MINUTES THESE. ARE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TOWN OF CONETOE, NORTH CAROLINA May 10th, 2023 Thel Board of Commissioners oft the Town of Conetoe met for a Regular Monthly Meeting at 6:30pm in the Town Hall Council Room at 204 West Church Street, Conetoe, NC. PRESENT Bryant ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT Town Clerk: Kelly. Hunter Town Attorney: Dan Hartzog, Jr. Commissioners: Jenny Staton-Hinnant, Clay Webb, Regina Gray, and Mayor Pro-Tem Delane 1. MEETING CALLED: TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION Mayor Pro-Tem Bryant called the meeting to order and explained that all public comments are to be held until the public comment portion of the meeting. Mayor Pro- Tem Bryant led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Mrs. Linda Meeks. Mayor Pro-Tem Bryant acknowledged our guest, Town Attorney Dan Hartzog, Jr. 2. APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AGENDA BY COUNCIL Hinnant seconded thei motion and it carried unanimously. Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner 3. READING OF THE MINUTES Commissioner Webb made a motion to accept the minutes from the regular session that was on March 14, 2023. The minutes were presented by Town Clerk, Kelly Hunter. Commissioner Grey seconded the motion and it carried unanimously without amendment. 4. CITIZEN RECOGNITION a. The Town of Conetoe recognized longtime resident Mrs. Edna. Johnson as it's citizen oft thei month. She has given the' Town many years of service as al local business owner, the Town Clerk, and she served on the' Town Board as a commissioner. Page]1 b. Commissioner Webb made ai motion to accept and closed the Citizen Recognition portion. Commissioner Hinnant seconded the motion and it carried unanimously without amendment. 5. DEPARTMENTAL AND ADMINSTRATIVE REPORTS a. Buildings and Town Maintenance Report i. The DOT has completed most of the work on the right of ways. They are digging out the ditches on Thigpen Road and cleaning up the drain pipes under the driveways to help with draining. The last item on their list is the drain tile that goes underneath HWY 42 in front of the Town Hall ii. Itis requested that any yard waste in the form of loose debris, such as leaves, pine straw, etc., be put in bags. Any citizen physically unable to do that or needing assistance is asked to contact the Town Hall. All yard waste needs to be out by 7:00AM or it may have to wait until the next There will be an information session on the Walk Audit next Wednesday Night, May 17t, a Power Point presentation will be given at this. The actual Walk Audit will take place on' Tuesday, May 23"d. i. The Town is looking forward to hosting a Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Monument. Forms of Recognition for any Veteran's in the Conetoe area that have served in our Military are available at the Town i. A1 list ofboth completed and upcoming reports required for the Town was ii. Bank Totals were given for all accounts. A list of Bills paid and Money deposited were given to the Board for review and approval. iii. The 10-month Budget to Actual is due to the State Treasurers office on May 16", as well as, the Budget Draft for upcoming FY 22-23. We will be having a Budget meeting/workshop to review the Draft and create the iv. It is the intention of the Board to vote and approve the purchase oft the Fire Department building for $70,000.00. The funds for this purchase as well as the attorney fees and insurance will come from the General Fund. Iti is the desire of the Board to then do a revenue replacement for this expenditure using ARPA funds to the amount of $68,907.00. 1. Commissioner Webb made a motion to accept and approve all the bills paid and deposits made for the month of May. Commissioner Hinnant seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The Upper Coastal Plains Counsel of Government Executive Board building. pickup date. b. Parks and Recreations Report Events Hall. presented. d. Clerk Report Budget Proposal. Town Administrator Report Meeting is scheduled for May16th. Page 12 ii. The Park Mini-Grant from Edgecombe County in the amount of$2,000.00 is to be deposited within the next month. We will use this money to buy supplies and games for the Super Summer Saturday Program the Town is hosting this summer. Anyone interested in volunteering and helping please 1. Commissioner Hinnant made a motion to accept and approve and close all the Departmental and Administrative Reports. Commissioner Grey seconded the motion and it carried let us know. unanimously. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. The Purchase Resolution of the Fire Department located at 201 Dawson Drive, in Conetoe, North Carolina was read out loud by Mayor Pro-Tem Bryant. 1. Commissioner Webb made a motion to accept the Resolution and approve the purchase of the property. Commissioner Gray 2. Commissioner Webb made ai motion to approve and closed the Old Business portion of the meeting. Commissioner Gray seconded the seconded and it carried unanimously. motion and it carried unanimously. 7. WILKINS FAMILY PETITION TO REZONE a. Itis the request ofthe family to petition the Board to have the property located at 102 Factory Street in Conetoe, North Carolina rezoned from business to i. Town Attorney Dan Hartzog, Jr. spoke that the proposed rezoning must be consistent with that of the surrounding properties. There are concerns that rezoning the property could be deemed as spot zoning. This is not permitted under North Carolina State Law without a reasonable basis public-policy basis for doing SO. He stated that this vote has nothing to do with possession oft the property only the rezoning ofit is being considered. He stated that the applicate should be allowed to speak in regards to the ii. The applicate, Vivian Haynes, along with other members of the Wilkins family were given an opportunity to speak before the Board. She stated concerns for how the property was originally rezoned. The family discussed what they wanted to use the property for and asked that the iii. Attorney Hartzog stated that the Board needs to have a discussion to keep the property as is or rezone. A consensus must be met in the form ofa vote. The Board cannot legally consider who the owner is or what the proposed use of the property is when voting. When considering rezoning the Board can only consider is the property appropriately zoned business residential. petition. Board take these things into consideration. ora appropriately zoned residential. iv. Commissioner Gray voted no toi rezoning V. Commissioner Hinnant voted no to rezoning the property vi. Commissioner Bryant voted no Page 13 vii. Commissioner Webb voted no 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS .J Jack Bynum 1. Expressed his concerns regarding the matter of the Wilkins property. He conveyed his thoughts on zoning obstacles for both residents and the Board moving forward. Commissioner Webb: made ai motion to accept and close the public comments. Commissioner Gray seconded the motion. 9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS a. Commissioner Bryant wanted to reiterate that she will not be taking thej position as the Mayor. She will remain a Commissioner and run the Town Hall meetings b. Commissioners Webb and Gray thanked everyone for coming out. as the Mayor Pro-Tem until the election. ( Commissioner Webb made ai motion to approve and close the comments portion. Clay seconded 10.A ADJOURNMENT a. Thei next Regular Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 13h, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Town Hall Board Room Commissioner Gray made a motion to adjourn this meeting and move to the closed session Commissioner Webb seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. lon Bauant Mayor Pro-Tem, DelanBryant CakAe Kelly Hunter, Town Clerk Page 14