February 8, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  HAMLET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MONTHLYMEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAIN STREET, HAMLET, NC 28345 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022 7:00PM MINUTES  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 Eddie Martin Maurice Stuart Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington TC Morphis Matthew Christian Gail Strickland Jill Dickens Zach Garner  Others Present: Thomas Luckey, Theron Harrington, Marquitta Harrington, Margaret Williams, Howard Wallace  and Gavin Stone 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation  Mayor Bayless called the meeting to orderat7:00 pm.  A Moment of Silence was observed. 3. Adoption of Agenda second. The vote was. 5-0. 4. Approval of Minutes  Council Member Covington motioned to adopt the Agenda. Council Member Sellers provided the  Minutes from the. January 25, 2022 Special Meeting and Closed Session were approved by motions of  Council Members Stuart and Covington. The vote was 5-0.  5. Comments from Attendees No one presented to address Council. New Business  6. Public Hearing - Harrington Rezoning: 2 acres on Gin Mill Road  Mayor Bayless opened the floor to the Public Hearingi for the rezoning. Mr. Theron Harrington spoke with Council. He explained he currently has a carpet cleaning business and plans to open a welding shop at the location, if rezoned. With no further comments or questions, the Mayor closed the Public  Hearing.  1    February 8, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  7. Consistency Statement & Decision of Rezoning Hamlet Mobile Home Park, LLC. Council Member Covington motioned the rezoning was consistent with the Zoning Ordinance. Council Member Stuart provided the second. The vote was 5-0. Council Member McQueen provided the motion to rezone the parcel. Council Member Sellers offered the second. The vote was 5-0.  8. Consideration of Memo of Understanding Amvets  The City Manager discussed the Memo, stating it establishes the basic terms for long term use oft the property by the Amvets. He explained the agreement is not al lease; but establishes terms for the Amvets to determine ift the building can be a permanent post fort them. Mr. Christian advised all the articles have been reviewed by the Amvets Commander Ed O'Neal. Council Member Martin expressed concern ofA Article #3 that stated the City could terminate the lease for no reason. Attorney Morphis explained the Memo was written sO the Amvets can start using thei facility without a lease. Ifthey determine they want to use it, a lease can be written. The Memo of Understanding allows them the time to explore if they want to invest in the building; ift they want the burden of ownership. The Memo also addresses the liability issue for the City. He added, should the Amvets decide they want to purchase the building, he and the City Manager will research the best way to do so. The Manager asked the Attorney forclarification: that Council, noti the Manager, would have to make the decision to terminate the agreement. Mr.. Morphis confirmed. After the discussion, Council Member Sellers motioned to approve the Memo of Understanding. Council Member Covington provided the second. The vote was 5-0.. : Council Member Covington motioned to approve the Tax Releases. The second was provided by Council  9. Approval of Tax Releases Member Stuart. The vote was 5-0. Other Business 10. City Manager's Report  City Manager Matthew Christian mentioned the recent rise in the number of Covid cases in the community and staff. He stated he appreciated citizens' patience as employees work to get caught up on the services. Mr. Christian reported the sewer line on Bridges St. is near completion and they! hope to  have the road open next week. 11. Comments of Council concerns.  Council Member Sellers thanked the attendees that came toi the Meeting. He aiso thanked Council and the City employees fori their hard work. He urged citizens of Hamlet to attend meetings with any of their Council Member Stuart, in celebration of Black History Month, read an article. He offered his thanks to his constituents for allowing him to serve and thanked his colleagues for working with him. Mayor Council Member Covington reported the City! has experienced an unusual year already with the amount ofs snow andi ice. She advised several departments have worked with skeleton crews due to sickness and quarantine, but she has received several positive comments from residents on the promptness of  Bayless added he signed a Martin Luther King Prociamation last month.  employees removing debris and assistance cutting limbs.  12. Mayor's Comments  2    February 8, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes  Mayor Bayless advised Council needs to revisit the issue of picking up furniture and other items. Council Member Sellers agreed and added concern of large piles of limbs and leaves. The Mayor explained the leaves and limbs are carried to the City's landfill at no cost to the City. Each load off furniture and other large items costs the City an estimated $200.00 per load. The City Manager stated he had a conversation with Public Works Director Billy Stubbs of the City's need to have a policyi in place to provide a safe, efficient service. Council Member McQueen, noting most of the issues come from landlords, inquired of the City Attorneyi ift the Cityl has rules in place, can it attach civil fines and not allow water services until the fines are paid. Mr. Morphis replied he will investigate and get! back with Staffand Council. Mr. McQueen asked the Attorney to check on fines for a person that brings materials into the City and dumps them. Council Member Covington inquired oft the procedure when an issuei is seen actively taking place. Mr. Christian explained when the City is notified of a situation, the Public' Works Director will hand deliver a letter to the person, notifying them what they are doing is outside oft the City'sscope of The Mayor thanked the City employees for working through the challenges of Covid, noting the streets 13. Motion to go into Closed Session per NC General Statute 5143-318-11(a)3) (6)A 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 7:32 pm, Council Member Sellers offered the motion.  services and provide them with the services the City does offer.  are being well maintained. Privilege and Personnel.  Council Member Covington provided the second. The vote was 5-0.  Return to Open Session  At 8:25 pm. Council Members Covington and Sellers motioned to return to Open Session. The vote was  5-0.  14. Motion to Adjourn meeting. The vote was 5-0. Respectfully submitted,  At8:25 pm, Council Members Stuart and Covington provided the motion and second to adjourn the  Gail M. Strickland, City Clerk  3)  s) ORTE  3