City ofReidsville City Council Meeting Monday October 12, 2020  Draft Copy- Not approved by Council until November 9. 2020  The regularly scheduled meeting of the Reidsville City Council was held on Monday October  12th, 2020 at 5:00 pm. Members of Council present:  Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Bruce Conner Jim Waters Verdie Williams  City Attorney DuAnn Cowart-Davis was present.  The meeting was brought to order by Mayor Sydney Clifton at 5:00 pm. The prayer was given  by Council Member Bruce Conner, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  At this time, the meeting was opened for public comments. Mr. Curtis Colwell had a public comment concerning the spray field lease. Mr. Colwell stated that the lease was violated form start to finish. He expressed to the "new" Council that he felt as ift they should be opposed to "fixing" the lease and that he feels the lease and the bidding of the spray field should start from "scratch". Mr. Colwell added that the current Council should change the terms and years oft the lease. Mr. Colwell stated that he was expressing his concerns as the lease was not handled  correctly.  The Mayor advised the meeting minutes from last month's meeting were provided to the Council for review. Ifthere are: no questions and/or corrections recommended, a motion is needed to  accept as written. A motion was made to accept the minutes as written.  Motion made by: Jim Waters  2nd by: Vote:  Verdie Williams Approved-Unanimous    The Department Supervisors were asked to present their monthly activity/statistics to the Council. Jimmy Brown, Rodney DeLoach, and Stacey Wilds presented their monthly reports and gave updates in regards to each of their departments. Mrs. Carolyn Crume- Blackshear inquired about the new officers hired and was. happy to see that Chief Wilds was back fully staffed. Chief Wilds did inform Mrs. Blackshear that the 864-G position was still vacant and they did need one more officer to fill that position. Mrs. Verdie Williams asked Fire Chief. Jimmy Brown about the new engine that was just purchased regarding the oil spill situation. ChiefBrown did let Mrs. Williams know that the cap was replaced and that issue was corrected. Mrs. Blackshear did ask Chief Brown about the two inquiries he had ini regards to people looking toj purchase the old fire truck. Rodney DeLoach, Public Works Director, did inform the Mayor and Council that there was a collapsed sewer line on. Highway 56 Extension. Rodney will call the Council Members for approval when he gets the third bid. Council Member, Jim Waters, did ask ift the contractors currently working on sewer grant project would be interested in giving a bid.  Under Old Business, the dilapidated buildings were the next item on the agenda. City Attorney DuAnn Cowart-Davis stated there was no movement this month. Mayor Clifton did advise that there were major improvements regarding clean up at the old St. Elmo Bell residence on Leigh Circle. He also mentioned the positive improvements over at the Fields property on Highway 56. There was discussion ini reference to Mr. Jimmy Burns property regarding the old store and the burnt mobile home behind thel Dixie Motel. City Attorney, DuAnn Cowart-Davis did ask that the Mayor and Council to advise Chief Stacey Wilds on whether they wanted him to issue citations to Mr. Burns. Mrs. Davis did add that she was be the Interim Municipal Judge, sO she would need to have another Judge fill in should Mr. Burns be written a citation and be present in Reidsville City Court. There were: no further comments or questions regarding dilapidated  buildings.  The next item with regard to Old Business is the Spray Field Lease. The City Attorney did revise the lease and gave each Council Member a copy. Council Member, Bruce Conner, did ask ift the lease that Mr. Danny Jones and Mr. Jerome Lynn singed was an official contract. The City Attorney stated that the Council has the authority to rescind or adopt the contract that was previously signed that she has not approved. A motion was made to review the new contract versus the old contract that was signed and table the discussion until the November Council  Meeting.  Motion made by: Carolyn Crume-Blackshear  2nd by: Vote:  Bruce Conner Approved - Unanimous    With: no: further Old Business to discuss at this time the Mayor addressed New Business with the Council. Mr. Allen Davis from Glenn-Davis and Associates was present to discuss the renewal oft the workers compensation insurance. The annual premium would be $41,554 which isa decrease from the previous year. The policy terms are November of 2020 tol November 2021. A motion was made to renew the workers compensation policy with Glenn-Davis and Associates.  Motion made by: Jim Waters  2nd by: Vote:  Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Approved - Unanimous  The second item on1 the agenda was the authorization for the bidding oft the 2018, 2019 and 2020 road projects. A motion was made to notify Carl Hofstadter of Hofstadter and Associates to begin these projects. Council Member, Verdie Williams, expressed her concern ini regards that  she would like the process to begin in a timely manner and very soon.  Motion made by: 2nd by: Vote:  Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Jim Waters Approved- Unanimous  The third item on the agenda is the rating oft the city streets for future improvement projects. The discussion pertained to what streets need the most improvements and what the timeframe would be. Mr. Carl Hofstadter, City Engineer, does realize the urgency and the project will move as  quickly as possible.  The fourth item on the agenda was the hiring of the City Engineer. Mr. Carl Hofstadter, owner ofHofstadter and Associate's, has been the City Engineer for years. There was discussion about what exactly Mr. Hofstadter did or did not do for the city. A motion was made to officially name  Mr. Carl Hofstadter the City Engineer.  Motion made by: 2nd by: Vote:  Verdie Williams Carolyn Crume- Blackshear Approved- Unanimous  Next on the agenda, was the job description oft the Assistant Public Works Director. Council Member, Bruce Conner, asked to entertain this concern in Executive Session as it regards an  employee and is aj personnel matter.    Employee bonuses were the next item on1 the agenda for discussion and clarification. City Attorney, DuAnn Cowart-Davis, presented the Mayor and Council a lengthy memo explaining why across the board bonuses were illegal. Mrs. Davis did add that bonuses could be given to employees who exceed expectations, but that the City of Reidsville does not have any specifications in the City Charter, or personnel policy manual that states the employees are to receive bonuses or gifts. Previously, the City has given each employee and firefighter ai meat box for Christmas, along with meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas. In short, the City cannot give a bonus, meat box or have any meals for the holidays as advised by the City Attorney.  The next item on the agenda was regarding insurance coverage for certain properties that is paid by the City and is on the City of Reidsville'si insurance policy. The properties of concern are the Alexander Hotel and the Reidsville Garden Club. Council Member, Jim Waters, asked Mrs. Davis to investigate each said property to find out ifthey are city owned and ift the City should in fact be paying the insurance. The City does have an agreement with Pineland Mental Health. The City also pays the premium for that building. The City Attorney will research further and  update at the November 2020 Council Meeting.  The last agenda item was the Special Election, as it refers to the resignation of Council Member, Donald Prestage. City Attorney, DuAnn Cowart Davis, understands that the City ofl Reidsville contracts with the Tattnall County Board of Elections. Mrs. Davis would ask the Council to sign ar resolution for the purpose of having a Special Election. The Special Election would be held in  March of2021.  At 6:08 pm, the Council was called in Executive Session regarding personnel.  Motion made by: Jim Waters  2nd by: Vote:  Carolyn Crume Blackshear Approved- Unanimous  At 6:36 pm, a motion was made to return to Regular Session. Motion made by: Carolyn Crume- Blackshear  2nd by: Vote:  Jim Waters Approved- Unanimous    Amotion was made to table the discussion ofl hiring an Assistant Public Works Director until the  November Council Meeting.  Motion made by: Carolyn Crume- Blackshear  2nd by: Vote:  Jim Waters Approved- -Unanimous  This time was then taken for each Council Member to express comments and/or concerns. Mayor Pro Tem, Jim Waters expressed his concerns regarding the Reidsville Christmas Parade and asked that he and the Council discuss whether or not tol have the parade at the November Council Member, Bruce Conner, asked for clarification about the meat boxes in regards to the Reidsville Fire Dept. Mr. Conner wanted to ensure that no employee (including firefighters) Council Member Carolyn Crume-Blackshear did not have any questions or concerns at this time. Council Member Verdie Williams spoke in regards to the ditch and drainage issue regarding Mr. Edgar Johnson. Mrs. Williams asked that the October minutes reflect that the issue has been resolved with regards to the City. Mr. Johnson should be receiving a letter for the City Engineer.  2020 Council Meeting.  receive the meat box.  With no further business to discuss a motion was made to adjourn this meeting at 6:42pm.  Motion made by: 2nd by: Vote:  Carolyn Crume Blackshear Verdie Williams Approved- Unanimous