HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING  &F REORGANIZATION: MEETING COUNCILCHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN: STREET, HAMLET, NC: 28345 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023  6:00 PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Mayor-Elect Mayor Pro-Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Present: City Attorney City Manager Steve Newton 1. Calli to Order 2. Invocation  Bill Bayless Amy Guinn Jesse McQueen Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington Maurice Stuart TC Morphis Matthew Christian  Others Present: Charles K. Craven, Mechelle Preslar, Mary Davis, Mackenzie Webb, Jeanne Newton,  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Pastor Allison Farrah offered the Invocation. 3. Adoption of the Agenda motion passed unanimously.  Council MemberSellers motioned, seconded by Council Member Covington to adopt the agenda. The  4. Adoption of the Consent Agenda Agenda. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Audit Presentation  Council Member Covington motioned, seconded by Council MemberStuart, to adopt the Consent  Council Member McQueen motioned, seconded by Council Member Covington, to postpone the audit  presentation. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Comments from Attendees There were no commentsfromattendees.    Reorganization of the Board  7. Oaths of Office to Mayora and Re-elected Council Members  Mayor Bayless released his officet to City Attorneyl TCI Morphis. Mayor Bayless expressedI hisa appreciation for the support of his wife as well as the hard work and dedication of the City Council and city employees throughout his experience working with the City Council. City Manager Christian presented Mayor Bayless with a plaque for his 18y years of service tol Hamlet during his time as Mayor and on City Council. Police Chief Dennis also presented Mayor Bayless with a commemorative flag which flew over Mayor Amy Guinn was: sworn in by TCI Morphis with the Bible presented by hers sister-in-law, Sabrina Grant. Council Member Covington was swor in by TCI Morphis with the Bible presented by Elijaha and Abi Robinson. Council Member Stuart was sworn in by TCI Morphis with the Bible presented by his cousin, CherylWashington. Council Member! Sellers was sworn in by TCI Morphis with the Bible  the police department his last yeari in office.  presented by his grandchildren, Andrew and Will. 8. Nomination and Appointment of Mayor Pro-Tem  Council Memperwartinmotones, seconded! by Council Member Sellers to re-appoint Council Member  McQueen toi the position of Mayor Pro-Tem. The motion passed unanimously. 9. Appointment of Council Representative to Hamlet ABC Board  Council Member Covington motioned, seconded by Council Member McQueen to re-appoint Council Member Stuart as the Council Representative to the Hamlet. ABC Board. The motion passed 10. Appointments of Council Representatives and Alternate to Lumber River COG Council Member Covington motioned, seconded by Council Member Martin to re- -appoint Council MemberStuartast the Council Representative to the LumberF River COG with Council Member Sellers as  unanimously.  the alternative. The motion passed unanimously.  New Business  11. Adoption of 2024 Regular Meeting Schedule Meeting Schedule. The motion passedunanimously.  Council Member Martin motioned, seconded by Council Member Sellers to adopt the 2024 Regular  Other Business  12. City Manager's Report  City ManagerChristian thanked everyone whol helped withl holiday eventst this month, including the tree lighting, Christmas parade, and Old Fashioned Christmas with as special thanks to sponsors, businesses, volunteers, city staff, and the community. City Manager Christian reminded everyone that CityHall will be closed in observance of the Christmas Holiday from December: 22nd-26th, re-opining on December  27th. He noted that garbage pick-up willre remain unchanged.    13. Comments of Council  CaundMemberMartinwahedevenoneaMery Christmas and extended his congratulations to Mayor Counci.MemberStuarStuartongratulated Mayor Guinn andi thanked the police andi fire departmentforther professionalism. He also wished everyone al Merry Christmas and al Happy Kwanza. Council Member Stuartextended his gratitude to all city employeest for their great work and gave a special acknowledgement and thanks to Director of Community Engagement, Mechelle Preslar and Museum Assistant Mary Davis fort theire events in the past month, including the recent Christmas Parade. He also Council Member: Sellers congratulated Mayor Guinn and re-elected council members and wished Council Member Covington expressed hera appreciation at! being re-elected and her desire to serve her verybest. She also encouragede citizensto expresstheirg goodi ideasa and intereststo Council andi for open and effective communication between Council and citizens to generate positive changes. Council Member Covington stated she looks forward to: serving with Mayor Guinn andi re-elected council Mayor Pro-Tem McQueen wished everyone al Merry Christmas and thanked city employees. He also congratulated Mayor Guinn and re-elected Council Members and stated he looks forward to working together. Mayor Pro-Tem thanked Mr. Bayless forl his years of service and aj job well-done.  Guinn and re-elected council members. looking forward to working with them.  thanked votersf fortheiri faith in him and voting him back into office.  everyone al Merry Christmas.  members and wished everyone. al Merry Christmas.  14. MayorsComments  Mayor Guinn thanked everyone who came out to vote as well as the city employees) who put on the recentChrstmasevents: including thet treel lighting, breakfastwith: Santa att the Hamlet Fire Department, andi the Christmas Parade. She also thanked Bernice Owens and the Hamlet Business Development Association for putting on Old-Fashioned Christmas. She alsowelcomedal newo city employee, Mackenzie Webb. Mayor Guinn also mentioned the new City Website as wella as how to find applications for openings on the City's Planning Board. She closed by wishing everyone al Merry Christmas and Happy 15. Motioni to goi into Closed Session perNC6551431B-10) (3)(6) fora attorney-client privilege Mayor Po-lemwcueenmotoneoaalyamdberselentoge into Closed Session and Mayor Pro-Tem McQueenmotiones, seconded by Council Member Sellers to return to Open Session. Council Member Martin motioned, seconded by Council Member Covington to authorize City Manager Christian to temporarily add an additional part-time administrative assistant position to the Hamlet  Holiday.  and personnel,  read the Statutes. The motion passed unanimously.  The motion passed unanimously.  Police Department.    Mayor Pro-Tem McQueen motioned, seconded by Council Member Sellers to adjust the 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Schedule to move the. January meeting from the 9th to the 17th. The motion  passed unanimously. 16. Motion to Adjourn  Council Member Covington motioned, seconded by Council MemberStuart. The motion passed  unanimously.  espectulysubmtte., Matthew Christian City Manager  OFICI SEAL SCETN CARO