March 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC: 28345 TUESDAY, MARCH9, 2021 7:00PM MINUTES  Due to Governor Cooper's Order in regards to the Coronavirus, the meeting hadl limited seating. Additional  seating was provided ini the foyer.  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk Finance Officer IT  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington TC Morphis Matthew Christian Gail Strickland Jill Dickens Zach Garner  Public Works Director Billy Stubbs  Others Present: Mechelle Preslar, Gavin Stone, Charles Craven, Tim Brown, Howard Wallace and Margaret  Williams 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.  AN Moment of Silence was observed. 3. Adoption of Agenda second. The vote was 4-0. 4. Approval of Minutes  Council Member Covington motioned to adopt the Agenda. Council Member Sellers provided the  Minutes from the February 9, 2021 Regular and Closed Session Meetings were approved by motions of  Council Members Martin and Covington. The vote was 4-0.  5. Comments from Attendees  Mr. Howard Wallace came to Council to discuss the abandoned, dilapidated house located at 404 Pine St Hamlet, providing pictures to Council. He advised he had contacted the City of Hamlet and Richmond County and told the property is inf foreclosure by the County. Mr. Wallace reported the chimney' has fallen, hitting the fence and placing bricks on his property. He stated hei is willing to invest money to  1    March 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  assist with the clean-up. City Manager Matt Christian advised he will contact Mr. Wallace to see if there are additional steps the City can take. Attorney Morphis added he will communicate with the Attorney Mr. Tim Brown, who resides at! 506 Entwistle! St. approached Council to discuss his opposition to the development ofl International Tie Disposal. His research has shown the facility will pollute the water and air. He asked Council to oppose the industry and fight to stopi it. Mr. Brown was provided information on Richmond Clean Air Coalition, a group that is petitioning and working hard to stop the company. Mayor Mr. Gerard Morrison had requested to speak by phone. An attempt to reach him was not successful. The  that handles the Count/sforeclosures to see ifanything can be done.  Bayless reported the City has al lawsuit.  Mayor noted Mr. Morrison's 101-year-old Grandmother passed away.  New Business 6. Approval of Tax Releases Member Sellers. The vote was 4-0. 7. Presentation by Museum Manager  Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Tax Releases. The second was provided by Council  Museum Manager Mechelle Preslar announced, on behalf oft the Hamlet Depot and Museums, the Depot Complex Virtual Tour is available on their website. She gave credit to Mr. Bill Matheson for his vision and work andi thanked Zach Garner for his assistance in loading it onto the website. Mrs. Preslar recognized Mr. Matheson as a valuable asset to the Board, explaining he donated his camera, software and time to complete the project. Portions of the video were shown for Council. Mrs. Preslari invited everyone to visit the website, w.hamethistordepptorg for the tour and then visit in person when the complex is open. Matthew Christian thanked Mrs. Preslar for the presentation and Mr. Matheson for his time and the incredible work product. The City will present him with a Certificate of Appreciation. In  concluding, Mrs. Preslar invited every to become al Member of the Hamlet Depot.  8. Discussion of Joint Municipal Statement Regarding Sales Tax  City Manager Matt Christian explained a Joint Statement from all Municipalities was presented to Richmond County at their meeting last week. The highlights from the Statement are that the County predicted they would geta a $675,001 increase from the change in Sales Tax Distribution. He said, with certainty, the County will receive $2 million more. In addition, based on the growth factor, they will receive an additional $1 million, making the total increase the County receives $3 million. He said the facts were grossly misrepresented, buti it is fixable ift the sales tax distribution method is changed back; it Council Member Covington stated when she went tot the County Commissioners meeting, she had no prior communication with the Commissioners. She said Chairman Smart was very receptive. She read the Statement at the Meeting, acknowledging Ken Anderson, who prepares the audits for all the municipalities, had prepared the audited numbers. They were able to provide 8 months ofa actual numbers and 4 months of projected showing the County's numbers were a gross miscalculation. The County had requested numbers from an objective 3rd party. She noted, at the Commissioners' meeting, Vice Chair Mr. Dawkins reported he had the same numbers. The municipalities are asking the County to change the sales tax method back. Mrs. Covington called attention to what she called the Morbidity Table, saying it shows more about the impact oft the decision. The Table shows, based on each  is up to the Commissioners.  2    March 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  Municipality's Fund Balance and the loss for each Municipality, the number of years until each one will The City Manager stated iti is important fori the public tol knowi ift the County had not made the change, they would have received more than they projected. Council Member Covington reported they would Council Member Sellers asked how the miscalculation could be sO much. Mrs. Covington replied they Council Member McQueen stated, whether intentional or not, if you heard the presentation and you do not make a motion to go back to the previous sales tax distribution, you are derelict iny your duties. He said the information cannot be disputed and it was time for someone to step up and make the motion.  become insolvent. The Table shows a range of 2 years-6 6years.  have received an additional $773,000.00 from growth. have not received an answer to that question.  Other Business  9. City Manager's Report  City Manager Matthew Christian acknowledged the Fire Department on their Fire Suppression Rating, going from a5 5to4.The change will affect home insurance rates, beginning. June 1, 2021. The Manager recognized Water Plant employee, Darrell Gibson, who will be retiring soon after 19y years of service to Mr. Christian reported the City has been engaged in the International Tie Disposal process. The public hearing and public comments were held. NCDEQ now has 30 days to respond. The City Manager has The City Manager asked for comments from Council on opening City offices. Council Members discussed the numerous requests they have received to allow: sports. After discussing that other towns are allowing recreational sports and parents plan to take their children to those locations to play, Council considered starting with the baseball program. All activities willl be outside and safety measures will be taken. If things go well, they will consider opening other sports. Council Member Sellers motioned to open the baseball program this Spring. Council Member McQueen provided the second. The vote was 4- 0. Council Member McQueen commended Dr. Tommy Jarrell for thet tremendous job! he has done during  the City.  reached out to other departments in DEQ regarding additional permitting.  the COVID Pandemic. 10. Comments of Council  Council Member Covington thanked Matt Christian and. Jill Dickens for their help with the sales tax issue. She stated Jill and Jennifer Lambeth, from the City of Rockingham, provided excellent information. She commended the City Manager for his involvement and guidance on both the sales tax and International Tie Disposal issues. Mrs. Covington expressed her appreciation to the Public Works' employees for their Council Member Sellers expressed his agreement with Mrs. Covington and the need to have the baseball program. Het thanked the City employees and stated he would like to see more citizens give their input. Council Member Martin concurred with Council Member Covington regarding the Sales Tax and International Tie Disposal. He reported seeing an article that recognized Mrs. Covington's achievements. He thanked her for her years of service and stated she is an asset to the City and County. Mrs. Covington  safety checks on older adults and stated the City has great employees.  3    March 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  responded by saying community service is an opportunity, not an obligation, and thanked Council for Council Member McQueen thanked Council Member Covington for her presentation to the County Commissioners and thanked Staff for1 their work. He stated hei is appreciative oft the relationship that has formed between the Cities and feels change will come from the City leaders working together. Mayor Bayless expressed his appreciation to Council Member Covington, City! Manager Matt Christian and Finance Officer. Jill Dickens for their work on the Sales Taxi issue. He advised the Cityi is doing the 12. Motion to goi into Closed Session per NC General Statute $143-318-11(a)3) (6) Attorney-Client Mayor Bayless asked for a motion to go into Closed Session per NC General Statute $143-318.11 (a)(3) (6). Attorney- = Client Privilege and Personnel. At 8:02 pm, Council Member Martin offered the motion.  appointing her last year.  11. Mayor's Comments  best they can to get backt to normalcy. Privilege and Personnel.  Council Member Covington provided the second. The vote was 4-0.  Return to Open Session 13. Motion to Adjourn meeting. The vote was 4-0. Respectfully: submitted, Che Matieonk Gail M. Strickland, City Clerk  At 8:51 pm. Council Members Sellers and Martin motioned to return to Open Session. The vote was 4-0. At8 8:51 pm, Council Members Covington and Martin provided the motion and second to adjourn the  FALEN GFICIL SEAL ORTH  4