January: 12, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC2 28345 TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 7:00PM MINUTES  Due to Governor Cooper's Order in regards to the Coronavirus,the meeting had limited seating. Additional  seating was provided in the foyer.  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager City Clerk Finance Officer IT  Bill Bayless Jesse McQueen (via phone) Eddie Martin Maurice Stuart Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington Kevin Hornik Matthew Christian Gail Strickland Jill Dickens Zach Garner  Others Present: Gavin Stone, Charles Craven, Mark Finkelstein, Adam Kiker, Rob Mcintyre and Don Norton  1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.  AI Moment of Silence was observed. 3. Adoption of Agenda  Council Member Sellers motioned to adopt the Agenda. Council Member Martin provided the second. The vote was! 5-0. Mayor Bayless advised Council Member McQueen was participating via phone. Minutes from the December 8, 2020 Regular and Closed Session Meetings were approved by motions of  4. Approval of Minutes  Council Members Covington and Sellers. The vote was! 5-0.  5. Comments from Attendees  Mr. Gerard Morrison spoke with Council by phone regarding several concerns. He expressed the need for the elected officials and appointed board members to have contact information on the City's website. Mr. Morrison inquired if there are term limits fori the Board and suggested Council considera district system that would giver more accountability and improve communication between the citizens and Council. Lastly, he provided information on improvements to the County'swater: and sewer  1    January12, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  infrastructure that were provided by agrant from the Golden Leaf Foundation at whichi time he suggested the addition of fiber optic cable. Under current circumstances, it would have been visionary for students and businesses to have access. Mr. Morrison asked Council to provide feedback on his  comments. New Business  Mr. Hornik advised the Board that they must identify themselves during comments and a roll call must  be taken for any vote since Council Member McQueen is participating remotely.  6. Public Hearing - Application to USDA - WWTP Improvements  Mayor Bayless opened the floor to the Public Hearing. Mr. Christian invited Rob McIntyre and Adam Kiker from LKC to speak to the Board. Mr. Kiker gave a brief overview oft the project, saying the improvements are to address the regulatory challenges at the WWTP andi increase the capacity from 1 million gallons per day to 2 million. Their team is working on an application to USDA fori funding. He feels they have a good plan in place. The public hearing for public comment isa a requirement in the application process. No public comments were received. The Public Hearing was closed  7. Consideration of LKC Letter Agreement- - WWTP Improvements the second. The vote was taken by roll call with 5 ayes received. 8. Consideration of Modifications to Sellers Special Use Permit  Mayor Bayless advised the Board has al Letter of Agreement from LKCf fori the WWTP Improvements. Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Agreement. Council Member McQueen provided  Mayor Bayless explained a Special Use Permit was previously approved for a Solar Farm. Changes have been made in the development plans and the company is requesting changes. Mr. Mark Finkelstein addressed Council regarding the issue. He advised the plan has been redeveloped and none oft the panels willl bei in the City's ETJ area, but the project does include ai temporary settlement basin. He asked that Council determine the basin is not subject to the SUP or that they approve the basin. Council Member Sellers inquired ont the: size of the basin and the danger it may have to the community. Mr. Finkelstein responded the approximate area reserved is 200ft.x75f ft. buti iti is part ofa 40-acre site. He also pointed out that the City requires significant setbacks. Council discussed issues with children and insects disturbing neighboring properties. Council Member Covington inquired if the basin would be fenced. Mr. Finkelstein reported it is outside oft the fenced area. City Manager Matt Christian suggested 3options for Council to consider: Council could defer the zoning to the County, they could amend the existing SUP at Council's discretion or they could require a new: SUP process. Council discussed potential runoff to which the Manager advised the basin would be designed to meet the State's requirements. Council Member Covington motioned to amend the existing SUP that the basin be placed in the permanent fencing. Council Member Martin provided the second. The vote was taken by roll call with 5  ayes received.  9. Proposed Utility Adjustment Policy  City Manager Matt Christian advised, at the direction of Council, he researched and prepared the policy to give clarity to explained leaks and unexplained leaks. He welcomed comments and questions from Council. Council Member McQueen asked ift the policy covers secondary meters the same as primary meters. Mr. Christian confirmed. Mr. McQueen stated he would like to give credit to the persons that had a leak through no fault oft their own in October. The Manager replied Council can make the effective date oft the Policy retroactive. Council Member McQueen.motioned to approve the Policy effective  2    January 12, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  October1, 2020. The second was given by Council Member Stuart. The vote was taken by roll call with 5  ayes received.  10. Resolution 2021-01 Title VI Policy to Prohibit Discrimination.  Mayor Bayless explained to remain eligible to receive federalfunds, the Federal Highway Administration and the NCI Department of Transportation are requiring all municipalities to have an official Title VI Policy adopted by Council. The motion to approve the Policy was made by Council Member Covington and second by Council Member Sellers. The vote was taken by roll call with! 5 ayes received. 11. Update to Personnel Policy- - Consideration of Emergency Paid COVID Sick Leave  The City Manager advised the Cares Act, which provided for 80 hours ofp paid leave for COVID, expired 12-31-2020. The proposed policy is an extension oft the emergency paid sick leave. It is important to have the paid leave fort the employees and organization to make sure we are providing a safety net for testing. The motion to approve the Policy was made by Council Member Stuart and second by Council  Member Sellers. The vote was taken by roll call with! 5ayes received.  12. Proclamation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  Mayor Bayless read the Proclamation and encouraged the citizens to observe the day with appropriate  activitiesand programs that honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King.  13. Approval of Tax Releases  Council Member Martin motioned to approve the Tax Releases. The second was provided by Council  MemberStuart. The vote was taken by roll call with 5 ayes received.  14. Budget Amendments Third Quarter  City Manager Matt Christian stated the amendments are the routine shifting of the budget, making sure funds are in place to complete the projects for the year. Council Member Covington motioned to approve the amendments. The second was given by Council Member Sellers. The vote was taken by roll  call with! 5 ayes received. Other Business 15. City Manager's Report  City Manager Matthew Christian commended staff fori their safetyi in 2020, reporting the City had only 2 workers comp claims. Also reported was a $16,000.00! bid to demolish al house Council approved has been awarded and 3 other homes have been removed by their owners after violation notices were sent from the City. He commended Kim Lyerly on her efforts. Mr. Christian reported he has received notification from the railroad that portions of N. Bridges St. and Main St. will be closed for railroad crossing maintenance; N Bridges St beginning January: 27th and Main St. beginning February 4th. The Manager gave recognition to Mr. Yan Solihin fora a $4,000 donation he made to the City to provide supplies for the COVID pandemic. He advised the County Health Department now has COVID vaccines  and citizens can contact them for information.  16. Comments of Council  Council Member Sellers wished everyone a Happy New Year and stated he would like to see more  participation from citizens ini the meetings and voicing their concerns.  3    January 12, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes  Council Member Stuart thanked the employees for their work ethic and the City Manager for the COVID Paid Sick Leave Policy. Hei thanked Council for the MLKI Proclamation and reported Monda/'sCelebration Council Member McQueen, expressing concern oft the overrun at the surrounding hospitals due to COVID, asked Council to allow the Manager to contact the State for the status of use of Sandhill's Hospital. Council Member Covington responded that she has spoken with the personnel that set-up the hospital and, ati this point, they have not given any indication that they would be opening; they have not  will be on Zoom. He encouraged citizens to check the newspaper for details.  seen the need ati this time. 17. Mayor's Comments those over the age of75. Privilege and Personnel.  Mayor Bayless wished alla a Happy New Year and reported the hospital is giving COVID vaccinations for 18. Motion to go into Closed Session per NC General Statute 143-318-11(a/3) (6). Attorney-Client Mayor Bayless asked fora a motion to goi into Closed Session per NC General Statute $143-318.11 (a)(3) (6). Attorney- - Client Privilege and Personnel. At7:52 pm, Council Member Covington offered the motion. Council Member Sellers provided the second. The vote was taken! by roll call with 5 ayes At 8:39 pm. Council Members Covington and Sellers motioned to return to Open Session. The vote was  received.  taken. by roll call with 5 ayes received.  19. Motion to Adjourn  At 8:41 pm, Council Members Sellers and Covington provided the motion and second to adjourn the  meeting. The vote was taken by roll call with. 5 ayes received.  Respectfully submitted, dkellacAbn Gail M. Strickland, City Clerk  II HAMLE : LEN  SEAL MOATN CAF  4