HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN: STREET, HAMLET, NC: 28345 TUESDAY, AUGUST15, 2023 6:00PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Abbie Covington Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers TC Morphis Matthew Christian CindyTerry  Others Present: Chris McDonald, Matt Lamb, Don Norton, Howard' Wallace, Mary McLaurin, Ray! Mills,  Margaret Williams 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.  Thei invocation was given by Rev. Butch Farrah of Hamlet First Baptist Church.  3. Adoption of Agenda Sellers. The vote was 4-0. 4. Adoption of Consent Agenda  Council Member Covington motioned to adopt the Agenda, seconded by Council Member  Council Member Sellers made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Council Member  Covington provided the second. The vote was 4-0.  5. Comments from Attendees  Stephan Long addressed Council regarding receiving multiple water bills within the billing cycle. He also stated that the meter readers don't replace the cover to his meter afteri iti is read. Mayor Bayless suggested that he get in touch with the City Manager to discuss the problems. Council Member Sellers thanked Mr. Long for addressing Council with these matters. Mary McLaurin then addressed Council. She lives on Bridges Street. Ms. McLaurin voiced concerns regarding the property that the City owns adjacent to her land which is a parkingl lot. She stated that years ago, the City dug a ditch fori the water to drain, but that City employees are not keeping the ditch cleaned out. Ms. McLaurin also inquired as to whether there will be games at the parki in South Hamlet this fall. City Manager Christian stated that the fields will be useda as soon as soccer: season begins. He also advised that the playground equipment has been delivered and we are presently awaiting thei installer. He also advised that the concession stand will be open during the games. Mayor Bayless reminded Council that the games were stopped    last year due to as shooting incident. He suggested to Ms. McLaurin thati if she or any of her neighbors see something going on at the park, to please let the City know. He also stated that the cameras at the park are up and running. The Manager also addressed issues regarding the safety of using the parks. Council Member Sellers stated that the areai is a' "hot spot for troublemaking," and also requested that Ms. McLaurin report anything she sees at the park. Council Member McQueen. stated that the City is committed to using the park.  New Business  6. Approval of Master Services Agreement for On-Call Services (WithersRavene!) City Manager Christian reminded Council that at few months ago, the City made RFQ'si for projects. He stated that this is the next step in this process. The Manager advised that the contracts do not actually obligate the City to any work, but rather the scope of services. City Attorney Morphis advised that hel has reviewed the agreement, which includes al blank task order fori future projects. Council Member McQueen motioned, seconded by Council Member Sellers, that Council approve the Master Services Agreement for On-Call Services with Withers- 7. Approval of Master Services Agreement for Advanced Metering Technology (MeterSYS) City Manager Christian advised that this contract is basically the same terms as the Agreement just discussed. Mayor Bayless inquired as to when the projects will begin. The City Manager stated that the first taski is to assess and inventory all meters. This will give the Cityac complete understanding of all the meters in the City'ss system. Council Member Covington made a motion that Council approve the Master Services Agreement for Advanced Metering Technology. The  Ravenel. The vote was 4-0.  second was provided by Council Member McQueen. The vote was 4-0.  Other Business 8. City Manager's Report  City Manager Christian suggested a work session on August 29 regarding the water meter project. Atthat time, Council could decide on which option would be serve the City. Option1 would be replacing 1500 meters including costs. Option 2 would bei the recommendation of MeterSys that ani inventory and assessment take place before installing the 1500 meters. Mayor Bayless asked if this could be done at a regular meeting. The Manager advised that it could. Council Member McQueen asked that MeterSys come to Council's next regular meeting to present both options. Manager Christian also thanked everyone that came out to the August3 comprehensive workshop. He stated that these workshops get people excited about things that are happening in Hamlet. He also advised that on August 24, Yoga on the Tracks would take. place, that August 25 is food truck Friday, and that everyone is getting excited and working hard  ont the Seaboard Festival. 9. Comments of Council  Council Member Martin advised that the Post 49 Baseball Team had a great season with good support from the community. Council Member Sellers thanked everyone for coming and gave condolences to the Hiatt family. He stated that Mr. Hiatt came from a good family and that he had been a member of this community for many' years. Mr. Sellers also stated that he had gotten several calls about the grass being cut too short at the baseball field. He recommended that the City come up with as solution sO it won't happen again. Council Member Sellers is also    concerned about who has keys to the gymnasium at Memorial Park, and asked Council if there could be a policy as to wheni iti is used, how many keys should be available, and how everyone is charged for using the gym. The Manager stated that there are records of usage of the gym and the funds received, and that he would bel happy to provide a report. Council Member Covington advised that shel had the pleasure of experiencing the Quilts ofValor ceremony recently held. She stated that is speaks well about the fabric oft the people in this community. Mrs. Covington also thanked Mechelle Preslar for her hard work with the Senior Center while the Cityi is looking  fora a new Director. 10.Mayor's Comments  Mayor Bayless advised that the Seaboard Festival needs volunteers. Hei invited everyone to participate int the Crime Stoppers program. The Mayor also asked for everyone to be on the lookout for any areas that the City could use to develop fori football, soccer, etc. The Mayor advised that the fairgrounds is a great resource for games. He also brought up the possibility of 11.Motion to go into Closed Session per NC General Statute $143-318-11(0/3). Attorney-Client At 6:45 pm, Mayor Bayless asked for a motion to goi into Closed Session and read the Statutes. Council Member Covington made the motion, seconded by Council Member Sellers. The vote  a discg golf course as well as a dog park.  Privilege was4-0.  12.Return to Open Session  At7:19 pm, Council Member Covington made the motion to return to Open Session. The  second was given by Council Member Sellers. The vote was 4-0.  13.Motion to Adjourn the meeting. The vote was 4-0. Respectfully: supmittegn Caf Cindy Terry, City Clerk  At7:20 pm, Council Members Covington and Sellers provided the motion and second to adjourn  KhN  OF HALS OFFICIAL SEAL CARDY