November 14, 2023 Draft Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLETCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING COUNCILCHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC2 28345 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER: 14, 2023  6:00 PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro-Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member CouncilN Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington Maurice Stuart TC Morphis Matthew Christian  Others Present: Margaret Williams, Jo' Wallace, Howard Wallace, Amy Guinn, KeriA A, Linda Russell, Lisa  Luckey, Laura D. 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Pastor Chris Hawks offered the Invocation. 3. Adoption of the Agenda  Mayor Baylessa askedtoamendt the Agendal byaddinga a closed: session for Personneland. Attorney-Client Privilege. Council MemberMcQueen motioned to adoptt the agenda with section 12A added, seconded  by Council Member! Sellers. The motion passed. 5-0. 4. Adoption of the Consent Agenda Sellers. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Comments from Attendees  Council Member Covington motioned to adopt the Consent Agenda, seconded by Council Member  Robbie Taylor thanked the Hamlet Fire & Rescue and Police Department fort theirservice and efficiency ina assisting him at an incidentat his home.Hethanked them fort their compassion, professionalism, and ability. He personally thanked Richard Lassiter, Fire ChiefTrey Goodwin, Carson Gainey, Dan Asbill, and Dalton Millen. Aftern not further comments, Mayor Bayless closed comments from attendees.  New Business  6. Proclamation for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month    November14,2023 Draft Regular Meeting Minutes  Mayor Bayless read the Proclamation. Members of Hospice were present to acceptt the proclamation, including. Lisa Lucky, volunteer outreach coordinator, Linda Russell, outreach and volunteerassistant,  and Fretial Flinchum on-call LPN.  7. Proclamation for Sam West, inductee into the National Shag Hall of Fame  Mayor Bayless read the proclamation honoring Sam' West as an inductee unto the National Shag Hall of Fame. The proclamation also acknowledged Mr. West'swife: and children fort their contributions to  dance. Mr. West was present to accept the proclamation.  8. Proclamation for Richmond County' Teacher of the Year Felisia Gulledge  Mayor Bayless read the proclamation honoring Mrs. Gulledge ast the Richmond County Teacher of the  Year.  9. Consideration of the City of Hamlet Comprehensive Land Use Plan  Daniel Ruah presented the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Mr. Ruah discussed the background and process of the long-range planning document, establishing av vision and goals fort the city. As of 2022, Comprehensive Plans are alsoan requirement of the state. Mr. Ruah discussed demographicand community trends that showed a declining and aging population. Fori more background the team also explore previous planning efforts and focus items that included sewer capacity, regional industrial growth, and ntegpvermentarelaton, Mr. Ruah also discussed the publice engagementp process which included stakeholdervision sessions, publicv workshops, and a survey to gain insights and opinions from residents of Hamlet. Some key takeaways from public engagement included the desire for economic development,recrecreationaiparks andi trails, and downtown enhancement. Mr. Ruah also presented the Future Land Use Map, which differs from az zoning mapi in that it provides ai future vision of the city and guides future growth decisions. Mr. Ruah discussed the plan's 12 overall recommendations and Council MemberSellars: askedi Mr. Ruahabout the cost of the plan, to which Mr. Ruah statedthat due to the range of actioni items, their team does not due a cost estimate. However, part of the projecti is Council MemberSellers movedi tot table the vote to anotherr meeting, there was no: second. The motion Council Member Covington moved to approve the Comprehensive Plan, seconded by Council Member Stuart. Prior tot the vote there was some discussion of the procedural requirements for adopting the plan. City AttorneyMorphis: stated1 that there wasa a needforap publichearing. Mayersayessopenedhe Gerard Morrison spoke about the need for equity and diversity to be considered moving forward, especially with concernt to minority and women-owned! businesses. Her notedseveralmorespedficitems  objectives and the action items that accompanyt them.  identifying resources, funding, and applicable grants.  failed.  floori forapublichearing.  we wanted to see changed in the plan.    November 14, 2023 Draft Regular Meeting Minutes  Council Member Covington moved to approve the Comprehensive Plan, seconded by Council Member  Stuart. The motion passed 4-1, with Council Member Sellers opposed.  Other Business  10. City Manager's Report  City Manager Christian thanked staff and participants for their time and contribution in making the Seaboard Festivalas success. The Manager then gave ar reminderthat the city willl be closed for Thanksgivingon November23"and24", as well asl how trash pick-up willl be changedforthat" week. The Manager discussed upcoming eventsi including the upcoming tree lighting on November: 27th at 6:00; pm  and the Christmas Parade on December 5th at 6:00p pm.  11. Comments of Council  Council Member Martin wished everyone al HappyT Thanksgiving ande extended his congratulations to Council Members Sellers thanked the attendees fort their comments and thanked the fire and rescue and police department fortheir hard work. He closed by wishing everyone al Happy Thanksgiving. Council Member Stuart congratulated Mayor-Elect Guinn and thanked Mr. Morrison for his comments. He also thanked both Fire Chief Goodwin and Police Chief Dennis fori their service to the public. Council Member Covington stated that the! Seaboard Festival was at fantastic: success and thanked everyone fort their hard work that wenti intoi it. She also thanked everyone fort their participation in the election as well as the fire and rescue and police departments for their dedication, compassion, and Mayor Pro-Tem McQueen also thanked the fire and rescue and police departments and acknowledged the accomplishments oft the citizens that were recognized. He also praised the hard work of the Seaboard Festivaland encouraged; peopletovolunteer. Het thenthanked City! Manager Christian andi the teamf for their effortsonthe ComprehenswePanandt the quality engagement withthep public, however, wanted to clarify that nothing was concrete due to budgeting. He then thanked the work ofi those who  Mayor-Elect Guinn, who was in attendance.  professionalism.  worked on the water main break that occurred ati the end of October.  12. Mayor's Comments  Mayor Bayless stated that council is doing a good job managing the budget and things that appeared in the Comprehensive Plan! have been discussed before buti there has not beent funding available. He wshedeveryoneaHappyThanksgwngand thankedthe' Water Departmentfort their hard work. He also encouragedeveryonetos attendt the Treel Lighting and Parade events. Het hencnataedMayprsk: Motionto go into ClosedSessionpernci General Statute! 5143-318-11(a) (3)(6) Personneland, Attorney At7:02 p.m., Council Member Sellers motioned to enter Closed Sessioni for Personnel and Attorney- Client Privilege, seconded by Counci/Member Covington. Motion passedunanimousy.  Guinn. Client Privilege  Return to Open Session    November 14,2 2023 Draft Regular Meeting Minutes  At7:20 p.m., Council MemberCoungommoctionsOpmis.sandyMaorPo.len  McQueen. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Motion to Adjourn Covington. Motion unanimously. Respectfulysubmites, CindyTerry, Clerk  At7:21 p.m., Council Member Sellers moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member  HII - HAMLE pow SEAL ORTE CP