Smith Shopping Center looks now that demolition has been    completed. Council Members Pait and Holden concurred. Council Member Williamson inquired about how soon the City may be able to begin repairing pot holes in the city limits. Mr. Currie reported that he would talk with Mr. Faulk in Public Works to see when materials might begin to be available. Council Member Collier asked if the Council had any authority to remove Council Member Blackmon from the Council. Mr. C. Williamson explained that the Council has very limited authority and short of a voluntary resignation from Council Member Blackmon, there is nothing the Council can do. Mr. Currie asked Ms. Williams to share with Council her recent conversation with the Columbus County Board of Elections. She advised that the municipal election postponed from November 2021 is now scheduled for May 17, 2022 along with the primary for the general election. She advised that the resumption of the municipal filing period will begin at 8:30 am on Thursday, February 24, 2022 and ends at noon on Friday, March 4, 2022. Mayor Mann announced that this meeting would be the last meeting that Ms. Ivey Schofield would be reporting on as she prepares to begin a newj jobi in Fayetteville, NC.  11) REPORTS  11.1) Manager's Update  Mr. Currie briefly reported on the following areas, 1) Lewis Smith Shopping Center property is now demolished and the contractor has seeded the property with grass, and 2) Phase II Sewer project has been rebidded due tol lack of required bids from the first advertisement.  11.2) Monthly Departmental Reports for. January 2022.  Mr. Lowder introduced Ms. Crystal Stith to the Council stating she is the new Permit Technician, he also reported that an event, Bike NC, will be coming to Whiteville in October 2022. Council Member Holden asked about eating establishments in the downtown area and Mr. Currie advised that the City could establish a social district downtown if the Council wanted. Council concurred and Mr. Currie advised that they would begin looking into the matter. Mr. Currie advised that he would be conducting City Council recieved reports from the following departments in their agenda packet- Office of the City Clerk, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Inspections and Permits, Parks and Recreation, Police, and' WWTP.  interviews for al Planner next week.  12) ADJOURNMENT  Vickie Pait MOVED to approve the adjournment of the regular meeting on  February 22, 2022 at 7:23 pm. Tim Collier SECONDED the motion. VOTE: 6-0 (Unanimous) Vickie Pait, Kevin Williamson) Nays: 0 Absent: 1 (Tim Blackmon)  Yeas: 6 (Terry Mann, Jimmy Clarida, Tim Collier, Helen B Holden,  TerryL  E Bonnie T. Williams, CITY CLERK AAp