HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC 28345 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,2023  6:00P PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Abbie Covington Maurice Stuart Oscar Sellers TCI Morphis Matthew Christian Cindy Terry  Others Present: Matt Lamb, Howard Wallace, Jo Wallace, Bishop Thomas McDonald, Errica Santiago,  Gerard Morrison, Amy Guinn 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation Invocation. 3. Adoption of Agenda  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm.  Bishop Thomas McDonald of Last Days Deliverance Apostolic Faith Church offered the  Mayor Bayless requested Council amend the agenda to move the proclamations to the beginning of New Business. Mayor Pro-tem McQueen moved to adopt the agenda with the changes. Council Member Sellersseconded the motion. The vote was 5-0.  4. Adoption of Consent Agenda provided the second. The vote was 5-0. 5. Comments from Attendees  Council Member Martin motioned to adopt the Consent Agenda. Council Member Covington  Gerard Morrison: spoke about the upcoming John Coltrane Festival which will be held at1 12:00 p.m. on October 7, 2023 at 1935 Ghio/Osborne Road in Hamlet, NC. He also advised that the walking trail at City Lake does not have a marker or any other mention of John Coltrane. Mr. Morrison then requested Council to remember the caliber of people who are from Hamlet such asJ. Kenneth Lee who was the first black student to finish UNC Law School, as well as Thurgood  Marshall who grew up on Charlotte Street.    New Business  6. Proclamation - Jamie Graham, World Corn Hole Champion  Mayor Bayless gave remarks regarding. Jamie'sn recent corn hole championship and expressed  best wishes for the future.  7. Proclamation  Adult Education and Literacy' Week  Mayor Bayless read the Proclamation that the week of September 18-24, 2023 be proclaimed  Adult Education and Literacy Week at Richmond Community College.  8. Presentation by MeterSys  Andy Honeycutt presented options fort the water meter pilot program. Option 1 would be a Full Meter System Inventory that would consist ofa a complete meter inventory oft the approximately 4,100 meters in the City's water utility, identifying meters that are retrofit compatible, and updating meter information within the City's Customer Information System. An additional project within this phase would be surveying of meter service lines required for lead and copper compliance by October of 2024. By combining the meter inventory with the lead and copper survey, the City will combine multiple data collection needs into one program of work. Option2 is an AMI Pilot Program with incumbent. meter: supplier. This option would consist of cooperation with Citys staff and the incumbent meter supplier, developing an AMI pilot program covering upt to 1,000 meters connected to a network and integrated with the billing system. Option 2 may be combined with Option 1 for both field data collection and the installationofa pilot AMI program. A separate purchase order and engagement would be required with Consolidated Pipe and Supply for certain meters, software, and network devices for system improvements. Option 3 is an AMI solution selection through competitive bid. This option would consist of developing and issuing a Request for Proposals to AMI vendors and selecting the solution best suited for the City of Hamlet. Option 3 may be combined with Option: 1f for both field data collection and bid: solicitation for AMI. Council Member McQueen asked about the City's current 39% unaccounted water. Mr. McQueen wanted to know whether once the new meters are in place, what the City'su unaccounted water would be versus the present percentage. Mr. Honeycutt advised that he believes the projected percentage of unaccounted water usage could lower by 4-10%. Council Member McQueen then asked how much we would save by retrofitting meters instead of purchasing them. Mr. Honeycutt stated that the price for retrofitting existing meters would be approximately $80.00 per meter, and that new meters [Note: Motion and vote for Item 8 were made following the conclusion ofi item 10] Council Member Sellers moved to approve the meter inventory with the lead & copper assessment, and appropriate $152,022 from ARPA funds to fund the project. Council Member Covington seconded the motion. The vote was 4-1, with Council Member McQueen casting the  would cost approximately $300 perr meter.  dissenting vote.  9. Presentation of Streetscape Design Options  City Manager Christian then presented Council with the streetscape design options. He advised that the City has purchased 12 sets of benches that also come with matching planters and trash receptacles. Ten sets would be utilized now, with the additional 2 sets to be placed ata a later date. A visual presentation was usedi in deciding which direction the benches would be placed i.e., facing streets ori facing buildings or a combination of both. There was discussion of the pros    and cons of the options presented, including safety concerns. AI motion was made by Council Member Covington, seconded by Council Member McQueen authorizing the City Manager to  use his best judgment as to the placement oft the bench sets,  10. City Lake Park Update  City Manager Christian then presented the proposed plans for City Lake Park's walking trail. He reminded Countyt that the City appliedi foran $800,000grant from the RuralTansformationGrant program and was awardéd $400,000. The grant funds can only be used for construction. He advised that he learned two key things in his discussions with NC Commerce: 1)The project can be phased; and 2)Inc ordert to accept this grant award and complete the project, the City must pay for the design and engineering fees. Council Member Sellers asked whether all of the property on the east side is accessible. Mr. Christian advised that yes, the property is accessible, although wetland delineation by the Army Corp of Engineers will ber needed. Mr. Christian also stated that a "boardwalk: or "bog walk" may be needed in the wetland areas. Council Member McQueen asked about the right of ways where the trail crosses the Lakeside Venue and whether the City would havei toy purchase same. The Manager stated that the City would havet to purchase the right of ways from the landowner; this land is in a trust and the City has been in contact with the trustee. Council Member Sellers asked about the ability for walkers to cross the dam. Mr. Christian stated that for the time being, the existing sidewalk at the front oft the park would have to be used to go around the dam but hopes fora al bridge/crossover ini the future. Council Member Martin then asked whether the dam has been declared structurally sound by the state. The managera advised that the damisstructurally: sound but needs repairs. The Chyrecentlycompleted Manager Christian reported to Council that ARPA funds can be allocated for the walking trail project. Discussion occurred about how much remains in the ARPA Funds. Manager Christian stated that approximately $1,000,0001 remain in the ARPA fund. At this time, it was noted that no Council Member McQueen motioned to use ARPAI Funds, not to exceed $150,000, be used fori the design and engineering fees for the City Lake project. The motion was seconded by Council  as structural assessment and are working with engineers on next steps.  action was taken on the water meter proposal in Item 8.  Member Sellers. The vote was 5-0.  Other Business 11. City Manager's Report  City Manager Christian advised that a disc golf course discussed at the last meeting was nowi in the planning phase. He also reminded Council that the Boxcar Concert Series will begin September 22 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., that al book: signing by Shannon Haywood is being planned,  and that the Seaboard 5Ks still accepting registrations.  12. Comments of Council  Council Member Martin reminded everyone that the American Legion projects including installing the batting cagesi is coming along well, and there willl be a barbeque sale to raise funds for the American Legion Post 49 program. Council Member Sellers thanked the attendees for coming to the meeting and reminded everyone to support the American Legion. Council Member Covington reported that she attended the Crimestoppers ribbon cutting today at the courthouse. She also praised Police Chief Brown and his wife fori their participation in Crimestoppers and advised that Chief Brown's wife has headed up 2 kickoffs for the    Crimestoppers organization. Mrs. Covington stated that she attended the John Coltrane Festival last year and encouraged everyone to attend to hear some great jazz music. Lastly, Council Member Covington advised that there will be a ribbon cutting for the new! brewery combined with ar murder mystery program, and that Buie'si is starting up their steak andj jazzi nights. Council Member Stuart thanked the Hamlet Police Department fort their presence at the gth Grade Academy. Council Member McQueen remarked about the overgrown grass behind the old A&P. City Manager Christian advised that he sent a message to the Public' Works Director earlier that day regarding same. Mr. McQueen also advised that hel had recently received ai text thanking the City for marking the tennis/pickleball court. Mayor Bayless questioned whether the City has a complete landscaping staff. Mr. Christian advised him that alll landscaping  positions had been filled. 13. Mayor's Comments  Mayor Bayless reminded everyone that the Lion's Club Fall Fair is in town September 14-17, and 14. Motion to go into Closed Session per NC General Statute $143-318-11(a) (3)(6) Personnel and At7:17 Council Member Sellers made a motion to go into closed session. The motion was  that plans are being made for this year's Christmas on Main.  Attorney Client Privilege  seconded by Council Member Martin, and the vote was! 5-0.  Return to Open Session  At7:55 pm, Council Member McQueen made the motion to return to Open Session. The second 15. Motion to give the City Manager authority to revise Organizational Chart to create two new Council Member Covington made a motion, seconded by Council Member Sellers that City Manager Christian has authority to revise the City of Hamlet's Organization Charti to create two  was given by Council Member Stuart. The vote was 5-0.  positions.  new positions. The vote was 5-0.  16. Adjourn  At7:59 pm, Council Members Sellers and Martin provided the motion and second to adjourn the  meeting. The vote was 5-0.  1 OF - E SEAL SPRTH CARO  Cindy  CC4