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[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Dana E. Outlaw. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Bengel. Pledge of Allegiance.]
TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE JULY 27TH MEETING OF THE NEW BOARD OF ALL OF THEM TONIGHT, THE PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY ALL OF THEM.THANK YOU, MAYOR OUTLAW OUR MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER.
THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY FOR THE CITY AND FOR THESE CITIZENS, I PRAY THAT YOU'D GUIDE US ALWAYS AND SATISFY THE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET DURING THIS MEETING, STRENGTHEN US AS WE MAKE DECISIONS, AND PLEASE GUIDE US SO THAT YOUR WILL BE DONE.
I ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
WHICH DO YOU WANT ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS SAYING ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
FOR ALL YOU HELD THE ROPE, ALDERMAN BENGAL HERE OUT A WOMAN HARRIS GRABBED THAT.
ALDERMAN ASKED HER, HEY, YOU'RE OUTLAW OTTOMAN.
KANZI ALDERMAN, BEST PRESIDENT OTTOMAN ITEM HERE.
[Consent Agenda]
THIS TIME WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAY I LIKE MAKE A MOTION? WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED THE SAME MOTION CARRIES.
[6. Update on Public Safety.]
LET'S GO NOW TO NUMBER SIX.THE TIME ON THE AGENDA IS A PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE FROM CHIEF GALA, MR. MAYOR CITY MANAGER.
AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, UH, UH, YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SOME INFORMATION PERTAINING TO PRIME STANCE AS IT STANDS TODAY.
UM, IN LATE JUNE, 2021, CORRECTION LATE JULY, 2021.
UM, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, NOT ONLY AM I, BUT I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THE NATIONAL, UM, ISSUE OF CRIME VIOLENCE.
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO JUST LAST WEEKEND, WHERE 70 PEOPLE WERE SHOT, FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND, UH, THAT'S A HORRIFIC NUMBER, BUT THE FIRST WEEKEND OF JULY, THERE WERE 104 PEOPLE SHOT.
UM, AND EVEN MORE PEOPLE, 104 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.
SO IT IS, UM, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO EVERYONE.
UM, BUT WHAT I INTEND ON SHOWING TODAY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OF NEW BERN AS IT IS AN OUTLIER IN TERMS OF ACTS OF VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY IN 2021.
SO THIS CHART THAT YOU'RE SEEN MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.
SO, UH, LET ME TRY TO ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT INTO THESE NUMBERS.
UM, BECAUSE 2021 IS A YEAR TO DATE RATIO BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MONTHS THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR IN THIS YEAR, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR MYSELF AND MY STAFF TO TRY TO HAVE A COMPARABLE NUMBER THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH FULL YEARS IN A YEAR, 2019 AND 2020.
SO IN 2019, WE BROKE THE, UH, CATEGORIES OF GUN, UH, FIRE CRIMES INTO THREE CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST CATEGORY IS SHOTS THAT WERE FIRED WHERE THE, WELL, IT DID NOT STRIKE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
UM, AND IN 2019, UH, WE HAD 27 OF THOSE INCIDENCES.
THE SECOND CATEGORY IS SHOTS FIRED WHERE IT PULL, IT DOES STRIKE THE HUMAN B, UM, CAUSES AN INJURY, BUT NOT A DEBT.
UM, AND IN 2019, THAT NUMBER IS 10 AND IN 2020, UM, THAT NUMBER RISE, IT ROSE TO 16.
AND THE LAST COLUMN IS THE MOST SEVERE IS WHERE A BULLET STRIKES A HUMAN BEING, UH, RESULTING IN A DEBT.
AND THEN LAST YEAR THERE WERE 4 20 20 WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANOMALY.
UM, WE MIGHT WANT TO CALL THAT THE COVID EFFECT FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
THE NUMBERS WERE VERY MUCH HIGHER.
UM, SO IN TOTAL WE WENT FROM 39, I'M TOLD IN 2019 TO 54 IN 2020.
SO HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO YEAR TODAY? 2021? SO THE RED NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE THAT'S ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF
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EACH ONE OF THOSE YEAR COLUMNS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE PER MONTH.SO FOR AN EXAMPLE, UM, SHOTS FIRED, NO INJURIES, 2019.
THERE WERE 2.255 OF THOSE PER MONTH OVER THE COURSE OF A 12 MONTH YEAR, UH, IN 2020 2.8, AS YOU SEE IN 2021, THAT NUMBER HAS DECREASED AND WE ARE SEEING, UM, A REDUCTION OF ONLY 1.6, THOSE, UH, CATEGORIES FOR EACH MONTH IN 2021.
SO IF THAT TREND LINE CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE WILL SEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE 20, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT A 41% DECLINE, UM, BASED ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
UM, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SHOTS FIRED INJURY, UH, IS ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.
AND IF THAT TREND LINE CONTINUES, IT WILL BE A DECREASE OF 56%.
UM, I DO HIGHLIGHT THE AREA IN YELLOW, UM, THAT ACTUALLY IS AN INCREASE.
UM, AND THERE'S AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THE FOURTH.
SO WE HAVE HAD FOUR HOMICIDES THAT OCCURRED IN THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.
ONE OF THOSE HOMICIDES HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED TO BE ILLEGAL OR A CRIMINAL ACT ONE THEM WELL, THOSE MAY ACTUALLY TURN OUT TO BE A JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE, BUT THAT CALL WILL BE MADE BY THE PROSECUTING OFFICE.
SO WE CAN WE MAINTAIN THAT NUMBER.
UM, ALTHOUGH THE TREND LINE, IF IT CONTINUES, UH, WE WILL SEE SEVEN HOMICIDES IN NEW BERN WITH WHICH WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 75%.
UM, IN TOTAL, IF THE TREND LINE CONTINUES, WE'LL SEE A DECREASE IN TOTAL, UH, GUNFIRE, CRIME STATISTICS, UM, REDUCED BY 37%, WHICH, UM, AS LONG AS IT'S A SMALLER NUMBER IS A GOOD OUTCOME.
UM, I SAY THAT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAIN OF SALT, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SYMPATHY FOR THOSE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SUFFERED OR POTENTIALLY WILL SUFFER FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
IF I DO NOT MINIMIZE THAT, IS THAT THE SAME? THE METHODOLOGY USED FOR GUN VIOLENCE, UM, IS APPLICABLE IN THIS, UM, SLIDE.
THESE ARE THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS THAT WE REPORT TO THE FBI ANNUALLY, UM, AND THE CATEGORIES OF HOMICIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ARSON.
AND WE TRACK FROM 2018 TO YEAR TODAY AND IN EVERY CATEGORY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO.
AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT ARSON LAST.
SO, UM, WHAT I TALKED ABOUT HOMICIDE, THOSE THAT DATA IS THE SAME.
AND IF WE LOOK AT, UH, BURGLARIES, UM, SPECIFICALLY BUSINESSES, WE SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE, UM, FROM 2.5 LAST YEAR, 2.7.
UM, BUT IN TOTAL, UM, WE CAN SEE THAT IF THE TREND LINE CONTINUES, UH, WE WILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN PART ONE CRIMES, UH, WITH RESPECT TO ARSON LAST YEAR, WE ONLY HAD ONE REPORT AT ARSON AND WE ONLY HAD ONE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
UH, THAT SAMPLE SIZE IS SO SMALL.
UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DRAW SOME CYNICS STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THAT.
UM, OTHER THAN TO SAY, IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE A SMALLER NUMBER AND I OBVIOUSLY WILL GO BACK TO ANY ONE OF THESE WHEN I FINISHED DO TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
THE LAST, UH, TWO CATEGORIES ARE ONE TO PROVIDE, UH, IS OVERDOSE DEATHS.
UM, AND WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
IF THE TREND LINE CONTINUES, WE WILL SEE SEVEN, UM, OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, OVERDOSING, RESULTING IN A DEATH BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL BE AN INCREASE OF 16%.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE STATISTICS ARE THAT EVERY OTHER DAY IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN, A NEW-BORN POLICE OFFICER IS ADMINISTERING NARCAN TO ONE OF OUR CITIZENS WHO IS OVERDOSE.
UM, WE HAVE ONE JUST LAST NIGHT AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, UM, IN WHICH ONE OF OUR OFFICERS HAD TO SAVE HER LIFE, UH, NARCOTIC COST, ROUGHLY $57, $57 IS A MINUSCULE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE IS.
AND, AND WE WISH TO SAVE LIVES.
WE WOULD ONLY HOPE THAT THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION WILL GET TREATED.
THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE ARE ALSO FINDING
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IS THAT THE, UH, CITIZENS THAT WE'RE DEPLOYING OUR GAIN ARE THE SAME ONES WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN SAVED.
UM, AND WE'LL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY TO SAVE LIVES AS, AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
THE LAST CATEGORY I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UH, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN 2021 IS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES THAT WE HAVE RESPONDED TO.
UM, AGAIN, 2020 WAS, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF A, UH, OF AN OUTLIER.
UM, AND THAT MIGHT BE THE COVID EFFECT LIKE I INDICATED, BUT IF THE TREND LINE CONTINUES, WE'LL SEE A DECREASE FROM ROUGHLY 30% IN THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, UM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO, AND WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THESE, UH, STATISTICS.
AND THEN I DO HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT BEFORE I SIT DOWN, THE ONE COMMENT, UH, I THINK HOPEFULLY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE NOT HAD, UH, EVENTS HAPPENED, BUT I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF THEM HAPPEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND IN BOTH CASES, THEY PROBABLY LED TO WORST CASE SCENARIOS THAN I EXPERIENCED.
UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF SYSTEMS BE GLAD TO ASSIST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT OUTSIDE OF REPORTING, A COUPLE OF INSTANCES THAT HAPPENED.
UM, I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK.
I JUST THE SAYING THAT, I MEAN, I DIDN'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO HEAR BACK THAT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE SITUATION WAS BEHIND BARS FOR THE REST OF THE LIFE OR WHATEVER.
I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UM, GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU COULD USE IT HOWEVER APPROPRIATE FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES ARE TO, UM, IN ONE PARTICULAR CASE, UH, YOU KNOW, PROMPTS IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR ON MY DAY WHEN THAT GOT REAR ENDED.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
SO THE FIRST THING JUST SPONTANEOUSLY, I DO GET CELL PHONE AND GET MY, TO TAKE A PICTURE.
UM, SO IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, UM, TRAFFIC WAS BACKING UP AND THE GENTLEMAN SEEMED TO BE A PRETTY REASONABLE INDIVIDUAL.
AND, UM, SO I WAS TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE TO GO ON BY AND THEY DID, UM, IF I KNEW WHAT HE WAS FIXING TO DO, I WOULD HAVE NOT HAVE TOLD THEM BECAUSE I DID SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH CLEAR AND TRAFFIC THAT HE DECIDED TO GO ALONG AND GO AND REST OF THE TRAFFIC FOR HIM TO GET HIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.
UM, AND SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AFTER A PRETTY GOOD INTERVIEW, YOU KNOW, I HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OTHER THAN THE LICENSE PLATE OF WHAT KIND OF CAR IT WAS.
AND SO I HAD MY, UM, CONJECTURE AS WHAT WAS PROBABLY GOING ON AND WHY THE PERSON DECIDED TO LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
BUT I GUESS I'M TRYING TO BRING BACK HOME.
THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF SMALLER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY, THAT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS COULD PROBABLY HELP TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND IF THERE ARE OTHER AWARENESS PROGRAMS, IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE DONE? I DIDN'T DO ET CETERA.
UM, UM, WHEN IT HAPPENED, UH, MY, MY FIRST RESPONSE WHEN HE LEFT WAS TO CHASE HIM AND THEN ON THE SIDE OF THAT PROBABLY WAS, I WOULD NEVER CATCH HIM.
SO I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO BELABOR THIS OTHER THAN SAY THAT I KNOW A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, I LIKED IT, THE GUY THAT SAID THAT THERE THERE'S ONE WORD BETWEEN ANGER AND DANGER, YOU KNOW, IT'S D AND IT HAPPENS REAL QUICK.
AND SO AGAIN, UM, ANYTHING TO PUBLIC CAN DO THE CITY CAN DO INDIVIDUAL ALDERMAN, ET CETERA.
WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU AND YOUR ARDUOUS JOB OF KEEPING ALL THE SAFE.
SO, UM, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE THOSE SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT, OR WE ARE, ARE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO TRY TO, UM, RE IMPLEMENTED THE CRIMESTOPPERS PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS AN ANONYMOUS, UH, OPTION FOR CITIZENS TO PROVIDE TIPS ON CRIME.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE ITS CITIZENS ARE, UH, SOCIALLY AWARE, AND MANY OF OUR CITIZENS DO, UH, PARTICIPATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFIC TO PROVIDING INFORMATION.
THAT'S NOT UNIVERSAL STATEMENT.
WE DO HAVE CITIZENS THAT REFUSE TO COOPERATE.
UM, WE HAVE AN ACTIVE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION, WHICH THEN SPURRED,
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UM, A DRIVE BY SHOOTING.WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAR THE DRIVE BY SHOOTING, BUT WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF THE COMMUNITY'S ASSISTANCE TO HELP US, UH, WITH THE HOMICIDE CASE.
SO THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND ITS GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE SAFE.
WE NEED THAT FORCE MULTIPLIER OUT THERE.
AND I AM SENSITIVE TO THOSE THAT WOULD SAY THAT IF I COULD WALK, OPERATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT I MYSELF MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO RETALIATION.
SO WE WANT TO BUILD IN MECHANISMS BY WHICH THOSE THAT WISH TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE, BUT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE HELPING YOU DO THE JOB YOU'RE DOING.
YES, MA'AM, UH, CHIEF, I GO, THIS IS GETTING AWAY FROM YOUR REPORT HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS TO YOU.
AND YOUR STAFF IS ADMINISTERING THAT PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH.
UM, THAT IS SUCH A GREAT SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM.
IT GETS OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG TEAMS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO MINGLE WITH THE POLICE, TO, TO MINGLE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND, AND GET THAT FEELING OF NOT BEING AFRAID OF POLICE AND WILLING TO TALK TO POLICE.
AND I YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT WHAT OUR CHILDREN SEE, AND THAT'S A LOT OF, THEY CAN GIVE YOU A LOT OF FEEDBACK WHERE ADULTS MAY FEEL LIKE, UM, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO EMBARK UPON, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT PROGRAM.
AND IF YOU, I KNOW IT'S FULL RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU GET ONE SLOT OPEN, WE GAVE ME A CALL CAUSE I HAVE A LITTLE YOUNG 13 YEAR OLD IS HE'S WANTING TO GET INTO THAT COUNT.
YES, I WILL CALL YOU TOMORROW AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS YEAR? YES, MA'AM.
SO, UH, NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY, UH, THE NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PARTNERING WITH 14, UM, SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, IN NEWBURN, UH, SEVEN ON MONDAY AND SEVEN ON TUESDAY.
UM, EVERY MEMBER OF MY COMMAND STAFF, UH, MYSELF, MY THREE CAPTAIN, MY SEVEN TENANTS AND ADDITIONAL SERGEANTS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO BE PRESENT AT EACH ONE OF THE 14 NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EVENT.
AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE WHAT WE CALL OPERATED LIGHTS, WHERE WE WILL HAVE, UM, A SHOW OF UNITY WITH OUR OFFICERS GOING TO EACH OF THE 14.
SO IT SHOULD BE, UH, VERY EXCITING.
UH, EARLIER TODAY WE WERE, WE DROPPED OFF ALL OF THE T-SHIRTS AND THE BANNERS AND THE OTHER SWAG THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THROUGH A GRANTS GIVEN TO US TO HELP CELEBRATE THAT NASHVILLE MA'AM.
SO THE, THE HANDOUT FOSTER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND US THE HANDOUT.
SO THE ADDRESSES THAT ARE ON THIS IS THE ADDRESS OF WHERE THE NIGHT OUT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE.
IS THAT CORRECT? OR I WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM I KNOW ARE, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE RESIDENCE OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE.
SO I WAS NOT, ARE WE GOING TO SOME RESIDENTS, ARE THAT USUALLY THEY'RE IN ARCS OR MORE KIND OF PUBLIC SPACES RESIDENTS ON BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE THE ADDRESSES OF THE LOCATION.
[7. Presentation on Equal Opportunity Employment Policy and Recruiting Practices.]
THE STAMPS GO DOWN TO NUMBER SEVEN AND NEXT ITEM IS FOR OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR, SONIA HAYES, TO PRESENT A SLIDESHOW AND PRESENTATION ON THE CITY'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, EMPLOYMENT POLICY AND RECRUITMENT PRACTICES.THANK YOU, MR. HUGHES, MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, DID YOU DO JUST WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS INFORMED YOU THAT I WILL BE DOING? AND THAT IS PROVIDING ME WITH AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR ADDO POLICY LOOKS LIKE AND OUR RECRUITING PRACTICES.
AND I WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE, UM, THE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE EMBARKED UPON.
SO I THINK TO GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATION, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE THE CITY ATTORNEY AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GIVE YOU FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN E O PLAN AND ALSO, UM, AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN.
MAY I REMEMBER AS THE BOARD, UM, I WANTED TO STEP IN AND EARLY IN THE DISCUSSION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL UNDERSTANDING WHAT THESE TERMS MEAN.
UM, I'VE NOTICED THAT FOLKS REGULARLY USE THE PHRASE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT INTERCHANGEABLY AS IF THEY ARE THE SAME THING SO MUCH SO THAT, THAT YOU HEAR ONE ON THE
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OTHER, AND YOU THINK THAT MEANS THAT EMPLOYERS, UM, SHOULDN'T DISCRIMINATE.UM, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT LAWS REQUIRE.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS A VERY SPECIFIC PHRASE, UM, THAT TRANSLATES INTO QUOTAS WHERE, UM, YOU ARE FORCED TYPICALLY BY LAW, UM, UNDER, UNDER CERTAIN FEDERAL STATUTES TO SOLVE A SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT HAS PERSISTED FOR DECADES THAT AN EMPLOYER OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO CHANGE.
THAT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, WHERE QUOTAS ARE IMPOSED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
EMPLOYMENT LAWS ARE, ARE, IS A LONG PHRASE FOR THE NON-DISCRIMINATION RULES, RIGHT? THAT EMPLOYERS CANNOT DISCRIMINATE, UM, BOTH PRIVATE PUBLIC AND NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON SEX, AGE, RACE, RELIGION, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THOSE.
SO WHAT GETS CONFUSING AT TIMES IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES, YOU WILL FIND EMPLOYERS AND IN SOME RARE CASES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT MISNAMED THEIR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES.
AND THE REASON WE KNOW THAT IS WHEN YOU TYPICALLY READ AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY, THE FIRST SENTENCE IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THIS POLICY DOES NOT SUGGEST OR MANDATE QUOTAS.
IT IS ABOUT PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LAWS REQUIRE.
SO I WANT, SO BEFORE SONIA GETS TOO DEEP INTO THIS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION IN THOSE TWO THINGS.
UM, AND TO ALSO POINT OUT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT, UM, IF SOMEBODY OF ACTION, UM, IN POSITIONS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD ILLEGAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS OF THE LAST CENTURY, UM, ARE LESS PERSISTENT, UM, IN THIS PART OF THE SOUTH COMPARED TO SECTIONS OF THE DEEP SOUTH, WHERE ARE THEY LEGAL? WELL, I CAN'T QUOTE YOU A CITY AND I'D HATE TO GUESS I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CITIES.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR REASONS THAT THE CORNER IS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
WHAT, WHAT IS IT LEGAL OR IS IT LEGAL FOR WHAT? WELL, IT WOULD BE LEGAL IN POTENTIALLY PARTS OF THE DEEP SOUTH THAT ARE ACTIVELY DISCRIMINATING BASED ON SEX OR RACE TYPICALLY RATES.
SO AGAIN, I HATE TO CALL IT A STATE OR A CITY, BUT ONE CAN IMAGINE A PLACE IN THE DEEP SOUTH WHERE, UM, MINORITIES MIGHT NOT BE AS WELCOMED AS THEY NEED TO BE.
AND IF THAT WERE A PROBLEM AND, UM, UM, THE EOC AND OTHERS, UM, WERE AWARE OF THAT, THEN THEY COULD IMPOSE, UM, A RAPID SOLUTION THAT MIGHT MEAN QUOTAS IN THE SHORT TERM TO START EQUALIZING THOSE RATIOS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE.
WHAT ABOUT DIVERSITY? SO LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THE CITY DOES RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR A DIVERSE INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE, AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON EXAMINING ANY BARRIERS THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE TO EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCEMENT IN ORDER FOR US TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS WELCOMING TO ALL INDIVIDUALS.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S JUMP RIGHT INTO OUR POLICY.
SO THE POLICY OF THE CITY IS TO FOSTER MAINTAIN AND PROMOTE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
THE CITY SHALL HIRE AND PROMOTE EMPLOYEES ON THE BASIS OF THE APPLICANTS QUALIFICATIONS.
AND WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE SEX, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR DISABILITY AS DEFINED BY ADA, ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SHALL CONTINUE TO REGULARLY MONITOR AND REVIEW RELEVANT PRACTICES TO ASSURE THAT EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY BASED ON REASONABLE PERFORMANCE JOB RELATED REQUIREMENTS IS BEING ACTIVELY OBSERVED TO THAT END, THAT NO EMPLOYER APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT SHALL SUFFER ANY UNLAWFUL DESCRIPTION, RECRUITMENT SOURCES.
ALL OF OUR JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTAIN THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT.
IN ADDITION, THAT EEO STATEMENT IS ALSO LOCATED ON OUR NEO GOV APPLICANT PORTAL.
AND IT IS IN THE SECTION, UH, WHERE APPLICANTS ARE WELCOMED.
UM, IT IS ACTUALLY ENTITLED WELCOME TO THE CITY OF NUMEROUS APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO THAT EEO ASSURANCE STATEMENT IS FOUND THERE AS WELL.
SO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO COVER WITH YOU A LIST OF MOST OF THE ADVERTISING SOURCES THAT WE USE IN OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, JOB ADVERTISEMENTS.
AS I MENTIONED ON THE LAST SLIDE, ALL JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS DO CONTAIN THE ASSURANCE THAT THE CITY OF NEWMAN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
AND AGAIN, THAT STATEMENT IS ALSO REFLECTED WITHIN OUR APPLICANT TRACKING FOUR, WHICH IS POWERED BY ME, NO
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QUALIFICATIONS.SO WE DO REVIEW OUR CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS PERIODICALLY OR AS NECESSARY JUST TO ENSURE THAT THE KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS, THE ABILITIES, THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, THE TYPICAL TASKS ARE UP TO DATE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOTE THAT YEARS AGO, WE REMOVED WHAT WE DISCOVERED WERE POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BY SOME APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED FOR ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS.
AND I'M SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING OF THE SENIOR MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION THAT WE HAVE, AND ALSO IN UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER ONE.
SO WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THOSE BARRIERS, UM, BASED ON THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED, WE QUICKLY DECIDED TO AMEND THE CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION TO SAY THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT MAY BE WAIVED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE HAVE HIRED FEW PEOPLE IN THOSE ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS THAT DON'T POSSESS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED.
NOW WE DO ENCOURAGE THOSE PEOPLE TO PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY, TO GET THAT EDUCATION, BECAUSE IF NOT, THEN IT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM UPWARD MOBILITY IN THE CITY.
BUT FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT AS A BARRIER.
AND WE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
IN ADDITION, IF AN APPLICANT APPLIES FOR A POSITION THAT REQUIRES A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT AT THE ONSET OF EMPLOYMENT, THAT'S OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT EMPLOYEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN THAT CDL WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS DURING THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT OR DURING THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD, AND THEY ARE LEGITIMATE REASONS, THEN WE WILL EXTEND THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD ABOUT UP TO THREE MONTHS TO GIVE THAT APPLICANT OR THAT EMPLOYEE AN TO GET THAT CPL.
SO AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THOSE BARRIERS AND THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES THAT I CAN THINK OF COMPENSATION.
IT IS THE POLICY OF THE CITY TO PAY ALL EMPLOYEES EQUALLY BASED UPON THE JOB CLASSIFICATION, THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR ABILITIES.
ANY DEVIATION FROM STANDARD COMPENSATION ARE REVIEWED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HR OR MYSELF.
WE DISCUSS THAT WITH THE DEPARTMENT, HEAD KEEPING IN MIND, WHAT EMPLOYEES WE HAVE IN THOSE POSITIONS, HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THOSE POSITIONS, WHAT ARE THEIR SALARIES? WE LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE FACTORS.
THE FINAL REQUEST IS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR REVIEW OR APPROVAL AND OR RECOMMENDED MODIFICATION.
SO THE CITY MANAGER DOES HAVE THE FINAL SAY, UM, CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, IF YOU COME BACK THAT YOU USED THE TERM PROTECTED GROUP APP THAT'S WHAT, WHAT DOES PROTECTED REFER TO THERE? PROTECTED GROUP MEANS THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH, WITHIN WHAT IS LISTED IN OUT OF SEVEN.
SO WE CAN'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON SOMEONE'S AGE OR THEIR RACE OR THEIR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
THOSE ARE THE PROTECTED GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
FOR MOTIONS AND EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT.
SO EVERY EMPLOYEE IS APPRISED OF JOB VACANCIES TO INCLUDE PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHICH THEY ARE ABLE TO APPLY.
SEVERAL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY HAVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OR SUCCESSION PLANS, WHICH ALLOW FOR EMPLOYEE ADVANCEMENT WITHOUT THAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO EITHER BUY FOR, OR APPLY FOR A POSITION.
SO HOW DOES IT WORK AS LONG AS AN EMPLOYEE MEETS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS MIGHT INCLUDE TIME IN SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, CERTIFICATIONS, ET CETERA.
ONCE THEY MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, THE EMPLOYEE IS APPROVED TO AUTOMATICALLY ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT DO HAVE CORRINA BELT MAY CLICK PAY PLANS, INCLUDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR SWORN STAFF AND THEIR TELECOMMUNICATORS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR FIRE SUPPRESSION PERSONNEL, PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE ELECTRIC DIVISION, WHICH INCLUDES THE DISTRIBUTION STAFF.
AND THEN WE HAVE WATER RESOURCES AND THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN INCLUDES THEIR UTILITY MAINTENANCE STAFF, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANTS, STAFF, WATER TREATMENT, PLANT STABS, AND ALSO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AS A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE BUILDING INSPECTOR.
SO AGAIN, THESE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE TO APPLY FOR A BUYER FOR THE POSITIONS, AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLAN.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
CANDIDATES FOR PROMOTION SHALL BE CHOSEN ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING JOB OPENINGS ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THEIR WORK RECORD, WITHOUT REGARD AGAIN, TO AGE SEX, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, AND DISABILITY AS DEFINED BY A D A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND WORK RECORDS FOR ALL PERSONNEL SHALL BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED WITH OPENINGS, FOR HIRE CLASSIFIED POSITIONS, DIVISION MANAGER, DEPARTMENT HEADS OR SUPERVISORS ARE TO LOOK AT THOSE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND THOSE WORK RECORDS AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE EMPLOYEE IS HELD.
SO HOW DO WE RECRUIT? WE USE MULTIPLE ADVERTISING
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SOURCES AND OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, AND THE SOURCE THAT WE USE JUST DEPENDS UPON THE JOB THEY CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE.UM, IN ADDITION, MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE ENGAGED IN, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER, TOO.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS TO BUILD JOBS HERE WITH THE CITY.
SO WHAT WE DO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE GOING TO EMAIL THOSE ALL JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS TO CITY OF NEWBURN EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE CITY ISSUED EMAIL ADDRESSES.
WE'RE GOING TO POST THESE JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS IN CONSPICUOUS AND VISIBLE AREAS IN EACH DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CITY EMAIL, OR JUST FOR THE CONVENIENCE FOR OTHERS, TO SEE THOSE JOBS AS POSTED IN THE DEPARTMENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, WE DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO POST THOSE JOBS.
SO SOCIAL MEDIA, THANKS TO RPO.
SHE DOES POST VARIOUS JOBS OUT THERE FOR US.
AND EVERY TIME SHE POSTED ACTUALLY INCLUDES A LINK TO THE CITY'S CAREER OPPORTUNITY PAGE, WHERE ALL VACANCIES CAN BE VIEWED.
UM, AGAIN, THE CITY'S CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PAGE WHERE ALL JOB VACANCIES ARE POSTED.
AND THIS IS IN THAT APPLICANT TRACKING PORTAL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHICH IS ACTUALLY NEO GOV HERE, APPLICANTS CAN REVIEW INFORMATION PERTAINING TO EACH JOB THEY CAN SEE, AND THEY CAN EVEN SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION OR UPLOAD THEIR RESUME FOR CONSIDERATION THROUGH THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, PAGE GOVERNMENT, JOBS.COM.
SO WHEN WE LOAD THOSE POSITIONS ON THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES PAGE, THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO BE POSTED AND ADVERTISED ON GOVERNMENT JOBS.COM.
AND THAT IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC SECTOR JOB BOARD IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THAT IS WIDE REACHING AS FAR AS REACHING WHEN WE POST THOSE JOBS, IT'S NOT JUST LOW LOCALLY THROUGHOUT US.
NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, IT'S THE WORST.
WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NC WORKS HERE IN THE LOCAL OFFICE, AND WE POST ALL OF OUR JOB VACANCIES WITH MC WORKS.
THEY ACTUALLY PUT THEM ON THEIR ONLINE SYSTEM.
NC WORKS AS NORTH CAROLINA'S WORKFORCE SYSTEM, WHERE JOB SEEKERS CAN ACTUALLY SEARCH FOR JOBS BY TITLE, BY COMPANY, BY OCCUPATION, BY CITY, BY STATE, BY ZIP CODE.
SO THEY CAN FIND A JOB ANYWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE MOST PART, BY GOING THROUGH NC WORKS.
AND AGAIN, WE POST ALL OF OUR POSITIONS THERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE DO ALSO SEND OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO SEVERAL SOURCES, CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE'VE SAID ALL JOB POSTINGS TO THREE CONTESTS AT CRAVEN COMMUNITY WE'RE IN WORKFORCE READINESS, STUDENT SERVICES AND THE HRD STEP PROGRAM.
I'M GOING TO SEND OUT ANNOUNCEMENTS TO COASTAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES.
WE ALSO SEND IT TO CAREER SERVICES AT CARTERET COMMUNITY LENORE COMMUNITY.
WE SEND IT TO A CONTACT AND NC WORKS, UM, THEIR CAREER CENTRAL MANAGER AT LENORE, AND WE'VE ALSO ADDED PAMLICO COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE ALSO SEND THE JOBS TO THEIR CAREER SERVICES AREA AS WELL.
WE SEND OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
ALL JOBS ARE POSTED AND THEY'RE EMAILED TO TWO CONTACTS.
ONE IS A FAMILY MEMBER, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS, AND THE OTHER IS A PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, CRAVEN, PAMLICO RE-ENTRY COUNCIL, ALL JOB POSTINGS ARE SENT TO THE JOB PLACEMENT SPECIALIST THERE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UH, VOCATIONAL REHAB.
WE EMAIL ALL OF OUR JOB POSTINGS TO THE DESIGNATED LOCAL CONTACT.
AND WE RE RECENTLY ADDED A CONTACT, UH, THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED A DESIGNATED CONTACT TO FAITH CONNECTION AS WELL TO ALL JOB POSTING OR SYMPTOM POSTINGS ARE SENT TO THOSE SOURCES ADVERTISING.
SO WHEN WE ADVERTISE AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE JOB.
THEY CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE NOW WHAT I'M ABOUT TO COVER.
JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE SOME, BUT I CAN'T SAY IT'S AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF EVERY SINGLE ADVERTISING SOURCE THAT WE USE, THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE AND MUNICIPALITY.
UH, WE POST ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONAL VACANCIES THERE, AND THE LEAGUE IS A MEMBER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN THIS STATE.
WE ALSO POST POSITIONS, VARIOUS POSITIONS, IF YOU WILL, WITH GREATER DIVERSITY.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH GREATER DIVERSITY NEWS, THAT IS ACTUALLY A STATEWIDE PUBLICATION WITH NATIONAL REACH AND RELEVANT RELEVANCE, WHICH SERVES AS THE CHOSEN NEWS SOURCE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.
AND THIS PUBLICATION IS ACTUALLY BASED OUT OF WILMINGTON.
SO WHEN WE POST, WE POST WITH THEM DIGITALLY AND ACTUALLY IN THEIR PRINT PUBLICATIONS AS WELL, ELECTRICITY'S, REPROTS POST-PROFESSIONAL OR TECHNICAL UTILITIES VACANCIES THERE.
AND MOST OF YOU MAY KNOW, BUT ELECTRICITY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED, ELECTRIC UTILITY, SERVING PUBLIC POWER COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND VIRGINIA.
UH, WE ALSO POST PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL UTILITIES VACANCIES WITH AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION.
[00:35:01]
AND THIS IS THE VOICE OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY OWNED UTILITIES, THAT POWER ABOUT 2000 TOWNS AND CITIES NATIONWIDE, UH, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, MOST OF WHAT WE POST THERE OR PROFESSIONAL FINANCE RELATED VACANCIES, GFL REQUISITES, PUBLIC FINANCE OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE U S AND CANADA.THE ASSOCIATION IS COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 20,000 MEMBERS.
SO THAT IS FAR REACHING AS WELL.
WE ALSO POST ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENTS WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, AND THAT REACHES MORE THAN 13,000 MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP THAT ASSOCIATION.
WE POST WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK ACCOUNTANTS INCORPORATED.
MOST OF OUR PROFESSIONAL OR ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONAL FINANCE VACANCIES, NAPA IS A NON-PROFIT MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO BRIDGING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN ACCOUNTING, FINANCE, AND RELATED BUSINESS PROFESSIONS.
AND IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 200,000 BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN THESE FIELDS.
UH, WE POST MANAGEMENT VACANCIES WITH ICM A, WHICH IS A, THE MEMBERS ARE PROFESSIONAL CITY TOWN COUNTY MANAGERS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO OVERSEE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO POST WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THEY'RE THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF ALL 100 COUNTIES ON ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONGRESS, FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES.
ANOTHER RESOURCE WE USE IS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, AND THAT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR POLICE LEADERS HAS MORE THAN 31,000 MEMBERS IN 165 COUNTRIES.
WE ALSO POST WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE.
UM, THIS ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THE PROFESSIONALISM OF POLICING IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ONE THAT WE ALSO POST WITH IS THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES.
AND THESE ARE MANAGEMENT LEVEL SWORN POLICE POSITIONS, NOBLE SERVES TO ENSURE EQUITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ALL COMMUNITIES.
UM, THEY HAVE 59 CHAPTERS IN SIX REGIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
MEMBERS ARE LOCATED IN CANADA, THE CARIBBEAN, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN AFRICA.
WE POST MANAGEMENT LEVEL SWORN POSITIONS WITH POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM, WHICH IS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PERK.
AND THEY ARE AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN POLICING PARKS AND RECREATION POSITIONS, OR MOST OF THOSE, WE POST THOSE WITH NC RPA.
AND THIS IS A PREMIER NON-PROFIT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND LEISURE, LEISURE PROFESSIONS IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
WE ALSO POST A LOT ABOUT POSITIONS JUST DEPENDING UPON WHAT IT MAY BE.
WE POST THEM WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND HERE YOU CAN SEE SEVERAL THAT ARE NAMED AND WE DO THIS THROUGH HANDSHAKE AND HANDSHAKE IS ACTUALLY AN APP THAT CONNECTS COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WITH OPEN POSITION.
SO AGAIN, DEPENDING UPON THE BANK AND SEE AS TO WHAT COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY WE POST, ALL RIGHT, NOW I'LL DO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT ALL INCLUSIVE, JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU A GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO IN OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS.
SO COMMUNITY CRAVING, COMMUNITY COLLEGE GATEWAY TO EMPLOYMENT CLASSES, I PERSONALLY HAVE PRESENTED INFORMATION TO A NUMBER OF THOSE GLASSES, UM, ON CITY OPERATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS, HOW TO COMPLETE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES, CITY, JOB VACANCIES.
I'VE DISTRIBUTED MY, UH, BUSINESS CARD TO THE STUDENTS IN THOSE CLASSES.
AND I'M ACTUALLY RECEIVED CALLS FROM SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS.
THEY WANT FURTHER ADVICE ON HOW TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION OR INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES.
SO I DO TAKE TIME TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IF AND WHEN THEY CALL, I'VE ALSO CONDUCTED MOCK INTERVIEWS WITH THE JOB READINESS BOOTCAMP, NORTH CAROLINA WORKS RECRUITMENT PRESENTATION RECENTLY, UH, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES ACTUALLY DID A PRESENTATION FOR A GROUP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM NC WORKS.
AND IN THAT DISCUSSION, SHE DID A PRESENTATION ON THE HIRING PRACTICES AND HOW OUR, WHAT OUR OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE HERE WITH THE CITY.
SO, WHICH WAS A, UH, THEY CALLED IT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT WAS QUITE, UH, QUITE EYEOPENING FOR THEM.
SOME OF THE THINGS I'M SURE THAT THEY OR SO DURING THAT MEETING, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO ALSO REMIND THEM IF YOU HAVE APPLICANTS THAT COME TO NC WORKS AND THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES COMPLETING APPLICATIONS THROUGH NEO GOV, OUR APPLICANT TRACKING PORTAL, OR IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC POSITIONS, SEND THEM DIRECTLY TO US.
WE CAN HELP WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT WE CAN HELP.
IN ADDITION, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO REMIND THEM THAT THE CITY OF NEWBURN BANNED
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THE BOX.WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL PHYSICIANS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
UM, AND IT WAS, YEAH, THAT MEETING THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY INTRODUCED TO THE CRAVING PAMLICO RE-ENTRY COUNCIL JOB PLACEMENT SPECIALIST.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HER AND SET UP A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, WHICH BRINGS US TO CRAVE AND PAMLICO REENTRY COUNCIL.
SO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AND I ACTUALLY DID A VIRTUAL MEETING WITH THE JOB PLACEMENT SPECIALIST.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT BAN THE BOX.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE CITY.
SHE EXPLAINED HER ROLE TO US, AND WE'VE PROVIDED HER WITH VARIOUS JOBS THAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE, UM, THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO HER AND THE POPULATION THAT SHE IS SEEKING TO ASSIST.
AND WHAT I DID AS A RESULT OF THAT MEETING, I ACTUALLY ADDED HER TO THE LIST OF RECIPIENTS FOR ALL JOB VACANCIES THAT WE POSTED THE CITY OF MELBOURNE PRAVEN WORKS.
SO THE CITY HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS JOB FAIR SINCE I THINK THE INITIAL JOB FAIR AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED OVER THE YEARS TO INCLUDE POLICE, FIRE PARKS, AND RECREATION, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND UTILITIES, NEWBORN HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FAIR BACK IN THE FALL OF 2019, I COORDINATE THE POSITION, THE PARTICIPATION OF FIRE POLICE UTILITIES, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, FINANCE AND PARKS RECREATION.
AND THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN THAT THERAPY FOR HIGH, RIGHT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, PARKS, AND RECREATION.
AND AGAIN, AND THESE ARE JUST SOME RECENT THINGS.
IT'S NOT ALL INCLUSIVE, BUT THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR.
THEY'LL MAKE A CENTER CENTER, THE PEMBRO COMMUNITY CLEANUP RESOURCE FAIR AND COOKOUT.
THEY ARE ALSO ATTEND THESE OF THE CRAVE AND RESOURCE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND SO DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THESE MEETINGS ABOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH SINCE JANUARY OF 2020.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH FLYERS REGARDING PARTS OF RECREATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR DISSEMINATION VIA EMAIL AND NEIGHBORHOOD DOOR TO DOOR CANVASSING AS WELL.
PARKS RECREATION IS ALSO LISTED IN THE 2021 RESOURCE GUIDE.
UM, THEY OFFER FREE CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AT THE OMEGA CENTER, ANNUAL WESTERN RECREATION CENTER AS A PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE PARKS AND RECREATION, LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION IN AN EFFORT TO AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.
THE CITY IS AQUATIC AT THE CITY'S AQUATIC CENTER.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OFFERS A LIFE, A CERTIFICATION CLASS FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE.
THEY CAN STAY RIGHT HERE IN HOUSE AND GET THEIR CERTIFICATION AND HOPEFULLY GET A POSITION WITH THIS RECENT POLICE DEPARTMENT OUTREACH EFFORTS.
THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE VETERANS DAY DRIVE THROUGH JOB FAIR, SPONSORED BY NC WORKS, MEET THE COMMUNITY CHICK-FILET ABUNDANT LIFE DISTRIBUTION CENTER, UM, WHERE THEY INTERACTED WITH THE COMMUNITY WHILE ASSISTING WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION, DEFINITELY FEEL COMMUNITY COOKOUT START OF SUMMER FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATED THIS OUTREACH EVENT AT STANLEY WHITE TO ADVISE COMMUNITY OF SUMMER CAMPS.
I THINK ALDERMAN BEST MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, A SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUN CITY NEWBURN, JUNE TINK PARADE, AND FESTIVAL CRAVEN, COMMUNITY COLLEGE BLET, GRADUATE GRADUATION, NEWBURN PD, RECRUITING OFFICERS, VISIT THOSE VOUT CLASSES AT THE SIX WEEK MARK, AND THEN AT THE GRADUATION MARK, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH THOSE STUDENTS AND TRY TO GET THEM RECRUITED TO COME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.
THEY ALSO VISIT OTHER SURROUNDING CLASSES AS WELL.
HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, THE PANDEMIC HAS HAMPERED THOSE EFFORTS IN RECENT MONTHS.
UH, LET'S SEE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN DEALING WITH THE NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL IN WEST CRAVEN, HIGH SCHOOL FIRE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
THEY PARTICIPATED IN JOB FAIRS AT NEWBURN HIGH RAYMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND BRAVING WORKS.
THEY POST THEIR JOB VACANCIES ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, WELL RECRUITMENT VIDEOS.
THEY HAVE RECRUITMENT VIDEOS THAT THEY RUN DURING THOSE RECRUITING EFFORTS AND THOSE JOB FAIRS, UM, WHEN THEY ARE, UM, TRYING TO OUTREACH OUT HERE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, UH, OUR CITY'S PIO ON ANOTHER RECRUITMENT VIDEO TITLE, LOW LIFE OF A FEMALE FIREFIGHTER.
SO WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT ONE TO COME OUT.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT WILL GARNER MORE INTEREST FROM THE MALES, UM, TO EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A CAREER, THE BUS SERVICE, THEY, UH, CONTINUED THEIR EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, UM, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND THIS IS A GOOD WAY WHEN THEY'RE PUSHING THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
AND THERE'S A GOOD WAY TO ALLOW SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
[00:45:01]
TO COME IN AND GET THE NECESSARY TRAINING TO PERFORM THE JOB.SO THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR PROGRAM.
ALRIGHT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY, THE TEAM MENTORING PROGRAM, THEY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DUBIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS AS A RESULT OF THEM FINDING THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE POSSIBILITIES OF CAREERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH PARTNERING WITH THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FAMILIARIZE TEAMS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOPES OF GETTING THEM TO SERIOUSLY EXPLORE CAREERS, UM, IN THE WORLD OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE FIRE ACADEMY, WHICH IS LAID UP TO START AT JANUARY OF 2022.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO BEGIN AN ANNUAL FIRE ACADEMY.
THE ACADEMY WILL BE DESIGNED SO THAT ANY INTERESTED CANDIDATE WITH EVEN NO EXPERIENCE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATION AND THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THEIR JOBS DURING THE DAY CLASSES ARE GOING TO BE HELD AT NIGHT AND ON THE WEEKEND.
SO THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO JUST PULL THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COLLEGE WILL BE DOING A LARGE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO AGAIN, THESE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS BY THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
SO IF THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT WE MAY BE A PART OF CALL US, LET US KNOW WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO REACH OUT.
SO IF YOU RECALL, YOU DID ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO BAN THE BOX AND SUPPORT A FAIR HIRING PRACTICES BACK ON MARCH 26TH, 2019.
AND ON MAY 1ST, 2019, THE CITY IMPLEMENTED A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION POLICY.
SO AS A RESULT OF THE CITY, BANNING THE BOX AND IMPLEMENTING THAT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION POLICY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HR AND MYSELF WERE VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY MANAGER AND IDENTIFYING JOB CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, POST CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT AND JOB CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AT ALL.
SO WHAT WE USED WAS E O C ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE.
WE REVIEWED EACH AND EVERY JOB CLASSIFICATION ON THE CITY'S PAID PLAN TO DETERMINE IF THERE WOULD BE ANY CRIMINAL CONVENTION WITH A DEMONSTRABLY TYPE NEXUS TO THE POSITION.
IN QUESTION, IN OTHER WORDS, WOULD THERE BE ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTION THAT WOULD IMPACT AN APPLICANT'S ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB THAT ANALYTICAL TASK YIELDED THE PHONE WHEN RESULTS, THIS INFORMATION HERE, THESE NUMBERS ARE AS OF JULY 1ST, 2021.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 197 JOB CLASSES ON THE CITY'S CAP CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN.
THERE ARE 112 JOB CLASSES THAT REQUIRE A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK.
AND THEY'RE 80 THAT DO NOT 62 JOB CLASSES THAT REQUIRE SEX OFFENDER, REGISTRY CHECK 131 JOB CLASSES DO NOT 19 REQUIRE CREDIT REPORT WITH 78, DO NOT.
AND EVERYONE, EVERY POSITION HAS TO HAVE A DRIVING RECORD.
SO WE LOOKED AT THE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.
THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY PROVIDES INFORMATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS, MEANING FULL-TIME PART-TIME SEASONAL POSITIONS AS OF JULY 1ST, 2021 THAT REQUIRE OR DON'T REQUIRE THESE CHECKS.
SO LET ME SIT BACK AND CLARIFY REALLY QUICK.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE UTILITY CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATOR IS ONE JOB CLASSIFICATION.
SO IS COUNTED OVER ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE FIVE BUDGETED UTILITY CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATOR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO THAT ONE CLASS.
THAT NUMBER THAT FIVE IS REPRESENTED IN THIS 508 POSITIONS THAT YOU SEE HERE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE FIVE MONTHS OF EIGHT POSITIONS THAT INCLUDES SEASONAL POSITIONS AS WELL, 336 REQUIRE CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS.
AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR 3 36, THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE.
SO THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS ABOUT 195.
SO THEY'RE REALLY OUTSIDE OF POLICE AND FIRE.
THEY'RE ABOUT 141 POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE FROM THE CHECKS ONLY 1.1, ALL RIGHT, 268 POSITIONS REQUIRE SEX OFFENDER, REGISTRY CHECKS.
AND AGAIN, MOST OF THAT IS POLICE AND FIRE.
THEY TAKE UP ABOUT 1 95, SO ABOUT 73 POSITIONS.
UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT REQUIRE THOSE CHECKS.
UH, 100 POSITIONS REQUIRE CREDIT REPORT CHECKS, AND MOST OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ARE SWORN POLICE.
[00:50:01]
UH, THE CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED, IT'S REALLY UNIQUE TO NEWBURN AND MAYBE ONE OTHER MUNICIPALITY IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE IT.MOST ENTITIES BANNED THE BOX BY SIMPLY REMOVING THE QUESTION FROM THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION, BUT WE TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER.
NOT ONLY DID WE DO THAT, BUT WE BANNED CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF OUR JOB CLASSES AND OUR POSITIONS IN THE CITY.
SO IT HOPES THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE A TO EMPLOYMENT.
SO WITH US DOING THAT ONE THING I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, AND I DID NOT BRING A SLIDE, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS BASED ON OUR NEW HIRES FROM MAY 1ST, 2019 TO JULY 16TH, 2020, WE HIRED A TOTAL OF 118 EMPLOYEES, OKAY.
THAT EXCLUDES POLICE AND SEASONAL NEW HIRES, BUT WE HIRED ONE 18 OF THAT 1 18 54 APPLICANTS WERE HIRED THAT HAD TO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK.
AND THREE OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY JUSTICE INVOLVED HIRES 64 APPLICANTS OUT OF THE ONE 18 THAT WE HIRED HAD NO CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK.
SO THAT MEANS NOT ONLY DID WE NOT ASK THE QUESTION OF COURSE, ON THE APPLICATION, BUT WE DID NOT EXPLORE ANYTHING REGARDING ANYONE'S CRIMINAL RECORD IN THE HIRING PROCESS.
AS WE EXTENDED THE CONDITIONAL OFFER, WE DID NOTHING.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE 64 NEW HIRES ARE JUSTICE-INVOLVED HIRES BECAUSE WE DO NOT CHECK.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY OVERVIEW OF OUR POLICY, OUR RECRUITING PRACTICES, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AT THIS TIME? YES.
MA'AM, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE EXTENSIVE, UH, WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE WAY THAT YOU ACTUALLY ADVERTISE A POSITION FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH, THE BROAD YOU SO BROAD WITH THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD CAN DO TO THIS ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE CAN GO WITH THAT BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU'VE CUT WITH EVERYTHING AND I'M JUST REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT IN TO MAKE A SAFE, VERY PROSPER WORKPLACE.
JUST A COUPLE OF, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, DO WE STILL FUND B L E T FOR OFFICERS THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION THAT WE, WE USED TO HIRE THEM.
I THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD PAY FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH BLET, DO HIRE, UM, TRAINEES.
AND WE ALSO WANT HER TO PARTICIPATE IN BOET.
AND THERE'S NO, UNLESS THAT'S CHANGED, THERE'S NO SORT OF AGREEMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO STAY WITH US.
SO TECHNICALLY THEY COULD COME HERE.
WE COULD PAY FOR THEM TO GET EDUCATED AND CERTIFIED AND BLET, AND THEN THEY COULD LEAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER AGENCY.
WE DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT IF WE ARE SPONSORING THEM TO GO TO BLET, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WORK FOR, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
SO THE ATTORNEY DID WORK ON AN AGREEMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN SOME TIME BACK, SO THERE IS.
UM, MY, UH, SECOND COMMENT, UM, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE VERY GENEROUS WITH THE CDL SITUATION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW MANY EMPLOYEES HAVE WE GIVEN THAT GRACE PERIOD TO, TO GET THEIR CDL THAT ACTUALLY DID NOT WORK OUT.
I WOULDN'T KNOW THEM, BUT I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THEM WORK OUT THAT THEY DO.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LET ME HAVE THEM GO, UH, FOR NOT GETTING THEIR CDL.
SO THERE MAY BE A, MAYBE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S A SCHEDULING ISSUE WITH THE DMV AND THEY CAN'T GET IN, YOU KNOW, WHITE AT THAT SIX MONTH MARK.
SO WE WILL GIVE THEM EXTENSIVE GRACE AND GIVE THEM THAT UP TO 90 DAY, GRACE PERIOD.
NOW, HOWEVER, IF IT'S SOMEONE THAT'S JUST, THEY HADN'T WORKED ON IT, THEY HADN'T STUDIED, THEY HAVEN'T TRIED.
THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER STORY, BUT I WOULD SAY THOSE INSTANCES ARE JUST VERY FEW AND MARBLE.
OKAY, SONYA, UM, I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, BUT, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
UM, I REALLY ADMIRE THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT YOU SHOW.
UM, I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW DO WE INCREASE, UM, OUR DIVERSITY? AND I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF THE ISSUE HERE.
HOW DO WE HIRE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR? HOW DO WE HIRE MORE WOMEN? HOW DO WE HIRE MAYBE OLDER PEOPLE? UM, WE TOOK THE GAMUT OF ALL OF THOSE PROTECTED CLASSES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
[00:55:01]
BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS FROM YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT, YOU SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE.WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE BARRIER TO PEOPLE, UM, THAT WE ARE JUST SPEAKING ABOUT APPLYING FOR JOBS HERE, BECAUSE IN MANY CASES I'VE ASKED, YOU KNOW, IF THE APPLICANT POOL, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT BREAK DOWN? AND WE VERY FEW TIMES HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR OR WOMEN, LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, APPLYING FOR THESE JOBS, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE CAN GIVE YOU TO HELP INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS? WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE KIND OF PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER.
WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT OUR APPLICANT TRACKING PORTAL AND WE IMPLEMENTED THAT BACK, I THINK, LATE 2018.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES AND THE SYSTEM HAS A LOT OF CAPABILITIES.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER CAPTURE DATA, RIGHT.
TO DETERMINE WHO IS NOT QUALIFIED VERSUS WHO IS QUALIFIED.
SO IN CAPTURING THAT DATA, WE THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO HELP US IN AN OBJECTIVE FASHION TO DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR THOSE APPLICANTS WHO ARE NOT OTHERWISE QUALIFIED.
LET'S JUST SAY, ONCE WE DO WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN THIS APPLICANT TRACKING PORTAL, IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS WHO DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, ALL RIGHT.
AND SO THEY'RE REJECTED FOR EMPLOYMENT, OR IF THEY'RE A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS WHO DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND THEY'RE, UH, REJECTED FOR EMPLOYMENT, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT DATA AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.
AND THEN IN HOPES OF MAYBE WE CAN PARTNER WITH SOME COMMUNITY RESOURCES, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO PUT TOGETHER A CLASS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INVITE THEM TO THE CLASS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE NECESSARY TRAINING OR QUALIFICATION SO THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS THROUGH OUR APPLICANT TRACKING PORTAL, JUST TO SEE WHAT, WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE, UM, OUR DIVERSE WORKBOOK, WORK, WORK, WORK GROUP, AND TO GET MORE OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF APPLICANTS, IF YOU WILL.
UM, WOULD THAT BE FOR THE HIGHER LEVEL POSITIONS AS WELL? OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECTOR POSITIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE AGAIN, I BELIEVE WE ARE PROBABLY NOT HAVING A POOL OF APPLICANTS THAT IS DIVERSE, AND IT'S NOT THAT I BELIEVE WE'RE STOPPING THAT PROCESS OR NOT HIRING.
AND WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COMMUNITY TO DO A BETTER OUTREACH? YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT YOUR RESOURCES AGAIN.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE NATIONAL MINORITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ARE SENDING THIS INFORMATION TO, IS IT THAT THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN NEW BERN, YOU KNOW, OR, OR MOVE HERE? DO WE NOT HAVE, DO WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR SCHOOLS? DO WE NEED TO WORK ON OTHER THINGS? AND THAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THE BIGGER VISION I'D LIKE TO REALLY NARROW DOWN TO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US IN THE END.
AND THAT IS A MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.
AND I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER FOR YOU, UH, WITH THAT QUESTION.
AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T, BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO GET OUT THERE.
I, I DON'T, I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T GET A MORE EXPENSIVE POOL OF APPLICANTS FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE AREA, I JUST DON'T KNOW, BUT I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KIND OF DELVE INTO AND WE CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO OUR SISTER CITIES AND SEE IF THEY'RE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND MAYBE WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO THAT WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL, BUT YES, WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT AND WE DO WHAT WE CAN, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, YOUR EFFORTS ARE REALLY, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BEING SAID, IS IT ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS ONCE YOU DO THAT RESEARCH AND SHARE WITH US WHAT YOU DISCOVERED? SURE.
ONCE WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND KIND OF SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS THE SYSTEM AND DATA AND DIGGING INTO IT AND SEEING WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? WE DO WANT A DIVERSE GROUP WORK GROUP.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? SO ALL MEANS, YES, WE CAN COME BACK, GIVE US SOME, SOME INSIGHT ON SOMETHING THAT YOU DISCOVERED.
[8. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a CAMA Grant Application.]
MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT.THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CAMEL GRANT APPLICATION.
THIS IS FOR WARD THREE, WHICH IS LAWSON CREEK PARK.
UM, OUR WE'RE PROPOSING TO EXTEND THE MARSH WALK APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AND CREATE A FISHING AND OBSERVATION PLATFORM.
THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $147,745 AND 50 CENTS.
GRANT FUNDS WOULD COVER $110,809.
AND THE REMAINING $36,936 WOULD BE AT 25% MATCH FROM THE CITY WE DID APPLY TO FOR THE CAMERA GRANT.
[01:00:01]
NOT RECEIVE THAT GRANT CANDIDATE REACHED OUT TO US AND ASKED US TO COME BACK WITH THIS AGAIN.SO WE ARE ASKING FOR BOARD PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT.
OFTENTIMES WE BUDGET FOR POTENTIAL GRANT MATCHES.
IS THIS IN THE BUDGET, THE AMOUNT, IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE IT OR WHERE WE HAVE TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COVER THIS ONE, THAT IS, THAT IS COVERED.
WE DO BUDGET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR GRANTS OR MATCHING GRANTS EACH YEAR.
IS THIS GOING TO REQUEST BY HER CITIZENS? SO YOU WON'T SEEK IN WANTING TO HAVE THIS, THIS, UM, PHISHING PLATFORM.
THIS IS PART OF OUR MASTER PLAN WILL ALSO OFTEN CREEK BAR IN THE MORSEL.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US AND ME TO ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CAMERA GRANT APPLICATION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF THE SALARY ROLL CALL STARTED WITH ALL OF THEM WHO WAS THE FIRST AND WHO WAS THE SECOND? I'VE HEARD THEM AT THE CENTRAL ALDERMAN.
[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Sale of 135 Hillmont Road.]
KNOW.NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CELL AT 1 35 PHILMONT ROAD AFTER RECEIVING AN OFFER OF $6,750 FROM SANDRA ROGERS, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON JUNE 8TH TO INITIATE THE UPSET BID PROCESS.
THE OFFER WAS ADVERTISED, BUT NO EPISODE BIDS WERE RECEIVED.
THE PROPERTY IS A VACANT LOT WITH THE TAX VALUE OF $13,500 AND WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN MAY OF 2019 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE IN PAY TAXES.
AT THAT TIME WERE $6,182 AND 47 CENTS.
IF THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY IS APPROVED, THE CITY IS PROJECTED TO RECEIVE $2,901 42 CENTS.
AND COUNTY'S PROJECTED TO RECEIVE $3,848 58 CENTS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU MAY HAVE SPORT, HAVE QUESTIONS.
WHAT MAYOR, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF ONE 32ND MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SAYING ON THE SEVERAL CALLS STARTED WITH ALGEBRA ALDERMAN ITEM? YES.
MAYOR OTTOMAN ASKED HER OUT A WOMAN HARRIS.
[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Deed Conveying 908 Bloomfield Street to the Redevelopment Commission of the City of New Bern.]
ARE YOU GOING TO ASSIGN MR. CONSIDERED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEED CONVEYING 9 0 8 BLOOMFIELD STREET TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND OUR JUNE 22ND MEETING.THE BOARD EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO CONVEY THIS PROPERTY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED THIS AT THEIR JULY 14TH MEETING AND ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPERTY AND USE IT AS A HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEEP CONVEYANCE OF 9 0 8 BLOOMFIELD STREET TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OR THE CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION
OUTLAW ALDERMAN KINSEY OTTER MENDEZ.
[Items 11 & 12]
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A BUDGET ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE 2021 MEG READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS PROJECT FROM OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES DIRECTOR, CHARLIE BASHAR DISCUSSED THE METRO NET PROJECT AT THE BOARD'S WORK SESSION ON JUNE 15TH OF THIS YEAR.AS A FOLLOWUP TO THAT DISCUSSION, HE'S GOING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PROJECT OR REVIEW THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH HIS PHONE.
DID HE MAYOR OUT LOUD BOARD OF ALDERMAN? UM, AGAIN, BACK IN, UH, JUNE OF THIS YEAR, WE HAD A WORKSHOP AND WE DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF METRONET SPECIFICALLY, BUT FOR IBM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE CITY OPERATIONS AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, EXCEPT THERE WERE A COUPLE
[01:05:01]
MONTHS CLOSER TO THE START OF THE PROJECT.UM, OUR FORECAST PRETTY MUCH REMAINED THE SAME, NOT MUCH CHANGE THERE.
WE'VE TRIED TO TIGHTEN UP AND COORDINATE WITH METRO NET.
UM, DOUBLE-CHECK OURSELVES SPEAK WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES ON THE IMPACT THAT THEY'RE HAVING.
UM, SO BASICALLY IN SUMMARY, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE A COMPETITION, UH, AND THE RETAIL BROADBAND MARKETPLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
UM, WE'RE STARTING TO KICK OFF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND RECURRING CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS, UH, WITH METRO NET.
UH, THAT INTENSITY WILL BE INCREASING AS WE APPROACH AUGUST.
UM, NEXT UP IS YOU TOLD THE WHOLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT.
UH, I NEED TO FINALIZE THAT WITH METRO NET COME TO SOME TERMS AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOLKS TO CONSIDER AND THEN APPROVED SO THAT WE CAN OUTLINE THE COST RECOVERY FOR ATTACHING TO THE UTILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH METRONET IS TRYING TO GET STARTED QUICKER IF THEY CAN.
SO IT IS MOVING SOONER THAN LATER.
AGAIN, THE FIRST CUSTOMERS THEY'RE ANTICIPATING BE CONNECTED IN MARCH OR APRIL OF 2022.
AGAIN, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE ELECTRIC UTILITY AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THROUGHOUT OUR UTILITIES ENTIRE SERVICE TERRITORY.
SO IT WILL GO BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS.
UM, I TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A TABLE IN YOUR PACKET THAT SHOWS CASHFLOW, UM, AND THE EXPOSURE, THE COST OF THIS TO THE UTILITY.
AND IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME, I CAN LEAD YOU THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BASICALLY THIS IS, THIS IS A MATTER OF CASHFLOW HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO EXPENSE THE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, UM, TO MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE READY FOR THESE ATTACKERS AND THEN REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT, FOR THAT BURDEN ON THE UTILITY.
SO IN THE ELECTRIC FUND, I'M EXPECTING ABOUT $500,000 IN REVENUES OF THOSE REVENUES WOULD PROBABLY BE GENERATED OUT OF THE POLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT THAT I WILL BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU.
UM, FEES FOR APPLICATION FEES FOR INSPECTIONS, A NUMBER OF FEES WILL BE BUILT INTO THAT.
AND BASED ON MY FORECAST RIGHT NOW, BE ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UM, FOR THAT PROJECT ANNUALLY, UH, THE COST OF ATTACHING TO THE UTILITIES AND FORECASTING ABOUT $170,000 ANNUALLY BACK INTO THE ELECTRIC UTILITY FUND, UM, PURE EXPENSE WISE AND THE ELECTRIC UTILITY FUND AND FORECASTING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS, PRIMARILY THAT WILL BE IN THE COST OF LOCATING ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS METRONET EMERGES OUT EVERY TIME THEY PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND, UTILITY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO LOCATE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET SO THAT THEY CAN DIG SAFELY.
UM, THE ELECTRIC UTILITY CONTRACTS THAT SERVICE OUT RIGHT NOW, AND PLAN TO CONTINUE TO CONTRACT THAT SERVICE OUT.
UM, ALSO BUILT, THERE IS A FEW EXPENSES FOR MINOR EQUIPMENT AND WATER AND WASTEWATER.
THEY PERFORM THEIR OWN LOCATES, UM, ON THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WE NEED A COUPLE MORE PIECES OF LOCATING EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $20,000 FOR EACH OF THOSE FUNDS AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY NEED, UH, A CAMERA TO INSPECT THE SEWER SYSTEM AFTER METRONET DIGS AND POSSIBLY HIT OUR SEWER SYSTEM AND, UH, POSSIBLY SOME, UH, COMPUTER AND MOBILE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT, UM, REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES, ELECTRIC FUND, THAT'S THE BIG NUMBER, THAT'S ABOUT $7 MILLION.
UM, THAT'S BASICALLY MY FORECAST ON HOW MUCH IT MAY COST TO MAKE READY THE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IF THE ATTACHER NEEDS US TO CHANGE OUR POOL TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR FIBER, UH, THE COST OF DOING THAT CONTRACTUAL LABOR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THAT IS WHAT I'M FORECASTING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT THAT SHOULD ALL BE REIMBURSABLE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AND THEN STAFFING NEEDS, UM, ABOUT $470,000 FOR THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, 105,000 FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
AND ABOUT 95,000 FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS PROPERLY.
UM, SO BUILT INTO THE NEXT FEW AGENDA ITEMS IS, UH, SOME BUDGET, UH, WORK TO, TO MOVE SOME MONEY OVER INTO PROJECT FUND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT CASH FLOW AND ALSO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL STAFF.
WE SHOULD EXPECT THE STAFF TO BE PERMANENT POSITIONS.
UM, WE NEED SOME OF THESE POSITIONS
[01:10:01]
NOW THEY'RE LONG OVERDUE.UH, THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.
UM, AND IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE METRO NET PROJECT AND SUPPORT, UM, OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS, WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL HELP AND MENTORING THAT PROJECT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
WE PROBABLY WON'T WRAP THE PROJECT UP INTERNALLY UNTIL AFTER THEY'RE DONE.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE'RE FORECASTING THESE POSITIONS TO BE, UM, PERMANENT AS ALWAYS EVERY YEAR, WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FUNDED POSITIONS AND WE REASSESS HOW MANY WE NEED.
UM, SO EVERY YEAR WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THESE STAFFING LEVELS AND ADJUSTING AS WE, AS WE NEED TO THINK WHAT ELSE I CAN ADD TO CLARIFY THAT, RIGHT.
GO BACK TO THE REIMBURSABLE THING.
SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE REIMBURSABLE WICK WHO'S REIMBURSING US.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME, SELLING ME RIGHT NOW THAT IN THIS, WHAT YOU'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT MONEY BACK THROUGH THIS BROADBAND, UH, SERVICE PROVIDER, UH, WELL, WHATEVER IT IS, THE MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I'LL BACK TO YOUR POLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, AND IN THAT POLE ATTACHMENT AGREEMENT, THERE'LL BE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF, FOR WHAT METRO NET NEEDS TO PAY TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM READY.
UM, THE COST OF DOING THAT, I WOULD THEN INVOICE TO METRO NET AND WE WOULD REQUEST THAT MONEY BE REIMBURSED.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, ANYTIME THAT THEY STRIKE OUR UTILITIES AND DAMAGE OUR UTILITIES, THAT WILL GO INTO A DAMAGE CLAIM.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D CALL THAT A REIMBURSABLE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S MONEY THAT WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE TO GO AFTER AND COLLECT THE MONEY.
SO WHAT IS THIS THOUGH? THE MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.
WHAT WILL THAT ACTUALLY PAY FOR? WE DON'T HAVE A MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.
IS THERE SOME, OKAY, WELL, I GUESS MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IT.
THEN YOU SAID, WHAT WERE ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS IS TO REIMBURSE, UM, BACK INTO THE PROJECT FUNDS, SHOULD ANY GRANT MONEY BECOME AVAILABLE OR WE DON'T SPEND ALL THIS MONEY WE CAN REIMBURSE.
SO NONE OF THESE FUNDS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON ABOUT THE RECOVERY AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT.
SO MAYBE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS BEING USED TO DEFRAY SOME OF THE COSTS HERE.
ARE WE STILL LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF, I'M STILL LOOKING AT THOSE AND I SPOKE WITH, UH, MARGARET SHIELDS THIS AFTERNOON, AND SHE'S ALSO INVESTIGATING SOME OTHER GRANTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WE WANT TO LEAVE OUR, UM, POSITION OPEN SO THAT WE CAN FIND SOME GRANT MONEY.
WE CAN REIMBURSE OURSELVES AND GET SOME RELIEF, BE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE USING SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR BROADBAND.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT WE HAVE ALL THE GUIDANCE AND THAT WE CAN'T YET.
SO I THINK THE INTENT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE WAS THE TABLE THAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND LET THAT GUIDANCE EMERGE.
AND THEN IF, AND THEN COME BACK ONCE WE HAD CLARIFICATION, WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD USE IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU OR KIM, BUT THE $3 MILLION IS BEING TRANSFERRED OUT ELECTRIC FUND.
THAT'S COMING OUT OF FUND BALANCE OR ELECTRIC FUND.
WHAT, UM, I KNOW WE WILL GET THAT DIFFERENTLY.
DAY'S CASH ON HAND NOW VERSUS WHAT IT WILL BE WHEN THAT 3 MILLION IS REMOVED.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS BY CHANCE? SORRY.
COULD YOU JUST MAYBE LET THE BOARD KNOW, JUST SO WE'RE AWARE.
I KNOW THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WE, WE PRETTY MUCH TRY TO STAY ON TOP OF IS WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE USED THAT FUND BALANCE.
IF YOU WILL, YOU KNOW, DEFER WHOLESALE POWER COST INCREASES, WE'VE SORT OF PROJECTED THOSE OUT OVER SOME NUMBER OF YEARS UNTIL WE GET THAT DEBT FINALLY PAID FOR 2025.
I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW THAT $3 MILLION IS GOING TO IMPACT THAT GOING FORWARD.
I HAVE A QUESTION, PROBABLY METH AND WEST, WHATEVER TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'RE UP TO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WILL WE HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WITH METRONET AS TO WHERE WILL START THEIR PROJECT? UM, AND THE REASON WHY BLUE ORDER RICE WOULD BE A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR THEM TO START IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
UM, I'VE GOT, I'VE GOT A GENTLEMAN RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S GOT HIS HOUSE ON HOLD TO BUY A HOUSE OUT THERE BECAUSE HE HAS HAVE INTERNET FOR HIS WORK.
HE WORKS FROM HOME AND NOBODY CAN TELL HIM WHEN HE WILL GET INTERNET SERVICE.
AND YEAH, I CONTACTED THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS DOWN HERE AND HIS RESPONSE BACK WOULD BE SOMETIME THIS FALL.
UH, UM, SO THE GUY, HE'S NOT GONNA BUY A HOUSE UNTIL HE CAN GET INTERNET.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WHATSOEVER, CAN YOU KIND OF POINT THEM IN THE DIRECTION OF BLUE WATER RISE? BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE SECTION OF BLUE WATER RISE OUT THERE THAT HAS NO INTERNET, NO TELEPHONE,
[01:15:02]
NO CABLE TV, AND HAD, IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CELL PHONE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS WHATSOEVER.AND I CAN DIRECT THEM TO INQUIRE.
I THINK STAFF HAS BEEN BUILDING A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH METRONET.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS BACK AND FORTH.
UM, THEY OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BUILD FROM THERE, HOT AND BUILD OUT.
UM, BUT THEY'VE ALSO SPOKE TO ME THAT, UM, WHILE SOME OF THIS OTHER BUILDING OUT CONSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING, THEY MAY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO START BUILDING THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT, UM, WHEN THE, WHEN THE REST OF IT'S BUILT OUT, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ATTACH THAT, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET EVERYBODY CONNECTED.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPEDITE THIS AS WELL, BUT I'LL LET THEM KNOW SPECIFICALLY BLUE WATERS IS KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR.
CHARLOTTE, WHEN WE MET WITH SUNLIGHT, I BELIEVE ALL OF AN ASTRONOMICAL AND ODOM AND SOME OF THE STAFF.
I REMEMBER WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE, OUR FACILITIES OF, UM, OF PROVIDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOMEBODY PUTTING THE HOUSE DOWN AT THE FAR END.
AND IT CAME NECESSARILY JUST RUN DOWN THEIR SERVICE AT HOME BECAUSE UNLESS THEY'RE DEALING WITH A DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO COMPREHENSIVELY PROVIDE ALL THE, UM, THE ENGINEERING, ET CETERA, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES OF SOMEBODY HITTING THE LINE, ET CETERA.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE TALKED IN THAT MEETING OUT THERE ABOUT GETTING A STAKEHOLDERS GROUP TOGETHER, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID, JORDAN HUGHES WITH THE SEWER, UM, ELEMENTS OF JAMES CITY, ET CETERA.
SO FROM SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, CRAIG AND WEST, UM, THE PROJECT SAT IN TOWNSHIP SEVEN AND WE LOOKED INTO GETTING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS, THE DEVELOPERS, THE BUILDERS, UM, THE SUN LAKES TO MENTION THAT IF THEY WANT TO COME TO WHERE WE CAN WORK THROUGH WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND MAYBE EXPEDITE THESE THINGS, IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR YOU TO POINT OUT SOME OF THEM, WHY SUNLINK IS JUSTIFIABLY SAYING THERE, THERE, THERE ARE SOME DELAYS THERE.
UM, AND IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AS TO THEIR SIDE OF THE PANCAKE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAYBE RESOLVE THAT, THERE'S A, THERE'S AN ORDER TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, CALLS FOR AND THE WAY THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS LAID OUT.
AND IT'S PRIMARILY UP TO, UP TO THE DEVELOPER TO MANAGE ALL THOSE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT THEY GO ON IN AN ORDERLY PROCESS.
UM, TYPICALLY FIBER CABLE GOES IN LAST BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT DEEP.
AND IF IT GOES IN FIRST, IT'S GOING TO GET CUT AND BROKEN UP.
UM, WE MEET WITH OUR DEVELOPER, WE MEET WITH DEVELOPERS ON THESE PROJECTS, UM, DAILY, WEEKLY, WE'RE BACK, ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
UH, WE END UP COORDINATING WITH EVERY OTHER CONTRACTOR THAT'S ONSITE, UM, AND ENGAGED IN EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS.
SO IT IT'S, UM, IT'S VERY FLUID AND IT'S ONGOING, UM, MORE SO THAN IT IS A FORMAL CALLED MEETING.
AND THAT LIES INTO THE, INTO THE DEVELOPER'S HANDS IN, IN THEIR PROJECT MEETINGS.
WELL, A LITTLE BIT OF MY CONCERN IN THAT CONVERSATION WAS THE ABSORPTION RATE OUT HERE IS PHENOMENAL.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FIBER OPTICS IN AND HAVE TO WAIT 20 YEARS TO GET THEIR RETURN.
I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY GET THEIR RETURN.
AND SO, UM, I WAS A LITTLE SHIT GRANTED, THEIR, THEIR LACK OF, UH, FORECASTING, UH, DIFFERENT AREAS OF NEWBURGH.
I MEAN, IT'D BE VERY EASY TO GO TO DEVELOP SERVICES AND SEE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING STARTS AND THE PROGRESSION AND SAY, YOU KNOW, TO, TO COME IN AND SAY, WELL, WHERE WE GOT TO WAIT AND SEE IF THAT'S AN INVESTMENT.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME THINGS WE AS A CITY CAN DO TO KIND OF, UM, GUIDE THEM A LITTLE BETTER THAN, UH, THEY'RE TRENDING SEEM TO BE MARCHING, UM, WITH METRONET LIKE I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.
WELL, I'M NOT SUDDENLY, BUT, BUT GO AHEAD.
UH, I WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH METRO NET AND ADVISING THEM OF WHERE OPPORTUNITIES LIE.
UM, THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF WEST NEWBURN.
THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF, UH, BLUE WATER RISING, YOU KNOW, SHOWING THEM THESE AREAS, UM, BASED ON THEIR INTEREST IN AND HELPING THEM GET SITUATED IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU GOT TO, UH, WAS THAT AN ORDER? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, IT'S, I MEAN, TWO DAYS AFTER I MOVED IN MY HOUSE, I HAD CABLE PEOPLE OUT THERE HOOKING MY CABLE UP.
[01:20:01]
DIDN'T EVEN KNEW THIS STUFF WAS IN THE GROUND RIGHT BEHIND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.AND IT'S JUST, THERE'S NO EXCUSE.
AND THEY MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT BLUE WATER RISE, JUST NOT BEING IN A DESPERATE FOR YEAH.
THAT WAS THEIR COMMENTS, REASON WHY THEY PUT THE CABLES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUT THERE.
AND, AND I THINK THAT ONCE METRONET IS AVAILABLE AND BLUE WATER RISE, I WOULDN'T BE A BIT SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T LOSE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT THERE THERE'LL BE INCREASED COMPETITION.
I STILL WOULD ENCOURAGE A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND ANYTHING SORT OF CELLAR BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE GLAD TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN ARRANGING THAT.
I THINK THAT IF, UH, THE MAJOR BUILDER DEVELOPERS IN THIS AREA WERE IN THE SAME ROOM, LIKE WE'RE OVER THE SEWER.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD PROBABLY EDUCATE SOME OF THEM THAT ARE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON COORDINATING ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY INTERNET.
CAN I PULL UP WITH YOU AFTERWARDS IF HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO? OH, YES, SIR.
AND MR. HUGHES CAN KIND OF TELL YOU WHAT WE, HOW THAT WORKED OUT.
SO CAN WE COMBINE 11 AND 12? YES, SIR.
WELL THEN MAN, IF YOU'RE READY, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE BUDGET ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED IN THE 2021 MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS, PROJECT FUND, AS WELL AS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, APPROVING A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE FOR THE 2021 MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROAD BRAND SERVICE PROVIDERS PROJECT SECOND.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GRANT MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? SEE AN ON THE CYBER ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN OUT OF THEM.
OTTOMAN KENZIE MAYER, OUTLAWS, ALDERMAN ASTERISK.
[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Amend the Classification Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2021- 22]
13.THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR FYI 2122.
AS MR. BURCHARD DISCUSSED PROPOSING TO ADD THREE POSITIONS, THEY INCLUDED UTILITY LOCATOR, UTILITY LOCATE COORDINATOR AND UTILITY COORDINATOR TO THE PAY PLAN.
MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CLASSIFICATION PAY PLANET FOR FYI 2122.
IS THERE DISCUSSION? SEE US NUMBER A ROLL CALL AND STARTED WITH ON ONE BINGO.
ALDERMAN ASKED HER MAY YOUR OUTLAW ORDERING KINSEY.
[14. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for the FY2021- 22 Operating Budget]
NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE FY 2122 OPERATING BUDGET.UH, THIS AMENDMENT APPROPRIATES 227,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF HANCOCK AND SOUTH FRONT STREETS.
IT ALSO APPROPRIATES $7,300 FOR THE PIG AND CLOUD-BASED VIDEO BACKUP STORAGE PROJECT AND $3,065,000 FOR ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR THE 2021 MAKE RATED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS, PROJECT FUNDING ALSO GRANTS FUNDS AT TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM AND 5,000 FROM WALMART FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND THE FIREMAN'S PURCHASE OF WATER RESCUE EQUIPMENT, NO MATCHES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE, FOR THOSE TWO GRANTS.
AND FINALLY, THE NPO GRANT FUND IS AMENDED TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT APPROVED BY THE NCD OT IN THE AMOUNT OF $230,532.
THIS IS A DECREASE OF $25,888.
UH, WE ORIGINALLY PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE ABOUT 256,420.
SO THAT THAT 230 IS ACTUALLY WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE OT.
TALK ABOUT HOUSEKEEPING, SWEEPING EVERYTHING INTO THE DUST FAN SLIDE.
UM, I SAID, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MOTION, I GUESS.
SO, UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE FYI 20 21, 22 OPERATING BUDGET.
SECOND MOTION AND SECOND RESERVE DISCUSSION.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE RAILROAD PROPERTY'S COMING OUT OF MSD.
[01:25:01]
CHECKED THEM.IT SHOWS THAT IT'S AND THAT'S CORRECT, KIM, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT YOU SHOWED THE LINE ITEM THAT IT'S, UH, COMING OUT OF MSD FUNDS? UM, WELL MSD IS MSD UNDER SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT, BUT IT'S SPECIFICALLY MSD FUNDS.
YEAH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDS ARE COMING.
I ASSUMED, UM, ALDERMAN OUT OF, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I DID ASSUME, AND YOU KNOW, THAT TERRIBLE WORD, THAT SPECIAL APPROPRIATE BRING HER MOTION AND LET IT COME OUT MINISTRY.
SO I WANT TO AMEND MY MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE FY 2122 OPERATING BUDGET.
THAT INCLUDES, UH, THE FUNDS FOR THE RAILROAD PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF HANCOCK AND SOUTH FRONT STREET COMING FROM MSD, TEXAS.
SECOND, IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEVERAL LOCAL CALL COMING FROM, UM, STARTING ALDERMAN ODOM.
MAY OUR OUTLAW OTTERMAN ASKED HER OUT A WOMAN HARRIS.
[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Addition of a Streetlight on 8th Street]
CARRIES.NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ADDITION OF A STREET LIGHT ON EIGHTH STREET.
MARY TRAIN TWO 12 EIGHTH STREET IS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHTING.
THE AREA WAS EVALUATED AND DETERMINED TO NOT MEET THE CITY'S LIGHT STANDARDS.
STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED ONE STREET LIGHT BEING INSTALLED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 700, $2 57 CENTS.
THE MONTHLY UTILITY CHARGE WOULD BE PAID BY PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE $8 AND 44 CENTS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ADDITION OF A STREETLIGHT ON EIGHTH STREET MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION?
MAY ARE OUTLAWS ORDERING KINSEY.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS? UH, UNDER YOUR REPORT ON THIS STRAIGHT LIKES.
[16. Appointment(s)]
SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS.I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OF CANVAS SULLIVAN TO THE HPC BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO REAPPOINT, UM, JULIAN TRIP AND UH, LEANDER ROBBIE MORGAN JR.
TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
IS THERE DISCUSSION SAYING THAT FAVOR? THE MOTION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THAT'S ALL, SIR.
I HAVE, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT KAREN MAY.
KAREN IS A RETIRED EXECUTIVE WITH WELLS FARGO BANKING SYSTEM TO THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SAYING FRED MOTION, SAY AYE.
OPPOSED TO SAYING YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS, ALL WOMAN HAIRS, ALL NO BAIL.
TONIGHT AT THIS TIME, LET'S GET TO THE ATTORNEY'S REPORT.
NOTHING DEPARTMENT, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
[18. City Manager's Report.]
GOT A FEW THINGS TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.AND I HERE BASED OUR LAST MEETING AND THIS FISH CAME OUT ON BURNDOWN STREET LIGHTS.
AND SO WE DID SPEAK TO STAFF AT OUR APARTMENT, HAD A MEETING THE NEXT DAY AND DO, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER IS RUNNING INFORMATION ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS WEBSITE.
AND YOU'VE ACTUALLY GOT SOME INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT DIRECTS PEOPLE ON, ON HOW TO CALL IN OR, OR SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST THROUGH THE WEBSITE SHOWS YOU WHAT NUMBERS TO LOOK FOR TO TURN THAT IN.
ALSO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF GALLAGHER HAS INSTRUCTED HIS, HIS STAFF TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BURNED DOWN STREET LIGHTS, PARKS, AND RECREATION IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT GOES AROUND TONIGHT AS WELL TO WALK CERTAIN AREAS UP.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO LOOK AT CERTAIN AREAS TO FUND THOSE IN AS WELL.
SO CITIZENS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO HELP OUT.
AS YOU SEE A BURNDOWN STREET LIGHT, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND SEE A DEFINED IT'S UNDER THE, HOW DO I SECTION TO REPORT A PROBLEM? YOU CAN EITHER CALL THE NUMBER ON THERE, OR YOU WILL JUST FILL THE INFORMATION OUT ON AVERAGE.
WE'RE GETTING ABOUT TWO RESPONSES
[01:30:01]
A WEEK ON BURNDOWN LINES.HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME.
AND JUST A SUGGESTION THAT, UM, I DON'T EXPECT STEPS SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON IT, BUT MAYBE COULD WE CHECK INTO A QR CODE POSSIBILITY THAT WAY, IF YOU PUT A QR CODE ON THERE INSTEAD OF A CITIZEN HAVING TO PUT IN A WEBSITE, THEY CAN SCAN THE QR CODE.
IT SHOULD TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TO A WEBSITE THAT WOULD ALREADY HAVE THAT NUMBER OF INFORMATION IN THERE THAT THEY COULD HAVE A DROPDOWN.
IS IT THIS, THE LIGHT FLASH OFF AT ALL? AND IS IT COMPLETELY OUT JUST AS SIMPLE AS WE CAN MAKE IT? I THINK WE'LL GET MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT ITEM IS I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF, UM, BOY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY RECENTLY WHO WERE AWARDED ACCREDITATION.
THEY JOINED PARKS AND RECREATION AS WELL AS POLICE AND BEING NATIONALLY ACCREDITED AND ACCREDITED AND ACCREDITATION MEANS THAT THEY'RE MEETING CERTAIN STANDARDS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND REALLY WITH FELICE, UH, AND PUBLIC WORKS, THERE REALLY ONLY A HANDFUL OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT MEET THOSE STANDARDS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD OF ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY CHEAP BOY FOR THE GREAT JOB HE'S DONE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS UNITED BADGES BLOOD DRIVE.
SO THEN IT'S GOING TO BE TOMORROW.
UH, IT'S FROM EIGHT, 8:00 AM, SIX 30.
WHERE'S THAT AT CHIEF KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
SO COLLEEN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY.
AND, UH, AS OF ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON, THERE WERE OVER 165 FOLKS THAT HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE BLOOD DRIVE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I THINK THERE'S STILL A FEW SPACES LEFT.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CALLING CAN LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN SIGN UP AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE FOR THE POWER CARD.
RIGHT? OUR NEXT ITEM IS FEMA IS HOSTING STANLEY RECREATION CENTER, PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING THAT IS THURSDAY NIGHT.
IT WILL BE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT THE OMEGA CENTER AT 800 SEEKER STREET.
FEMA WAS RUNNING THIS MEETING, UH, SO THEY WILL DO A PRESENTATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THAT THE CITY SUBMITTED TO THEM.
THEY WILL COVER THAT ASSESSMENT.
THEY WILL TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE.
THEY WILL ALSO BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS MEETING ONCE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS, WHICH IS A 30 DAY PERIOD, FEMA MAY COME BACK TO THE CITY AND ASK US, UH, TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS THAT CITIZENS MAY HAVE HAD DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE'LL HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO RESPOND.
THEN AFTER THAT THING, WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE A MONTH, SIX WEEKS, POSSIBLY TWO MONTHS TO GIVE US THEIR FINAL REPORT.
UH, SO WE HOPE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETE.
THEY MOVE WILL GIVE US A DETERMINATION AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? AND WE WILL BE BROADCASTING THAT ON THE CITY'S FACEBOOK PAGE, AND WE WILL TAKE THAT OR FOR LATER BROADCAST ON THE PICTURE, UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF CITY HALL UPGRADES, WE RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
SO I HAVE INCLUDED SOME INFORMATION IF THERE'S WELL, UM, I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A BROAD IDEA TOTAL THAT WE HAVE SPENT ON REPAIRS TO CITY HALL, UH, $397,472 AND 82 CENTS OVER REPAIRS, $272,000 OF THAT IS FROM FEMA INSURANCE REPAIRS.
AND THAT BASICALLY INCLUDED, UH, REPAIRING THIS COURTROOM, PLASTER REPLACEMENT, SOME WITHIN THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MAINTENANCE FOR BROWN PARALLEL ABILITY, WHICH ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WHICH INCLUDED A LOT OF PAINTING AND INCLUDED CARPET.
IT ALSO INCLUDED THE REMODELING OF THE KITCHEN DOWN IN THE BASEMENT.
AND WE HAD SOME TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,438.
SO WHEN WE WERE TEARING EVERYTHING OUT HERE, IT REALLY ONLY MADE SENSE FOR US TO COME IN AND REMOVE ALL THE WIRING THAT HAD BEEN UNDERNEATH THIS FLOOR AND THAT IT FED UP TO WHERE YOU'RE SITTING OVER THE YEARS.
AND SO WE CLEANED ALL THAT UP.
WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR TECHNOLOGY BY ADDING MONITORS FOR EACH OF YOU TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE PRESENTATIONS, UM, NEW, NEW MIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THE UPGRADE WIRING HAS HELPED OUT TREMENDOUSLY.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, ONLY TWO THINGS I WOULD MENTION OR ASK YOU TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, TELL HIM IS HOW MUCH SAFER THIS BUILDING IS NOW FOR EMPLOYEES AND ALSO ANY POTENTIAL.
I KNOW YOU RAN INTO QUITE A LOT OF SITUATIONS WHERE, UM, FROM FIRE PREVENTION AND ABATEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DID RUN INTO ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND THE NEXT THING I WANT TO SAY IS WE'RE NOT FINISHED.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO CITY HALL.
AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
IF YOU GET A SIDE ON THE CLOCK TOWER, WE'RE MISSING SHINGLES,
[01:35:01]
DO SOME WORK ON THAT.WE STILL HAVE SOME FEMA WORK TO DO TO READ POINT RIP ON AT LEAST TWO SIDES OF THIS BUILDING, BUT THE OTHER TWO SIDES STILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE'VE ALSO GOT AN ISSUE WITH THE STAIRCASE LEADING UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR WHERE THAT'S SEPARATING FROM THE STRUCTURE.
SO THERE ARE MORE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO CITY HALL.
WE'VE HAD THIS BUILDING FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT ICON FOR OUR CITY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM, AND FOR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING BOTH THE CITY HALL ISSUES, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE COUNTY IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.
WE ARE, UM, HPC FOLLOW STATE GUIDELINES FOR SEALING, FEDERAL, FEDERAL, AND STATE.
UH, STATE IS JOHN WOOD IS THE ONE THAT'S BASICALLY SAID THAT YOU CAN'T SELL A BUILDING.
UM, HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE THEM TONIGHT.
BUT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UM, THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.
UM, AS TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, UH, HE DISAGREES WITH THAT.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, BRICK IS POROUS AND YOU CAN RE POINT EVERY GROUND JOINT ON THIS BUILDING.
AND I WILL TAKE A ROUND TUBE AND I WILL PUT IT ON THE FACE OF A BRICK AND I WILL PUT WATER IN IT.
AND THAT WATER WILL BE GONE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
UM, SO BRICK IS POROUS AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM, FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, WE JUST DISAGREE.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, UM, THE, THE CITY IN THIS BUILDING IS IN THE SAME POSITION THAT THE COUNTY IS WITH THEIR COURTHOUSE.
AND WHERE DO YOU TAKE THAT? OR DO WE TAKE THAT? UH, THE LAST I HEARD, I BELIEVE WE WERE TRYING TO GET JOHN WOOD HERE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH SOME CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
HE'S ACTUALLY ALREADY MET WITH THE COUNTY AND TOLD HIM THAT.
UM, BUT I GUESS THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING.
I MEAN, HE'S, HE'S REALLY JUST DOING HIS JOB.
I WOULD DO BETTER TO GET TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S ALL BASED ON THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR STANDARDS.
AND THE REASON THAT, UH, THEY KEEP DENYING IT IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE PRODUCT OVER TIME WILL DISINTEGRATE THE BRICK.
AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BRITAIN.
LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING I AGREE OR NOT, BUT THAT IS THE, UH, DISAGREE OR NOT, BUT THAT IS THE, UH, THE METHOD THAT THEY USE.
I MEAN, JOHN, JOHN WOOD IS JUST CARRYING OUT THE STRIP, THE INSTRUCTIONS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GO TO A HIGHER LEVEL.
UH, TIM SIMMONS IS ABOVE HIM IN THE STATE.
MAYBE WE GET TIM SIMMONS DOWN HERE.
HE'S THE ONE THAT AUTHORIZES MOST OF THE STUFF.
AND THEN ABOVE HIM, WE'D HAVE TO GO TO WASHINGTON DC, BUT I BELIEVE IF WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
AND I AGREE IT'S, IT'S IMPACTED EVERY BUILDING IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT IS BRICK BECAUSE EVERYBODY SOONER OR LATER IS HAVING WATER INTRUSION PROBLEMS AND YOU CANNOT CODE IT.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH OUR WHILE AND BE AT AN ADVENT ADVANTAGEOUS TO OUR CITIZENS AND THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
IF WE DID PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND FOUND OUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO CHANGE IT, I WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE ELEVATOR.
ORIGINALLY, THE PROJECT WAS STARTED, WAS SUPPOSED TO START CONSTRUCTION THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, UH, GEORGE CHARLES, AND FOR ME LATE LAST WEEK THAT, UH, THE, UH, ARCHITECT DISCOVERED ISSUES WITH OUR ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO PUSH THIS PROJECT BACK APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE HOW, HOW, HOW MUCH THAT WILL IMPACT US.
SO WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THIS TIME LET'S GET TO THE NEW BUSINESS.
ONE MORE THING FOR YOU AND THE MAYOR.
UM, KIM OCEAN WAS APPOINTED INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR AT OUR LAST MEETING.
WE RECOMMENDED A 15% SALARY INCREASE WHILE SHE SERVES IN THIS CAPACITY.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR A BOARD'S DIRECTION ON THIS MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR MOTION, SAY AYE.
ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? THAT'S IT NEW BUSINESS
[19. New Business.]
STORY WITH ALL THE VEIL? UH, I HAVE ONE ITEM.UM, UH, AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY A GROUP OF CITIZENS, UM, IN THE AREA WHERE A STORE IS BASICALLY FALLING IN THE STREET.
I BELIEVE IT'S EUBANKS, UM, STREET OVER THERE.
AND, UH, THE STORE HAS, IT'S A TWO STORY BUILDING HAS BEEN DISINTEGRATING.
IT, UH, THE ROOF CAVED IN AND IT'S FALLING IN THE STREET.
CHILDREN ARE PLAYING OUT THERE.
UM, I'VE HEARD THE CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS AND I,
[01:40:01]
I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS, BUT I'M GOING TO REALLY, UM, ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SPEAK TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU SEE A SITUATION LIKE THAT AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T TEAR IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.IT IS A, UM, A DANGER IN IMMINENT DANGER.
PEOPLE FEEL THERE'S KIDS AROUND THERE.
BUT, UM, MR. DAVIS, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND, I KNOW WE HAVE A PROCESS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S PROPERTY RIGHTS, THAT OWN, THAT PROPERTY ARE BEING UPHELD AND THAT THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WANT THE CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT.
AND PART OF IT IS SHE USED THE TERM EMINENT DANGER, AND I AGREE WITH HER ON THAT.
UM, SO WE, UM, WE HAVE STATE LAWS AND FEDERAL LAWS CONSTITUTION THAT LIMITS GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO GO TEAR UP AND TAKE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO WE HAVE TO, UM, GO THROUGH A DUE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OWNER HAS A NOTICED OPPORTUNITY TO CURE ANY DEFECTS.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN THAT PROCESS FOR A GREAT MANY YEARS.
UM, IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT'S A TWO-STEP PROCESS.
UM, A STRUCTURE IS INSPECTED DEPENDING ON ITS LEVEL OF DETERIORATION.
IT MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS DETERIORATED, MEANING THAT IT CANNOT BE TORN DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT, OR IT MAY BE DILAPIDATED IN WHICH CASE IT CAN BE TORN DOWN UP UNTIL THE ROOF CAVED.
IN MOST RECENTLY, THE STRUCTURE WAS CLASSIFIED AS DETERIORATED, MEANING THAT IT CAN BE BOARDED UP, BUT THE CITY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN IMPOSE PENALTIES ON THE OWNER.
THIS PARTICULAR OWNER, UM, LOVES THE PROPERTY, LOVES THE BUILDING.
THEY HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY AND SEEKING GRANTS FOR MANY YEARS AND WANTED TO RESTORE THAT STRUCTURE, UM, UM, IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO THE ROOF HAS FALLEN IN THAT CAN, THE CLASSIFICATION HAS CHANGED.
UM, TURNS OUT ONE OF THE OWNERS IS, UM, HOSPITALIZED AND IN PRETTY SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION DURING THIS PERIOD.
UM, BUT ONCE THE ROOF COLLAPSED, THE BUILDING WAS INSPECTED.
AN ORDER WAS ENTERED THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE CAN GIVE US 30 DAYS TO GIVE AN OWNER AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEAR THE BUILDING DOWN THEMSELVES OR FIX IT UP IF THEY WANT.
DURING THAT TIME, THE CITY'S OBLIGATION IS TO BARRICADE THE SITE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC CHILDREN CANNOT GET ACCESS TO IT.
I DON'T RECALL IF IT'S THE SECOND OR 3RD OF AUGUST, UM, BUT THE TIME WILL BE UP, UM, THEREAFTER.
IF THE OWNER DOES NOT DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE, YOU WILL ENTERTAIN A DEMOLITION ORDINANCE AND THE CITY WILL DEMOLISH IT THE NEXT DAY.
UM, AS TO EMINENT THREATS, THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE LAW, UM, THAT ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO, UM, DESTROY PRIVATE PROPERTY.
IF THERE IS AN EMINENT THREAT NEWBURN, VERY AGGRESSIVELY IN THE NINETIES, RELIED ON THAT STATUTE AND TORE DOWN DOZENS AND DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF PROPERTIES ON THAT THEORY, THE QUESTION WAS CALLED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
UM, IN A CASE THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE GOVERNMENT.
WE GOT A STRUCTURE MUCH LIKE THIS, WHERE THE ROOF HAD CAVED IN.
UM, THE HOUSE WAS INFESTED WITH RATS.
UM, THE LOCK WAS OVERGROWN AND IT WAS ADJACENT TO A DAYCARE CENTER, UM, EXPERTS, OPINED, UM, AND AGREED THAT IT WAS AN EMINENT THREAT.
AND THE BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN.
THAT CASE WENT TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND THE COURT OF APPEALS REMINDED LIBERAL GOVERNMENTS.
THAT EMINENT THREAT MEANS PRECISELY EMOND MEANING NEC NOT THEORETICALLY OR CONCEPTUALLY, BUT NOW MEANING BRICKS ARE FALLING OFF THE BUILDING, THE BUILDING'S ON FIRE.
THERE'S A FLOOD, THAT'S PUSHING THE BUILDING DOWN IN WHICH CASE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO STEP IN AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE AROUND THAT STRUCTURE.
SO THE LAW IS VERY NARROW WHEN IT COMES TO FEMININE THREATS.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THE LAW ALWAYS FAVORS PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THAT IS OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ALWAYS PROTECTS PROPERTY RIGHTS.
UM, SO WE'RE FALLING ALL THOSE RULES.
WE'RE BEING AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN MINDFUL OF THOSE PROPERTY RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CITIZENS ARE ENGAGED AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A BOARD POLICY, A CITY POLICY OF TRYING TO LET PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES AS BEST THEY CAN.
UM, BUT THIS, THIS HAPPENED LAST MONTH.
UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, IF IT'S NOT REPAIRED, THERE'LL BE A DEMOLITION ORDINANCE.
[01:45:01]
LAST PART OF WHAT YOU SAID, THAT'S WHY THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THESE BUILDINGS IN NEWBURGH THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM MAKING INVESTMENTS IN PROPERTIES NEARBY.AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHEN I THINK OF THE MAIN MAYBE SANDLER BUILDING.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A LONG PROCESS AND IT WAS AN APPLE AND THIS IS AN ORANGE, BUT, UM, IF ANYBODY RUNS BY AND DOESN'T SEE THE DANGER OF THIS BUILDING, UM, NOT BEING TORN DOWN, I WOULD DEBATE THAT.
UM, SCOTT, DOES MR. RUGGIERI, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THIS DATE IS? I THINK SCOTT, YOU MENTIONED IT WAS EITHER THE THIRD OR FOURTH.
DO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT IS AUGUST THE SECOND? SCOTT, CAN WE CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING NOW AND HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST THE THIRD AND YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION READY? SO IF THEY DO NOT GET AN IN COMPLIANCE, WE CAN MEET AS LONG AS THERE'S A FORM.
UM, WE CAN PASS THAT AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS CAN BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT DAY TO TEAR IT DOWN.
LET ME CIRCULATE AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD TOMORROW TO SEE IF THAT'LL WORK.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK.
THAT WAS WITH OUR LOG THAT WEEK IS WHEN SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN.
AND THEN WE WOULD BE AT FAULT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE TECHNICALLY DONE EDUCATION.
UM, THERE IS A SPECIALIST IN THAT BUILDING, SO WE NEED TO REMOVE THE ASBESTOS BEFORE IT CAN BE TAKEN DOWN AND DO THE CONDITION OF THE, OF THE BUILDING ITSELF, UM, ARE NORMAL, ESPECIALLY THIS REMEDIATION PERSON IS NOT GOING TO GO INTO IT.
SO WE HAVE TO DO, WHAT'S CALLED A WET HALL, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS.
AND IT'S A TIME IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.
UM, AND IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO THE BUILDING WILL NOT COME DOWN THE NEXT DAY.
WE WILL BEGIN THE REMEDIATION PROCESS FOR SPASTICITY BEFORE WE CAN TAKE DOWN.
BUT THE SOONER WE CAN ACT THE SOONER YOU CAN BE BETTER TO DO THAT.
AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO JUST NOTIFY US? WE'D HAVE 48 HOUR NOTICE, AND THEN EXACTLY.
IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS, WE CERTAINLY WILL WITH A 48 HOURS NOTICE ON SPECIAL MEETING.
I KNOW I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I'VE GOTTEN A FEW CALLS AND THE CITIZENS WERE QUITE CONCERNED AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE HEARING THE REASONS THAT I WAS HEARING THEM.
UH, OUR WOMAN PARENTS, UM, THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS I WANT TO THANK KIM FOR STEPPING IN AND, UH, AS FINANCE DIRECTOR.
AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, YOU GUYS MAY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I MISSED, BUT I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, UM, OUR CITY CLERK FOR HER AWARD THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM WHAT WAS THE ORGANIZATION? GENERAL CODE 2021, UM, CITY CLERK ON A ROLL.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TIFFANY SBU AGAIN, UH, WITH THE NEWBURN HOUSING AUTHORITY TO OUR MEETING TONIGHT.
AND ALSO SPRING, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WELCOME THE CRATE? IT WAS LEADERSHIP CRAVEN.
I'D LIKE FOR THE LEADERSHIP CRAVEN, UM, CLASS TO STAND UP, THAT'S HERE TONIGHT AND JUST, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK IS EXCELLENT, BUT I WANT TO SEE YOUR FACES IN THESE REALMS TOO, BECAUSE AS WE TRAIN LEADERS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, WHETHER IT'S LEADERS IN YOUR HOME AND YOUR BUSINESS, UM, IN YOUR PROFESSION, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE THIS KNOWLEDGE AND PUT IT TO WORK.
AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE IS, IS IT'S GETTING TO WHERE I'M NOW WITH SUDDENLY STARTING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR ISSUES AROUND HERE.
I'M NOT GETTING AS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTERNET PROVIDER, BUT IT'S RAPIDLY BEING REPLACED WITH LITTER IN OUR CITY AND ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, WE ALL HAVE YET TO PARTNER MORE AND WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THEM.
UM, SOME OF THE MAIN CULPRITS AND CULTURES THAT ARE CAUSING THIS, AND NONE BETTER THAN THE TRUCKS GOING OUT TO TESCO ROAR AND, UH, APPLAUD REP SAID TO STEVE TYSON, OUTLAY, ANYBODY WORKS HARDER IN PREGNANT COUNTY LITTERED AND STEVE AND, AND OTHERS.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT MY, MY NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT IS RAPIDLY BECOME A LITTER OF, I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME GOOD STEPS, BUT DID WE EVER FOLLOW UP WITH THE NCD OR T FROM THE LAST MESS THEY MADE? UM, DID YOU READ THE NEWS
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BECAUSE I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR US THAT WE HAD TO SEND OUR EMPLOYEES OUT THERE FOR TRASH THAT THEY CREATED.WE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE REACHED OUT DEAR.
AND SO NOW PRIOR TO THEIR MOWING, THEY'RE GOING TO LET US KNOW IN A FEW WEEKS IN ADVANCE BEFORE THEY MOW AS, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE OBLIGATED TO DO THE HIGHWAY CLEANUP IN THAT SECTION FROM GLEN BURNIE TO THE TURNER RIVERSIDE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF WILL FACILITATE THAT FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO SCHEDULE OUR CLEANUPS PRIOR TO THEIR MOWING.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL AVOID THE INSTANCE THAT THAT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO.
GEORGE WHITE, COULD YOU JUST GIVE US AN UPDATE ON ALL THE DRAINAGE PROJECTS? CURRENTLY STILL GOT THREE THAT ARE STILL ONGOING.
UH, JIMMY'S JUST REALLY STARTED, UH, GRILLO CONSTRUCTIONS IN THAT AREA.
WE HAVE ONE THAT'S BEING REBID TOMORROW, WHICH IS QUARRY TWO, WHICH IS IN ALDERMAN KENZIE'S WARD.
UM, FOR MOST PARTS THAT'S BEING REBID TOMORROW.
SO WE'LL SHORTLY BE ABLE TO TURN THAT BACK AROUND, TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK DONE IN THAT AREA.
WE'VE ALSO HAD VERY BRAVE YOU BACK OUT TO MANY OF THE BASINS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL CAT, A WORK PIT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED OR ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT THE CONTRACTORS FOUND WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THAT WERE NOT IN THE PLANS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO INCLUDE IN THAT.
SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT PICKED UP ALSO WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THESE SPACES, ANYTHING SICKER, UM, WITH THE
IF YOU LOOK IN THAT AREA FROM THE, THE REAL ESTATE AREA, WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON ONE SIDE TO WHERE MACK FLIES BY CHUCK IS ON THE OTHER.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN THAT CANAL AREA, YOU CAN SEE THE SUBSTANTIAL WORK THEY DID IN THAT AREA.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY THE EXCAVATOR STILL BACK ALONG THE FAR WOODLINE, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO TAKE A LONG STICK EXCAVATOR IN THERE TO DO THAT WORK.
AND THEN THEY JUMPED, IF YOU SAW THE WORK WRONG, 70, WHERE THEY WERE DIGGING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OVERPASS OR THE WHOLE RAMPS, THEY WERE DIGGING IN THAT AREA ALSO.
SO THAT WAS A CONTINUATION OF A LOT OF THESE, THESE DITCHES.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BENEFIT, UM, FROM THIS WORK WHEN WE GET DONE.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED INFORMATION ON RACETRACK ROAD? YES, I HAVE THAT.
I'VE GOT TO WORK WITH CONSULTANTS TO GET FINAL NUMBERS ON THAT.
UH, GEORGE, SOMETIME NEXT WEEK YOU GET WITH ALL THE KANSAS RUN TOGETHER AND YOU LOOK AT THAT PROJECT THAT'S MAYBE COULD HELP HIM OUT ON SOME APARTMENT PROJECTS OVER THERE.
DO YOU GET WITH HIM AND ARE VERY FLEXIBLE ANY TIME NEXT WEEK? THANK YOU.
PLEASE ALSO CAN SEND YOU AN EMAIL IN REFERENCE TO WASHINGTON COURT IN REFERENCE TO THE CAT, A PLUS SOME ADDITIONAL DEBRIS.
IS IT NEW THAT NEW DEBRIS? NO, IT WAS LEFT BEHIND AND I KNEW YOU TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK.
THE COMPANY WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND, UM, JUST LETTING ME KNOW WHERE IT IS.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TONIGHT, SIR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO CHIEF FORD AND HIS STAFF, UM, FOR BEING THE FIRST, UH, NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR FIRE RESCUE, I KNEW IT TOOK A LOT OF GEARS AND HARD WORK.
AND THAT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND STAFF AGAIN.
UM, SECONDLY, I'D HAVE, UH, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RESIDENTS.
UM, THAT'S JOINTLY OWNED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY, UM, 2 0 8 DANIEL STREET.
UM, AND SO THEY COULD MOVE HOME.
IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE HURRICANE FLORENCE AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET, UM, APPROVAL BY THE BOARD BECAUSE IT'S A CITY AND COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY BEFORE.
UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CONTACT THE COUNTY FOR DEMO.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S, UM, 2 0 8 DANIEL STREET AND I'VE GOTTEN I'VE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS.
ABSOLUTELY SURPRISE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YEAH, I WOULD FULLY SUPPORT THAT, LIKE FOR WINNING TO DO THAT, JUST GIVE ME DIRECTION.
I'M GOOD FOR GOOD WITH THIS PERSISTS.
UM, THERE WAS ONE OTHER, OH, UM, YES.
UM, WE HAD OUR DEDICATION OF THE COURTROOM HERE.
OUR HISTORIAN DID SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THE COURTROOM LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
BUT WHEN I WAS WANTING JUST TO BRING FORTH TO THE BOARD TO SEE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THE BOY WOULD AGREE ON, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD MAYBE HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE A DAY FOR OUR PUBLIC SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL THE REVOLVED ON THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY NICE FOR OUR PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT MAYBE NOT ATTEND OUR BOARD MEETINGS, BUT OUT
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AND ABOUT WALKING DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, SHOPPING OR WHATEVER WANT TO COME IN THAT DAY, JUST PACIFIC, MAYBE A 10 TO TWO OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER HOURS THAT WE MAY AGREE UPON.I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ON A REGULAR BASIS GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IN OUR TOURIST SEASON, WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY VISITORS THIS PAST WEEKEND, THERE WAS THREE DIFFERENT REUNION REUNIONS IN NEWBURN, AND I MET MANY OF THE FAMILIES.
THEY WERE DOWNTOWN AND BETTER COMING BACK HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DURING OUR SEASONAL MONTHS, YOU KNOW, ON A SATURDAY FROM, LIKE YOU SAID, 10 TO TWO OR NOON TO FOUR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS THAT WOULD BE UP HERE, MAYBE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND POINT OUT SOME HISTORICAL THINGS.
BUT IT'S BUILDING IS MEANT TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, TO VIEW AND TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
AND WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL MORE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO BRING THAT HISTORY TOGETHER.
I HOPE TO BE WORKING WITH, UM, JIM HODGES AT THE NEWBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
AND THEN ALSO WORKING WITH CARRIE GALLAGHER.
WHO'S HELPING ME PUT TOGETHER SOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY WITH HER GROUP TO HIGHLIGHT.
UM, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I MET THIS WEEK AND CHIEF, I'M GOING TO BE COMING TO SEE YOU AS AN MR. PATRICK, PATRICK.
AND HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK POLICE OFFICER.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A PICTURE, UH, AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THEM MET HIS DAUGHTER.
AND, UM, SHE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE HAVE THAT HANGING HERE AT CITY HALL.
SO I WANT TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE MANY OF OUR FIRST BECAUSE NEWBURN IS A CITY OF FIRSTS.
AND, UM, I JUST, AS PEOPLE STEP FORWARD, OUR CITIZENS, IF YOU HAVE OTHER INFORMATION, IT JURORS FOR US, I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BRING THEM TO THE CITY CLERK.
ALL RIGHT, BRANDON, AND YOU'LL UP, COLLECT IT FOR ME AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE AND TRY TO UPGRADE IT, BUT EXCELLENT IDEA.
UM, I DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO FORGET NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
IT WOULD BE TUESDAY NIGHT, UH, AROUND WHEN WE STARTED AT THREE O'CLOCK, UM, ON THE CORNER OF ELIZABETH AVENUE IN GLEN BURNIE ROAD.
AND I THINK THE PARADE OF LIGHTS WITH THE NEWBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE COMING BY AROUND, I THINK IT'S SIX O'CLOCK CHIEF, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF FUN AND GAMES AND PLENTY OF FOOD TO EAT.
S SIR, MAYBE WE TOLD HIM ABOUT EMPLOYMENT EARLIER IN, UM, ARMAN BEST BROUGHT UP HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE HERE AND YOU KNOW, WALMART HAS GREETERS, SO MAYBE ORMAN BINGO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A GREETER.
I WANT A UNIFORM THAT AT THE SAME PAY YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, CHIEF BOY, HE WANTS TO COME UP AND JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THAT PROCESS THE OTHER DAY.
UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING COMMENTS.
IT WAS ALL BEEN JUST FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT STARTED.
IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN 2000, AFTER 2016, WE DID A FEATURE PLAN WHO BROUGHT IN A GROUP FROM NORTH CAROLINA PEER GROUP MAYOR, ALL REMOTE AND WAS A PART OF THAT.
AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING PROCESS OF BACK IN THE HAND.
AND NOW HAS THIS PAST, UH, ON THE 19TH, WE WERE OFFICIALLY ACCREDITED.
THE THING THAT I THINK ACCREDITATION DOES THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS IT PROVIDES STANDARDS THAT WE GO BY.
SO LIKE 250 DIFFERENT CORE COMPETENCIES, THEY'LL COMPENSATE HER PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE HAVE TO MATCH.
AND OUT OF THOSE 250, THEY CAME BACK WITH 14 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
SO THAT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH THE GUYS HAVE DONE.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS, I THINK IT'S, YOU OPEN UP YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO COME IN AND EVALUATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL ALLOWING US TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING.
AND I THINK WE WERE PROUD TO SAY IT, BUT THE MANAGER SAID IT'S MEANT TO GO.
WE'VE GOT THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE ACCREDITATION NOT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF, OUR TEAM.
WELL, I KNOW WHEN WE FIRST MET I'LL RUN OVER.
AND, UH, ONE THING THAT I BELIEVE THE CHIEF AND CARRIE SAID, CAUSE I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO STABILIZE.
I S O RATINGS AND WE WERE A THREE AT THE TIME.
AND, UM, HE SAID THAT SHE SHOULDN'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT RATINGS AND JUST UNITED COMPREHENSIVELY
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HOLISTICALLY BE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THE THINGS.OBVIOUSLY YOU SAID OUT OF 250, THEY HAD 14 CONCERNS.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, FROM CHIEF FASTER ON UP HERE, I MEAN CHIEF, EXCUSE ME.
UM, WE USED TO GET THEM MIXED UP.
SO, BUT AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, IT'S NOTHING THAT I DID.
I, I IT'S, IT'S THE TEAM EFFORT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.
HOW MANY CITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE THREE ACCREDITED DEPARTMENTS?
I MEAN, THAT'S HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
THERE CAN'T BE MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ACCREDITED AND THEY ARE ARCHING POLICE AND FIRE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO AT THIS TIME WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION.
IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME IMPORTANT? THE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ALL OF THEM AT THIS TIME, MOTION TO ADJOURN MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY, AYE.