MINUTES Spencer Board of Alderman Recessed Meeting May21,2024  The Town of Spencer Board of Aldermen reconvened fort the meeting which was recessed on Thursday, May 9,2024, at7:19p.m., int the Hildal B. Palmer Board Room att the Syemcerbowphatonuesdw, May21,2024,  at 5:36 p.m.  Present were: Mayor. Jonathan' Williams  Alderman Steve Miller Alderwoman Erin Moody Alderman Rashid Muhammad Alderwoman Patricia Sledge  Also present were:Town Manager Peter Franzese, Town. Attorney. Jay Dees, Town Clerk Anna Kanode Ward, Finance Officer Heather Kann, Fire Chief Michael Lanning, Planning & Zoning Administrator Steve Blount,  Planner Kyle Harris, and UNCI Lead for NC Fellow Ryan Ledbetter. Special Projects Manager. Joe Morris attended via Zoom.  Mayor Pro Tempore Patti Secreast and Alderman Andrew Howe were absent.  Mayor Jonathan Williams called the meeting to order, gave thei invocation, and led the Pledge ofA Allegiance.  ADDITIONS/DELETIONS AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA Town staff requested twoi items be added to the agenda:  1. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING - Town Manager and staff to apply for a NC Trails/Complete the Trails 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION per NC General Statute 143-318.11 (a) (5) "To establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating (i) the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract  Grant, up to $100,000, fort the proposed Grants Creek Blueway  fort the acquisition ofr real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease;"  Town staff recommended adding the NC Trails/Complete the Trails Grant as item 5 before the Budget  Workshop. Action:  Alderman Miller moved to add "CONSIDER AUTHORIZING - Town Manager and staff to apply for a NC Trails/Complete. the Trails Grant, up to $100,000, for the proposed Grants Creek Blueway" asi item number 5 before the Budget Workshop, "EXECUTIVE SESSION per NC General Statute 143-318.11 (a) (5) 'To establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to bei taken by oronbehalf of the public bodyi in negotiating () the price and other material terms of a contract or proposed contract for the acquisition of real property by purchase, option, exchange, or lease;" and to adopt the agenda. Alderman Muhammad seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote of 4-0.    CONSIDER AUTHORIZING - Town Manager and staff to apply for an NC Trails/Complete the Trails Special Projects Manager Morris gave aj presentation regarding the NC Trails/Complete the Trails Grant and answered questions from the Mayor and Board. Town staff requested the Mayor and Board of Aldermen consider authorizing the Town Manager and staff to apply for the grant, upi to $100,000, for the proposed In! March: 2023, the Town of Spencer received a donation ofr real propertyfrom the Three Rivers Land Trusti for the expansion of the Stanback Educational Forest. A portion of this land area is adjacent to Grants Creek- neart the 7th Street Bridge. Additionally, the Town received a grant from the NC Department of Agriculturet to remove woody debris from the creek, clearing the stream channel from Mocksville Avenue in Salisbury to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's Yadkin River Game Land. The stream channel is navigable by canoe or kayak to Yadkin River - a distance of roughly 2.5 miles. The Board of Aldermen recently re-zoned The town-owned parcel along Grants Creek is suitable for development as a trailhead for the Stanback Educational Forest. The grant application will propose the construction of a driveway connection to 7th Street, a 10-car gravel parking lot, an informational kiosk, and a small canoe/kayak launch into the creek. The proposed parking area provides trailhead access on the northern end of the Stanback Forest and will ultimately connect the recreation: facilityt to the proposed sidewalks on Whitehead Avenue. The grant ranges from $25,000 to $100,000. No local match is required. The deadline for the grant  Grant, upi to$100,000, for the proposed Grants Creek Blueway  Grants Creek Blueway.  the Stanback Forest property for CIVIC land use.  application! is May: 29, 2024.  Action:  Alderwoman Moody moved to authorize the Town Manager and stafft to apply fori the NC Trails/Complete the Trails Grant, up to $100,000, for the proposed Grants Creek Blueway. Alderwoman Sledge seconded the  motion, which carried by a unanimous vote of4 4-0.  FY25 BUDGETWORKSHOP  Topics the Mayor and Board discussed regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Proposed Budget included: increases in expenses and decreases in revenue that were unknown when the proposed budget was created; increases in various insurance costs; the decision to not have a UNC Lead for NC Fellow in FY25; additional personnel needs, especially for the Fire Department and Recreation; American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; Powell Bill funds; various grant programs funded by the Town; the impact of at flat vehicle tax on the General Fund and the Powell Bill Fund; the impact of an increase in the monthly solid waste fee on the General Fund; debt services held by the Town, including for the Town Hall and Police Station, garbage truck, andi the loani fort the firet truck; changest toi thei fee and charges schedule; equipment needs, especially for the Fire and Police Departments; items that were not bet funded int the proposed budget; al breakdown of the ad valorem tax increase, added flat vehicle tax, and increase int the monthly garbage collection feei for the median and the average property owner with two vehicles; and the. Jefferson Street Park. Alderman Muhammad exited the board room around 7:10 p.m. and reentered around 7:15 p.m.  Action  Itwas the consensus oft the Board to adjust the FY25 Proposed Budget by (1) waiting until the last quarter of the fiscal year to hire the Active Living Coordinator, (2) removing the Town of Spencer School Safety and Support Grant Program, (3) decrease the proposed funding for the pocket parks project, (4) decreasing the    SalisburyA Avenue Corridor Improvement Grant Program by 25%, and (5) decreasing thel Historic Preservation  Incentive Grant Program by 25%.  EXECUTIVE SESSION per NC General Statute 143-318.11  Alderman Muhammad moved to goi intol Executive Session per thet following NC General Statutes:  1. S 143-318.11 (a) (6) To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions ofi initial employment of anindividual public officer ore employeeor 2. $143-318.11 (a) (5)Toestablish, or toi instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerningt the position tol bet taken by or on behalf oft thep public bodyi in negotiating () the price and other material terms of acontract or proposed contract fort the acquisition ofr real property by purchase, option, exchange, orl lease. Alderwoman Sledge seconded the motion, which carried unanimously with a vote of 4 - 0. The regular  prospective public officer or employee...  meeting stood at recess at 7:40 p.m. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING  Mayor. Jonathan' Williams reconvened the open session at 9:37 p.m. and announced that no action had been taken  in closed session which could be disclosed at this time.  ADJOURNMENT  Alderwoman Moody moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Muhammad seconded the motion, which  carried by a unanimous vote of 4-0. The meeting stood adjourned at 9:38 p.m.  Approved by:  Attest:  Lolandlksl Anna Kanode' Ward, Town Clerk  Mayor  éo  OF. SPENO SFICKE SEAV A OATHC CARC