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[00:00:01]

WHAT ABOUT YOU? WE'D LIKE

[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Dana E. Outlaw. Prayer Coordinated by Alderwoman Harris. Pledge of Allegiance.]

TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE MARCH 22ND MEETING OF THE NEW BURN BOARD OF ALDERMAN AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER, HEAVENLY FATHER? WE JUST ASKED IT TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.

AS WE DO THE BUSINESSES OF THE CITY, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT WILL BE PLEASING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS.

IN YOUR NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN.

WOULD YOU JOIN ME AND PLEDGE BELIEFS? I PLAY TO THE BLACK AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN BAGEL HERE OUT A WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN ASKED HER MAY YOUR ALCOHOL ORDERING KINSEY ALDERMAN.

BEST ALDERMAN ITEM HERE.

OKAY.

UM, MR. ,

[Consent Agenda]

WAS THERE AN ITEM CHANGE ON YES, YES, SIR.

I COULD SEND AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO CLOSING SPECIFIC STREETS FOR OPERATION OF DOWNTOWN STREET CAFES.

THE EVENT ORGANIZER REACHED OUT TODAY AND THEY DIDN'T BURDEN AND WE LEFT OUT ONE STREET CLOSURE AND THAT WAS THE 400 BLOCK OF POLITICS.

UM, SO MARILYN MAKING A MOTION, WE ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF THE 400 BLOCK OF POLK STREET ADDED TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

MOST OF THAT SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF EMOTIONAL, SAY AYE, ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER

[7. Presentation on Ethics]

SEVEN, MAYOR.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK TOM FOR OTHERS.

HE IS THE SENIOR ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL IN NORTH CAROLINA.

LEGAL NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES WOULD COME UP AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION, UH, MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME IN HERE TODAY AND SPEAK BRIEFLY REGARDING THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DUTY TO VOTE AND THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT MAY APPLY.

THANK YOU, COLLEEN.

AND WITH LUCK, UH, THIS WAR, THE, UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN, UH, HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, MY NAME IS TOM FOR OTHERS, AND I AM WITH THE LEAK AND UNLIKE, UH, YOUR HISTORIC TOWN HERE, THE LEAGUE HAS ONLY BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 108 YEARS.

UH, BUT WE DO WORK WITH 551 CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF NORTH CAROLINA.

WE PROVIDE, IN ADDITION TO OUR INSURANCE SERVICES, WE PROVIDE, UH, LEGAL, UH, COUNSELING.

WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND HELPING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

NOW, TODAY, I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, TWO JOURNAL STATUTES AND THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT ARE CONTAINED IN TWO OF THEM.

UH, ALL ATTORNEYS KNOW 1 68 CHAPTER 1 68 SINCE 1971 HAS BEEN THE LAW OF THE CITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA.

UH, BUT RECENTLY IN 2019 AND 2020, AN ADDITIONAL CHAPTER WAS ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND BY YOUR TOWN AS WELL.

I'M SURE.

AND THAT WAS CHAPTER ONE 60 D AND THEY BOTH HAVE SOME SIMILAR BUT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT ARE WORTH MENTIONING.

AND I HOPE THAT, UH, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TONIGHT HAS SOME MEANING AND IF NOT, UH, JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OTHER QUESTIONS.

NOW, THERE WE GO.

LET'S START WITH AN EASY QUESTION.

WHY DO WE VOTE? WELL, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS ESTABLISHED THAT THIS BOARD AND ALL BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AREN'T DELIBERATIVE BODIES.

UH, THIS MEANS THAT NO SINGLE MEMBER HAS AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE AFFAIRS OF THE TAYLOR, UH, AND AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN IS CREATED.

AND THERE IS A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTED BOARD EITHER BY VOTE OR SOMETIMES BY CONSENSUS.

AND THE WAY THAT YOU DETERMINE YOUR MAJORITY OF COURSE, IS THROUGH THE PARLIAMENTARIAN PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY YOUR BOARD.

NOW WE KNOW THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PARLIAMENTARIAN PROCEDURES ARE TO PROVIDE EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE IF IT OCCURS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTE.

AND ONCE THE BOAT IS TALLIED AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES AS REQUIRED BY THE LAW OF THE COURT, THAT BECOMES THE OFFICIAL ACTION OF THE TOWN.

NOW, WHAT THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES IS THAT EACH MEMBER WHO HAS TAKEN THE OATH OF OFFICE AFTER BEING ELECTED SHALL HAVE A DUTY TO VOTE AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS, AND THIS IS 1 68 75, AND I KNOW THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS, THAT NO MEMBER SHALL BE EXCUSED FROM VOTING, EXCEPT UPON MATTERS INVOLVING CONSIDERATION OF THEIR FINANCIAL INTEREST OR OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

[00:05:02]

AND IT SAYS AT ITS CORE THAT A FAILURE TO VOTE SHALL BE RECORDED AS AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THAT'S, THE LAW IS SERIOUS THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS.

AND WHEN IN DOUBT, YOU SHOULD ACCEPT THE GENERAL RULE, WHICH IS YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO VOTE.

AND SO WILL YOUR COLLEAGUES AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, I WAS A CITY ATTORNEY OF GREECE FOR PREVIOUSLY AND ALSO SERVE ON STAFF THERE FOR YEARS.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE MEETING'S GOING LATE AND SOMEONE HAS TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF A FAMILY MEMBER AND THEY GET UP AND THEY LEAVE THE DYNASTY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DO NOT ASK TO BE EXCUSED BY THE BOARD PURSUANT TO A VOTE AND THEY WALK OUT OF THE ROOM, THEN THE CLERK WOULD HAVE A DUTY.

AND OUR MS CLERK KNOWS US.

WE KNOW EACH OTHER, THE CLERK'S ASSOCIATION, BUT THE CLERK WOULD HAVE A DUTY TO RECORD YOUR VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE FOR EVERY SINGLE VOTE TAKEN IN YOUR ABSENCE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF IT, OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU WERE AWARE OF THE VOTE WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN.

AND THAT'S HOW SERIOUS THE DUTY TO VOTE IS IN THIS STATE.

AND SO I'M SURE EACH OF YOU, IF YOU HAD TO LEAVE, WHAT ALWAYS ASKED TO BE EXCUSED, NOW THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO EVERY RULE AND THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE DUTY TO VOTE ARE CALLED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

AND THE WAY, THE BEST DEFINITION OF THEM IS THAT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, THE LAW HAS DECIDED THAT THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TOO GREAT TO PERMIT THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS TO VOTE IN THE PUBLIC'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, UH, WHEN IT IS ESTABLISHED, UH, THEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AND THAT HAS TO BE RECUSED FROM VOTING.

NOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONFRONTED WITH SITUATIONS AND HOW YOU HANDLE THESE THINGS, DETERMINES, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW YOU SUCCEED AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

UM, AND THE REAL QUESTION AND WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TODAY IS WHEN DOES THIS CONFLICT RODS TO THE LEVEL OF AN ILLEGAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM FULFILLING YOUR ELECTED DUTY TO VOTE? NOW, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

OKAY.

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS DETAILED IN CHAPTER 1 68 THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 19 71, 2, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE CRIMINAL STATUTES.

ANYTIME A LAWYER SEES CHAPTER 14 OF UP, YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WE'RE TALKING CRIMES NOW.

AND THEN THE NEXT TWO ARE NEXT.

UH, OR IN THE CHAPTER ONE 60 DAYS, ONE 60 D.

THAT WAS JUST A NATURAL.

UH, NOW THERE, THE FIRST ONE IS CALLED THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST OR OFFICIAL CONDUCT CONFLICT.

THE SECOND IS ONLY HAVING TO DO SPECIFICALLY WITH THE ADOPTION OF CONTRACTS AND WHETHER THE ELECTIVE OR THEIR SPOUSE HAS A DIRECT BENEFIT.

THE THIRD IS WHETHER THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, UH, IS A MEMBER OF A BOARD OF A NONPROFIT THAT IS FUNDED BY THE CITY AND THE CITY'S CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT BECAME A CONFLICT IN JANUARY ONE OF THE TREE.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PIVOT OVER BRIEFLY TO CHAPTER ONE 60 D AND THAT'S THE DEVELOPMENTAL REGULATIONS, THE LAND USE REGULATIONS.

UM, SCOTT, YOUR ATTORNEY HAD SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD, UH, HEARS ZONING MEMBERS AND REZONING, THAT WOULD BE UNDER CHAPTER 60 D.

AND A ONE IS IF YOU HAVE A DIRECT, SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT, WHICH IS MUCH MORE IDENTIFIABLE THAN THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST BROTHER, YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON SEEKING THE REZONING THAT IS TO CLOSE, WHETHER IT'S PERSONAL BUSINESS OR ASSOCIATION.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE A LITTLE BIT.

YOU REALLY HAVE THREE TYPES OF VOTES AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND 98% OF THEM ARE 95% OF THEM ARE LEGISLATIVE.

UH, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU WOULD SIT IN A QUASI JUDICIAL CAPACITY.

AND, UH, IF YOU DID, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS AND BE THE IMPARTIAL FACT FINDER, MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT IS PRESENTED AT THE HEARING.

NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS BOARD SITS FOR THE HISTORIC COMMISSION,

[00:10:01]

MAYBE NOT FOR VARIANCES AND MAYBE NOT, BUT MAYBE FOR APPEALS FROM UNDER THE ZONING OFFICIAL CITATION.

BUT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OCCUR, AND YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BE THE IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKER.

NOW WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO GO INTO THAT, CAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE THE IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKER, BUT THE CONFLICT I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HAVE TO DO WITH LEGISLATIVE VOTES.

AND HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE.

WHEN YOU SIT AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE PROMISES YOU MADE TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY.

WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED, LET'S SAY YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR CAMPAIGN.

AND ONE OF THE TENANTS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN IS I'M NOT VOTING FOR THE ROCK FOR YOU.

IT'S OUT OF THE TOWN LIMITS AND YOU PROMISE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU WILL OPPOSE AND YOU'RE ELECTED.

AND THE REZONING COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD RIGHT HERE.

CAN YOU STILL PARTICIPATE? YES, BECAUSE LEGISLATIVE TOURS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE HEARING PROVIDES.

AND THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE UP TO YOUR PROMISES, TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND TO YOUR TOWN.

AND THEN FINALLY YOU HAVE PROCEDURAL BUTTONS AND THESE ARE THE SMALL BOATS, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO OCCUR, NOT HOW, WHAT HAS OCCURRED.

THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE A VOTE TO CONTINUE OR A VOTE TO POSTPONE.

TYPICALLY THOSE WOULD NOT HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTERESTS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TO THE DUTY TO VOTE.

NOW WE ALL HAVE FINANCIAL INTEREST, LARGE AND SMALL SPECIFIC IN GENERAL.

SO WHEN DOES THE FINANCIAL INTEREST THAT YOU HOLD REGARDING A MATTER BEFORE THIS BOARD CREATE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON A PROPOSED VOTE, IT CLEARLY IS NOT ALL THE TIME.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE LAW INTENSE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND HERE'S THE THING.

THERE'S NO ONE DEFINITION.

THE LAW SAYS IT IS A CASE BY CASE DECISION.

UM, AND THE CENTRAL QUESTION IS WHEN DOES THE PERSONAL INTERESTS OUTWEIGH THE PUBLIC INTEREST? IT'S A BALANCING TEST.

NOW, IF THE VOTE REFLECTS INTEREST OF ALL CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE ELECTED OFFICIAL OR A LARGE GROUP OF CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, IT'S GENERALLY NOT A CONFLICT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEST EXAMPLE, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE ON THE TAX RATE.

NOW THAT DOES AFFECT YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTERESTS, BUT THEN IT AFFECTS IT IN THE SAME WAY AS EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

SO THE LAW DOES NOT DEEM IT A PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A CONFLICT.

UH, YOU CAN VOTE ON THE TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT'S PAVING BUDGET, EVEN IF YOU'RE THE STREET IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME IS GOING TO BE REPAID BECAUSE YOUR INTEREST IS THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S INTEREST THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT REPAVING TYPICALLY RE AS REZONING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS NOT YOUR HOUSE WOULD NOT BE A SUFFICIENT PERSONAL INTEREST BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME AS EVERYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NOW.

BUT HOWEVER, IF THE MATTER IS TO BUILD A ROAD TO AN UNDEVELOPED, LOT OF LAND OWNED BY A MEMBER THAT WOULD BE A PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST THAT RAISES TO THE LEVEL OF A CONFLICT SO, AND THIS IS OBVIOUS, BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL, THE WHOLE CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND THEN, AND THIS IS, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME SAY THIS SEVERAL TIMES, TALK WITH YOUR ATTORNEY, HAVE HIM GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENDER A DECISION ON REFLECTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FAIR WHEN THE MEETINGS AND YOU KNOW, THE HEATED MOMENT AND YOU TURN AND SAY, I NEED A LEGAL OPINION ON YOU IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS.

I KNOW THIS BOARD WOULD NEVER DO THAT, BUT GIVE YOUR ATTORNEY SOME CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT IT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, AND THEN RENDER THAT OPINION.

NOW HERE'S A MISCONCEPTION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC SOMETIMES, BUT YOU CAN VOTE ON

[00:15:01]

YOUR OWN SALARY AND YOUR EXPENSE.

NOW I KNOW ALL OF YOU ALL ARE HERE MAKING AT LEAST 50 CENTS AN HOUR ON THIS JOB, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN VOTE ON THAT IF YOU WANT TO AND NOT HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

NOW, IN ADDITION, THAT SAME STATUTE TALKS ABOUT PERSONAL CONDUCT AND REALLY WHAT THIS PLAYS OUT.

AND IT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS WHEN YOU ANNOUNCED THAT YOU HAVE A CONFLICT AND ASK THE BOARD TO VOTE TO EXCUSE YOU, YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT THEN VOTE TO EXCUSE YOURSELF.

THAT WOULD BE VOTING ON YOUR PERSONAL CONDUCT.

NOW, IF THE BOARD, AND THIS IS RARE TO EITHER VOTE TO CENSOR OR CRITICIZE YOU OR PRAISE YOU OR ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN YOUR HONOR FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN, AGAIN, YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT VOTE.

THOSE ARE THE TIMES WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO STEP ASIDE, UH, BECAUSE IT IS YOUR, UH, PERSONAL CONDUCT.

THAT IS THAT THE ISSUE.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SECOND EXCEPTION.

AND THIS IS FROM THE CRIMINAL STATUTE.

IF THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING A CONTRACT WHERE EITHER THE ELECTED MEMBER OR THEIR SPOUSE RECEIVE A DIRECT BENEFIT, THEN THIS STATUTE APPLIES AND THE STATUTE IS CLEAR TO FOSTER.

ANYONE WHO MAKES OR ADMINISTERS CONTRACTS AND EVERY BOARD IN EVERY CITY IN TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS THE LEGAL DUTY TO MAKE IT ADMINISTER THE CONTRACTS BECAUSE THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO THIS STATUTE APPLIES.

YEAH, SO PEOPLE SOMETIMES GET CONFUSED WITH PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTERESTS, WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, BUT THIS IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

AND THE LAW IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR.

IT ONLY APPLIES TO VOTES ON CONTRACTS AND ONLY WOULD, THERE IS A DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE ELECTED MEMBER OR THEIR SPOUSE.

SO WHAT IS WHAT DIRECT BENEFIT IF YOU OWN 10% OR MORE OF THE ENTITY THAT IS RECEIVING THE CONTRACT, YOU HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT.

IF YOU'RE RECEIVING INCOME OR COMMISSION FROM THE CONTRACT, IT'S A DIRECT BENEFIT.

IF YOU'RE TAMARA PROPERTY UNDER THE CONTRACT, IT'S A DIRECT BENEFIT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOWN CAN'T VOTE TO AWARD YOUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, THE REPAVING CONTRACT.

BUT WHAT ABOUT IF IT'S YOUR BROTHER'S CONSTRUCTION PAVING COMPANY? WELL, YOU'RE NOT, THAT'S NOT YOUR SPOUSE.

SO THIS LAW WOULD NOT APPLY.

THERE IS NOT A DIRECT BENEFIT TO JUST BROTHERS.

IT IS ONLY SPOUSES.

NOW YOU MAY WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR ATTORNEY AND DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU'RE CLOSE TO YOUR BROTHER OR NOT, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HIM FOR 30 YEARS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT YOU, YOUR ATTORNEY AND YOU MAY CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE TIES BETWEEN YOURSELF AND YOUR BROTHER.

AND YOU COULD ASK TO VOTE TO RECUSE, BUT NOT, NOT ADOPT THE CONTRACT.

IF YOU'RE A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND THE TOWN IS LOOKING TO BUY LAND, THEY CAME OUT AND BUY IT WHILE YOU'RE GETTING A REAL ESTATE COMMISSION AS THE BROKER, IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IF YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY, A PARTNER IN A LAW FIRM, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE AN EQUITY OWNER AND THE TOWN IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO RETAIN YOUR LAW FIRM CANNOT BE DONE BECAUSE YOU'RE RECEIVING INCOME FROM THAT CONTRACT AS AN EQUITY MEMBER.

HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE AN ASSOCIATE OF THE LAW FIRM AND EMPLOY, THERE IS NO CONFLICT HERE BECAUSE THE CONTRACT RUNS TO THE FIRM AND THE EMPLOYER IS NOT THE SAME AS THE FIRM.

THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT THE SAME AS AN EQUITY PARTNER.

IT WAS TO REMEMBER HIS FIRST, NOT ONLY CAN MEMBERS WITH DIRECT BENEFIT AND MEMBERS WITH SPOUSES WITH A DIRECT BENEFIT, NOT QUIT.

YOU ALSO CANNOT SEEK TO INFLUENCE OTHERS ON YOUR BOARD ABOUT THIS PLACE.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.

AND WHAT IS IT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT? IT'S A CRIME.

IF YOU VOTE, IT'S A CRIME WITH THE DIRECT BENEFIT.

IF YOU DO NOT VOTE AND THE BOARD STILL VOTES, IT'S A CRIME AND THE CONTRACTOR'S WARNING.

[00:20:03]

NOW THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THIS, UH, CRIMINAL DIRECTORY.

LET'S GO DOWN TO BROOKLYN.

YOUR SPOUSE IS ALLOWED TO WORK FOR THE CITY.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE SO SMALL, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT ABILITY.

IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A CONFLICT, EVEN IF THE BOARD OR TO VOTE, TO HIRE THE SPOUSE.

NOW I KNOW THIS TOWN HAS MANAGER AND IT WOULD BE HIS DIRECTIVE, BUT STILL THAT THE LAST OF THE LAW SHAKES THAT OUT.

IF YOU HAVE A CONTRACT WITH A BANK THAT MIGHT YOU BE OWNED BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OR PART OF THE BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT WOULD NOT BE CONFLICT.

AND IF YOU HAD TO CONDEMN PROPERTY, IT'S NOT A CONFLICT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF THE TOWN HAD TO RUN A NEW SEWER LINE AND THEY COULDN'T REACH PRICE TERMS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAPPENED TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THE TOWN'S GOING TO NEED TO GO ON AND CONDEMN THE PROPERTY.

AND THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED A CONFLICT UNDER THE LAW.

AND THE LAST IS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, BUT THAT'S REALLY A COUNTY FUNCTION.

SO I DON'T THINK I REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S ALSO THE SMALL TOWN EXCEPTION, WHICH ALLOWS DIRECT BENEFITS, BUT THE TOWN HAS TO HAVE A POPULATION OF 20,000 OR LESS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DOWN IS IT 30,000 ROUGHLY? SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS THE SMALL TOWNS, ET CETERA.

NOW, AS OF JANUARY ONE, A NEW LAW CAME INTO EFFECT AND THIS IS REALLY TOWNS HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS.

IT IS VERY COMMON IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SERVE ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, IS THAT WORK TO BENEFIT THE GOOD PEOPLE AT THE TABLE.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST ANALYSIS BEFORE JANUARY ONE.

AND THE REASON IT HAS, AND YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN YOU SERVE ON A BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF A NONPROFIT, YOU ARE NOT PAID, BUT, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS IN TOWNS THAT ARE NOT THIS ONE, UH, THE LAW NOW SAYS THAT THAT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AND SO THIS APPLIES WHENEVER THE ELECTED IS A DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT, AN OFFICER OF THE NONPROFIT OR A GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER OF THE NONPROFIT, THE ELECTED CANNOT DELIBERATE VOTE FOR SEEK TO INFLUENCE ANYONE ELSE AND TO DO SO IS A PROBLEM.

HOWEVER, IF THE ELECTED RECUSES, THEN THE BOARD CAN CONTINUE WITH THE CONTRACT AND THE DEVOTE TO ADOPT.

UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS DIRECT BENEFIT WE JUST DISCUSSED, THE VOTE IS MAKE PROCEED AND THERE IS NO ISSUE.

ALRIGHT, NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TWO CONFLICT OF INTEREST UNDER CHAPTER ONE 60 D THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS.

NOW WITH ANY VOTE UNDER ONE 60 B HAS A DIRECT, SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE MEMBER, WHICH I THINK IN THIS YEAR INSTANCE WOULD BE ON REZONE.

AND THAT'S A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST, BY THE WAY, THEN YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE.

NOW, HERE'S, HERE'S THE BEST EXAMPLE.

IF YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR LAND REZONED, AND YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU CAN'T VOTE ON IT.

OKAY.

THAT'S I MEAN, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, AND YOU WOULD NEVER THINK THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

UM, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE OR THE CITY-WIDE LAND USE PLAN.

BECAUSE AGAIN, YOUR INTEREST IS THE SAME AS ANYBODY ELSE WHO OWNS PROPERTY IN THE TOWN.

IF YOU WERE TO VOTE ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION MATTER, AND IT ONLY BENEFITED YOUR PROPERTY, THAT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL, DIRECT FINANCIAL IMPACT.

BUT IF YOU'RE MAKING A VOTE ON THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AND YOU HAVE TO OWN A BUILDING IN THE DISTRICT, AGAIN, YOUR INTEREST IS THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE WHO OWNS PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER THE ANALYSIS.

NOW HERE'S THE NEXT ONE.

WE'LL JUST DISCUSS WHAT THAT MEANS.

SO LET'S KEEP GOING HERE.

AND THIS ONLY APPLIES TO REZONING, ORIGINAL ZONING AND THE LAW FOCUSES ON WHEN IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON SEEKING THE REZONING TO CLOSE, AND IT CAN EITHER BE CLOSE, FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS, CLOSE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS, OR CLOSE ASSOCIATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THAT'S THE WORDING OF THE STATUTE.

AND THE STATUTE DEFINES WHAT FAMILIAL

[00:25:01]

RELATIONSHIPS ARE.

AND THERE ARE, I THINK THERE ARE EVERYTHING EVEN FOR SOUTHERNERS, THEIR SPOUSE, PARENT, CHILD, BROTHER, SISTER, GRANDPARENT, GRANDCHILD, HALF RELATION, STEP RELATIONS, AND IN-MOLD RELIGIONS.

YOU CAN'T VOTE ON YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW RESENTED.

NOW THE LAW DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT A CLOSE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP IS OR A CLOSED ASSOCIATIONAL RELATIONSHIP.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHEN YOUR NEED TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO YOUR ATTORNEY.

BUT IF IT'S YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT IS A CLOSE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

NOW, WHAT IF IT'S YOUR MINISTRY? THIS IS NOT A DEFINED IN LAW.

WHAT IS A CLOSE ASSOCIATIONAL RELATIONSHIP? MAYBE, MAYBE NOT, BUT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR ATTORNEY.

AND THEN IF NECESSARY DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC BEFORE VOTES.

AND I'M GOING TO GET MORE TO THAT IN A SECOND.

AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

SO HOW ARE YOU EXCUSED FROM, UH, THE METHOD YOU USE IS EXACTLY THE METHOD THAT IS USED THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA, AND IT IS NOT EVER SPECIFIED IN THE STATUTE IS THE COMMONWEALTH.

YOU SPEAK, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT TALK TO YOUR LAWYER.

YOU TELL YOUR BOARD, YOU HAVE A CONFLICT AND OUT OF, UH, RESPECT THE BOARD RECUSED FROM THE MATTER.

NOW IN ONE 60 D THE STATE HAS FINALLY GOTTEN A ENOUGH TO GIVE US SOME DIRECTION.

AND UNDER ONE 60 D, WHICH IS REZONING, IF THE ELECTED BELIEVES THEY HAVE A CONFLICT, OR IF THE ELECTED IS ALLEGED TO HAVE A CONFLICT, THEN THE ELECTED DECLARES WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFLICT EXISTS.

AND THEN IF THE BOARD DISAGREES THEY CAN VOTE TO OVERTURN IT AGAIN.

THAT'S SO JUST SPECIFIED IN ONE 60 DEAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ALL THE OTHER BODY OF THE LAW IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1 68.

NOW HERE'S REALLY, REALLY THE BEST OF ALL RELY ON YOUR ATTORNEY AND TALK WITH HIM.

I'VE HAD, UH, IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS WITH ELECTEDS AT THE TIME I REPRESENTED BEFORE THE MEETING, WHERE THEY HAVE, UH, COME TO MY OFFICE AND WE HAVE TALKED AND IT HAS GIVEN ME TIME TO REFLECT ON THEIR UNIQUE SITUATION AND THEN FINALLY MAKE A DECISION.

AND WHAT I HAVE REALIZED NOW IS IT'S ALWAYS BETTER EVEN TO DISCLOSE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK IT PREVENTS YOU FROM VOTING NOW, NOT EVERY RUN OF THE MILL SMALL THING, BUT IF YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, SOMEONE ELSE IS THINKING ABOUT WHY TAKE THE RISK THAT A COMMUNITY MEMBER COLLEEN WILL ACCUSE YOU OF VIOLATING YOUR ETHICAL DUTIES.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS ADDRESS IT PUBLICLY.

IF IT'S A CLOSE CALL FOR CALLS, THE COURTS WILL, ARE WILLING TO GIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A CLOSE CALL AND YOU DISCUSS IT ON THE RECORD AS REFLECTED BY THE MINUTES, AND YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION WITH ADVICE OF YOUR ATTORNEY AND YOUR BOARD SUPPORTS, THEN THE COURTS ARE GOING TO TYPICALLY GIVE THAT RAPE WHITE.

AND ALSO IN THIS TIME OF HEIGHTENED TENSIONS, IT SHOWS THE PUBLIC THAT YOU BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY, AND YOU'RE WILLING TO HAVE THE TOUGH DISCUSSIONS PUBLICLY.

AND I'M SURE THIS BOARD WOULD DO IT CIVIL.

NOW, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT FOR ME TO STOP THIS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU INVITING ME TO YOUR CHAMBER AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

IT IS A LONG, UH, JOB, AND, UH, I MEANT TO MENTION THIS ON THE FRONT END, BUT, UH, I'M ALSO PRESENTING WITH THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AT THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NEWLY REELECTED OFFICIALS, CONFERENCES ARE GOING AROUND THE STATE.

AND, UM, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO BE A NEWBORN, I THINK, IN MID JUNE OR EARLY JUNE, BUT THAT MAY BE PUSHED BACK NOW WITH THE LATEST DECISIONS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AT QUEST.

I DO IN REGARDS TO, UM, THE NEW STATUTE THAT PASSED FOR NON-PROFITS

[00:30:02]

LAST YEAR.

UM, THE BOARD DECIDED TO WORK WITH THE NONPROFIT THAT I CO-FOUNDED, UH, ASKED TO RECUSE MYSELF.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO, BECAUSE OF THAT STATUTE THIS YEAR, THEY DECIDED TO WORK WITH US AGAIN IN REGARDS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UTILIZING THE FIREMEN AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, I WOULD NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF, CORRECT.

THAT'S THE LAW.

WHAT IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR OR AN OFFICER OF THE CORPORATION AND YOU FALL WITHIN THAT DEFINITION AND THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO RECUSE YOURSELF, BUT THE BOARD CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD.

SIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UM, GO A LITTLE BIT INTO THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A CLOSED SESSION? ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE, UM, CLOSE SESSION FOR VITAL TO THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF A CITY OR CALL IS, UH, YOU CAN'T, SOME THINGS ARE CONFIDENTIAL LIKE PERSONNEL.

WE ARE NOT A SUNSHINE STATE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND PERSONNEL MALLS ARE PROTECTED, EXCEPT FOR VERY LIMITED, LIKE THE DATE OF HIRE THE DATE OF FIRE AND THE PROMOTIONS AND OF SOUNDS.

BUT IF THE BOARD IS REVIEWING PERFORMANCE OF A PERSON THAT HAS APPOINTED OR DISCUSSING THE EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE OF SOMEONE THAT THE TOWN AS HIRED, THOSE ARE CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF WHAT NEEDS TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

NOW, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AN ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE REASON TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, BUT BECAUSE BY THE NATURE OF BUSINESS, UH, BUSINESSES LIKE TO PROTECT THEIR INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVE NATURE.

AND THEY NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK, FRANKLY, WITH THE BOARD AND UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD NOW, ANY, UH, ANY, ANY, UH, ECONOMIC INCENTIVE THAT THE BOARD MAY AWARD WOULD BE A PUBLIC VOTE, BUT THE DISCUSSIONS, UH, DO NOT HAVE TO BE, UH, OCCUR IN CONCESSION.

AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IS MOST BUSINESSES WANTED IN CLOSED SESSION TO PROTECT THEIR BUSINESS INTERESTS WHILE THEY'RE STILL MAKING THEIR DECISIONS, UH, TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM YOUR ATTORNEY.

ANOTHER CLASSIC REASON WHY YOU NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION CASES OR COMPETITIVE THAT'S THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

AND IF YOU WERE TO DISCUSS ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND ALL OF YOUR WORRIES AND ALL OF YOUR PROS AND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT INDEPENDENT LITIGATION, YOU WOULD BE HANDING VICTORY TO THE PERSON SUING THE TOWN OR WHO THIS TOWN IS SUING.

AND THAT'S FRANKLY NOT A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO RUN A LITIGATION.

ANOTHER PERFECT REASON WHY IT NEEDS TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

NOW THERE'S ONLY FIVE MORE, BUT I'D PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK IT UP, LOOK UP THE REST OF IT, BUT TO CONTINUE TALKING, WHAT ABOUT THE BOARD MEMBERS OR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP WHAT HAPPENS IN CLOSED SESSION, IN CLOSED SESSION COMING OUT, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S NOT ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND DISCUSS WITH THE PRESS WHAT'S IN CLOSED SESSION, OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THE BOARD, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIBILITY, UM, FOR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE OR FOR LITIGATION? UH, THERE IS NO MANDATED CONFIDENTIALITY OF WHAT OCCURS IN CLOSED SESSION.

AND IF A BOARD MEMBER, UH, WANTS TO DISCUSS IT, UH, THAT BOARD MEMBER DOES NOT VIOLATE THE LAW IN DOING SO.

UM, A QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED IS WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION, EVEN WHEN IT'S NECESSARY IN THE TOWN'S INTEREST, IF IT CANNOT MAKE THE MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE RIGHT TIME, IT'S A MATTER OF TRUST.

ALL BUSINESS HAS TO BE CONDUCTED WITH TRUST.

POLITICS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH TRUST AND OPERATES MUCH BETTER.

SO TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE NOT BREAKING THE LAW THINGS, A FULL SESSION OUTSIDE OF PERSONNEL ARE DISCUSSED, CORRECT? CORRECT.

THANK YOU.

WELL, IT'S KIND OF SENSELESS TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION WHEN YOU ALL GOT TO BE CLOSED SESSION, OTHER THAN PERSONNEL, WHEN YOU WALK OUT AND CLOSE SESSION AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO BE DISCUSSED BY SOME OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE AN ELECTRIC OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW, WHAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE CLOSED SESSION HELD BY GOING TO CLOSED SESSIONS, THOSE ARE DECISIONS FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE.

AND, UH, BOTH OF YOU ARE EXPRESSING OPINIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THIS DISCUSSION.

[00:35:01]

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH QUESTION, UM, BACK TO THE, THE NONPROFIT.

SO WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OFTENTIMES GET APPOINTED TO VARIOUS BOARDS LIKE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE.

I HAVE A VOTING RIGHTS ON THAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

CAN YOU CLARIFY? CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW GENERAL STATUTE COVERS, AND IT'S NOT ENTIRELY ALL SETTLED YET, BUT UNLESS THE NONPROFIT IS FORMED BY THE STATE, UH, IT IS GOING TO FALL WITHIN THESE DEFINITIONS.

NOW I AM AWARE OF ONE LEGAL OPINION THAT SAYS IT HAS TO REALLY BE A 5 0 1, 3 C, UH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A SUB TYPE OF ALL CLOSED SESSIONS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATUTE, THE WORDING IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE IRS DEFINITIONS AND THE 5 0 1, 3 C, BUT THE LAW DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT.

SO THAT IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF OPINION THAT YOUR CITY ATTORNEY WOULD NEED TO RENDER BECAUSE HE HAS THE STATUTORY DUTY TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL ADVICE FOR THE TOWN.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, WHAT'S, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON, IS IT FOR THE, THIS GOVERNING BODY THAT FUNDS THAT NON-PROFIT OR IS IT ANY VOTE FOR THE NONPROFIT BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD? UH, IT AFFECTS THE ELECTED'S ABILITY TO VOTE.

ONCE THE ELECTED HAS MOVED TO THE NONPROFIT ROLE, HE'S NO LONGER SITTING AS AN ELECTED AND NOT IN MY OPINION, THAT LAW DOES NOT APPLY.

OKAY.

SO TECHNICALLY I PROBABLY SHOULD NOT VOTE ON OUR BUDGET BECAUSE OUR BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR C1 A, BUT I'M OKAY TO VOTE WITH THE C WHEN A BOARD, BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED THE FUNDS FROM THE CITY THAT IS CORRECT.

AND YOUR MANAGER AND YOUR ATTORNEY CAN COME UP WITH VERY INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET ISSUE.

I KNOW ONE THING, SOME TOWNS NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE LISTSERV, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE CHAT ROOMS FOR THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS IS FOR THERE TO BE A SET BUDGET FOR NONPROFIT FUNDING PERIOD ON THE, IN THE BUDGET.

BUT THEN AFTER THAT, THE BOARD VOTES INDIVIDUALLY ON WHAT NON-PROFITS RECEIVE WATCHING, WHAT, AND THEN YOU WOULD RECUSE FROM THANK YOU IN YOUR EXPERT OPINION, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE OF THIS NEW STATUTE FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCLOSE WHAT BOARDS THAT THEY SIT ON? JUST SO IT'S PUBLIC RECORD AND IT'S RECORD ON FILE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW, UM, THE LAW REQUIRES EACH TOWN OR CITY TO ADOPT A CODE ETHICS.

UH, AND I HAVE NOT REVIEWED YOUR CODE OF ETHICS, PICKING THAT ONE STEP FURTHER, SIR.

UM, SO IN MANY CASES WE ARE EX OFFICIOS ON BOARDS AND DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A VOTING STATUS ON A BOARD, BUT WE SERVE AS EX OFFICIOS BECAUSE OF OUR, OUR ROLES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THAT CASE, IS THAT THE SAME? WELL, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE WHERE YOUR ATTORNEY COMES INTO PLAY BECAUSE THIS, THE WORDING OF THE STATUTE SAYS, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OR OFFICIAL OR MANAGER, I BELIEVE I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EXACT STATUTE.

IT DOES NOT SAY EX OFFICIO, BUT QUEER IS EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND HAS ASKED A NON-VOTING MEMBER.

IT'S A, IT'S A CLASSIC, A GRAY AREA THAT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY RESOLVED YET.

SO JESSICA CASE, WE PROBABLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

NO, BECAUSE REDEVELOPMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO US, WHEN THEY BRING ANY PLAN OR ANYTHING BACK TO THE BOARD, WE DON'T VOTE IN THE SESSION.

YEP.

WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE.

SO WE'RE, WE ARE EX OFFICIOS ON OUR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, BUT REDEVELOPMENT COMMIT.

THEY'RE NOT FUN.

THEY'RE NOT A 5 0 1.

SO IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THEY'RE FUNDED BY THE CITY, IT'S IT WOULDN'T PERTAIN TO THIS.

IT ONLY PERTAINS TO 5 0 1.

C3 IS CORRECT.

WELL, IT DEFINITELY ONLY APPLIES TO INDEPENDENT NON-PROFITS.

AND IF IT'S JUST A REZONING COMMISSION, WHICH IS A SATELLITE BOARD OF THIS TOWN, IT IS NOT, IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN TAX ID NUMBER.

IT'S NOT AN INDEPENDENT, WELL, I'M, I'M A LITTLE PUZZLE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT.

UM, ALMOST LOOKS TO ME LIKE IF, IF YOU WERE IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD GET A QUORUM TOGETHER TO PASS A BUDGET.

THAT'S THE WAY I'M COMMENDING YOU TO YOUR GOOD WORK OF YOUR MANAGER AND YOUR ATTORNEY.

UH, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM.

AND SO I THINK

[00:40:01]

THE RECOMMENDED PRACTICE THOUGH, IS TO, UH, CREATE, UH, SET ASIDES IN THE BUDGET THAT WOULD GO TO NONPROFITS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THIS SPECIFIC VOTE ON AWARDING TO THE NONPROFITS DONE.

AND AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET, BECAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PARTICIPATE ON YOUR DOCTOR, THE BUDGET.

SO ARE YOU SEEING THAT OR WHY WE DO BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE? WE WOULD AMEND THIS.

COULD YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND THINKING IT'S TWO SEPARATE VOTES.

I WOULD SAY THERE'S TWO 17 VOTES A VOTE, HAVE THE BUDGET AND A VOTE FOR THE NONPROFIT, BUT YES, MA'AM, YOU WILL EAT YOU, YOU ADOPT YOUR BUDGET WITH A POOL OF NONPROFIT FUNDS AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, YOU WOULD VOTE TO TAKE THAT POT OF MONEY AND FUND SPECIFIC NON-PROFITS.

BUT EACH OF YOU RECUSING YOURSELF DEPENDING ON THE NONPROFIT.

INTERESTING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HANDLE THIS BUDGET.

GOTCHA.

AND THAT, THAT BILL GOT RED AND RALEIGH.

HOW MANY TIMES BEFORE IT BECAME, WELL, I'M JUST ASKING HIM MISS SEVERAL TIMES, CORRECT? IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEBODY JUST INTRODUCED THIS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED IT.

SO, UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS, BUT THERE WAS ONE TOWN, UH, THAT THERE WAS AN ABUSIVE SITUATION.

UH, THE STATE REACTED TO THAT, UH, AND, UH, I'VE USED A BROAD NET IN MY OPINION.

SO THE INCOME SERVICES INTO PLAY THAT THEY PROBABLY DON'T, LET'S TALK ABOUT INCOME SERVICES.

UM, WELL, IF IT'S A VOTE TO PROVIDE IN KIND SERVICES, I WOULDN'T BE WEARING, UH, IF IT IS JUST, UM, UH, THE DAY TO DAY TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE THERE.

SO IF IT'S AN INCLINED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPEAKING SPECIFIC, IT WOULDN'T HAVE MATTER BEFORE CAUSE IT WASN'T LAW TILL NOW.

BUT SO, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ANNUAL SWISS FAIR MUM FEST THE CITY PROVIDES IN TIME, UH, SERVICES SUCH AS OUR PUBLIC WORKS OR POLICE, WHATEVER.

AND THAT'S NOT A MONETARY FIGURE.

IT'S THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT PART OF OUR BUDGET, I ASSUME BECAUSE THE SALARIES AND THE OVERTIMES ARE ALL CONSIDERED IN THE BUDGET AND THERE'S THAT INSTANCE AGAIN, WHERE WE VOTE ON THE WHOLE BUDGET.

UM, SO THAT WILL MAKE IT INTERESTING THIS YEAR.

IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT IN KIND WOULD BE TREATED AS THE SAME.

WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY THOUGHT OUT.

AND I ALWAYS SAID WHEN I WAS CITY ATTORNEY TO GIVE AN OFF THE CUFF OPINION AND I'M EVEN MORE RETICENT WHEN I CAN'T EVEN LEGALLY GIVE THE LEGAL OPINION.

SO I'VE GOT TO WORK, SCOTT IS WHAT HE SAY.

YEAH.

WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE TOTAL.

HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN FIGURING OUT HOW MANY OF THESE, UH, INDIVIDUAL ONES WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING? HOW MANY ARE WE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT? ABOUT 20 OF THEM ARE, WELL, IT'S ONLY THREE PEOPLE THAT I THINK SIT ON A BOARD THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE BUDGET.

SO WE STILL HAVE A FORM TO GO, BUT OKAY.

SAID, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET A QUORUM.

I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE, BECAUSE JEFF SITS ON, SEE, WE MADE ONLY THREE ALSO.

HE WAS SAYING DO IT INDIVIDUALLY, JUST ON THAT PARTICULAR BUTTON.

SO, OKAY.

SO EACH ONE WAS THE HOUSE ONE SEPARATELY.

YES, MA'AM.

WE'RE JUST DEPENDING ON SCOTT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO OFFICIALLY RE ASK THE BOARD TO ACCUSE YOU, THE BOARD HAS TO VOTE TO ACCUSE YOU AND THEN THEY VOTE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ASK TO COME BACK.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION EITHER.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DELIBERATION, UH, OR THE, OR SEEK TO IMPLEMENT, SO NO COMMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR OR AGAINST.

GOT IT.

IS IT GOOD OUT THERE THAT, FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING FROM THIS AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ALL OF THAT, A BOARD MEMBER SITTING ON A BOARD OR SOMETHING THAT THEY IN WRITING, UH, WRITE OUT THEIR POSITION ON A PARTICULAR BOARD AND HAND IT TO THE PARK OR SOMETHING, OR JUST VERBAL, OR SHOULD IT BE IN WRITING ON A PARK? LET'S SAY THAT I'M ONLY BOARD AND IT GETS $10,000 A YEAR, SHIT UP MYSELF, BRIAN OUT, AND I'M DOING THIS AND THEN ASKED TO BE RECUSED OR, AND IT CAN BE DONE EITHER WAY.

I JUST ADVISE TO BE DONE TO GIVE HEADS UP TO YOUR ATTORNEY BEFORE THE MEETING, UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, UH, CAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE TWO HOURS INTO THE, THE TZ CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.

[00:45:03]

UM, WELL WE GOT YOU HERE AND YOU ARE THE, UH, COUNCIL.

UM, SOMETIMES I CAN TELL YOU I'VE BEEN GIVEN A JERSEY, UM, PORTRAIT, UH, MADAM CLERK OR I'M HAVING, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT ONE, BUT, UM, IT HAS BEEN QUITE A FEW THINGS.

FIRST THING I DO IS I GIVE IT TO THE CLERK AND THEN SHE DOCUMENTS IT, ARCHIVES IT.

UM, I DON'T MIND IT BEING DISPLAYED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT IT'S NOT MINE.

IT'S UM, THE, WOULD YOU COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMING IN AND HOW, YOU KNOW, SENDS A SENTENCE SAYING AS A $5 MAGNET OR A $500, ANY ITEM? UM, WHERE'S THE DIVIDING LINE? WELL, UM, I'LL SPEAK FROM MEMORY HERE, BUT THERE ARE A SPECIFIC STATE STATUTES REGARDING RECEIVING GIFTS.

AND ONE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO ACCEPT ANYTHING OF MONETARY VALUE IN EXCHANGE FOR A POSITION OR A FOOT BECAUSE THAT'S PRODUCT AND IT'S A FELONY NOW, UH, ITEMS OF NOMINAL VALUE CAN BE ACCEPTED.

UH, WHEN YOU GO AS A SPEAKER AND YOU RECEIVE, UH, YOUR LITTLE BAG OF GOODIES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE.

UH, THE LAW EVEN SAYS, OH, WE BETTER GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN THAT BAG OF GOODS.

NOW THERE BE SOME GOODIES IN THAT BAG.

I MEAN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE, WHETHER IT'S A, LIKE I'VE GOT A USB DRIVE ON ME SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REALLY HOT TO GIVE TO PEOPLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN DUNCAN NOVEL, IF IT'S A CAR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ILLEGAL.

UH, BUT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE LAW SAYS YOU CAN ACCEPT AN HONORARIA IN MANY COMMUNITIES AND HONORARIUM FOR SPEAKING DID MONEY.

RIGHT? UH, AND SO THE LAW HAS BEEN FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, BUT THE STATUTE ITSELF NEEDS TO BE GOING OVER, UH, WOULD HAVE HAPPILY TALKED ABOUT THAT TOO.

BUT I LEFT THAT PART OF MY PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S, AND HERE'S A, HERE'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.

THE CHRISTMAS BASKET, NO, THE, THE SOMEONE DROPS BY THE HUGE MEAT AND CHEESE THING AND IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AND THEY REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND IT'S SITTING THERE, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THEY PUT IT INTO YOUR HANDS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO? IT'S NOT A NOMINAL VALUE.

AND WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED, UH, RESPONSES TO TAKE THAT TO THE CLERK OR TAKE IT TO THE EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM AND PUT A LITTLE NOTE ON IT AND SAY ENJOY IT BECAUSE CITIES AND TOWNS CAN, EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY BE RESTRICTED, BUT DON'T PUT A TAG ON IT THAT SAYS COMPLIMENTS OF THERE OUTLAW.

CORRECT.

IT'S NOT FROM THE MAYOR.

IT'S FROM THE DONOR AND THE MAYOR IS ACCEPTING.

AND ABOUT HALF OF THE TOWN, NO, THE QUESTIONS IS FOR HIM FOR COMING TO NEWBURN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OH, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF THE OFFICE.

AND I'LL BE HEADING DOWN TO WILMINGTON TOMORROW TO CONTINUE THE NEWLY REELECTED, UH, CONFERENCE.

AND, UM, BUT WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'M GOING TO EXCUSE MYSELF AND HAND THE REMOTE BACK TO COMPANY.

DON'T TELL HER FRIENDS AND BOARD FOSTER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SCOTT ON NUMBER EIGHT.

[8. Presentation on an Affirmative Action Plan by the New Bern People' s Assembly]

YEAH.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN BY THE NEIGHBOR OF PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THE STEWARD AND BAILEY EVANS TO COME UP AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THIS IS CURTIS STEWART AND I BAILEY EVANS.

WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NEWBURGH PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, UH, TO PRESENT AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT'S WORKFORCE.

UH, THE PLAN WAS DRAFTED BY OUR EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE, UH, WITH THE COUNCIL OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK LAWYERS AND IS SUPPORTED BY MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE ACTUAL PLAN, WE'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY WE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BELIEVED THAT NECESSARY TO ADOPT THIS PLAN WITHOUT DELAY.

SO FIRST WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE.

UH, THIS INFO WAS PROVIDED TO US BY THE CITY'S

[00:50:01]

HR DEPARTMENT AND THE SET OF THE 456 PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

77% ARE WHITE AND 18.6% ARE BLACK AND OTHER MINORITY GROUPS ARE ALSO ONLY MARGINALLY REPRESENTED NEARLY 75% OF THE EMPLOYEES IDENTIFIED AS MALE.

UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS BY DEPARTMENT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALL.

UH, WE SEE THAT, UH, MINORITY GROUPS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN NEARLY EVERY AREA EXCEPT FOR IN PARKS AND REC.

AND IN GENERAL, MOST OF THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY WHITE AND MALE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BETTER SERVES ITS PEOPLE.

WHEN THE WORKFORCE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY, IT'S BEEN OBJECTIVELY PROVEN THAT DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, CREATIVITY, AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING.

SO LET'S COMPARE THOSE WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHICS TO THOSE OF OUR CITY AT LARGE.

SO WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THE POPULATION OF SLIGHTLY OVER 31,000 IS 58.9% WHITE AND 30.4% BLACK.

AND THE WOMEN ORIGINALLY OUTNUMBERED THE MEN.

SO THIS IS QUITE A CONTRAST TO THE OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE MALE MAJORITY AMONG THE CITY PERSONNEL.

AND IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT NEARLY ALL HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS ARE SERIOUSLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE, BLACK CITIZENS AND WOMEN IN PARTICULAR ARE HUGELY LACKING IN REPRESENTATION HERE.

AND WE THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE CITY.

NEWARK CAN ONLY BENEFIT FROM JOINING THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CITIES THAT ARE TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO SOLVING THIS.

UM, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF OUR EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE, CURTIS STEWARDS, SO THAT HE CAN GET INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN IS AND IS NOT THANK YOU.

UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, UH, ALLOWING US TO GET ON THIS AGENDA.

UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME BACK AND FORTH IN REGARDS TO THIS.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION, UH, WITH ALDERMAN, UM, IN REGARDS TO THIS AND THE FACT THAT A, OF YOU GUYS TOOK THE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATION I THINK IS, UH, LISA APPRECIATED, UH, AND UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO COME CHANGE.

UH, WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SAT DOWN WITH THE MAYOR.

WE SIT DOWN WITH SABRINA, WE SAT DOWN, UH, WITH, UH, UH, UH, BULLOCK.

UM, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THE INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY ANOTHER ELEMENT SOME, SOME YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK OUR PEOPLE KIND OF TOOK THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, TOOK THIS, UH, COMMON TOPIC AND RAN WITH IT.

UH, AND WE, AGAIN, JUST APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LISTENING TO US AND LET US BRING THIS TO THE TABLE, UM, IN A NUTSHELL, UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH SLIDE, UH, SLIDE BY SLIDE.

I THINK IN CONVERSATION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE MINORITIES ARE NOT REPRESENTED WELL IN OUR CITY.

UH, THAT CAN BE FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN BE FROM RECRUITMENT.

AND THAT CAN BE FROM ADVERTISEMENT.

THAT CAN BE JUST FROM LACK OF, UH, RESUMES COMING IN THAT ARE QUALIFIED.

UH, I THINK SIMPLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A PLAN TO BE PUT FORTH.

WE HAVE A PLAN, UH, WE HAVE A PLAN THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT.

UH, INSTEAD OF ME DOUBT THE VISION AND THEN WE HAVE THE PLAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, OBVIOUSLY NEW BURNERS UP AND COMING VIBRANT CITY.

UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

HOWEVER, WE'RE JUST KIND OF MISREPRESENTED, UH, AS IT RELATES TO MINORITIES AND MINORITIES ARE NOT JUST OBVIOUSLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WE HAVE TERRIBLE NUMBERS AS IT RELATES TO WOMEN, UH, THE LBGT COMMUNITY, UH, AND OTHER DIFFERENT SITUATION, GENERAL ASIANS, MEXICANS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

UM, WHAT WE DO NOT WANT IS JUST TO KIND OF GET A QUOTE UP.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PUT THIS IN A SITUATION, UH, AND YOU GUYS JUST KIND OF, WE KIND OF HIT SOME NUMBERS.

WE REALLY WANNA WORK THIS PLAN THAT WE'VE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER AND GET YOU GUYS TO ADOPT THAT PLAN.

CAN WE GO TO THAT NEXT LEVEL? UM, WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO IS FOR US TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THIS, UH, WE'VE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN REGARDS TO THAT, UM, THAT WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE IN A NUTSHELL IS TO KIND OF GET EQUITY AND DIVERSION AND INCLUSION OFFICER.

OKAY.

UH, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR POSITION WITH YOU GUYS AND ALSO HAVING A MODULATORY COMMITTEE THAT SPEAKS TO FOR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEN THREE MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE BOARD, UH, WITH THAT GROUP.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF, UH, WORK WITH YOU GUYS IN THAT, UH, DIVERSITY AND EQUITY INCLUSION OFFICER TO KIND OF PUT TOGETHER AND IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

I KNOW IN CONVERSATION, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO TRAINING, UH, AND TRAINING BEING NEEDED.

I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WE WOULD LIKE THIS INPUT TO COME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND NOT NECESSARILY THE BOARD AT LARGE.

I THINK IN CONVERSATION AGAIN, YOU GUYS HAVE, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THE TABLE, UH, MENTIONED THAT THEY DO SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.

I WANT TO PAY IT FORWARD.

THERE'S NO NEED TO TALK,

[00:55:01]

KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT, BUT WE CAN DO TODAY IS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, LOOK AT THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUT TOGETHER AND IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN.

UH, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS THAT, UH, AND THE PLAN, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE RECEIVED THAT PLAN.

UH, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE'S SEEN, I KNOW THERE WAS A MEETING OVER AT THE OMEGA CENTER, UH, WITH SOMEONE WAS SOMEONE THAT, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE HERE.

SOME PEOPLE HAD NOT SEEN IT, SOME PEOPLE HAD SEEN IT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT THEY HAVE SHARED WITH THE GODS BASED ON WHAT YOU PROVIDED, UH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE GAP AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IGNORANT TO THE FACT THAT MAYBE THERE HAS BEEN, UH, SOME APPLICANTS THAT ARE NOT QUALIFIED.

UH, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A VISION OF, UH, RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING AND THEN HAVING AN IDENTIFIED PERSON TO WORK, TO BRING MINORITIES INTO CRAVEN COUNTY.

UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A TOURIST CITY.

UH, WE, AND NOT JUST FROM A STANDPOINT OF EMPLOYMENT FROM, UH, UH, MINORITY CONTRACTS AND OTHER THINGS IN THAT NATURE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND GOING TODAY, I THINK, UH, IT WOULD BE A WIN FOR US, FOR YOU GUYS TO AT LEAST CONSIDER, UH, A CONTRACTOR POSITION, UH, FOR THAT.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN CONTRACT POSITION, EXPLAIN CONTRACT POSITION, UM, YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON, WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT NECESSARILY A MEMBER OF THE CITY EMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW, LIKE NOT CREATING A BRAND NEW POSITION ON THE CITY STAFF.

WE'D RATHER HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, LIKE A LONG-TERM THREE TO FIVE YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW, SO THAT IT'S SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE SEPARATE FROM THE CITY AND REALLY FOCUS, DIG IN ON THE DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION, FINDING THOSE ACCOUNTABILITY MARKERS WAYS TO MAKE THIS MEASURABLE AND WAYS TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY ROAD.

HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIND OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE EMPLOYED THAT TYPE? GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES.

WAKE COUNTY RECENTLY JUST HAD TO SHOW ME IN THAT POSITION.

WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF THOSE COMMUNITIES? UM, IT'S OVER 30,000, BUT I THINK IN, IN YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT, AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT TO THEM IN A MEETING SABRINA, THAT OUR CITY IS A LITTLE SMALLER, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THEY DO.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, UM, WE'RE NOT, IT'S JUST NOT REFLECTED.

IT'S JUST NOT REFLECTED WELL.

AND I THINK, UH, IN DURHAM COUNTY, UH, OTHER PLACES THAT ARE SIMILARLY THAT ARE SMALLER THAN US AND AROUND A SIMILAR SIZE THAN US, JUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH FOR OUR PLAN, THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE WE LOOKED FOR PLACES THAT WERE SIMILAR AROUND OUR SIZE AND THE FIRST PLACE WE FOUND WAS VERMONT.

BUT WE HAVE PLACES HERE IN PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, AND THEN THEY'RE PRETTY ACTIVE IN THE TRIANGLE AREA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A SCIENCE FOR THIS KIND OF PLAN, NOT AT ALL.

AND I THINK, AGAIN, IT'S, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ONE POPULATION THAT IS VERY LARGE HERE.

AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST MINORITIES, DON'T JUST SPEAK TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT THERE WOMEN ARE NOT REPRESENTED ACROSS THE CITY GOVERNMENT HERE.

AND I THINK, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE AN IDENTIFIED PLAN, SOMEONE THAT IS WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO HELP RECRUITMENT FOR THIS AREA.

AND DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR RESEARCH, HOW DOES THAT PERSON WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE HR DIRECTOR OR THE CITY MANAGER OR DEPARTMENT HEADS? WHAT IS THE FLOW OF THAT POSITION WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT? THAT PERSON WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THAT OBSERVATORY COMMITTEE THAT WE SPEAK TO THOSE SEVEN MEMBERS, UH, FOR THOSE MEMBERS BEING APPOINTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THREE OF THOSE MEMBERS BEING APPOINTED BY YOU GUYS.

AND SO AGAIN, HOW DOES THAT COORDINATE AND FLOW IS WITH THE REGULAR 456 EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY, THE YOU DOES THAT CONTRACT POSITION CONSULT WITH HR MORE SO, OR THE MANAGER? I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY END UP WORKING THAT NEED TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY MANAGER MORE.

THEY'LL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITHIN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND ALSO BE REGULARLY PRESENTING TO YOU ALL.

IF THERE'S A JOB DESCRIPTION.

I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU THAT HAS A BIT OF A LONGER LIST OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INTERACT WITH BECAUSE THERE WOULD, OF COURSE BE THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THE PERSONNEL WAS ON PEOPLE HIRING.

THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HIRING AND DOING THAT KIND OF THING THAT WOULD NEED TO GET SOME OF THAT TRAINING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

THEY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT OUTREACH.

SO I THINK IT'D BE WORKING WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE ON THE STAFF QUESTION.

WHEN YOU SPOKE WITH HR, IS GC FIND ANY FINDINGS THAT, UM, ANYTHING THAT THEY WAS DOING ILLEGAL IN HIRING, UH, DID THEY SHARE WITH YOU THE HIRING PRACTICES, UH, DID THEY SHARE WITH YOU, UM, WHEN A PERSON COMES IN TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION,

[01:00:01]

NORMALLY IT'S NOT COMPLETED.

AND, UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND HOW YOU GOT THERE AND WHAT YOU SEE THAT, UH, THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING ON THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NAME HAYES WAS A PART OF THE MEETING THAT WE HAD.

I THINK SHE, SHE, IN MY OPINION, SHE GAVE US VERY GOOD INFORMATION.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS A RIGHT OR WRONG.

IT DEFINITELY NOT.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING ILLEGAL THAT THAT WAS BEING DONE.

I THINK JUST FROM A STANDPOINT OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR MINORITIES TO COME TO NEW BERN HAD NOT, THEY HADN'T BEEN IN IT.

HASN'T JUST BEEN ENOUGH FOR THAT.

UH, HADN'T BEEN IN A BY PLAN AND BASED ON THE NUMBERS, WE WANT SOME PACIFIC SOMEONE THAT IS DIRECTLY WORKING TO RECRUIT MINORITIES TO NEWBURN BASED ON THE POPULATION IN WHICH WE HAVE.

UH, BUT I THINK SHE GAVE ME SOME GOOD INFORMATION.

UM, SHE MADE, SHE MADE ME CLEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT THE PERSON THAT HIRED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

SHE DIDN'T OVERACHIEVE WAS NOT THE PERSON THAT DID ALL THE HIRING FOR EACH PERSON.

SO, UH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARILY ANYTHING ILLEGAL THAT WE KIND OF FELT.

WE JUST FELT LIKE IT WASN'T ENOUGH BEING DONE TO RECRUIT WHEN NORTHERN SYDNEY AREA, DO YOU THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE APPLYING? WELL, WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THERE IS THAT THEY POST THE JOBS ON THE WEBSITE AND THOSE THAT'S WHERE IT'S AVAILABLE.

WE THINK WE HAVE IN OUR PLAN, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS ABOUT OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT, WHERE THERE'S JUST MANY MORE WAYS TO GO OUT AND ACTIVELY BE RECRUITING.

THOSE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IS THAT'S OPERATING HERE IS THE LACK OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PUT ON ANYBODY ELSE OR TRYING TO MAKE THEM CARRY ON BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ACTIVELY SEEKING OUT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE STATE AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE QUALIFIED APPLICANT POOL.

THERE'S A LOT THAT YOU CAN DO FOR THEM.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT RECRUITMENT MAKE AN INCOME THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE OR A DIFFERENT ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE CAN DO.

UH, SOME OF THE WAYS THAT THEY WORK THAT WAS MENTIONED TO US IN REGARDS TO HOW JOBS ARE POSTED HERE, IT'S KIND OF JUST KIND OF A STANDARD WAY.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT IGNORANT TO THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO NEWBORNS THAT LEAVE HERE AND GO GET AN EDUCATION.

UH, BUT IN THE SAME SENTENCE, THERE IS AFRICAN AMERICANS OR MINORITIES THAT DO HAVE, THAT ARE ENGINEERS THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE QUALIFICATION THE CONDITIONS TO DO SOME OF THESE HIGHER UP JOBS.

VERSUS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS WORKFORCE HERE, THEY'RE CUTTING THE GRASS AND TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO DRIBBLE A BASKETBALL, HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OF OP THAT, UH, THE CITY USES THE HIRING PRACTICE.

SO HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IT IS? I KNOW ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WAS SPOKEN TO US IN REGARDS TO WAS THE, UH, THE WEBSITE.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY, THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, JOBS ARE BEING POSTED ON THE INTERNET.

UH, BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

UH, AND THAT WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE IN THIS POSITION THAT ARE IDENTIFYING THESE HPC USING, GOING TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO DO MORE RECRUITMENT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WAYS MAYBE SOMEONE IN HR CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT THE WAYS THAT WE GOT IT WAS BASICALLY THE INTERNET.

SO YOU FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH AGAIN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THEY'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT CAN BE, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKED AT TO GET MINORITIES INTO GREGG COUNTY, BUT DID SHE SHARE ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WITH YOU GUYS TO MAKE YOU CRYSTAL CLEAR? THEY HAVE A PROCESS FOR POSTING IT, AND IF THEY'RE INVITED TO A JOB FAIR THAT THEY WILL CERTAINLY COME OUT, BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR THE PASSIVE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE ACTIVE FIND ALL THE JOB FAIRS GO OUT TO THOSE PLACES.

BE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, BE IN THE COLLEGES, BE WITH THE BOLD CENTER, WE'LL BE DOING THOSE THINGS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

I JUST WANT TO THINK, UM, THE NEW OF OUR PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, UH, CURTIS STEWART AND BAILEY MS. ANTOINETTE, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO CANVAS TOGETHER.

UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, I THINK OUR H OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, MS. SIMON HAYES DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.

UM, BUT, UM, THERE ARE THINGS THAT SHE HAS TO DO ON HER DAY TO DAY THAT'S IN HER JOB DESCRIPTION.

AND BASED ON THE STATISTICS NUMBERS DO NOT LIE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE EQUITY.

THIS IS THE MAIN IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS EQUITY.

AND IF WE TRULY SAY THAT EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER HERE, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO MAKE THIS A CONTRACTOR POSITION THAT WILL FALL UNDER THEN WE'LL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT, UM, YOU KNOW, MINORITIES TO OUR CITY TO STAY WITHIN OUR CITY FOR THESE POSITIONS.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT

[01:05:01]

WE TRULY LOOK AT THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND WE TAKE A SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE, UM, A VERY HOT TOPIC OR A WAY TO EXPRESS IT, WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY REPRESENTS THE POPULATION AT HAND.

IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACCEPT, MAY HURT SOME FEELINGS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN OUR CITY AND OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND I THINK, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DONE, AND I HOPE THE BOARD DOES TONIGHT, UM, DECIDE TO ADOPT THIS POSITION.

THE BUDGET HAS NOT PASSED YET.

SO I THINK WE CAN FIND SOME MONEY TO FUND IT.

WE'VE HAD AMPLE ENOUGH TIME TO REVIEW THIS.

THEY'VE SAT DOWN MANY TIMES IN MEETINGS.

I'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO SIT WITH ANTOINETTE, BUT I DO THINK TONIGHT WE DO NEED TO BE MORE PROGRESSIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE, UM, AND MAKING A DECISION THAT WE CARE ABOUT ALL CITIZENS OR POPULATIONS OR, YOU KNOW, PROTECTED CLASSES IN REGARD REGARDS TO DIVERSITY.

AND WE PASS TO, UM, CREATE A POSITION OR CREATE A CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN EXPERT, UM, COMING HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING AN EQUITABLE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, HOW LONG AGO IT WAS, WHERE WE HAD OUR HR DIRECTOR TO COME FORWARD AND TELL US ALL THE MANY WAYS AND HOW SHE'S GOING OUT AND RECRUITING AND, UM, WHERE SHE ADVERTISES AND THE NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS, IF SHE ADVERTISES IN.

AND YOU KNOW, THESE POSITIONS ARE POSTED IN ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY THINK SHE'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB AND SHE, UM, YOU KNOW, UNTIL SHE TELLS US THAT SHE CAN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE, SHE JUST CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE, WHICH I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO.

I DON'T SEE ANY REASON.

I MEAN, DON'T, WE ADVERTISE ALSO WITH THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION WE DID.

SO ANYBODY CAN WALK IN THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION AND LOOK FOR JOBS ANYWHERE ACROSS NEWBURGH, RIGHT.

OR NORTH CAROLINA, YOU KNOW, AND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH JOBS ADVERTISE THERE.

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY THAT SHE'S NOT DOING ENOUGH.

IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF LIKE MR. STUART SAID, YOU HAVE HBCU.

THIS PERSON IS DEDICATED, WHO IS A CERTIFIED, THEY ARE LICENSED IN HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES.

THEY GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SEARCH AND LOOK FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO COME WORK, NOT JUST TO CUT GRASS AND TEACH CHILDREN TO DRIBBLE A BALL, BUT THEY SIT IN HIGHER LEVELS IN OUR CITY IN THAT SAME INFORMATION WE SPEAK TODAY, JUST LIKE WE SPOKE AT THE OMEGA CENTER, THERE WAS ONLY THREE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT SIT OR A MINORITY THAT SIT IN IN HIGH POSITIONS.

YOU HAVE THE CITY ASSISTANT MANAGER, YOU HAVE THE CITY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY AND YOU HAVE MS. HAYES.

OKAY.

AND PUBLIC WORKS.

SO WE HAVE FOUR MINORITIES THAT SIT IN THESE POSITIONS AND WE HAVE 156 EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING THAT MS. HAYES IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.

SHE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT THIS IS A SEPARATE SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED.

WE NEED EQUITY WITHIN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT.

IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE THING.

THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEGATIVE.

THIS IS BRAIDING TOGETHER.

OUR STATEMENT IS EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER HERE.

THAT'S WHAT EQUITY IS CREATING THIS CONTRACT, CREATING THIS POSITION FOR THERE TO BE OUTREACH.

MS. HAYES CAN'T GO TO EVERY EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE STILL HAS TO DO HER DAY TO DAY.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH IT'S A PARTNERSHIP.

DON'T THINK OF IT AS A GIFT.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FINDING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

AND IF WE HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING HERE AND DISPLAYING THIS INFORMATION AND EXPLAIN IT WHERE THE DISCREPANCY OURS, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION I FEEL TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, ISN'T MISTAKES IS NOT KNOWN ANYONE WHO'S WORKING IN AN OFFICE, RIGHT.

DID YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY? I'M JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.

UM, TO BREAK IT DOWN WITH ALL OF THE ENTITIES OF ALL OF THE PLACES THAT YOU SEND INFORMATION OUT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE POSITIONS THAT'S OPEN, UM, FROM THEIR CONVERSATION IS JUST LIKE I'M, UH, I'M HEARING FROM THEM THAT IT WAS JUST A VERY SMALL

[01:10:01]

GROUP OF INFORMATION THAT'S ACTUALLY SENT OUT TO PEOPLE TO RESPOND.

SO THIS SPEAKING FROM THE TERM THAT THEY HAVE A BROADER, UH, SO WHAT I CAN DO IS I CAN SPEAK FROM WHAT, WHAT HR HAS DONE IN THE PAST.

AND, UM, BRENDA, YOU COULD GIVE ME THE DATE OF THAT MEETING.

UM, WHERE, WHERE, UM, WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES CAN PRESENT IT TO THE BOARD.

AND SHE ACTUALLY DID A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT, UM, HOW RECRUITING IS DONE, UH, THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE WEBSITES WE USE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN I THINK SIGN, YOU CAN COME UP IF YOU WANT HER TO, AND SHE COULD REFRESH, UH, UH, YOUR MEMORIES ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU DO THAT, A COUPLE OF THINGS, BOBBY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UH, NO ONE'S SAYING I'VE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH SONYA.

SHE'S DOING A HELL OF A JOB, RIGHT? I THINK SHE'S MADE THAT PRETTY CLEAR.

UH, BUT I DO THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE THE NUMBERS HAVEN'T CHANGED, UH, JUST TO MAKE 1.2, THIS ISN'T POLITICAL STANCE FOR US TODAY.

WE'VE COME TO SOME OF THESE, SOME OF YOU GUYS ON THIS BOARD AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND BRING THIS TO THE AGENDA AND PEOPLE HAVEN'T DONE IT.

OKAY.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.

THIS IS NOT, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I HAVE A COMMUNITY SIDE AND I'M A BUSINESSMAN.

OKAY? SO THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR GRANDSTANDING.

THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR ANY OF THAT.

WE WANT SOME OUTCOMES.

OKAY? WE MET WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN AND PEOPLE CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.

I DON'T CARE.

I CAN TAKE IT.

WE'VE SAT DOWN WITH PEOPLE.

UH, OUR CHAIR ANTOINETTE HAD TO, TO, TO APPROACH SABRINA, TO CUT, TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND AGAINST HER OWN WHEELCHAIR.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS SHIT.

BE HONEST WITH YOU.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH IT BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE CONTROVERSY.

HOWEVER, SHE DID IT.

MARY, YOU CAME TO THIS MEETING, YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU GUYS RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

UM, WHAT THAT PROBLEM IS IS WE DO NEED MORE INCLUSION.

WE, WE, WE NEED W ALL WE'RE ASKING THE SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE DONE THE WORK.

JIM, WE'VE SAT DOWN.

THEY'VE GOTTEN THE WORK.

THEY, THEY PULLED THIS DATA.

YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE DATA.

SONIA HAS BEEN VERY OPEN.

AND IN CONVERSATION WITH US, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, AIN'T WORK.

ALL WE'RE SAYING IS, HEY, WE HAVE A VISION.

WE HAVE A PLAN.

LET US WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A BETTER CITY FOR EVERYBODY.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IT IS ABOUT MINORITIES IN GENERAL WOMEN AS WELL.

WE ARE NOT, IT'S NOT REPRESENTED WELL.

UH, AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.

THIS ISN'T A, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF BAFFLING THAT SOME OF THIS, I THINK IN FACT, WE WENT TO SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO COME AND SIT DOWN AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH US.

AND PEOPLE TURNED IT DOWN.

THAT'S THAT'S DISHEARTENING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE THREE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THIS BOARD RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

I MEAN, THANKS TO CITY SURE.

THAT WE, THEY REPRESENT WHAT'S REPRESENTED IN THE CITY.

WELL, THEY REPRESENT WELL ON THIS BOARD.

THEY DO, BUT NOT AT WORK AND YOUR WORKFORCE.

THEY DONE, UNFORTUNATELY.

I MEAN, GOOD.

I'M GLAD YOU GUYS WENT AND FOUND THIS GENTLEMAN HERE.

HE'S AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HE IN SPEAKING WITH HIM, HE SAID, HEY, I'M COMING FROM THE MILITARY.

I'M COMING FROM HUBLOT.

THIS WAS, THIS JUST MADE SENSE FOR ME.

AGAIN, I'M NOT IGNORANT TO THE FACT JOHNNY, THAT PEOPLE AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAY, SOME MAY NOT BE QUALIFIED, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ME.

WE DON'T HAVE ENGINEERS.

NORTH CAROLINA.

ANTIQUE IS ONE OF THE BEST ENGINEERING SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

I MEAN, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT HERE.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GOING TO FIND THEM.

AND ALL THE THING IS, HEY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

LET'S PUT TOGETHER THIS SMALL TASK FORCE, THIS REPRESENTATION OF THIS AUDITORY COMMITTEE, AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE SO THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN HELP A RECRUITMENT IN THE AREA.

I MEAN, THAT'S SIMPLE.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT A BIG, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THE CITY TO DO THAT.

YOU GUYS WERE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THIS IS AN ISSUE.

WE CANNOT JUST SIT HERE AND IGNORE THAT BECAUSE WE GOT AN HR PERSON.

THE HR PERSON HAS EIGHT OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO WORRY ABOUT.

THIS IS THE SITUATION WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

YOU GUYS WOULD GIVE US FOUR BOATS TO SIT THERE AND AT LEAST HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT UM, I THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING HERE TODAY AND MS. ANTHONY AND THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY FOR COMPILING ALL THIS INFORMATION AND BRINGING IT FORTH TO THE BOARD.

UM, AND I DO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, ALDERMAN HARRIS.

UM, WE DO NEED, UH, EDI OFFICER IN PLACE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SIT HERE AND JUST DISMISS THE NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS SHOW, WHAT ARE OUR PERCENTAGES OF EMPLOYEES, AS OPPOSED TO THE MINORITY EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH THE CITY? UM, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, WITH ME, WHEN WE HAVE POSITIONS OPEN WITHIN OUR LEADERSHIP WITHIN THIS CITY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD DEPARTMENT HAS VISION, HAS SUPERVISORS KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A POOL OF APPLICANTS

[01:15:01]

THAT THIS CITY WOULD GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND A POOL OF APPLICANTS THAT ARE DIVERSE.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, IN THE PAST HAS NOT WORKED.

AND WE CAN SEE THAT BY THE NUMBERS, BUT ALSO WITH THIS DEA OFFICER IN PLACE, NOT ONLY WILL THEY, YOU KNOW, SUPPLY OR THE RECRUITMENT OF MINORITIES, BUT THEY CAN ALSO HELP COME TO THE AID OF OUR CITY WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE HAVE MINORITIES IN, IN, IN THE CITY, UM, DOES EQUITY OFFICER CAN COME AND PRESENT TO THE CITY WORKSHOPS, UH, LEADERSHIP CLASSES.

I MEAN, THEY CAN PROVIDE SO MUCH MORE AND, AND HAVE THIS, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, MEETINGS WHERE THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT SUPERVISORS GET TOGETHER.

YOU LEARN MY CULTURE, I LEARN YOUR CULTURE.

THEN WE BOTH CAN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER BETTER.

AND I CAN SEE THAT AS A PARTNERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW WITH LOW MORALE WITH ALREADY WITHIN THE CITY'S WORKFORCE IS LOW MORALE.

AND THE, WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN WITH THE SKILLS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS AND COME OUT THERE AND CAN BE, BUILD THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A PLUS FOR THE CITY.

IT'S GOING TO MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP US FROM HAVING SUCH A HIGH TURNOVER OF EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M, I'M FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, LIKE YOU SAID, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THIS MORE, BUT WE GOT TO HAVE, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING AND WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND WE GOT TO PUT IT IN, IN ACTION TO HER.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, THANK I THANK YOU TO YOU ALL INTO THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY FOR MEETING WITH ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS I WAS CONTACTED, I SAID BEFORE, I WOULD AGREE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I SEE, I SEE SEVERAL FACETS TO IT THAT I THINK WE'RE MISSING.

I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO PUT, IS IT THE BATH, THE BABY BEFORE THE BATH WATER THAT SAYING GOES, BUT I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE ISSUE HERE RIGHT NOW, BASED ON MY TWO MEETINGS AND THE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, IN QUESTIONING SONYA, UM, OUR LAST POSITION WAS FOR, UM, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

AND SO WE DID PUT OUT SOMETHING TO BLACK ENGINEERS.

THERE WAS A BLACK ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF AMERICA.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S CALLED.

IT WAS PUT OUT THERE, NO RESPONSES.

WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY APPLICANTS THAT APPLIED AT THE LEVEL OF, OF THAT JOB DESCRIPTION APPLIED FOR IT.

AND WE AGREED IN OUR MEETINGS.

COULD WE DO BETTER WITH THE HBCU? ABSOLUTELY.

WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE MORE ONSITE OR DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEM, BUT PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THAT SCHOOL, LACK, EDUCATION, LACK THE EXPERIENCE.

WE ALL KNOW THOSE OF US THAT WENT TO COLLEGE.

YOU TRY TO GET A JOB, RIGHT? IT'S OUT OF COLLEGE.

BAILEY.

I KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT EXPERIENCE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR SOMEPLACE.

SO THEY'RE NOT COMING TO NEWBURN.

THEY'RE GOING TO THE DURHAM'S AND THE RALEIGHS AND THE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN WOULD, THEY CAN GET THE FOOT IN THE DOOR BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE TO WORK ON MORE JOBS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO WORK ON MORE SOCIAL STRUCTURE, MORE HOUSING STRUCTURE.

THERE'S GOOD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE COMING IN.

UM, THE MAYOR WILL REMEMBER THIS.

JOHNNY RAY WILL REMEMBER THIS AS WELL.

THAT, UM, CO A FEW MANAGERS AGO, WE HAD, UM, HIRED A CITY MANAGER AND HIS WIFE COULDN'T FIND A JOB.

SO THEY DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T TAKE THE JOB BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT FIND, UH, UH, UPPER LEVEL JOB THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THIS COMMUTE.

THERE JUST WEREN'T ENOUGH.

AND WE HAVE WORK TO DO WE HAVE WORK TO DO AS A CITY.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO AS A COMMUNITY, AS A GOVERNMENT.

AND MY SUGGESTION, AND WHAT I FEEL IS WE FIRST AND FOREMOST NEED TRAINING.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DIRECTORS ARE TRAINED.

SO THEY KNOW HOW TO ADMINISTER DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TO THEIR STAFF AND THEIR HIRING, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE HIRING, UM, THOSE SUPERVISOR AND OTHER POSITIONS.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CONTRACT, FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND DO TRAIN, LET'S START THAT PROCESS.

THEN LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO START BUILDING THIS WITH THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, LET'S JOIN FORCES AND TRY TO FIND SOME BETTER OUTCOMES, BETTER SOCIAL OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE HERE, TALK TO PEOPLE AND ASK THEM WHY THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE OF COLOR OF MINORITIES, WHY THEY'RE NOT COMING TO NEWBURN AND LET'S GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS.

IS IT HOUSING? IS IT SOCIAL STRUCTURE? WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THEM NOT WANT TO COME BACK TO NEWBURN? MR. STEWART? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I ASKED YOU? WHY DON'T YOU MOVE TO NEWBURGH? AND IT IS A VALID QUESTION.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT, UM, I WANT

[01:20:01]

TO TAKE THE STEPS.

I DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE NEW BUZZWORD AND THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE.

I WANT TO THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

AND I WANT TO LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, TOTALLY.

AND FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, RATHER THAN JUST TRYING TO, TO THROW SOMETHING IN THERE THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE NECESSARILY PREPARED FOR, BECAUSE YOU CAN TALK ALL YOU WANT.

IF YOU, WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT TODAY, ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO OWNS A BUSINESS, WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND EMPLOYEES, PERIOD, AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S THE WORLD WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW, WILL IT CHANGE IN SIX MONTHS? IT MAY MAKE CHANGE IN A YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE STEPS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO.

I'VE I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I AGREE WITH MANY POINTS OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I FEEL WE DO SOME TRAINING.

WE TAKE THE STEPS WE START, AND THEN WE BUILD ON THAT AND WE START BUILDING AND CONTINUE TO BUILD.

I THINK THE POINT THERE, WHEN WE SAY THAT THE CITY WORKFORCE REFLECTING THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE WILL HELP IMPROVE THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

SO WHEN WE SAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE.

WELL, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT WE COULD BE INCLUDING IN WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT MIGHT HELP MOVE THAT CONVERSATION FORWARD.

AND TRAINING IS A SUPER IMPORTANT PART.

IT'S A BIG MAJOR PART.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS THIS.

WE DO NEED TO CONTRACT A POSITION WHERE SOMEBODY CAN GET, GIVE THIS ALL OUT, BUT IT'S AN, IT'S NOT JUST TRAINING TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND PEOPLE.

IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND WHAT DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION ARE BECAUSE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS A WAY THAT IS KIND OF A NEW BUZZ WORD, BUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLANS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE SEVENTIES.

THERE'VE BEEN MANY, MANY CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND I'VE HAD POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

IT'S CONFUSING.

AND YOU SAY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BECAUSE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS ILLEGAL NOW, YOU KNOW, SO, SO I, IT IS CONFUSING TO US IN THE OLDER WORLD THAT WHEN IT DID COME OUT IN THE SEVENTIES, THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND WHAT IT DID AND WHAT IT, UM, FINALLY PRODUCED FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE OF MINORITY STATUS, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S DIFFERENT TODAY.

NOW IT'S BECOME ILLEGAL TO HAVE QUOTAS.

AND YOU STATED THAT IN YOUR OPENING SENTENCE, THAT IT'S NOT BY SOME QUOTA, BUT IT'S KIND OF OFFSETTING WHEN YOU SEE THE NAME OF YOUR PLAN AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN.

BUT THEN IS IT ALSO UPSETTING IF WE CALL IT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TOO? CAUSE THAT'S A BUZZWORD.

NO, I MEAN, I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THAT, I, I TOTALLY, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

I'M JUST SAYING FOR ME RIGHT NOW, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THOSE STEPS THAT WE START TO BUILD AND CONTINUE TO BUILD.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY, I DON'T KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT CAN CHANGE A COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, HIRE THIS PERSON AND START GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DOING THAT WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO TRAIN AND HIRE AND RECRUIT PEOPLE TO COME WORK.

AND IT'S LIKE A TWO-PRONG THING.

I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT MIGHT BE THE ANSWER, BUT I'M OFFERING IT AS AN ADDITIONAL SUGGESTION OR SOLUTION.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND THE THING, OTHER THING THAT WE CAN OFFER TO ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAINING IS THE EXPERTS THAT HELPED US WITH OUR PLAN FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER, THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK LAWYERS, THEIR CHAIRMAN IS WILLING TO COME AND GIVE WORKSHOPS FOR ALL OF YOU OR FOR ANY INTERESTED CITIZENS, ANYBODY THAT IS STILL FEELING LIKE, WHAT DO THOSE WORDS MEAN? WHAT IS THIS? WE'RE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE HERE TO HELP GET THAT PROCESS STARTED.

UM, SO JUST SO IT'S ON RECORD.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT, AND EARLY APRIL, I THINK OF THIS YEAR, MAYBE LAST YEAR, I CAN'T REMEMBER, UM, ME AND BARBARA VEST AND A FEW OUTSIDE COMMUNITY LEADERS SAT DOWN, UM, WITH ANTOINETTE BOSKEY AND WE HAD THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF THIS PLAN.

UM, AND AT THE TIME IT WAS STILL BEING CALLED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

UM, AND IN THOSE NOTES, I STATED THAT THAT PROBABLY MIGHT BE A TOUCHY SUBJECT TO BRING TO THIS BOARD, UM, SHORTLY AFTER I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND THERE'S THINGS THAT TRANSPIRED, UM, AT THE OMEGA CENTER THAT I FELT I NEEDED TO PULL BACK AND STEP AWAY FROM IT.

UM, AND HERE WE ARE, AGAIN, I'M EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS WERE STILL ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH THOSE CONTROVERSIAL SITUATIONS AND GET THE INDIVIDUALS TO PUT IT ON THE BOARD.

I ULTIMATELY FEEL IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN WITH COUNTERPARTS THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE THE THREE INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR ON THIS BOARD TO EXPLAIN WHAT DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION, NOT JUST IN CASE THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS, BUT IT LISTS ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT? IT LISTS, UM, ADVOCACY IN THE LIST EDUCATION.

UM, AT THE BUDGET MEETING I DID PRESENT, UM, AND FORWARDED A CONTACT IN REGARDS TO THE REAL EQUITY, UM, THAT COMES FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES THAT DOES THIS.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE BEING TRAINED TO THEN GO AND TEACH OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE, ER, YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT IS CERTIFIED

[01:25:01]

OR HAS A DEGREE IN IT AND HAS A PASSION BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION, IT'S ABOUT THE CULTURE IN YOUR WORKFORCE.

UM, CULTURE CAN PERTAIN TO BEING ACCEPTED BECAUSE YOU'RE IN LGBTQ OR, UM, YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC RELIGION OR YOU'RE TRANSGENDER.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION MEANS.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING OUT AND DOING THE NECESSARY NEEDS TO FIND PEOPLE FOR THESE POSITIONS.

AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS POLITICAL SEASON, BUT I'VE STOOD BY THIS SINCE 2018 WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD.

UM, AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE, WHERE WE ARE NOW, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, IT'S NOT A BUZZWORD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

HASN'T BEEN DONE AND WE NEED TO DO IT.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE SIDE CONVERSATIONS AND KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD.

WE NEED STAND AND BE PROGRESSIVE AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE INFORMATION IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE ON HERE, THE NUMBERS WE ARE NOT REPRESENTING OUR CITY THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.

I DON'T CARE IF WE'RE A SMALL CITY OR A BIG CITY.

IT'S THE PRINCIPLE THAT THIS SHOWS OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE DO HAVE APPRECIATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND, UM, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH GOVERNS THE CITY THAT MAKES THE POLICIES, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS IN THE DAY TO DAY THAT THERE IS EQUITY WITHIN THE CITY.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE THINGS.

IT'S NOT AN, I DON'T THINK THE NEW BIRD PEOPLE SAY PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLIES SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.

I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY, WHATEVER THE CONTRACTED AMOUNT IS.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING NOT, I BELIEVE.

AND I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEETING, BUT IT'S MOVING FORWARD IS TO SHOW THAT YOU REALLY DO UNDERSTAND, OR YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND OR BETTER THE SITUATION.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING AGAIN, THAT THE HR DEPARTMENT IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX THAT IS NEEDED.

AND IF WE LOOK AS A COMMUNITY, IF WE LOOK AT THIS WITH A RACIAL EQUITY LENS AND WE SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE, THAT THESE NUMBERS DON'T EQUATE TO WHAT OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ON WHY WE CAN'T HAVE A POSITION CREATED, OR WE CONTRACT OUT FOR LESS THINGS THAT BENEFIT.

WE CONTRACT PEOPLE OUT FOR LESS THINGS THAT BENEFIT.

THIS IS A BENEFIT TO OUR WHOLE CITY.

THIS IS A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS A BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY.

I DON'T CARE THAT ELECTION SEASON, I CARED THAT Y'ALL NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

THEY'VE DONE THE WORK FOR US.

THEY'VE DONE THE WORK ALREADY.

SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION TO MOVE FORWARD.

I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD, BUT MOVING FORWARD WITH BRINGING IT TO THE BOARD, A CONVERSATION IS A CONVERSATION, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.

WE GET TO THAT THOUGH.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE TO FIRE PEOPLE UP? BECAUSE IT COULD TAKE 20 YEARS TO GET TO THE NUMBER.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIRE OR LAY ANYBODY OFF, BUT DO WE JUST STOP AT 456 EMPLOYEES? BUT THAT MAY BE WHAT OUR MAXIMUM BUDGET CAN HOLD, RIGHT? BUT WHEN WE BRING SO MUCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN HERE THAT CREATES A TAX, THAT'S SORT OF WHY IT'S A BIT OF THE LONG THOUGH.

WHY WOULD THE IDEA IS THE LONG-TERM POSITION? CAUSE WE REALIZED THAT IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A BUNCH OF OPEN POSITIONS.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S GROWING THE RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDING THE CONTEXT WHERE THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY COULD BE FOCUSING ON.

SO THAT HAS BECAUSE WE DON'T, I MEAN, FIRING PEOPLE, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS.

OBVIOUSLY THE JOB THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IS VERY GOOD AND, AND SHARING WITH, UM, UH, HR DEPARTMENT.

UM, THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DOING THAT IS VERY GOOD.

THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS VERY GOOD.

SO THE THING THAT IT IS NOW IS COMING TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S JUST LIKE RIDING AROUND AND IN THE CITY, YOU SEE HELP WANTED SIGNS ON BACK CARS, ON BUILDINGS, ON BILLBOARDS.

UM, EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR A JOB, A LOT INDIVIDUALS NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB, BUT IT'S NOT HERE TO TRY TO BEAT UP ON.

NO ONE IS JUST TRYING TO EDUCATE WHERE YOU FALL SHORT IN AND WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M HERE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING I'M NOT HERE TRYING TO SELL ANYTHING OR TRYING TO WIN ANYTHING.

I JUST

[01:30:01]

WANT TO SEE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY, THAT MAKES SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING CORRECT.

THAT'S ALL.

AND IF WE'VE FALLEN SHORT AND WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM YOU GUYS, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

WE WILLING TO COME TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT SITTING HERE TRYING TO BEAT YOU UP, UH, UH, SAY THAT WE GOT DO THIS HERE OR TALK ABOUT THIS OR THAT.

IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING IT HAPPEN.

OKAY.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO.

I SAID, CAN I FINISH, PLEASE? GO AHEAD, SIR.

I DIDN'T TALK TO HER.

I MEAN, I'M NOT HERE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LIKE WHEN YOU CAME HERE, WHEN I ASKED ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF AND THE CITY MANAGER IS IN PLACE, SHE BOUGHT A PRESENTATION TO US.

AND IF THEY SEEN THAT IT WAS SOMETHING SHORT THERE THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY RUN FOR THE CITY.

MY JOB IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEIR JOB IS.

OKAY.

WE MAKE THE DECISION TOGETHER HERE TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND IF YOU SEE WHERE IT'S VERY SHORT AND WE NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, LET'S SIT DOWN WITH MS. HAYES AND THE MANAGER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE WE FEDERALLY AND STATE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

THOSE OUR GOVERNING BODIES.

THAT'S WHAT REMIND BY.

WE DON'T DO MORE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO IF WE COULD WORK WITH THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT WORK, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THEIR MAGIC WITH YOU GUYS TO BRING THIS THING TOGETHER.

WELL, YOU CAN PULL NOW FROM ALL OVER THE TALE, NOT JUST HERE, ALL OVER THE WHOLE CITY AND FIND JOBS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S JUST NOT HERE BECAUSE HIS APPLICATIONS EVERYWHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING AND SEE, CAN WE DO THAT? THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO IF THE BOARD WAS TO LIKE MS. BENGO STATED, START WITH SQUARE ONE AND HIRING SOMEONE TO COME HERE AND DO SOME TRAINING, WOULD YOU FEEL LIKE WHAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY THAT YOU AT LEAST GOT A WIN AND STARTING THAT? WELL, YES AND NO.

I THINK THAT DEPENDING ON WHO THAT PERSON IS, A BAD PERSON CAN COME FROM SOME EXPERTS THAT WE WORK WITH.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A START TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE SOLVING THIS PROBLEM TODAY.

THIS IS A LONG SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE COULD AT LEAST START THE PROCESS, I THINK THAT THAT IS, UH, WE WOULD LOVE YOU GUYS TO ADOPT THE PLAN, UH, BUT TO MOVE FORWARD IN SOME CAPACITY FIRST, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WOMEN STANDING HERE, YOU KNOW, 30 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE NEED SOME TYPE OF OUTCOME.

YOU KNOW, JEFF, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR OPINION OF THIS.

WELL, IT ULTIMATELY IN PLACES WHERE THIS IS EFFECTIVE TRAINING IS A WIN, BUT ULTIMATELY THE PLACES WHERE THESE THINGS ARE EFFECTIVE, THOSE ARE NOT THE KEY COMPONENTS.

IT'S THOSE OTHER ACTIVE, PROACTIVE PARTS OF THE JOB OF GOING OUT AND DOING STUFF.

SO THE TRAINING WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A START.

WE WOULD LOVE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN HAVE SOME OF OUR EXPERTS THAT HAVE TAUGHT US IN HERE TO TRAIN, BUT IT IS STILL, IT WOULD, WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED.

IT'S A VERY FIRST STEP BEFORE YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M ON IT.

SO ADOPTING THE PLAN WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED IN REGARDS TO FOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THREE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTING THREE PEOPLE TO MAKE SEVEN TO WORK WITH THE CITY.

THOSE SEVEN WOULD BE PART OF THE HIRING TASKFORCE FOR FINDING THAT CONTRACTOR TO COME DO THE WORK FOR, IF YOU HAD CHOSEN, IF YOU CHOSE TO CREATE THE POSITION WITH DEI DIRECTOR, WE WOULD WANT THAT PERSON TO BE HIRED USING THAT CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD.

AND THEY WOULD HELP WITH MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

UM, WE FIND WITH HAVING, OKAY, EXCUSE ME, THERE'S A DESCRIPTION.

WE THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF THAT ADVISORY BOARD IN YOUR PACKET, WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.

SO FOR ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE HERE THAT WANTED TO READ THAT THAT DOCUMENT IS INTENDED.

IF WE COULD, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM STAFF AS TO WHERE WE ARE.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS.

COULD YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE FROM BETWEEN HR MANAGER AND WHOEVER ELSE WHERE WE ARE, WHERE YOUR IDEAS ARE, A STAFF WHERE WE NEED TO GO? ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU.

SINCE, SINCE YOU APPOINTED ME AS MANAGER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021, UM, DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN ON MY MIND.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REFLECTIVE IN PARKS AND RECREATION.

WHEN I CAME HERE AND STAFF OF HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE POSITION OF THE EMPLOYEE, SAME THING.

WHEN, WHEN I HIRED OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, I

[01:35:01]

HIRED HIM ON THE QUALIFICATIONS HE HAD.

AND WHEN I KNEW HE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE, SAME THING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

HE IS A MINORITY.

UM, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION, WE WERE LOOKING AT WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS, HE ENDED UP BEING THE BEST CANDIDATE.

WE CHOSE HIM.

I, FINANCE DIRECTOR IS A MINORITY.

SHE IS A FEMALE.

I MADE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MINNESOTA FROM THE BOARD.

THE BOARD WENT ALONG WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION WHO WAS A FEMALE.

SHE WAS SELECTED FOR THAT INTERIM POSITION BECAUSE SHE IS THE BEST QUALIFIED FOR THAT POSITION.

UM, IN OUR NEXT BUDGET FOR FY 23, WE ARE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, PUT FUNDS IN FOR DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING.

I'VE GONE THROUGH IT WHEN I WAS IN PARKS AND RECREATION.

IT'S TOUGH TRAINING, BUT IT, BUT IT'S EYE OPENING.

IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT FOR, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO GO THROUGH.

AND IT DOES CHANGE THE CULTURE.

UM, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WITH THE CITY.

A LOT OF THE CITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

AND I THINK WITH THE TRAINING THAT THAT'S OUR REALLY FIRST BIG STEP, BUT LET'S LOOK AT OUR HIRES THAT WE HAVE MADE.

AND, AND I'M, I'M PLEASED WITH THAT RECORD.

WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE STARTED AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE AGAIN.

THE MOST QUALIFIED APPLICANTS IS WHAT WE WANT, WHATEVER COLOR THEY ARE, WHATEVER RACE OR GENDER THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

THE GOAL IS TO GET THE BEST QUALIFIED FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S DISPUTING THAT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S DISPUTING THAT WE WANT THE BEST QUALIFIED.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, IS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO FIND THE BEST QUALIFIED WHEN IT COMES TO MINORITIES.

LIKE HE GAVE AN EXAMPLE, THE HBC USE, UM, I JUST, I DON'T WANT THE BOARD OR THE PEERS TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A NEGATIVE THING OR AN ATTACK.

IT'S NOT, IT'S LITERALLY AN ADDITION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARDS CORRECTING THE ISSUE AT HAND THAT THEY SPOKE ON THAT'S, THAT'S IT, I IT'S, IT'S NOT A BAD THING.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WHEN WE KIND OF ARE ON THE DEFENSE, IT SHOWS, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT AS A BOARD.

I MEAN, AGAIN, I, I THINK THEY PRESENTED ENOUGH INFORMATION.

I MEAN, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE STEWED ON, BUT I MEAN, THERE, YOU'RE BASICALLY ASKING FOR AN ADVISORY BOARD TO BE CREATED AS CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD TO CREATE, BE CREATIVE, TO HIRE THE, TO HELP HIRE THE POSITION OF THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION DIRECTOR.

THAT WAS WHAT OUR ADVISORY BOARD WAS FOR SO THAT THE PEOPLE COMMUNITY COULD HAVE A HAND IN THAT HIRING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOMEBODY THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITIES MOST EFFECTED BY THE PLAN.

SO THE PROBLEM IS GETTING FOUR VOTES FOR THAT POSITION BEFORE YOU DRINK, CREATE LIKE A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TO BOSS'S POINT, I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I MEAN, THAT CAN'T GO WITHOUT NOTICE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE SHE'D BEEN CITY MANAGER.

UH, IN REGARDS TO THAT, I DO THINK THAT THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE SOME ATTENTION PUT ON THAT THOUGH.

UH, AND IF IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET, I GUESS AS A JULY, MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE, UH, IF, IF THE THOUGHT IS TO, TO, UH, IMPLEMENT TRAINING, WE WOULD JUST APPRECIATE IF WE COULD RECOMMEND, OR YOU GUYS CAN WORK WITH US IN REGARDS TO, UH, SOMEONE AS AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD THAT CAN COME IN AND TRAIN THE STAFF IN REGARDS TO THAT, AND THEN MAYBE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WIN FOR THE SITUATION.

AGAIN, I, YOUR POINTS WERE WELL TOOKEN AND SOMEONE THAT I, I WAS WASN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW.

I KNEW SOME OF IT, BUT NOT ALL OF IT, SO I CAN APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST WAS GOING TO SPEAK IN ICONIC, JUMPED THE BOAT WHEN THEY ASKED THEM.

SO, UM, I AGREE WITH RPZ, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING INFORMATION TOGETHER.

UM, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TYPICALLY SEE, UH, WE GET WEEKLY AND MONTHLY REPORTS.

I THINK ONE GOOD THING WOULD BE TO ADD A D A E N A SECTION TO OUR, AT LEAST OUR MONTHLY REPORTS, SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE'RE TRACKING.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO LIGHT.

UM, I DEAL WITH THIS EVERY DAY.

UM, I MANAGE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I HIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

UM, I HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH SOME HBC USE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

UM, BUT ONE THING THAT I HAVE A CONCERN WITH AND THANK YOU ALL DO AS WELL IS KEEPING OUR YOUTH HERE.

I KNOW, I SEE ALDERMAN WHITE OUT THERE, AND WE WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS, HIM AND HIS SON, AND I WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.

HIS SON DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

HE MOVED AWAY.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO FIND A JOB AND BE ABLE TO STAY IN NEWBURN, UM, OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TO THESE OTHER PLACES THAT THAT'S FINE, BUT I WANT US TO PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER TO WHERE WE START WITH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE AND HAVE SOMETHING HERE FOR THEM TO STAY.

YES, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO GO AWAY TO COLLEGE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE HERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UM, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE

[01:40:01]

REALLY WITH ANYTHING YOU'VE PRESENTED EXCEPT THE HIGHER END OF THE POSITION.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S A, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP.

UH, WE'VE GOT MANY NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT AFFECT THINGS EVERY DAY.

I BELIEVE THAT IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED THE PROBLEM, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT.

WHEN YOU PUT THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND YOU INCLUDE THREE ALDERMAN, I'M SURE YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THE BOARD.

UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S EVER BEEN AN ALDERMAN THAT SAT ON A COMMITTEE TO HIRE ANYBODY.

ALDERMAN, ALDERMAN WOULD APPOINT THREE MOWERS AND THEN, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GREAT.

THANKS.

THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

BUT YEAH, I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR STAFF, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD C MANAGER TURNOVER.

UM, FORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T HAD TURNOVER IN HR DEPARTMENTS ON YOUR HAZEL BEEN HERE.

SHE, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES.

SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR STAFF PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER.

THEY'VE HEARD THE CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE HEARD THE CONCERN FROM THE BOARD.

I'D LIKE TO SEE OUR STAFF PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER AND LET US KNOW WHAT OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS WE DO.

UM, AND JUST LASTLY, I DO WANT TO ADD, SO ALDERMAN HARRIS, I HAVE NOT BEEN OFFENDED OR ANYTHING, BUT I'VE SAID, AND I'M I'M I ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN GOOD, GOOD CONVERSATION WE HAD IN TWO MEETINGS.

AND, UM, I JUST WANT US TO WORK IN BUILD.

I DON'T, I DON'T WANT IT TO THROW ALL TOGETHER AND NOT GET THE END RESULT THAT WE WANT, AND THAT IS CHANGING THE CULTURE AND TEACHING US ALL WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS A PROPONENT OF STARTING WITH THIS TRAINING.

LET CITY STAFF TRIED TO MOVE THIS AND PULL IT TOGETHER AND LET'S SEE HOW WE KNOW IF WE'RE REALLY FAILING, THEN WE'RE FAILING AND WE'LL NOT WAIT BECAUSE YOU'LL LET US KNOW.

AND, UM, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT.

BUT I, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH GOING IN THAT DIRECTION WITH MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THE TRAINING.

UM, I KNOW YOU, IT WOULDN'T BE INTERNAL TRAINING.

WE'D HIRE A CONSULTANT OR SOMEBODY, RIGHT.

I GET THAT INFORMATION.

HOW HAVE YOU GUYS REACHED OUT? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

THE HIRING, THE HIRING, THEY TAKE PLACE TODAY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THEY'RE LITERALLY FROM THE S FROM NORTH CAROLINA LEAVES A MUNICIPALITY, LIKE WHEN I WENT TO THE CONFERENCE AND WHEN THAT FIRST CONFERENCE I WENT TO IN DC, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO.

SO I REALLY THINK IT'D BE GREAT FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DO ALL OF THIS TO, SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE TO, TO FOSTER, I GUESS, IS, IS, IS IT, UH, YOU HAVE THE PERSON THAT MAKES THIS DECISION, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET.

UH, WOULD YOU AT LEAST LET US SUBMIT SOME NAMES TO YOU OR PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, TO COME IN AND PROVIDE SOME OF THAT TRAINING, I GUESS, WOULD BE ONE QUESTION AND THEN TWO, IN REGARDS TO WHAT JEFF SAID, A PROGRAM, UH, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT AND SEE WHAT THAT FRAMEWORK LOOKS FOR THAT FRAMEWORKS LOOKS LIKE.

CORRECT.

AND SO SOME OF THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IF THIS PLAN IS LOOKED AT AND APPRECIATE AND, OR, UH, APPLIED TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SOME OF THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, BUT I GUESS FOR ME, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO REALLY SEE YOU GUYS ADOPT THOSE TWO THINGS, IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WORK WITH US AND LET US RECOMMEND ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH THAT HAS EXPERIENCED IN THIS TO COME IN AND TRAIN VERSUS IN-HOUSE TRAINER OR SOMEONE THAT YOU GUYS CHOOSE.

AND THEN TO, UH, THE PLAN THAT JEFF MENTIONED, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA IF YOU GUYS WOULD PUT THAT TOGETHER AND SEE HOW WE CAN BEGIN TO DO THAT OUTREACH AT AN EARLIER STAGE.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT CINDI CAN CORRECT ME.

SHE HAS ALREADY STARTED WITH AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, IS THAT CORRECT? SONIA, UM, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL, THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

SO THAT IS, THAT IS TAKING STUDENTS AND HAVING THEM INTERN WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWBURN, MAYBE TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO EVEN DO IN THAT FIELD OR LIKE, SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING ALSO TOO.

I WOULD SUGGEST BRINGING THE VOLT CENTER AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF PUTTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND AGAIN, GET THEY GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.

THEY CAN GET EXPERIENCED THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BRING THEM INTO THE CITY AND THEN THEY CAN BE TRACKED.

SO IT'D BE GOOD TO GET SOME OF THOSE STATISTICS AND JOIN FORCES WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO THE BOAT CENTER IS REALLY THE WIN-WIN WE'VE HAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY BIG TIME.

SO I THINK IT GOES BACK TO MY QUESTION OF, UH, BASED ON WHAT FOSTER SAID, WOULD YOU GUYS BE WILLING TO ALLOW, UH, A QUALIFIED PERSON FROM OUR GROUP, UH, TO COME IN AND ASSIST IN THAT DRAINING? I THINK THE QUESTION IS, SO, SO WHAT I'LL SAY IS, IS, IS, UH, OUR HR DEPARTMENT IS GETTING, UH, UH, QUOTES FROM QUALIFIED AFFIRMS TO DO TRAIN HIM.

WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AND GET SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU AS WELL.

OKAY.

AND THAT PROCESS HAS ALREADY STARTED THAT STARTED YESTERDAY.

WE'LL MAKE SURE SONIA REACHES OUT TO YOU.

OKAY.

AND IN REGARDS TO THE OTHER QUESTION FOR THE PROGRAMMING, YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO, YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, JEFF, UH, AGAIN, YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK IN OUR PLAN, WE HAVE AN OUTREACH PLAN THAT'S IN

[01:45:01]

THERE.

I MEAN, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE MENTIONING, WE HAVE PROVIDED TO YOU.

UM, AND I THINK THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE JUST PUTTING BACK IN, IN YOUR HANDS WITHOUT SOME COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.

AND I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT HASN'T WORKED, SO WE REALLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

HOW DOES THAT LOOK? SO DO WE NEED TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION? I DON'T THINK EMOTION IS NECESSARY, BUT I PERSONALLY AGREED THAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THE WORK.

THEY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

THAT WOULD BE THE INEQUITY.

UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW LEGALLY HOW THAT WORKS IN REGARDS TO THE HR DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT HOW WOULD THAT WORK OUT OR RELATE TO, UH, LIAISONS FROM THE NEWBORN PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, WORKING IN COALITION COALITION WITH, UM, THE HR DEPARTMENT IN THIS PROCESS? HM.

I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BOARD IS IMAGINING AS A COLLABORATION.

I, I, WHAT I HEARD ON ODOM SAY WAS THAT HE WANTED TO PUT THE BALL IN STAFF'S COURT TO PRESENT THE CITY MANAGER A PROGRAM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF CREATING THAT PROGRAM.

AM I CORRECT? I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK AT A TERM.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS LET STACK, PUT SOME STUFF TOGETHER AND THEN BRING THEM IN AND WORK.

ONCE THEY PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? IT'S REALLY THE BOARD'S DECISION.

I'M JUST INTERPRETING WHAT I'M HEARING AND I, AND HELPING SPEAK OUT ON THE NOTE.

I THOUGHT HE WAS, THEY KEEP SAYING THAT THEY'VE DONE ALL THIS WORK AND THEY HAVE, SO THE WORK'S BEEN DONE.

THEY'VE PRESENTED IT TO US.

LET OUR STAFF WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO DEALS WITH THIS EVERY DAY, THEY UNDERSTAND THE LAWS, THE EEO REQUIREMENT, ALL THAT STUFF.

THEY'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES OF IT.

THAT'S A PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT WITHIN OUR CITY.

LET BEN TAKE THAT, COME BACK TO THE BOARD AND SAY, WE HEARD YOU, THIS IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

AND THEN IT'S UP TO US TO SAY, YEAH, YOUR NAME, YOU'RE SAYING OUR HR DEPARTMENT, CORRECT.

BASED OFF OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE HR DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE SAYING.

AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE THERE'S WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME GRAY AREA WITH THAT.

AND WITH THAT KIND OF, WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME IN REGARDS TO THAT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, I STILL THINK THERE'S THE 60 DAYS WE'LL GET THAT GOOD.

THAT'S FAIR.

IS THAT FAIR TO EVERYBODY? I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK ROLL BOARD, BUT, WELL, I'M TRYING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND.

SO CAN YOU FINISH IT AND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, LIKE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TOOK ALL THIS TIME TO HAVE THESE MEETINGS, COUNTLESS MEETINGS OVER THE WORKING ON THIS TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

I THINK, I GUESS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE HERE IS THAT WITHIN, INSTEAD OF, RATHER THAN CONTRACT SOMEBODY TO OVERSEE THIS PROCESS, YOU'D LIKE THE STAFF TO FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE IT INTO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND OVERSEE THAT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY NOT OUR FAVORITE DECISION, BUT YOU KNOW, LET'S CALL IT COMPROMISE AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE'LL, I GUESS WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT ON IT.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE WITHIN THE 60 DAYS, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE YOUR CONCRETE STEPS? WE DON'T WANT YOUR GENERAL IDEA OR YOUR PHILOSOPHY.

WE WANT TO SEE THE LIST OF STEPS.

AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE STAFF TAKE IT ON FIRST.

AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN WE'LL ALL GO FROM THERE JUST TO, SO THERE'S SO FOR ME TO SPEAK ON IT, I KNOW Y'ALL ABOUT TIRED.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN HR DEPARTMENT AND SOMEONE THAT HAS GONE TO SCHOOL CERTIFIED AND HAS A DEGREE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION.

AGAIN, I'M NOT NEGATING THAT THE HR DEPARTMENT IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE AT THE TABLE.

AND THEY'RE ASKING IN THAT PROCESS, THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT NAMES.

AND THEN 60 DAYS THE STAFF IS GOING TO COME TOGETHER AND BRING WHAT THEY PRESENTED.

BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY WANTED TO BE A PART OF WHAT WAS BEING CREATED WITH THE STAFF.

AND THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

WELL, AND I GUESS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, WE KIND OF ARE ALREADY ON THE BAILEY SAID WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND WE HAVE THE, WE HAVE THE PLAN.

YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO GIVE YOU, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY, YOU HAVE, THEY HAVE THE COPY.

SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THERE AND DICTATING HOW THE PROCESS GOES.

YOU HAVE THE THINGS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

SO STARTING OVER TO YOU TO, I MET W WHAT MY THOUGHT IS, THE STAFF COULD COME BACK AND SAY, WE, WE RESTRUCTURED OUR INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND WE'VE GOT SOMEONE INTERNALLY, THAT'S NOW GOING TO BE DEDICATED TO DO THIS VERSUS WHATEVER ELSE THEY'VE BEEN DOING, BUT THAT THE STAFF MAY COME BACK TO US AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, THERE'S A HUGE GAP.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS.

IF WE DON'T ADD HEAD COUNT IN PERSONNEL.

AND THAT'S THE DECISION FOR THE BOARD AND THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THAT WAS MY THOUGHT PROCESS.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, YOU, YOU MENTIONED SATURDAY, I GOT THIS THURSDAY WHEN I GOT MY GENET PACKAGE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SEEN IT.

SO TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND SAY, YES, LET'S GO CONTRACT

[01:50:01]

A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT FOR SOMEBODY FOR A THREE TO FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

AGAIN, WE'RE IN ELECTION SEASON.

WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR ANOTHER BOARD.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE QUITE FAIR TO DO THAT ON SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE A NEW BOARD MAY GET IN HERE AND SAY, WE COMPLETELY DECIDED, I THINK THEY WOULD, BUT WE MAY COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THIS AND TERMINATE THAT EMPLOYEE.

SO I THINK THAT WAS A FAIR COMPROMISE IN MY OPINION, SORT OF CYBER.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE RECEIVED THE PARTS OF THIS, BUT WE RECEIVED WHAT THIS PROCESS WAS LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN WE PRESENTED IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION, THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND EVERYTHING, THEY, WE, WE WERE PUT, THE PAPERWORK WAS PUT IN THE EMAIL TO US.

THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS OKAY.

I THOUGHT WE ALL RECEIVED IT.

I THINK AT ONE POINT IT MAY HAVE ALL BEEN SAID, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY WAS NECESSARILY THE ACTIVITY WOULD CHANGE.

YEAH.

SO 60 DAYS YOU'RE SAYING WE CAN REVISIT THIS AND HOPEFULLY SOME ACTION ITEMS WILL BE AROUND.

WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

LISTEN TO US, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST WE RECOGNIZE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, YOUR NEXT TIME

[9. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending Section 15- 80 — Endorsements on Major Subdivision Plats of the Land Use Ordinance.]

IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDED SECTION 15 DASH 80 ENDORSEMENTS ON MAJOR SUBDIVISION PLATS OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MATT SHELL IT, EXPLAIN THE SITE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

UH, AND CONTRARY TO PREVIOUS, UH, PRESENTATIONS, THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY CUT AND DRY, UH, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, UH, THE, UH, DRAWINGS THAT COME THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFICE, UH, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR SUBDIVISIONS, UH, AT THE FINAL PLAT STAGE, UH, THEY INCLUDE A, A, THE DRAWING ITSELF INCLUDES A BLOCK OF INFORMATION IN ONE PART OF THE, ONE OF THE PAGES.

AND THAT BLOCK OF INFORMATION IS DICTATED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE LAND SURVEYORS SIGN OFF ON THE SHEET, CERTIFYING THAT IT'S AN ACCURATE DRAWING FOR, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT.

UH, AND THEY HAVE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE.

AND SO WE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO CHANGE LANGUAGE, UH, AND THAT IS A TEXT AMENDMENT IN OUR ZONING CODE.

SO IN OUR LAND USE ORDINANCE, SORRY.

UH, AND SO THAT'S IT FOR GOT, OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, AT THIS TIME ON LINE NUMBER NINE, I'M GOING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 15 DASH 80 ENDORSEMENTS ON MAJOR SUBDIVISION PLANTS OF THE LAND USE, OR DOES ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD FROM THE PUBLIC TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS, ASK QUESTIONS.

YOU'RE BORN IN TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME, THE MOTION THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY, AYE, I CAN MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1580 ENDORSEMENTS, AND THE MAJOR SUBDIVISION PLATS AS A YOUNG LAND USE ORDINANCE.

SO MOTION AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF US HAVE A ROLL CALL CHARLOTTE WITH ALDERMAN ODOM, ALDERMAN ITEMS? YES.

OUTER MENDEZ, YES.

ORDER KENZIE.

YES.

MAY OR ALCOHOL.

YES.

ALDERMAN ASKED HER OUT A WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN BAGEL.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER 10.

[10. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Resiliency Plan.]

OKAY.

YOUR NEXT ITEM IS TO PRESENT CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RESILIENCY PLAN.

THIS TIME.

I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. SHELLEY TO COME UP AND START THAT PATIENT.

AND I'LL ASK, UH, DAWN YORK TELL US WHAT ACCOMMODATE ME.

UM, OUR COMPANY NEEDS, SORRY.

SO THIS ONE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERESTING.

I HOPE, UH, THAN, UH, JUST THAT LAST ONE.

UH, THIS IS, UH, REGARDING THE, UH, RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS, UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS, PROBABLY AT THIS POINT.

UM, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, UM, CONTRARY TO MAYBE MANY OTHER PLANS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND ADOPTED OVER THE YEARS.

UH, THIS PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BE WHAT WE WOULD CALL A LIVING DOCUMENT.

UM, IT'S EXPECTED TO BE REVISED AND AMENDED OVER THE YEARS, UH, AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

AND SO THIS PLAN THAT'S BEING ASKED TO BE ADOPTED IS JUST THE FIRST

[01:55:01]

ITERATION SAY OF THAT.

UM, THAT SAID, HOWEVER, UM, UM, IT HAS, UH, BEEN, UH, CONSTRUCTED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, INPUT AND COOPERATION FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, MANY OF THE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AS WELL.

UH, THERE IS A 30 MEGABYTE PORTION OF THE PLAN THAT I HOPE YOU MAYBE DIDN'T ALL NECESSARILY DOWNLOAD, UH, JUST ON THE PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH SHOWED ALL THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THE VARIOUS PUBLIC, UH, THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS AND THE VARIOUS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

SO, UH, WE'LL START FIRST WITH THE, UH, THE VISION STATEMENT FOR THE PROJECT.

AND HERE WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN IS TO IMPLEMENT BY IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN, UH, NEW BURNS CITY, ITS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WILL PREPARE FOR ADAPT TO AND RESPOND TO A FUTURE OF RISING TIDES AND EXTREME STORMS, EMBRACE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE ECONOMIC SECURITY, PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND PROMOTE ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE.

SO WITH THAT, PASS THIS OFF TO DAWN GOOD EVENING, UH, DON YORK, SENIOR PLANNER WITH MARTHA AND NICOLE AND A WILMINGTON APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND, UH, ACCOMMODATE, UH, MR. SHELLEY HERE.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TONIGHT JUST TO WALK THROUGH AT A HIGH LEVEL OF BRIEFING OF THE RESILIENCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

UM, FIRST I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF NEWBURGH FOR TAKING THE PROACTIVE STEPS OF, UH, ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE AND COASTAL IMPACTS.

UM, I UNDERSTAND FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE 2018, UM, CAUSED DEVASTATING IMPACTS, UM, I'M FROM WILMINGTON AND ALSO FELT THOSE SAME IMPACTS.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF WORKING WITH YOUR CITY STAFF AND THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITIES TO UNDERTAKE THIS VERY ROBUST PROCESS TO DEVELOP A CITY-WIDE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

UM, THE FIRST IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, UM, THIS PLAN IS MEANT TO INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO FLOOD HAZARDS, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

UM, LET'S, LET'S SEE HERE ON THIS SLIDE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS THAT YOU'LL FIND THE PLAN, WHICH IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE IS DIVIDED INTO VARIOUS SECTIONS EACH AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE, UH, DOCUMENT, IF, UH, SO PLEASE, UM, IF THAT'D BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DIGEST FOR YOURSELF, UM, WE ALSO OFFER INTRODUCTORY SUBSECTIONS FOR EACH OF THOSE SECTIONS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION, TO HELP NAVIGATE THE READER.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OUR TEAM, UM, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES CITY STAFF, ENGINEERS, UM, GIS SUPPORT, HISTORICAL, UM, EXPERTS.

UM, WE USED EXISTING DATA, EXISTING PLANS SUCH AS YOUR LOCAL RESILIENCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, THE REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

AND WE WERE MEANT TO BUILD UPON PREVIOUS AND EXISTING EFFORTS.

WE WENT MEANT TO EXPAND AND HANDS AND COMPLETE THOSE PRODUCTS IN A NEW WAY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION.

SO AGAIN, YOU WON'T FIND REPEATED INFORMATION OUT OF YOUR REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN IN THIS DOCUMENT IT'S MEANT TO SERVE AS AN AMENDMENT OR AN APPENDIX TO THAT REGIONAL FAN.

AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THE PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND COMMENTS CAN BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL AGAIN, AS MR SHELLEY MENTIONED ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THIS PLAN.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS IT DID TAKE A LITTLE UNDER TWO YEARS, UM, AGAIN, IT DID GET KICKED OFF, RIGHT AS COVID, UM, HIT EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO IT DID REQUIRE OUR TEAM TO, UH, ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH HYBRID METHODS.

UH, THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED, UM, AGAIN, STAKEHOLDERS, PUBLIC AND CITY STAFF SUPPORT AND FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

UH, THE CORE PLANNING TEAM MET 12 DIFFERENT TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT.

AND OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, UM, PROVIDING THOSE THOSE MEETINGS DURING THE TIME OF COVID, WE DID CREATE A SERIES OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATION METHODS TO ADVERTISE AND RELATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO COLLEEN FOR

[02:00:01]

SERVING AS THE LEAD FOR SOME OF THOSE, UM, ADVERTISEMENTS.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, WE ALSO CONDUCTED THREE HYBRID PUBLIC MEETINGS.

SOME OF THOSE THAT DID OCCUR IN THIS ROOM AND IT ALLOWED THE NEW-BORN COMMITTED COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE TEAM, UM, DURING THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WHETHER IT'S THE THROUGH FACEBOOK LIVE ZOOM EVENTS OR, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO SUBMIT FEEDBACK, WE ALSO PROVIDED TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO SUBMIT COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THROUGH ONLINE PUBLIC SURVEYS, THOSE SURVEYS, AND ALL OF THE, UM, RESPONDENTS, UM, INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE WEBSITE.

UM, UNDER CITY OF POMONA, EXCUSE ME, CITY OF NEWBURGH RESILIENCY WEBSITE.

UH, WE ALSO HELD TO A VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND GATHER INPUT FROM A GROUP OF KEY DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS, UH, PROVIDE A CROWDSOURCING RPIS ONLINE MAP TO ALLOW STAKEHOLDERS, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

AND AS YOU'LL NOTICE THROUGHOUT THE PLAN, UM, THERE IS, UM, RECENT, LIKE A THEME OF RESILIENCE PILLARS.

THIS WAS MEANT TO CREATE CATEGORIES, TO DEFINE AND CATEGORIZE THE COMMUNITY'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

AS THEY RELATE TO COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DURING THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, THE NEWBURN COMMUNITY EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS BASED ON VARIOUS THEMES.

THESE THEMES WERE LISTED IN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE, BASED ON THE COMMUNITY WAS PRIORITIES AND PREFERENCES.

AND THESE PILLARS BECAME THE FOUNDATION FOR THE PROJECTS RESILIENCY PLAN.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO VERY BRIEFLY THROUGH, UH, THESE VARIOUS PILLARS.

THE FIRST ONE IS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

UH, THE PURPOSE IS TO REDUCE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE EFFORTS ON THE CITY ENHANCED COMMUNITY WITH BRILLIANCE HOUSING, WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF EXISTING HOUSING WITHIN A CITY DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN 45 MITIGATE AT RISK PROPERTIES AND OWNERS, RESIDENTS, AND ALSO PLAN FOR THE RESILIENCE OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

AS YOU WORK TOGETHER TO INFORM THOSE DECISIONS ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE ECONOMY, THIS IS TO SUPPORT, ENHANCE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RESILIENCY OF A CITY'S ECONOMY TO FINANCIAL DISRUPTIONS DUE TO EMERGENCY EVENTS, STRESSORS, AND SHOPS.

INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE TO STAND AND RECOVER FROM NATURAL HAZARDS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE LIFE SAFETY FOR CAUTIONS PROTECTIONS DURING EXTREME MAZARS, EXTREME HAZARDS, NATURAL RESOURCES.

UM, WE ARE USING NATURE BASED AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO BECOME A MORE RESILIENT CITY BY RESTORING HABITAT AND PROTECTING OUR BUFFERS AROUND OUR WETLANDS AND OUR RIVERS.

WE ALSO WANT TO ANT ANALYZE AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO ALLOW US THAT NEED TO BECOME MORE RESILIENT DURING THOSE STORM EVENTS, CULTURAL HERITAGE.

THIS IS TO PROTECT NEW BIRDS, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND HISTORIC COMMUNITY CHARACTER.

IN MY LAST SLIDE HERE, JUST OUTLINE SOME OF THE STEPS.

UM, ONE OF WHICH TONIGHT IS ON YOUR AGENDA TO ADOPT, UH, THE FINAL PLAN.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT EACH OF THE GOALS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED ABOVE FOR THE SPECIFIC RESILIENCE PILLARS WERE, ARE SUPPORTED BY SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES, UM, ARE DEFINED IN RESILIENCE ACTION LIST THAT WERE DEVELOPED DURING WORKSHOPS WITH CITY STAFF AND BASED ON, UH, IDENTIFIED ACTIONS AND INFORMATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO, UH, REGENCY RESPONSIBILITY, COST ESTIMATIONS TIMEFRAMES, AND POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.

THOSE RESILIENCY ACTIONS ARE SORT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WERE LAID OUT UNDER EACH OF THE RESILIENCE PILLARS AND THOSE GOALS, THE RESILIENCE ACTIONS IDENTIFIED WERE RATED USING A STAPLING METHOD, UH, WHICH YOU SEVEN DIFFERENT CRITERIA TO EVALUATE ACTIONS, SOCIAL TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, POLITICAL, LEGAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL.

THE MEMBERS OF THE CORE PLANNING TEAM, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY THE CITY STAFF, INCLUDING MR. SHELLEY HERE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WILL BE TAKING THE LEAD AND ENSURING THAT THE VISION AND GOALS OF THE RESILIENCE PLAN WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO A FUTURE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

UH, SO WITH THAT, UM, I JUST

[02:05:01]

WANT TO NOTE THAT THE FINAL RESILIENCE PLAN, UM, WILL BE ROLLED UP INTO THE REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AS AN AMENDMENT SO THAT WHEN THERE ARE FUTURE DECLARED DISASTERS, YOU THE CITY, WHILE WE PERCEIVE SUIT CITY OF NEWBURGH, UH, WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR WHEN THOSE DISASTERS FIT.

YOU WILL HAVE PRIORITY ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY AND FUNDING CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE GIVEN THE FINAL RESILIENCE PLAN ADOPTION AND THE REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

SO WITH THAT, I'D LOVE TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS, BUT IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, I HAVE A COUPLE OF, I SEE ONE OF THE LAST STATEMENTS, YOU HEAR ALL COMMENTS TO BE INCLUDED INTO THE RECORD FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

SO COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE HERE TODAY, LET'S SAY SOMEONE'S NOT HERE TODAY AND STILL WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENT.

THOSE COMMENTS WOULD BE RECEIVED AND PUT INTO THE PLAN FOR AS, AS WE GROW THE PLAN.

CAUSE IT SAYS IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT, UPDATE PROCESSES, CHANGE, WHATEVER.

SO THEY'RE STILL INPUT WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED.

ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REACHING ALL OUR CITIZENS AND THAT WE CAN CONTINUE.

WE CAN TAKE THIS DOCUMENT EVEN THOUGH WE ADOPT IT TONIGHT AND THEN STILL ROLL IT OUT AND GET THE INPUT FROM CITIZENS THROUGHOUT OUR EFFECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, MOSTLY IN MY WARD IN ALDERMAN'S BEST WARD.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN, IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE A, UM, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, BECAUSE IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO READ THE 88 PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL REACHING THE MOST PEOPLE WE CAN REACH.

UM, AND I WANT TO THANK THE CARES GROUP AND OTHERS WHO HAVE REALLY, UM, BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS.

AND, UM, I DO SEE YOUR EMAILS.

LARRY'S UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LEAVING OUT ANY COMMENTS OR ANY ADDITIONS TO THIS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY OR, UM, YES, WHAT'S UH, ONCE WE APPROVE THIS, THIS, THAT THEN PUT US IN A POSITION TO GO AFTER THE BREAK FUNDING THROUGH FEMA.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THERE WERE ALREADY, WE SAID YOU'VE NEW BIRD IS ALREADY IN POSITION.

UM, WE ACTUALLY HAD A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH NORTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UM, CHRIS CREW, WHO HAS, UM, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT HE HAD, UH, WITHOUT US GIVING HIM ANY, UM, INPUT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MADE A COMMENT, THE CITY OF MELBOURNE'S PROACTIVE APPROACH AND THAT HE HAS RECEIVED AND SEES THAT THERE'S THREE BRICK APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR VARIOUS PRIORITY PROJECTS TO SUPPORT, UH, FLOOD RISK REDUCTION IN, IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT RESILIENCY.

UM, HOWEVER, HE ALSO MADE A NOTE THAT BY HAVING THE ROLLED UP RESILIENCE PLAN AS PART OF THE REGIONAL PLAN, THAT GIVES YOU A BETTER ALIGNMENT WHEN THOSE FEMA FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, IT JUST PUTS YOU THAT FURTHER STEP IT.

AND IS THAT A, IS THAT A GRANT PROCESS? IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS? SO ARE WE HANDLING THAT INTERNALLY WITH YOUR DEPARTMENTS THEN? WELL, YES.

AND WE'RE ALSO USING CONSULTANTS TO HELP US GET THROUGH A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING ON, OKAY, THANK YOU.

OH, IT'S DOWN HERE.

UM, YOUNG LADY, DID I HEAR YOU SAY YES, THE CITY OF NEW BERN WAS THE FIRST PLAN WITHIN THE STATE.

IT'S THE FIRST RESILIENCY AND POSITIVE MITIGATION PLAN COMBINED EFFORT THAT HAS TAKEN THESE, THIS TYPE OF PROCESS AND THESE TYPES OF STEPS.

SO THERE IS A SIMILAR PROCESS BEING DONE UNDER THE DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT, UM, ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE, UM, CALL THE, I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, BUT THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS ALREADY STEPS MUCH FARTHER AHEAD OF, OF THAT PROGRAM.

AND SO, YES, AND YOU KNOW, JUST MATT, CAN YOU REITERATE OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, LOOK TO THE CITY OF NEWBURGH AS A MODEL TO DEMONSTRATE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES HOW THE PROCESS WAS DONE? AND I, AND IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS BECAUSE SOME OF THE, UH, TYPICAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING EFFORT DOES HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY'VE DONE IN THIS.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION, UM, ONCE THIS PLAN IS ROLLED OVER INTO THE REGIONAL PLANT, SO WOULD THAT PUT THE CITY OF NEW BERN IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY MAYBE APPLY FOR SOME OF THE ARP FUNDING THROUGH, FOR, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? WHAT WAS THE ARP, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLANE THROUGH GRANTS? I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S A POTENTIAL.

I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH IT.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT, UH, IS CONNECTED

[02:10:01]

IF THEY'RE CONNECTED AT ALL.

UM, CAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE ARP FUNDING REQUIREMENTS ARE.

I THINK THERE'S A SEPARATE FUNDING THAT'S COMING OUT FOR, BUT THIS DOES PROVIDE US WITH, UM, UH, A SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT COULD LINE UP FOR ANY, ANY ONE OF THOSE.

UH, OKAY.

NO, I JUST WANTED TO APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS FOR POINTING OUT THAT AFTER WE ADOPT THAT COMMENTS ARE STILL GOING TO BE THIS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

SO THERE'S NOT, UM, AN END DATE WHEN SOMEONE CAN COMMENT ON THIS.

CORRECT.

AND WE COMMONLY HAS ALREADY BEEN PUTTING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA HOW THEY CAN, OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP AND I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT.

UM, I MEAN, IT'S, I GUESS IT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO ADD THEM TO THE DOCUMENT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY LISTEN, READ THEM, LISTEN AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO, UH, UH, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD OR MAYBE EVEN CREATE NEW PROJECTS FROM THOSE COMMENTS.

SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY RATING RATING FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH IMPROVE BASED ON THIS STUFF? ARE YOU TALKING, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM OR FLOODING OBVIOUSLY ADOPTING THIS SHOW? LOTS OF LOVELY AFFECTS.

UM, UM, I'M GOING TO GUESS EDUCATED GUESTS HERE.

UM, THE, BECAUSE THIS PLAN IS SO NEW IN TERMS OF ITS KIND OF COMPREHENSIVENESS, UH, I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM HAS ANY EXTRA POINTS FOR THAT YET.

UM, HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A CATEGORY THAT IS, UH, RELATED TO GENERAL, UH, IMPROVEMENTS IN SOMEWHERE THERE.

IT DOES, IT DOES TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY WRITING, SO IT DIDN'T GO ANY DETAILS.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING.

OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE HAVE TO COME HERE, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC, LIKE COME FORWARD AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESILIENCY PLAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

AND THEN, UH, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IN MY WORLD THAT THE BEST PREVENTION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WEATHER'S GOING TO BE, SO IT'S KARMA.

AND UM, SOMETIMES THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR THE PLANNING, ESPECIALLY EMERGENCY SERVICES, WE'RE GETTING OVER 400 PEOPLE OUT THAT NIGHT.

UM, MANY, MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED, UH, AND ESPECIALLY, UM, THE FOLLOWUP FROM THIS BOARD TO COLLECT THE FEMA MONEY SO THAT THE CITY COULD BE REBUILT AND EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE NEED TO GET, I WAS SPENDING SOME TIME DOWN HERE BECAUSE I HAD TO STAY ON MY BOAT WHEN THEY FINISHED MY HOME REPAIRS.

AND I WAS CONSTANTLY RUNNING INTO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO CAME DOWN AND MAYBE WE COULD PAY THAT FORWARD SOMEHOW.

JUST REMEMBER THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, SO, OKAY, GOOD EVENING.

I'M LARRY ROSEN STRAUSS.

I LIVE AT 540 SQUARE FEET NEWBURN.

UH, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR UNDERTAKING THIS PROCESS TO DELIVER A PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY AND LET US REVIEW IT.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING, BUT I WANT TO SET THE STAGE FOR THAT BRIEFLY.

UM, I'M HERE REPRESENTING BOTH THE CARE ORGANIZATION HERE IS SUBSISTENCE ADVOCATING RESILIENCY AND EDUCATION FOR RESIDENCY.

UH, WE ARE AN INFORMAL, SOMEWHAT LOOSE IN AN, OUR ORGANIZATION OF 15 TO 35 PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE FLORENCE FORMED BY, UH, NELSON MCDANIEL WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND ME.

UM, AND THAT ORGANIZATION, LIKE THE DOCUMENT WILL BE A LIVING ORGANIZATION.

WE'LL BE HERE TO KIND OF TRACK WHAT'S GOING ON AND TRY TO WORK WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FORMAL, THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT REALLY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

UM, WE HAVE ADVOCATED TWO THINGS.

I WANT TO MENTION THEM BRIEFLY TO YOU, BUT NOT.

WELL, ONE IS THE PLAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FINDING THE MONEY WAS I LOT OF WORK, YOU HIRED EXCELLENT CONSULTANTS AND WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE WHAT WE THINK IS A GOOD BEGINNING IS SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED TO SCAN ALL 803 PAGES.

UM, IT REALLY IS A LOT TO DIGEST, BUT, UH, THE FIRST 151 WILL GET PRETTY FAR.

UM, THE SECOND THING WE ARE ADVOCATING AND HAVE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE IS TO ADVOCATE THAT YOU HAVE NO FINE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE A POSITION, A SENIOR OFFICIAL AT THE CITY, UH, REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, WHO WILL OVERSEE AND LEAD RESILIENCY EFFORTS.

RESILIENCE IS A CITYWIDE

[02:15:01]

ISSUE.

IT IS AT THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY HEALTH.

YOU'VE HEARD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.

YOU COULD EASILY HAVE A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WORKING ON THAT.

IF NOT MY, MY REQUEST TO YOU IS, THINK ABOUT HOW TO GET LEADERSHIP AT A HIGH LEVEL TO LOOK AT THIS AND THAT WILL HELP YOU ALSO ATTRACT MONEY.

AND YOU WILL ALSO FIND IF YOU DO HIRE SOMEONE, UM, YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY BUILT, THEY COME WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING SKILLS ALREADY KNOWING ABOUT RESILIENCY AND WILL PLACE US IN A POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO RESPOND BETTER TO OUR ANNUAL RISK.

THIS IS NOT A LONG-TERM ISSUE ANNUALLY.

WE FACED, WE ROLL THE DICE.

SO I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO YOU, WE HOPE YOU WILL THINK ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN AND FIND THAT LEADERSHIP.

UM, I, I'M NOW GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND NOT FOR CARE, BUT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ASKED ME TO AT LEAST MENTION THEIR NAMES WHO WOULD ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH MY BRIEF COMMENTS.

UM, MARIA CHO FROM TODD OR TWO THAT I'VE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM TODAY.

AND THE REASON I WANT TO SAY THAT IS WE'VE NOT HAD TIME TO FULLY DIGEST THE PLAN.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO.

PLEASE ADOPT THIS PLAN, BUT DON'T ADOPT IT TO NOT GIVE THE COMMUNITY TIME TO DIGEST IT, GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO READ IT.

AND IF YOU NEED A REASON TO DO THAT, ASK YOURSELF WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE VULNERABILITY IN CHAPTER SEVEN, WHICH DAWN DIDN'T HAVE A TO GO OVER, BUT IT'S IN YOUR FIRST CHART.

IF YOU WOULD EVER, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE, THE TABLE, ASK YOURSELF HOW SIGNIFICANT DOES THIS PLANT TOUCH MORE THAN 80% OF THE SALES VOLUME OF NEW BRUNCH BUSINESSES OF VULNERABLE TO A MAJOR THREAT FROM FLOODING FROM STORM SURGE, UM, MORE THAN ALMOST 70%, 69% OF THE TAX BASE OF THE IMPROVED TAX BASE.

YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH A TRIVIAL SMALL PLANT, LET THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE A CHANCE TO DIGEST THIS AND DIGEST THE ACTIONS YOU WERE RECOMMENDING TO ADDRESS STUFF THAT WILL AFFECT THE LIFE OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME MOTHER NATURE.

I CAN'T THINK OF WITH US AS A PLANET, SHE'S COMING BACK, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.

AND WHEN YOU'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE WANT YOU TO ADOPT THE PLAN.

BUT MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS GO SLOW TO GO FAST.

IF YOU GO FAST, YOU MAY WELL HIT A BRICK WALL OF JUST TRUST AND RESENTMENT.

WHEN PEOPLE READ A PLAN, THEY HAD NO CHANCE TO GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ON THE PLAN THEY GAVE YOU INPUT TO IT.

GIVE THEM A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM, GIVE YOURSELF THAT TIME, PLEASE.

SO MY REQUEST TO YOU IS REVISE YOUR LITTLE REVISE, YOUR ITEM TO SAY WE WOULD RECEIVE THE REPORT, DIRECT STAFF TO GET THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENT, FEEDBACK, AND GIVE YOURSELF 60 TO 90 DAYS AND THEN ADOPTED IN SUMMER WHEN WE CAN ALL COME HERE AND CHEER FOR THE ADOPTION OF THAT PLAN.

IF YOU DON'T WISH TO DO THAT, AND WE SHOULD ADOPT IT TONIGHT AND APPROVE IT, THEN SCHEDULE ITS FIRST REVISION BACK EARLY, EARLY IN THE NEXT YEAR.

SO PEOPLE'S COMMENTS THAT ALL ALDERMAN BENGAL, UH, MENTIONED OR RECEIVED.

WE CAN DIGEST IT.

AND WE WERE BACK HERE IN EARLY NEXT YEAR SAYING, LET'S SEE, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU OUR FEEDBACK THAT WAY, BUT YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF WAYS TO HANDLE THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE NEWBURGH A RESILIENT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COME FORWARD AND ASK QUESTIONS? MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS I'M GUESS SIR.

CAN YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS JEFF FORD.

YES.

SLIDE 1316 NATIONAL AVENUE IN RIVERSIDE.

UM, THIS IS QUITE THE AMBITIOUS PLAN I SPEAK AMENDED FOR, UH, INSTIGATING IT.

UM, YOU MAY NOTE NOTICE FROM MY ACCENT THAT I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM NEW BERN.

I CAME HERE WITH MY WIFE, UH, THE END OF AUGUST, 2018, AND WE IMMEDIATELY RETREATED TO RICHMOND BECAUSE WE CAME FROM NEW JERSEY AND, UM, EXPERIENCED ENOUGH STORMS UP THERE THAT WILL MAKE IT OUT OF THERE AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF FLORENCE AND, UH, WATCHED ON NATIONAL TV AS THE FLOODWATERS CAME OVER UNION PARK AND THE REST OF OUR, OUR NEW TOWN.

UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CONSULTANTS THOUGH, BUT, UM, I, I, UH, READ THROUGH QUICKLY THE PLAN.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT AN EXPERT, THE WATERSHED FOR THE NEUSE RIVER, IF I'M, MY MEMORY IS CORRECT.

I'VE SEEN ASSIGNMENT ALMOST AS FAR OUT AS I 95 SAYING THAT THE WATERSHED FOR NEUSE RIVER EXTENDS WAY OUT THERE.

AND UM, IF THIS IS AN INITIAL PLAN BY OUR TOWN,

[02:20:01]

UM, HOW WOULD WE BE AFFECTED OR HOW DO WE RESPOND TO SURGES THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE RIVER TO OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE WATERSHED? UH, THE NEUSE RIVER WATERSHED IS JUST A QUESTION.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU.

UH, HOPE THE PLAN IS QUITE AMBITIOUS AND I HOPE WE CAN, UH, IMPLEMENT IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IN ADDITION TO THIS PLAN, UH, SEVERAL LAYERS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COUNTY MANAGERS ARE WORKING OVER A RESILIENCY PLAN FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND KIND OF UNUSUAL AGENTS LIKE OUR LECTURE DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

UM, WE'RE TRYING TO RECEIVE FUNDING.

WE ACTUALLY ARE MEETING IN GOLDSBORO, UH, FOSTER.

WHAT WAS THAT LINE A MONTH AGO? SENATOR JIM PERRY WAS THERE AND WE ARE, UH, IN LOCK STEP WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MAKING THEM AWARE, UH, THAT WE, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROBABLY A REGIONAL, UM, UH, REGIONAL FLOOD CZAR OF SORTS TO AGAIN, FOR MUTUAL AID PURPOSES.

AND FOR, UH, AGAIN, NEWBURN IS WAY OUT FRONT THAT THIS FIRST STARTED WITH A VISIT TO THE COLLATERAL GROUP IN ASHEVILLE, UH, UH, MARK STATINS AND MYSELF, AND, AND THEN MR. STEVENS CAME BACK AND STARTED THIS DISCUSSION MARGARET SHIELDS.

I WAS ABLE TO WORK AND HELP US WITH GRANT FUNDING.

AND SO, UH, THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS.

I THINK THAT, UM, SOMEWHAT LESS PUBLIC HEARING.

YES.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I'M JUST TRYING TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF COMMENTS SO THAT IF ANYBODY ELSE, IF I, IF I HAVE SIR, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC, YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT.

SO I'M TRYING TO HELP ANSWER YOU.

UH, YOU WERE ASKED A QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU UP IF YOU WERE AWARE OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS OR NOT.

UM, THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE NEW SERVER, UM, BASIN AS A WHOLE IS, YOU KNOW, WE WERE VERY FOCUSED ON THE CITY OF NEW BERN, UH, FOCUSED ON MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES.

SO THE TOOL, THE RISK OF VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT WAS DEVELOPED, UM, EVALUATING, UM, COASTAL HAZARDS AS WELL.

WELL AS THE CRITICAL ASSETS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S FOCUSED ON NEWBURGH AND THE WATERSHEDS WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDS.

UM, HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS CONDUCTING A NOOSE RIVER BASIN, UH, FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT, UH, AMANDA OLAND'S ALUN AND OTHER, UM, STAFF, UM, FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS BEEN A PART OF.

AND WE HAVE BEEN IN RECENT CONTACT WITH THEM TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROGRESS AND STATUSES OF THE NEUSE RIVER BASIN STUDY.

UM, SO WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS RESILIENCE PLAN AND TO PERHAPS HELP ENCOURAGE THEM TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ACTIONS THAT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAN TAKE ON THE FEDERAL SIDE TO SUPPORT RESILIENCY IN THE BURN.

ANOTHER PIECE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN, UH, OR AT LEAST THE PLAN PROCESS WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT PRETTY MUCH A LOT SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING.

AND THAT IS TO REACH OUT TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND, UH, UPSTREAM COMMUNITIES AND COUNTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALL UPSTREAM TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT, UM, SOME SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE EVEN THE UPSTREAM PEOPLE HAVE PEOPLE UPSTREAM OF THEM.

SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW, AGAIN, I WANT TO, I DON'T HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.

UH, WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT TO KIND OF HELP THE PUBLIC.

MAYBE YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR TWO, UM, IN READING THE REPORT, UNLESS I MISSED IT, PARTICULARLY LIKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE.

UM, THE COUNTY, I DON'T REMEMBER.

I THINK THEY WERE BUDGETING FUNDING FOR MAYBE SIX GENERATORS FOR, FOR SCOPES.

AND I THINK THEY APPLIED FOR SOME GRANT FUNDING AND MAYBE HE GOT THREE OR FOUR OF THEM.

UM, THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T GET THEM COUNTY.

WHY I THINK THE IDEA WAS, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH SOME SCHOOLS THAT WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH MOISTURE, HIGH LEVELS OF HUMIDITY, ET CETERA, FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, UM, HAVING GENERATORS, UM, UM, ALL THE WOMAN PARISH, SHE WILL REMEMBER THAT OF ALL THINGS, UH, DARREN FORUMS. WE WERE TRYING TO FIND SOMEWHERE ON 18, WE WERE PUT ON 11 AND WE FINALLY WOUND UP WITH A RANDOM SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE GETTING RESOURCES INTO NEWBURN, UM, THERE'S JUST, UM, I'M LIMITED EVIDENTLY IN WHAT THE SCOPE OF THIS REPORT

[02:25:02]

WAS.

AND HE IS, UH, VERSUS SOME, UH, THERE IS IN THIS REPORT, I DO RECALL, UH, I THINK YOU COMMENTED MUCH ON THE COMMUNICATION OR LACK THEREOF AND HOW TO IMPROVE ON THAT.

UM, BUT THERE, THERE WAS QUITE A FEW ITEMS THAT, THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT THE COUNTY'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT OBVIOUSLY AFFECT THE CITY.

AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE UNLESS I'VE MISSED IT.

UM, GENERATORS, UM, ROADS CLOSED DOWN AS FAR AS GETTING BACK TO THE REGIONAL PLAN, TONY MCCOWEN WITH THE CITY OF, UH, ASSISTANT MANAGER OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE CITY OF WILMINGTON, PRETTY MUCH IS PRETTY MUCH, UH, GOVERNOR MANAGING THAT FOR THE AREA MAYORS.

UH, SO WILMINGTON'S KIND OF TAKEN THE LEAD ALONG WITH PENDER COUNTY CITY NEWMAN.

YES.

YEAH.

I MEAN, BY YOUR HEART, HE'S SHORT.

WE ALL THESE GUYS.

YEAH.

YEAH.

AND I, I HONESTLY, FOR THE RESILIENCY ACTION, UM, WORKSHEETS AND PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AGAIN, THEY WERE DONE, UM, REALLY WITH WORKSHOPS WITH THE CITY STAFF, UM, THE STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS THAT WERE HELD EARLIER ON IN THE PROCESS INCLUDED COUNTY OFFICIALS.

UM, HOWEVER I THINK WITH THE RESILIENCE ACTION WORKSHEETS, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, FUTURE EFFORTS THAT CAN BE DONE TO SCOPE OUT ADDITIONAL WELL, FOR INSTANCE, AGAIN, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

BUT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IN NEUBERGER RIGHT NOW WAS THE END OF THE SENTENCE, WHITE BEING A RED CROSS CENTER.

UM, AND, AND AGAIN, ONE THING THAT WE, UH, WERE SERIOUSLY LACKING WAS, UH, AVAILABLE HOUSING IN THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR OUR, OUR CITIZENS.

UM, AND AGAIN, BACK TO THE GENERATORS AND BACK TO THE LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION, UH, ALDERMAN ODOM.

AND I, UM, WE STAYED IN, UM, THE DUFFY FIELD AREA UNTIL, TILL IT WAS ABOUT TO COME IN AND OUR, OUR FLOOR, BUT GETTING PEOPLE OUT.

UM, SO, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD, UM, ON THE SPOT WHEN, WHEN THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO NEWBURN AND IT HAPPENS, WE CAN'T SPEND OUR SNOW DEAL OR BRAINS, UH, THE CITY OF NEW ENGLAND EXPEDITIOUSLY PARTNERING WITH THOSE OTHER CITIES, SISTER CITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED, BUT WE ARE, UH, TO THAT RECIPROCITY AND PLAN OF ACTION.

SO LARRY, THERE ARE THINGS THAT, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS RESILIENCY PLAN OR NOT.

I'M JUST GLAD WE HAVE ONE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

IT IS A FIRST STEP, UM, WHETHER OR NOT OUR INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO GET THE DIRECTION FROM, UH, THE BOARD OF ALVIN TO ENCOURAGE USE OF BOARD RESILIENT MATERIALS AND HIRE FREE BOARDS, ET CETERA.

SO AGAIN, I'M KIND OF GETTING, I THINK I'M WHERE I SHOULD BE WHEN WE GET OUT OF HERE.

THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC IS IN COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE, THAT ARE QUESTIONS YOU WOULD HAVE POLICE COME UP AND DO IT.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY TOOK, I MEAN, I READ THAT THING FROM TIME.

WE GOT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU I HAVE ALL A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE, UH, THIS IS MY BRAIN HERE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE COME UP AND ASK ME, CAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE NOW FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING OF THAT SIZE SOMETHING'S LEFT OUT AND WE WANNA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE, READY FOR THE NEXT EVENT.

ANYBODY FROM THE TUB WE ARE, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE CLUB BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HELP US TO GET MOTIVATED TO START THIS PROCESS.

DID MARGARET LARRY AND OTHERS CARE GROUP, ET CETERA, GO AHEAD.

NO, I WAS MAKING A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC AREA.

I USED TO SAY CLOSE, BUT HEARING, IS THERE DISCUSSION OF SEEING NONE ON FIVE OF MONTHS AND SAY, OKAY, NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE BOARD DISCUSSION.

Y I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SAYING, BECAUSE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE TRANSPORTATION AND WHERE THE RULES WAS CLOSED.

UM, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STAFF AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THIS WORK, I KNOW, UM, JEFF AND AMANDA ARE NO LONGER WITH US.

THEY HAD A BIG PART IN THIS TOO.

AND AGAIN, WHOEVER HASN'T BEEN HERE FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEARING, DO YOU SEE IT ON TV? SEE

[02:30:01]

ON FACEBOOK, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOUR COMMENTS.

CAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR SAID IT IS, IT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST AND THERE IS THINGS THAT COULD BE MISSING FROM IT THAT WE NEED.

UM, YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA SET ASIDE EYES, EYES TO SEE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED IF WE EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE GOD FORBID.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T EVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DID IN HERE AND HURRICANE FLORENCE, BUT AT LEAST WE WILL BE PREPARED WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT IN ACTION.

SO SHE WAS CHEWING.

YEAH.

WELL, I, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF WE DID DELAY THE ADOPTION OF THIS, DOES IT HURT ANY OF THE POTENTIAL FUNDING THAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE? UM, I'VE HEARD WHAT LARRY HAS TO SAY.

AND, UM, I, AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE ABOUT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AS MANY COMMENTS AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE DOCUMENTS AS FOR PEER, BUT I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE ANY MONEY BECAUSE WE COULD START MAYBE IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE AS LONG AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET COMMENTS AND GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD REALLY.

RIGHT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ACTUALLY, YES, THAT IS AN ISSUE.

UM, UH, THE ADOPTION DOES FINALIZE, UH, SOME OF OUR FUNDING, UH, FOR THE, UH, AND ALSO, UH, PUSHING IT BACK FARTHER DOES, UH, POTENTIALLY, UH, CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH, UH, ROLLING IT INTO THE, THE, UM, REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AND THE FUNDING FOR THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

AND THEN, UM, UH, THE OTHER CONCERN ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST THE FUNDING AND FINANCES ARE THAT, UM, UH, IT W IT WILL BE MUCH BETTER TO HAVE THE PLAN ALREADY ROLLED INTO THE REGIONAL PLAN BEFORE OUR SUMMER STORM SEASON ARRIVES, BECAUSE THAT PLAN IS A FEMA, UH, AN OFFICIAL FEMA PLAN.

AND ONCE, ONCE YOU HAVE, UH, THIS DOCUMENT IN THAT OFFICIAL FEMA PLAN, THAT'S WHERE WE ACTUALLY, UH, SCORE THE EXTRA POINTS FOR, UH, FUNDING.

SHOULD WE NEED IT, UH, FOR RECOVERY.

UM, BUT OF COURSE THIS PLAN IS NOT JUST ABOUT RECOVERY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT, UM, PREPARATION TOO.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENTIRELY PREPARED FOR ANY STORM SEASON THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF THIS PLAN.

UM, BUT, UH, IT WILL GET US STARTED TO GET PREPARED FOR IT SOONER THAN LATER.

ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS THAT, UM, IS, IS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR HOW CAN WE GET THIS DOCUMENT TO THE CHAMBER TO SWISS FOR IT TO THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? SO THEY, THE COMMENTS CAN CONTINUE TO COME IN AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE POST.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A QUITE, UH, KIND OF IRONIC AFTER COMING BACK FROM LUNCH TODAY, UM, TO, UH, SEE THE SUGGESTION BY THE CARES GROUP.

UM, BECAUSE DURING LUNCH I HAD, UM, REALIZED THAT, UH, WE NEED TAKE THIS, UH, PLAN ON THE ROAD, SO TO SAY, AND TAKE IT OUT TO ALL THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND START ROLLING THIS OUT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN INDEED UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN IT AND ALSO TO CONTINUE TO GET THE INPUT, ESPECIALLY ONCE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN IT, YOU KNOW, ALSO WHAT'S NOT IN IT, RIGHT? UH, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THOSE IDEA? ABOUT SIX MORE GENERATORS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT START TO GET ADDED BACK IN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THANK YOU.

SORRY.

NO PROBLEM.

YOU BASICALLY HIT ON WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM.

SO ONCE, ONCE THIS PLAN IS, IS IF WE APPROVE THIS PLAN TONIGHT AND IT'S ROLLED INTO THE, THE REGIONAL PLAN, WILL THERE BE ANY ROOM THERE LEFT FOR REVISIONS? OH, YES.

OKAY.

YUP.

OKAY.

AS FAR AS THE, THE MONEY INTO THIS, UH, IF WE COME BACK 60 DAYS TO ADD TO THIS, DOES THIS, THE CHANNEL FUND PAY TO UPDATE THIS AS ANOTHER GRANT? WHAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR UPDATING THIS? YES.

SO, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, THE CITY ALREADY HAS, UH, ON ESSENTIALLY ON RETAINER CALL A RESILIENCY, UM, A CONSULTANT, UM, WHO'S ON CALL TO DO A WHOLE RANGE OF FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE RESILIENCY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.

AND IS THAT PERSON THIS SAME? NO.

SO DOES THAT VIOLATE OR REACH THE ETIQUETTE OF THIS RESILIENCY PLAN THAT AIN'T ANOTHER CONSULT OR WHATEVER IT IS? NO.

SO YOU MIGHT THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY, UM, I GUESS IT, UH, UH, UNETHICAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE SENSE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE PLAN, AREN'T THE ONES THAT ARE NOW GOING TO BE SAYING, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT IN YOUR EXPERIENCE?

[02:35:02]

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY MOFFITT, NICOLE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN AS LONG AS YOU NEED US.

BUT I THINK THAT THE RESILIENCY CONSULTANT SELECTED AS AN ABSOLUTELY WELL, LET ME, AND SHE DID THIS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO GET TOO CRITICAL, BUT DID YOU INTERVIEW ANY OF THESE ALBAN TWO TO DO THIS, OR DID YOU THINK OUR INPUT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT? I WAS ON A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS AND CALLS.

I PARTICIPATED.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY, UM, PROVIDED A STAKEHOLDER LIST.

UM, AND ALL OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS WERE PART ABOUT THIS.

I THINK WE GOT A FORM TOO.

WASN'T THAT A QUESTIONNAIRE I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.

I BELIEVE WE GOT, WE GOT A QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WE HAD.

WELL, AGAIN, I'M JUST KINDA TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THESE I'M TELLING YOU TO NEWBERN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IT WAS HORRENDOUS.

I MEAN, YOU THINK, UH, ZOOMING IN AND MASK HAS NO PROBLEM.

Y'ALL COME IN HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THESE.

THEY KEPT DOING THE TESTING OPPORTUNITY.

UH, BOB, YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT AND PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THAT.

UM, WE JUST HAD A MESS DOWN HERE AND, UM, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS WAS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN DO GPS AND IF YOU'RE IN RALEIGH WITH A LOAD OF, OF GOODS SPRING DOWN HERE, UM, BUT EVERYBODY WAS GETTING THE DIRECTOR AROUND GREG GRIFFIN, JUST GOING TO GET THE POLYPS BILL.

YOU COULDN'T GET THE CAMPS.

AND SO WE WERE SPENDING ALL THIS TIME, EVERYBODY'S GOT GPS, BUT IT WHO CARED AGAIN, GPS AT THE BRITISH OR FLOODS.

SO I MEAN, THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT JUST, UH, I DON'T MIND IF I'M NOT READING THE REPORT.

RIGHT.

BUT I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THERE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, UM, THERE'S PROBABLY 10,000 IDEAS AND GOOD SUGGESTIONS, UH, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED INTO THIS PLAN.

BUT, UH, ONE, WE DIDN'T GET 10,000, BUT WE COULD OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, YEARS AS, ESPECIALLY AS, UH, SITUATIONS ARISE AND PEOPLE REALIZE SOMETHING HAPPENED THE LAST TIME, UH, WE SHOULD MAYBE FIX THIS TIME.

UM, MR. MAYOR, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE TONIGHT.

UM, THIS REALLY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS RESILIENCE CLIENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERATORS BRINGING IN A TRACTOR TRAILER, TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, AND STUFF TO THAT NATURE IS ALL IN THE CITY OF NEWBORNS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.

SURE.

UH, THERE IS THE N AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, THE COUNTY IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REQUESTING THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION EQUIPMENT.

THE CITY USUALLY HAS A LIAISON, WHICH I THINK IS NAMED INTO THE EOP AS TO WHO WOULD BE AT THE COUNTY OPERATION CENTER, TYPICALLY A MEMBER OF THE FIRE SERVICE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF A, IF A CITY EMPLOYEES OUT NEEDS A GENERATOR SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT REQUEST GOES TO THE ASSAY.

THE ASSAY TURNS IT OVER TO THE LIAISON LIAISON, TURNS IT OVER TO THE COUNTY.

AND THE COUNTY REQUESTED FROM THE STATE CITY AND NEWBURGH CANNOT REQUEST ANYTHING FROM THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, NORTH CAROLINA, FROM, UH, DURING A DISASTER.

IT ALL HAS TO COME THROUGH STANLEY KITE'S OFFICE.

AND HE DOES A, HE DOES A GREAT JOB.

UH, MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE AND THE STATE LEARNED THIS AS WELL, THAT HURRICANE FLORENCE ESPECIALLY WAS WIDESPREAD.

SO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REQUESTS COMING IN FOR RESOURCES.

I THINK THE STATE HAS REPAIRED THAT PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THEY'RE IN A LOT BETTER SHAPE TODAY THAN WHAT THEY WERE DURING, UM, HURRICANE FLAUNTS, BUT STUFF LIKE IF YOU GOT A TRACTOR TRAILER, TRUCK COMES IN AND NEEDS TO BE UNLOADED THAT'S THAT GOES SHOULD GO TO THE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGERS OFFICE.

YEAH.

WELL, THEY MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR, TO GET HIM IN HERE AND GET A FORKLIFT AND GET HIM ON LOAD.

UH, THEY HAD WAREHOUSES FULL OF, OF RESOURCES DURING FARMS, EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

AND I NOTED THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT THE, I THINK A LOT OF THAT'S BEEN CHANGED, BUT, WELL, I GUESS ALSO A TIMING ISSUE.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY BIGGEST STRUGGLES, I GUESS, I GUESS YOU'RE BRINGING UP SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THE DIVIDE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT STANLEY COUNTY AND, AND TH THOSE VERSES WHAT RESILIENCY PLAN DOES.

I MEAN, I THINK OF RESILIENCY, I THINK OF ELEVATIONS AND MATERIALS AND, UM, STORM SURGES AND SCOURING AND ALL THESE THINGS.

AND SO, YEAH, THEY, THEY PROBABLY ARE NOT GENERATORS, BUT WHEN THAT, WHEN IT HITS YOU WHERE YOU'RE NOT

[02:40:01]

WORRIED ABOUT MATERIALS, I, YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE LIFE AND SAFETY AND GETTING THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

AND SO TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES, SOMETIMES GPS SYSTEMS ARE UPDATED.

SORRY.

I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM THERE.

OKAY.

BUT, UH, AGAIN, BACK, SO IF WE ADD TO THIS, UM, WOULD THAT BE VOLUME TWO, OR WOULD IT BE, IT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT BE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS BECAUSE YOU COULD GET A DIFFERENT CONSULTANT.

SO NO, SO, RIGHT.

WELL, NO, IT CAN STILL BE AN AMENDMENT BY THE SAME, BY A DIFFERENT CONSULTANT.

IT'S OUR DOCUMENT.

IT'S NOT THEIRS.

AND YOU RECOMMENDED WE ADOPT THIS TONIGHT.

YES, YES.

ESPECIALLY WITH ANY, UH, IF, IF NELSON FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND READ IT AND SAY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED, HE JUST, HE CONTACTS YOUR OFFICE.

WE MAKE THOSE SUGGESTIONS.

YEP.

AND WE HAVE THE ON, WE STILL HAVE THE ONLINE, UM, UM, COMMENT, UM, OPTION AS WELL.

SO PEOPLE CAN JUST PULL IT UP OFF THE RESILIENCY PAGE AND MAKE COMMENTS THAT WAY.

OKAY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THE DOLL.

COVID THE DOG AND PONY SHOW AND CARRY AT ROTARY CLUBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THE DUFFY FIELD RESIDENTS COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE A PRESENTATION DONE THERE, SO THEY CAN JUST, THEY CAN UNDERSTAND BY BRINGING IT DOWN TO LIKE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LIKE YOU DID TONIGHT AND UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO IF THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS THEY CAN ASK AND IT JUST, IT GETS OUT THERE.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO CARRY IT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

I THINK IT'D BE GREAT TO, I KNOW YOU ALREADY SAID IT.

I DIDN'T SEE IT INTO A FORM THAT FORM WHERE IT CAN BE SENT OUT TO LIKE THE EIGHT JOYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO, BUT ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE COMMUNITY GROUPS, YOU KNOW, HIGH DRUNK SHOW WOULD SEE IT.

AND YOU'RE SAYING IT JUST NEEDS TO GET OUT TO THE YEAH.

AND THEN I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST MAYBE COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR US TO COME BACK TO YOU GUYS IN SEPTEMBER AND GIVE YOU A REPORT AS TO WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHAT'S COME UP.

WHAT'S WHAT'S NEW.

WHAT'S CHANGED.

PERFECT.

YEAH.

I GUESS I'VE KIND OF GOT OUT LOUD A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT.

IT'S BECAUSE, I MEAN, I JUST, I MADE A NOTE HERE, PAGE FIVE DASH 30 WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN, THERE THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY, UM, DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND, AND GROUPS IN NEWBURN.

UM, I THOUGHT IF YOU INTERVIEWED THEM, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY SOME OF THOSE THINGS I MENTIONED WERE NOT AS IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, THERE'S REFERENCE IN HERE TO SEVERAL GROUPS.

I THINK HR IS ACTUALLY IN THERE AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BOIL DOWN TO, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS ARE POSITIVE.

THINGS CAN BE DONE, NEGATIVE THINGS OR WHATEVER.

AND I COULDN'T QUITE FOLLOW THAT AS FIRST ONE I'VE EVER READ.

SO MAYBE I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH READING.

WHAT MAKES LEGS, MAN.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RESILIENCY PLAN SECOND.

OKAY.

YEAH.

MOTION A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ROLL COMP STARTING WITH AUGMENT BANGLE? YES.

OH, THE WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN ASKED HER ALDERMAN.

BEST ALDERMAN.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS MAP.

LIKE THIS MOVE FORWARD.

PLEASE HAVE A 10 MINUTE RECESS GO IN MOTION.

I MAKE THE MOST OF THAT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY RECESS SACK, MOST SEGMENTS OF THEIR DISCUSSION.

SEEING NONE.

I DON'T PAY TOO MUCH TO SAY I HOPE BRUCE THING WHERE RECESS, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RESUME IF WE

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a General Warranty Deed between Habitat for Humanity of Craven County NC, Christine Cox, and the City of New Bern for 1904 Wake Street.]

GO TO NUMBER 11.

WELL, YOUR NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GENERAL WARRANTY DEED BETWEEN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY APPRAISEMENT COUNTY, CHRISTINE TALKS, AND THE CITY OF NEWBURGH FOR 1,904 WAKE STREET ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2019, THE CITY APPROVED THE CONVEYANCE OF THIS PROPERTY TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES HABITAT SUBSEQUENTLY CONSTRUCTED A HOME ON THE PROPERTY AND INTENDED TO TRANSFER THE HOME TO A BUYER BY EXECUTING A DEED TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO THE BUYER OF THE CITY.

YOU WILL RELEASE ANY RIGHTS FOR THING TO, OR A TRANSFER AND REVERSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND HABITAT.

OKAY, CUT.

AFTER MAY.

I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION

[02:45:01]

TO APPROVE IN A GENERAL WARRANTY DEED BETWEEN HABITAT HUMIDITY OF CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, CHRISTINA COX, AND THE CITY OF NEW BROWN 4 19 0 4 WASTE STREETS.

SO MOTION AND SECOND IS THERE DISCUSSION, STAY ANONYMOUS, HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTED WITH THE ALDERMAN ODOM OBERMAN ITEM, ALDERMAN ALDERMAN KANZI MAYOR ALDERMAN ASTERS AUTO WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN BINGO.

[12. Consider Adopting an Amendment to the Capital Project Ordinance to Rename the City Hall Annex Building Project Fund as the City Hall Elevator Project Fund.]

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERED AN AMENDMENT TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE TO RENAME THE CITY HALL ANNEX BUILDING PROJECT FUND AS THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT FUND.

SO IN MAY OF 2019, AN ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED TO ESTABLISH A CAPITAL PROJECT FUND FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ELEVATOR AT CITY HALL.

IN 2020, THAT PROJECT FUND WAS RENAMED TO BETTER REFLECT.

AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD WAS LOOKING AT ADDING AN ANNEX.

NOW THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT BASICALLY THE ELEVATOR IN RESTROOMS. SO THE GOAL IS TO BASICALLY RENAME THAT WHAT THE PROJECT ACTUALLY IS MARY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE TO RENAME THE CITY HALL ANNEX BUILDING PROJECT FUND AS THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEN UNLESS THAT ROBOCOP STAR ARVIN BENGAL, THE OTHER WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN ASKED HER YES.

MAYOR ALDERMAN KANZI YES.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER 13.

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application with the Local Government Commission for the City Hall Elevator Project.]

THE IS CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT IS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. TO COME FORWARD.

GOOD THING.

UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO, OR BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, FINANCING FOR, UH, THE CITY HALL PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES THE REAL PROPERTY WE NEED TO, UM, APPLY THROUGH THE LGC.

AND SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU APPROVE AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION WITH THE LGC TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

UM, POSSIBLE BORROWING THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT, I GUESS THIS, YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

IS IT IT'S GOING TO BE FOR 2.8, 6% OR 3.8, 6% COST SAW 3.8, 6%.

AND I THINK IT WAS ITEM NUMBER 15.

SO, UM, THE FINANCIAL, I REACHED OUT AND GOT A MORE FORMAL, UM, QUOTE AND I REACHED OUT TO FOUR BANKS.

AND SO FOR 15 YEARS IT IS 2.8, SIX FOR 20 YEARS.

IT'S 3.1, 3%.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION FOR THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT MOTION.

AND SECOND I SAID, DISCUSSION SAY NONE OF THE, SEVERAL ROM-COM STARTING WITH ALL THE YES, YES, YES.

MAYOR OUTLAW.

YES.

OTTERMAN ASKED HER OUT A WOMAN HARRIS.

YES.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER

[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Declaration of Intent to Reimburse the City Hall Elevator Project.]

14, NEXT ITEMS CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE FOR CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT ROOM.

SO AS REQUIRED BY THE IRS REGULATIONS.

SO DECLARATION OF INTENT SEEMS TO BE ADOPTED PRIOR TO, OR WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PAYMENT OF EXPENDITURES.

THEY'LL BE REIMBURSED THROUGH FINANCING PROCEEDS.

SO I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE, UM, ADOPT A RESOLUTION, APPROVING A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE FOR THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT.

OKAY.

THERE I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE CITY, ALL ELEVATOR PROJECT MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF US HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTED WITH ONLINE BINGO? YES.

A WOMAN HARRIS ASKED HER AUTOMATE KINSEY OUTER MENDEZ ITEM.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES

[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Daniels & Daniels Construction Company, Inc. for the City Hall Elevator Project.]

ON NUMBER SIX.

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH DANIELS AND DANIELS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT BIDS FOR THE CITY HALL.

THE ELEVATOR PROJECT WE RECEIVED ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 2022, AND THE BIDS RESULTED, UH, VISUAL PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON MARCH 8TH.

UH, THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST BIDDER DANIELS AND DANIELS CONSTRUCTION FOR $3,929,000 IN ANY CHANGE ORDERS WITHIN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT TRIP.

WAS THERE, UM, A CONTINGENCY IN THAT, UH, THAT THERE IS NOT A CONTINGENCY IN THE DANIELSON DANIEL'S CONTRACT AMOUNT.

[02:50:01]

UH, WE DO HAVE A CONTINGENCY OF BUILT INTO THE BUDGET THAT WAS, UH, INCLUDED AN ART AIA CONTRACT.

AND THAT, THAT IS THE MONEY THAT YOU HOLD, COINCIDENTALLY.

AND, UM, YOU AUTHORIZED THOSE EXPENDITURES AND, UH, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE FALSTER DO THAT ON YOUR BEHALF WITHIN THE FUNDS THAT ARE, HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THANK YOU.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT OUT OF MY HEAD? YES.

WELL, NO THING.

UM, I WILL MAKE SURE I WAS, AS OUR ARCHITECT, YOU WILL NOTICE CHANGE YOURS OR EACH .

SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING A LOT OF CHANGE ORDERS IN THIS PROJECT? WE ARE NOT BECAUSE THE ANNEX ITSELF IS ESSENTIALLY A NEW CONSTRUCTION.

UH, THERE ARE SOME, UH, POTENTIAL ISSUES WHERE IT COMES TO MAKING CONNECTION TO THE HISTORIC CITY HALL AND THE WORK IN THE REMOVING THE RESTROOMS. UH, BUT WE DON'T PERCEIVE ANYTHING THAT THAT WOULD BE, UH, AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURE.

WELL, WHEN YOU SAY IT ANY CHANGE, OR IF WITHIN THE BUDGET AT A MAP MEANS THEY CAN'T EXCEED THE BUDGETED AMOUNT, CORRECT.

WELL, I'M AFRAID WE'RE CONFUSING.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONTRACT AWARD, THE DANIELSON DANIELS, WHICH IS THE ENTIRETY OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT, THEY WOULD BE PAID VERSUS THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN SET UP FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE CONTRACTORS BOARD, BUT THE CONTINGENCY OF FUNDS THAT YOU HOLD OUTSIDE OF THOSE MONIES, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE NO CONTINGENCY MONIES WITHIN THE 9 MILLION.

I MEAN THE $3,929,000.

AND IF THEY FIND SOMETHING CHEAPER ALONG THE WAY THAT WOOD COMES DOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO THEY ADJUST THE PRICE? I'M JUST ASKING IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

GO UP ON PRICE WHEN IT'S A LOT VAN, IF THE PRICE GOES UP, WHICH IS MORE LIKELY, BUT HOWEVER I CAN ASSURE YOU, UM, MANY TIMES ARE ALL OUR ALTERNATIVES OFFERED AS TO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR.

AND WHEN AN ALTERNATIVE IS OFFERED, MANY TIMES IT'S IN GOOD FAITH AND OTHER WORDS THAT MAY BE A BETTER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S A COST ISSUE AND WE'RE NOT SHY ABOUT ASKING FOR A CREDIT WHEN IT'S WARRANTED.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A DETAILED SET PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, MORE PARTICULARLY SPECIFICATIONS, THEN IT COMMS FOR CLOSED SALE INSULATION AND IT'S BLOWN IN AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENTIAL.

THERE IS SOMEBODY OVERSEE.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE PROJECT, WHEN AN, UH, A DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN, THAT WAS A LESS FAVORABLE PRODUCT, OR ARE WE GOING TO GET ADJUSTED AS SMALL AS WHO'S GOING TO BE WATCHING THAT? I'M YOUR MAN.

OKAY, GOOD TO THE MAYOR'S POINT.

AND WE'RE LOCKING IN AT THE 3.9, BY THE TIME IT IS, OR DURING THE PROCESS THINGS GO UP, THEY CAN'T COME BACK TO US FOR MORE MONEY, CORRECT.

OR IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR CAN ALWAYS MAKE A CLAIM.

NOW WHETHER THAT CLAIM IS WARRANTED OR NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY WHEN YOU GET INTO THESE SIGNS, THAT THERE MAY BE A COST YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE.

HOWEVER, I FEEL COMPETENT THAT THE BUDGET THAT WE FELT LINE FOR YOU FOR THE CONTINGENCY IS SUFFICIENT TO TAKE CARE OF ANY SUCH UNFORESEEN.

SO, SO MAYBE WHAT MIGHT HELP IS THIS IS THEIR NUMBER TO DO THE PROJECT.

THEY CAN'T GET IN THERE AND SAY, OH, WELL, ALUMINUM WENT UP AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY, RIGHT? THEY COULD SAY, INSTEAD OF ALUMINUM, WE NEED TO GO WITH A DIFFERENT PRODUCT AND IT COSTS MORE, BUT HERE'S THE REASONS WHY THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE ORDER, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T ARBITRARILY RAISE.

SO THEY CAN'T DO IT.

I MEAN, THEY, THEY DO IT SOMETIMES SAY, YOU GOTTA WATCH YOUR HONESTLY, AND TO GIVE YOU SOME COMFORT, UH, WE GO THROUGH A PAPERWORK SUBMITTAL PROCESS, AND SOMETIMES THOSE QUESTIONS COME UP AT THAT POINT.

BUT MOST OFTEN WE'VE PROVIDED FOR YOU WITH THE DOCUMENTS, WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

AND SO THE INSTANCES OF A, UH, UH, AN APPROVED DEVIATION AS THE MAYOR WAS SUGGESTING, UH, IT WOULD BE FOR SOMETHING RELATIVELY MINOR AND, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS NOT, UH, A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'VE GONE TO THE HPC, THEY'VE APPROVED A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.

AND, UH, THIS ARCHITECT DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE ANY OF THAT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND GO THROUGH THAT APPROVAL PROCESS.

JOG, JOG MY MEMORY AGAIN, ONCE THIS IS FINALIZED AND WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHEN DO WE GET INTO ACTION FOR THE ELEVATOR TWO WEEKS? I THINK THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS, UM, UH, W WE WE'VE BEEN PROACTIVE AND WE'RE MEETING WITH THE CON CONTRACTORS REPRESENTATIVES

[02:55:01]

TODAY, UM, PREPARING THEM FOR THE PAPERWORK.

UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO INITIATE WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, OFTENTIMES PROVIDE, UH, TRAITS OF DELAY AT THIS POINT IN THE PROJECT IS PROCURING BONDS AND INSURANCE.

AND SO TODAY WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION TO PUT THEM ON NOTICE THAT, UM, THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS.

UM, WE BELIEVE WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONTRACT TO THE CITY MANAGER IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS SO THAT IT CAN BE SIGNED.

UH, WE WILL THEN HOLD A PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE ROUGHLY WITHIN A WEEK THEREAFTER.

AND THEN, UH, UH, 360 DAYS ARE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THE CONTRACT WORK.

OKAY.

AND THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU, MR. FOSTER, I'M PRETTY SURE MAYBE WE, OR THE NEW BOARD, UM, MAYBE IMPACTED WHERE WE NEED TO RELOCATE FOR MEETINGS OR ANYTHING SO THAT IT'S NOT A CONFLICT FOR ANY MEMBERS OR OF THE COMMUNITY COMING IN, LIKE HAVE TO MOVE.

IF THIS TIME I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO RELOCATE SOME STAFF IN CERTAIN OFFICES, UH, DURING SOME, DESPITE ANY, ANY DISRUPTION IN THIS BILL IN THIS ROOM, ONE OTHER, ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT I WANT TO MAKE.

UM, IT'S PROBABLY, AND MAYOR, YOU CAN HELP ME.

35 OR 40 YEARS AGO.

THE BOARD SAID SAT IN THIS ROOM AND DEBATED, AND THE ELEVATOR TO GO RIGHT BEHIND THE MAYOR'S HEAD.

IT WAS GOING TO GO RIGHT UP THAT, THAT AREA THERE.

AND, UH, I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE OVER A MILLION THAT MILLION DOLLARS AND DEBATE IT AND DECIDED NOT TO DO IT.

AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING TO PAY PROBABLY MORE MONEY THAN WE EVER DREAMED WE WERE HAVE TO PAY.

BUT, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, I WANT TO SEE BRANDON HILTON'S FACE BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE IN THIS BUILDING SO BAD AND CAN'T GET INTO IT.

I WANT TO SEE MS. SAMSON ABLE TO NOT STRAIN HERSELF, TRYING TO GET INTO THIS BUILDING AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS A DISABILITY HANDICAP, OR JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WALKING UP THE STEPS.

SO, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE BIT THE BULLET AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD BANK TRIP AND EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE, UM, THIS IS A WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND, UM, GET THE STUB JOB DONE.

THE SECOND THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION, AND I, I SURELY WANT YOUR INPUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ON THE SIDE WHERE OUR FLAGPOLES RESIDE RIGHT NOW AND, AND BEAR AND GRAPH AND READ RESIDES.

SO THE THOUGHT PROCESS, I HAD TALKED TO MATT ABOUT THIS.

HE ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT, AND I JUST WANT TO RUN THIS BY THE BOARD IS TO MOVE THE BEAR AND TO THE POINT WHERE THE BEAR IS DOWNSTAIRS.

SO RIGHT THERE, PUT HIM THERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE FLAG POLES.

CAN THE FLAG POLE RIGHT THERE, IF NOT, THEY'D HAVE TO GO ON THAT GRASSY BACK GRASSY AREA, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE HOUSE USED TO BE.

SO WHEN YOU COME IN THE PARKING LOT TO THE RIGHT, SO I JUST WANT, AND THE BEAR WOULD BE MOVED OVER TO THERE.

SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND I SEE EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT.

OR ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS? THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT MORE THAN ABSOLUTELY.

NO.

OKAY.

SO THE BEAR IS MOVING AND THE BEAR WOULD GO OVER TO THAT GREEN GRASSY AREA THERE, YOU KNOW, MAY MAYBE THAT MAYBE THERE'LL BE MOVED BACK ONCE THE IS BUILT.

I'M NOT SURE OF THE SPACING THERE, BUT, UM, I KNOW THAT THE BEAR, THE BEAR IS GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE, SO I MAKE SURE TO BEARS.

OKAY.

HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH DANIELS WITH DANIELS? WE HAVE GOOD REPUTABLE CONTRACTOR.

THE OTHER GOLDSBORO, GREG.

WELL, WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH DANIELS AND DANIELS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OR THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT.

THANK YOU LORD.

I SAID YOU GOT, BOBBY'S GOT HER SECOND.

OKAY.

IT'S THAT? UM, ANY DISCUSSION? UH, IT'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, SORRY WITH OUR ODOM.

I WONDER HAVE AN ITEM.

YES, YES, YES.

MAYOR OTTOMAN ASKED HER OUT A WOMAN HARRIS OTTOMAN.

BINGO.

YES.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS THINGS PROGRESS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TOLD HER WHAT SHE SAID, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS, SHE WANTED TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO ROB THE YEAR.

THE ELEVATOR TURNED INTO THE ELEVATOR.

THE DECADE IS

[03:00:01]

OLD.

OH NO.

IT'S LIKE, WHY I'M GOOD.

UM, LET'S GET

[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Grant Agreement with the NC Land and Water Fund for an Innovative Stormwater Project.]

ON NUMBER 16.

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERED A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA LAND AND WATER FUND FOR AN INNOVATIVE STORMWATER PROJECT.

MR. SHELLEY'S YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP.

COULD HE MEAN, UH, THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY, UH, A DOCUMENT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY PROVED BEFORE.

UM, IT NEEDED A CHANGE IN THE SIGNATURE, UH, AND IN THE LAB IN THE TIME PERIOD THAT HAS ELAPSED.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER, SO THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AS WELL.

AND IN THE PROCESS, THEY ALSO CHANGED THE EXPIRATION DATE TO GIVE US TIME DUE TO THE LOSS OF TIME THAT THEY CREATED.

SO I'M ESSENTIALLY JUST A SIMPLE REDO IT'S NUMBER SIX, UH, 17, THE SAME INFORMATION AS WELL, NEEDING THE CHANGE.

WE COULD DO IT.

OKAY.

MAYOR, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NC LAND AND WATER FUND FOR AN INNOVATIVE STORM WATER PROJECT.

CORRECT.

MOTION SECOND.

IS, IS THERE A DISCUSSION SEEING ON THE CYBER ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH OUR BAGEL? I DON'T REMEMBER THE BAGEL.

YES.

OUT A WOMAN HARRIS OTTOMAN ASKED HER YES.

MAYOR AL KINSEY OUTER MENDEZ.

YES.

ALDERMAN ITEM.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[17. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Grant Agreement with the NC Land and Water Fund for Restoration of Degraded Streams.]

NUMBER 17.

THE NEXT ASK, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA LAND AND WATER FUND FOR RESTORATION OF DEGRADED STREAMS. MR. SHELLEY.

YEAH.

SO THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS A YEAR EARLIER, FIRST OF ALL.

AND SECOND OF ALL, THAT WAS ACTUALLY FOR THE, UM, DUFFY FIELD STORMWATER ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.

UH, UH, THE BIG DIG OUT THERE WHERE THEY HAVE THE, UH, UH, DETENTION BASIN.

AND THEN ALSO THERE WILL BE THE, UM, NATURALIZED, UH, I'M SORRY, THE, UM, CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS.

UH, THIS ONE IS, UH, NOW A NEW ONE, UH, FROM THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT THIS TIME FOR, UM, THE AREA ALONG THE CANAL, THE DUFFY FIELD CANAL AND INVOLVES, UM, UH, NATURALIZING USING NATURAL, UH, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL, UH, UM, UH, METHODS, UH, TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE AREA.

YEAH.

AND IT SAYS THERE'S NO MATCH INVOLVED WITH THIS.

SO IT'S BASICALLY FOR FREE MONEY.

THIS IS TO ACTUALLY DO THE DESIGN WORK, THE PLANNING AND DESIGN WORK AT THE FRONT HOUSE FRONT END STONE.

YES.

THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

MA'AM YES.

UM, I LIKE MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, APPROVING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NC LAND AND WATER FUND FOR RESTORATION OF DEGRADED STREAMS, MOTION M SEGMENT.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? UH I WONDER IF I CAN EDIT HIM? YES, YES, YES.

MAYOR OTTERMAN ASTROS OUT A WOMAN HARRIS.

YES.

YES.

[18. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend the Drainage Improvements Project Fund.]

NUMBER 18.

NEXT TIME IT'S CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

PROJECT FUND.

THIS FUND WILL BE AMENDED TO RECOGNIZE THE $150,000 GRANT AWARD FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA LAND AND WATER FUND FOR THE PREVIOUS TO THE ITEM.

MAY I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, ANY DISCUSSION THAT WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND SECOND MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NONE LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALL OF THEM ON BINGO.

ALDERMAN BINGO.

YES.

OUT A WOMAN HARRIS OTTOMAN ASKED HER YES, THEY ARE OUTLAW KINSEY ON-DEMAND BEST.

YES.

ITEMS. YES.

MOTION CARRIES

[19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Program Income Policy for Expenditures Related to the American Rescue Plan Act and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.]

[20. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving an Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Policy for Expenditures Related to the American Rescue Plan Act and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.]

ITEM NUMBER 19, SOMETIMES CONSIDER A RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INCOME POLICY FOR EXPENDITURES RELATING TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND CORONA BY OUR STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY PHONES.

MS. O'SULLIVAN IF YOU COME UP AND MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.

SO, UM, DURING OUR ART BOOK PRESENTATION THAT WE DID, UH, JUST OVER A MONTH OR TWO AGO, UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED FOR, UM, USE OF THE ARBOR FUNDS.

AND THIS IS, UM, ONE OF THEM, THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE ARE REQUIRED POLICIES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE.

SO THIS ONE IS BEING PROGRAM INCOME POLICY, ANY INCOME THAT'S EARNED, UM, FROM THE, THE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS OR THE ARBOR FUNDS, UM, WE WOULD HAVE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP COMPLY WITH FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

NOW MINDSET, MS. POLICY, WE THEN WOULD TURN AROUND AND WE HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PROCEDURES AS WELL AS THAT ENDS UP BECOMING AN ISSUE FOR US.

[03:05:02]

CAN WE APPROVE 19 AND 20 TOGETHER? YES, SIR.

WELL, MARIJUANA TO MAKE A MOTION.

WE ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROGRAM INCOME POLICY FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ARP IN FRONT OF OUR STATE AND LOCAL PHYSICAL RECOVERY FUNDS, AS WELL AS ALLOWABLE COST AND COST PRINCIPAL'S POLICY FOR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IN FRONT OF OUR STATE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.

OKAY.

MOTION SECOND.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? SEE, NANOSAT ROLL CALL STARTED WITH ALL OF THEM IN THE ODOM.

I'LL GIVE AN ITEM.

YES, YES, YES, YES.

OUT A WOMAN HERON.

YES.

YES.

NUMBER 21.

[21. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish the Southeast Water System Improvements Project Fund.]

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTHEAST WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.

PROJECT PHONE, LIKE TO ASK MR. HUGHES COME UP TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I MAY HAVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD REAL BRIEFLY.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND.

WE HAVE A WATER BOOSTER PUMP STATION THAT SITS ON THE CORNER OF WILLIAMS ROAD AND AIRPORT, THE BACK ENTRANCE TO THE AIRPORT.

OH, WE HAD A CONTRACT DOING SOME WORK ON THAT AND THIS PAST FALL TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE FACILITY, AND UNFORTUNATELY HAD A MISHAP, A FIRE STARTED IN THE FIRE, MY STEROID, THE STRUCTURE I'LL BE THERE WORKING WITH THE INSURANCE CARRIER FOR THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND FINALLY REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH REPLACEMENT COSTS THAT WOULD BE, AND RECEIVE THOSE PROCEEDS INTO THE CITY ABOUT ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS ESTABLISH A PROJECT FUND IN ORDER TO PUT THOSE PROCEEDS INTO, AS PART OF EVALUATING THE REPLACEMENT OPTION FOR THE BOOSTER PUMP STATION, WE DID AN ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS AND DETERMINED THAT ACTUALLY REPLACED THE STATION IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION.

WASN'T THE BEST USE OF THE FUNDS OR AS A REPLACEMENT.

UH, IT WAS A REPLACEMENT OPTION AND, AND, AND WE LOOKED AT FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES IN DOMESTIC SUPPLY.

WE CAME UP WITH A COUPLE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WERE MORE BENEFICIAL TO OUR EXISTING CUSTOMER BASE, AS WELL AS THE GROWING COMMUNITY.

UH, AND ULTIMATELY WE, WE DEVELOPED A PROJECT WHICH WE'RE TILING THE SOUTHEAST WATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS THAT WILL SIMPLY CREATE A LOOP WHERE WE HAVE TWO DEAD IN WATER MAINS.

NOW, ONE THAT WORKS ITS WAY DOWN WILCOX ROAD AND DEAD ENDS THAT ARE MANDATORY CHANGE.

THE OTHER ONE GOES DOWN ON AIRPORT ROAD AND DEAD ENDS AT THE BLUEBIRD ARRIVES DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY CREATE A CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

IT ENDS DOWN WE'LL INCREASE OUR DOMESTIC CAPABILITIES OF WILLS, OUR FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES IN THOSE AREAS.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'VE GOT THAT PROJECT DESIGN IS GOING OUT FOR PERMITTING.

NOW PROBABLY THE NEXT 60, 75 DAYS.

WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET THAT PROJECT OUT FOR BID.

AND ONCE WE KNOW THE CONSTRUCTION CROSS, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH A PLAN FOR FUNDING, THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

IF WE NEED MORE MONEY IN THIS PROJECT FUND, AS WELL AS A SCHEDULE FOR YOU BEFORE MARY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTHEAST WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT, PROJECT FUNDING, SICK MOTION.

AND SECOND IS THERE DISCUSSION SAY NONE OF THE SEVERAL COLUMNS STORM WITH ALL THE WOOD MINGLED ON-DEMAND BINGO.

YES.

OUT THE WOMAN HARRIS ASKED HER MAY YOUR OUTLAW ORDERING, ORDERING THE BEST.

YES.

NUMBER 22.

[22. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY21- 22.]

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR .

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE ASSOCIATIONS COME UP.

OKAY.

SO THIS BUDGET ORNAMENTAL METAL GENERAL FUND BY APPROPRIATING 18,000 5 84 FROM THE FUND BALANCES, YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES TO COVER TEMPORARY HELP SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANDLING OF COVID RELATED MATTERS.

THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HPAC SYSTEM IS NEEDED AS WELL.

AND, UM, DOCUMENT STORAGE FEES, UM, AN ADDITIONAL 43,538 WILL BE APPROPRIATED FROM THE FUND BALANCE FOR BUILDING REPAIRS AT THE FIRE TRAINING GROUNDS.

INSURANCE PROCEEDS IN THIS AMOUNT WERE RECEIVED AND REPORTED AS REVENUE BACK IN 2018 FOR DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE TRAINING GROUNDS DURING HURRICANE FLORENCE.

UM, LASTLY, THE EMPLOYEES BENEFIT INSURANCE FUND WILL BE AMENDED TO APPROPRIATE FUND AND 20,000 FROM FUND BALANCE OR ADDITIONAL MED COST ADMINISTRATION FEES OF $125,000 IN WORKERS COMPENSATION, INSURANCE OF 35,000.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT 120,000 WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? SO, UM, WE HAD ADDITIONAL, UM, CLOSE OUT.

I THINK SIGNAGE PROBABLY DISPLAY WAS THIRD, BUT THE CLOSE OUT COSTS CLOSING OUT AS WE TRANSITION INTO THE NEW YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, AS WE STARTED THIS, THIS CALENDAR YEAR, AS WELL THAN WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED, WE HAD AN OVER SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THEN WE GET JUST DIVIDED IT BY SIX MONTHS AND THEN COVERED THAT WITHIN, UM,

[03:10:01]

THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN IT CAME BACK A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IS THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

WELL, WHAT IS THE TOTAL PER YEAR ON THAT ITEM IS $4 MILLION, 5 MILLION ADMINISTRATIVE FEES I HAD THROUGH JUNE 30TH.

WE HAD 333,700, UM, AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY, UM, AT 64,000 INSTEAD OF 55,000 THAT WE HAD PLANNED ON BEING.

SO BECAUSE SOCIAL MEDIA IS CORRECT, AS FAR AS THE FEES ARE CONCERNED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO REALIZED WE HAD TO PAY THE PREVIOUS THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HANDLE RUN-OUT CLAIMS AS WELL.

SO THAT STUPID TUNE A BIT BETWEEN 10,000 AND $11,000 A MONTH FROM JANUARY, I THINK IS THROUGH APRIL.

UM, THERE IS SOME ADDED COST, UH, FOR THE MED COSTS, ADMIN FEES AS WELL.

UM, THAT IS ON THE ADMIN SIDE, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO REALIZE SOME SAVINGS ON THE CLAIMS SIDE.

SO WE HAD TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE ADMIN SIDE TO EXPERIENCE SAVINGS OVER, BUT THE NEGATIVE ONE 20, THE WAY YOU LOOK AT IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, I THINK THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT $120,000 FIGURE, RIGHT? SO IT, I GUESS IT COULD BE, YOU COULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, I GUESS WE HAD THE PO OUT THERE TO PAY MY STROLL HEALTH, THE PREVIOUS THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WE'RE ONLY, WE'RE STILL HAVING TO PAY THEM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL.

SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $45,000 43, 1 42.

SO, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 101.

OKAY.

I GUESS WHEN LANE, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING FOR FORECAST PURPOSES IN THE INSULIN BUDGET THAT WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE FURTHER INCREASES? OR IS IT KIND OF STABILIZES? NO, I THINK IT WILL STABILIZE AS FAR AS THE FEES ARE CONCERNED, BUT AGAIN, THAT WHOLE $45,000 PIECE TO PAY THOSE RUN OUT CLAIMS THAT WAS, WE JUST HAD TO DO THAT TO TRANSITION, TO GET TO SAFETY ON THE CLAIMS SIDE, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ADDITIONAL EXORBITANT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH.

YOU MIGHT MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDERED OUT IN THEIR BUDGET ON F Y 21, 22 MOTION.

AND SECOND IS THAT, IS THAT ENOUGH OF A DEFINITION OF WHAT THAT IS, IS A BUDGET ORDINANCE AND THEM I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT'S REFERRING TO.

OKAY.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL SAY I HAVE A, ROM-COM STARTING WITH OUR WINDOW.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE ITEM.

YES, YES, YES.

THEY, WELL, OTTOMAN ASKS OUT A WOMAN HARRIS, ALDERMAN BAGEL.

OKAY.

LESS CURIOUS.

NONE TONIGHT, SIR.

UH, WOMAN HERE, SOLOMON.

OH MY BANK.

OKAY.

UH, ATTORNEYS

[24. Attorney' s Report.]

REPORT, MAYBE I WAS BORED.

ONE ITEM AND I'LL BE BRIEF.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG EVENING FOR EVERYONE.

UM, SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME OVER THE LAST MANY WEEKS, UM, TO INQUIRE ABOUT LEGAL OPTIONS.

THE CITY MAY HAVE TO RESTRICT THE FUTURE USE OF UNION POINT PARK, UM, TO GET US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

UM, THAT PARK CONSISTS OF TWO SEPARATE TRACKS.

ONE, WE CALL THE RESTROOM TRACK, WHICH FLIES NEXT TO HOTELS.

THE GAZEBO TRACK IS THE PENINSULA, UM, ON THE TRENT RIVERSIDE OF THE ENTRANCE ROAD, THE, THE BATHROOM TRACK HAS RESTRICTIONS ON THAT PIECE.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, CALL, UM, THOSE WERE IMPOSED AS THE RESULT OF A, A GRANT THAT ULTIMATELY REQUIRES THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ALLOW ANY FUTURE CHANGES.

SAIL USES OF THAT PROPERTY.

THAT IS A RESTRICTION THAT CAME AS A CONDITION TO GETTING A GRANT.

UM, I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF INQUIRIES AS TO WHY THE CITY CAN'T RESTRICT THE GAZEBO TRACK, JUST LIKE MAYOR BENGO DID WITH THE BATHROOM TRACK, THINKING THAT THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED THAT SECTION FOREVER RESERVED, OR THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO RESTRICT THAT FOREVER.

THAT IS FACTUALLY

[03:15:02]

NOT WHAT HAPPENED AT ALL.

THE MAYOR SIMPLY DID THAT AS A REQUIREMENT OF A GRANT, JUST LIKE THIS BOARD HAS DONE WITH SECTIONS OF THE MARTIN MARIETTA PARK.

WE GOT GRANT FUNDS.

THOSE GRANTS COME WITH RESTRICTIONS.

THOSE RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO THE LAND THEY RUN WITH THE LAND FOREVER.

SO WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO RESTRICT THE FUTURE USE OF THE GAZEBO TRACK, WE START WITH THE STATE STATUTE MUCH LIKE YOUR DUTY TO THOSE STATUTES.

WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR AND SIMPLE STATE STATUTE THAT SAYS THAT THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SELL ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY AT ANY TIME FOR ANY PURPOSE, FOR ANY REASON.

OKAY.

THAT'S THE STARTING POINT.

AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE FACTS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS, OVER THE DECADES, OVER THE CENTURIES, WE WOULD HATE TO HAVE A BOARD IN 1750 DECLARE A PART OF DOWNTOWN, THE FOREVER HORSE CORRAL.

AND NOW WE'RE LEFT WITH THE HORSE CORRAL FOREVER THAT DOESN'T MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS IN THIS DAY AND TIME.

SO AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY, WE CAN'T RESTRICT OUR OWN PROPERTY, BUT HOW DO WE GET RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY? WE CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY.

ONE IDEA IS TO GIVE SOME RIGHTS, GIVE A RESTRICTION TO A TRUST OR SOME BENEVOLENT GROUP WHO WILL FOREVER PROTECT THE PARK.

THE STATUTES THAT ALLOW YOU TO SELL PROPERTY REQUIRE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES THAT WE TALK ABOUT FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN WE SELL PROPERTY, HAVE STATUTES THAT TELL US HOW WE GO ABOUT THE BIDDING PROCESS, THE AUCTION PROCESS, WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS GIVE SOMETHING AWAY FOR NOTHING.

HOW THEN DO WE GIVE AWAY PROPERTY OR ALLOW CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WHICH WE HAVE DONE OVER THE DECADES.

WE DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE OFF.

WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING FOR THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

WE MAKE FREE UP QUESTIONABLE PROPERTY THAT WE CAN NOW DEVELOP.

IF WE RESTRICT OTHER PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE FOR WETLANDS MITIGATION OR OTHER USES.

SO JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS IN THE PAST, DOESN'T MEAN WE DID THAT UNILATERALLY.

IT MEANS IT WAS PART OF THE BIGGER TRANSACTION AND WE GOT SOMETHING FOR WHAT WE LOST.

TWO THINGS I RECOMMEND, UM, WHEN THIS ISSUE COMES UP AND I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS ADVICE FOR 30 YEARS NOW, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY ADVICE HAS BEEN TESTED.

THE BEST WAY TO RESTRICT THE FUTURE USE OF REAL PROPERTY IS TO DEDICATE IT AS A PARK AND GIVE IT A NAME WHEN YOU DO THAT.

AND THE CITIZENRY STARTS TO USE THAT PROPERTY AND CREATE MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES.

THERE IT IS POLITICALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO SELL THAT PROPERTY AS YOU FULLY EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MEETINGS BACK.

OKAY, NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S FOREVER RESTRICTED AS A PARK.

WHY? BECAUSE THE FACTS MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

IF YOU SOMEHOW FOUND A WAY TO RESTRICT THAT PROPERTY, EVEN WITH A GRANT, AS WE HAVE ON THE BATHROOM PIECE, THERE MAY BE AN AMAZING FUTURE USE TO THAT PROPERTY THAT THE BOARD MEETING INANIMATELY AGREES WITH, THAT THE CITIZENRY UNANIMOUSLY AGREES WITH.

HOWEVER, THE LAW MAY PRECLUDE THAT USE BECAUSE IT'S RESTRICTED.

OKAY.

JUST LIKE THAT PIECE IS NOW, IF EVERYBODY HAD AN AMAZING IDEA FOR THE BATHROOM TRACK AND EVERYBODY AGREED WITH IT, IF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DOESN'T AGREE, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

SO THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THEY'RE SERIOUS.

AND THE PRECLUSION AGAINST THEM COMES WITH A LOGICAL REASON.

SO STEP ONE, MY ADVICE, MAKE IT A PARK AND GIVE IT A NAME THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE ALREADY.

AND SO FAR THAT HAS WORKED.

THE SECOND THING YOU COULD DO IS IF THERE WERE A SIGNIFICANT GRANT, UM, A SEVEN FIGURE TYPE GRANT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO IMPROVE THE GAZEBO SECTION IN SOME WAY THAT GRANT WOULD LIKELY COME WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS.

SO THAT WOULD BE A TOOL IN THE FUTURE.

IF THERE WERE SUCH A GRANT AND A NEED AND A PROJECT, IT WOULD LIKELY COME WITH THAT SAME RESTRICTION.

AND YOU'D END UP WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS AS THE BAN ON, ON THE GAZEBO TRACK THAT YOU HAVE ON THE BATHROOM TRACK.

THE THIRD AND MORE REMOTE OPTION FOR A BOARD S ANOTHER CENTURY OR TWO WOULD BE TO CONSIDER THE DESIGNATION OF THAT PARK AS AN HISTORIC SITE.

BUT IT WOULD BE AS AN HISTORIC PARK, RIGHT? THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE THERE AND THE DECADES PAST ARE LONG GONE, THERE'S NOTHING THERE RESERVE ANYMORE.

SO IT'S CURRENT USE IS A PARK.

UM, IN MY MIND, IT'S NOT BEEN A PARK LONG ENOUGH TO CREATE A CULTURAL SENSE OF IDENTITY FOR THAT PLACE FOR OUR GENERATION.

IT CERTAINLY

[03:20:01]

HAS, BUT NOT IN THE CONTEXT OF AN HISTORICAL SITE, BUT THAT DAY WILL COME.

AND IF THE BOARD AT THAT TIME WANTS TO PURSUE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A STATUTORY OPTION THAT THE BOARD OR THE HPC AND THE STATE COULD CONSIDER TO DEDICATE THAT PARK MUCH LIKE CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY AS A FOREVER HISTORICAL, YOUR BEST BET IS TO MAKE IT A PARK AS YOU'VE DONE AND CONSIDER GRANTS.

IF YOU WANT TO IN THE FUTURE QUESTIONS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.

I LIKE TO, I A COMMENT, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING TIME.

UH, WE'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING ISSUES OVER MY EIGHT YEARS OF TENURE.

UM, BUT NONE QUITE LIKE THIS, I WOULD SAY, UM, HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL COMMENTARY THAT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE SUBJECT AS WELL.

UM, I THINK WHAT WE SAW WAS HOW IMPORTANT THE PARK IS TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, IT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE LOCATION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S THERE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THROUGH A GRANT OPPORTUNITY OR SOME SORT OF FUNDING, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE PARK.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY USED A LOT.

UM, THERE'S ONE, A COUPLE OF SWING SETS THERE, THERE ARE SOME OLD BEARS THAT ARE CLIMBED ON WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE TAKE THOSE AWAY, BE CLEAR, KIND OF MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S SET WITH CAVEAT, BUT, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME, SOME WALKWAYS, SOME BENCHES, JUST SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE PARK.

I THINK IT IS OBVIOUSLY SPECIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

UM, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CITY AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN THE CITY.

UM, AND I'VE HAD TO REMIND SOME FOLKS THAT WHILE WE APPRECIATE THEM COMING AND USING OUR PARK, THEY'VE ASKED WHERE INVESTMENTS IN THE PARK THAT THEY'RE NOT TAXPAYERS.

UM, BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM ENOUGH TAXPAYERS, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL.

SO I'M NOT SAYING HOW MUCH, I'M NOT SAYING WHAT, I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.

PROBABLY NOT.

SINCE WE MADE IT AN APPROVEMENT, WHEN WE TOOK THE OLD STAGE DOWN THAT WAS DESTROYED BY THE FLOOD ANYWAY, AND HAVE OUR MOBILE STAGE, THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT IMPROVEMENT, I THINK, TO THE PARK, BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE CONCERTS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE PARK AND MOVE IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO THAT IN ITSELF HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU CAN CALL IT.

BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF A GRANT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT NEVER HURTS TO HAVE BETTER SWING SETS, SAFER, PLAY THINGS FOR THE KIDS.

THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN THERE, THE NICE WE HAD A SLIDE OR SOME OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, PLAY THINGS FOR THE KIDS THAT WOULD BE GOOD AND THAT WOULD, COULD POTENTIALLY COME FROM A GRANT PART OF HER OTHERWISE.

UM, BUT I WOULD AGREE, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THE ONE THAT, SO, SO WE'D LIKE TO SAY WE DID HAVE SOME, SOME UPGRADES PLAN FOR THE PARK.

UM, THERE TWO, TWO SIDES ON EACH SIDE OF THE GAZEBO THAT, THAT ARE STARTED IN THE IRRIGATED.

WE ARE GOING TO BE EXTENDING THAT OVER TO THE RESTROOM SIDE WHERE THAT, UH, STAGE USED TO BE.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A ROUGH PIECE OF GRASS.

IT'S A NICE SIDE AND THERE'S GOING TO GREATLY HELP.

UH, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT, UH, MAYBE IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO, CAR RAN THROUGH OUR, OUR BUSHES RIGHT THERE AT THE FLAGPOLES.

AND SO WE'RE GETTING READY TO PULL ALL THAT AND DO SOME LANDSCAPING IN THAT GENERAL AREA AS WELL.

WE ARE GOING TO EXTEND SOME SIDEWALKS THERE, UH, DO SOME ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO WHERE, UH, WHEN WE'RE HAVING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, INSTEAD OF FOOD TRUCKS, HAVING TO PLUG IN WITH GENERATORS, THEY'LL JUST BE ABLE TO PLUG INTO THE POWER.

WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ADDING CONCRETE CORN HOLE DOWN THERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE UPGRADING SOME SWINGS AS WELL.

SO SOME THINGS ARE COMING UP WITH, THANK YOU.

IT'S ONLY THAT, MARY, THANK YOU.

I SEE

[25. City Manager's Report.]

MANAGERS REPORT.

OKAY.

I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN, IN, IN FRONT OF YOU.

I'VE GOT, UM, SOME INFORMATION ON STANDING WHITE RECREATION CENTER, OUR CONSULTANTS, CPL ARCHITECTS.

THEY HAVE GIVEN US SOME PRICES.

IF YOU LOOK AT OPTION ONE, UM, THIS WAS, UH, THE RECREATION CENTER THAT WAS, UH, THAT YOU ALL LOOKED AT AND THE CONCEPT PLAN WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING PART OF IT.

AND THEY DID PUT A PRICE TAG OF 11, 11, AND $900,000 ON THAT.

UM, THE, THE GROUP HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION FEED WITH SIGNS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THAT IS OPTION TWO, UM, WHICH IS ABOUT 20,800 SQUARE FEET INCLUDES THE ONE STILL INCLUDES MEETING SPACE, AS WELL AS CARDIO AND WEIGHT ROOM.

IT DOES LEAVE OUT A GYM, BUT AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE, ON THE RENDERING, IT DOES HAVE A FUTURE SPACE TO ADD ANOTHER RECREATION CENTER.

AND IT IS JUST ONE LEVEL.

SO WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS I'M GIVING YOU THIS INFORMATION, UH, I'M ASKING FOR DIRECTION ON WHICH WAY THIS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO GO, AND THEN WE CAN KEEP

[03:25:01]

ON ROLLING WITH THIS PROJECT.

WHAT FORM WOULD YOU JOKE RIGHT IN THERE? I THINK BECAUSE THE BOARD ACCEPTED CONCEPT OF OPTION ONE AND EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKING FOR RED CROSS, UM, I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T GO AHEAD AND TRY AND GET SOME FUNDING IN REGARDS TO FINANCING FOR THE REMAINDER SO THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING THE COMMUNITY FOR THE 20,000 SQUARE FEET AND JUST DO IT ALL AT ONCE.

INSTEAD OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL ADD ADDED, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND DO IT AND GET IT DONE WITH THAT PRICE TAG IS 11.9 THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT FUNDING FOR THE REST.

I AGREE WITH ALDERMAN HARRIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, UH, A GOOD, A SUBSTANTIAL CHUNK OF IT AT 8.3.

YOU KNOW, I, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE PUT IT OUT THERE.

I WANT TO SEE A TWO STORY BUILDING.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE BUILDING MAYOR AT THE CORNER.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING OUT THROUGH THE PASS.

I JUST, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT THE WHOLE RED CROSS THING.

AND I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD APPLY FOR PART IF ON THIS.

UM, I, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OTHER GRANT OPTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE COULD TALK TO MARGARET BAIT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANY OF THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET THE FINANCING, IF WE GOT THE BULK OF IT AND WE CAN GET THE FINANCING DOWN TO EVEN A 2 MILLION OR A MILLION DOLLAR FINANCING, UM, WE WILL DEFINITELY SEE THE RESULTS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST RECREATION CENTER THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR, OUR CITIZENS.

AND I WOULD BE, UM, SUPPORTING, GOING THROUGH IT.

SO THE OPTION ONE, WHERE ARE, Y'ALL SEEING EIGHT MINUTES CAUSE ON MY SHEET, SO ONE SAYS 1100, WELL, EIGHT, 8.3 IS THE MONIES THAT WE RECEIVED.

OKAY.

I KNOW THAT WHEN THIS WAS SAYING 11.99, BUT I'M SAYING WE WOULD HAVE A BIG CHUNK.

WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE 8, 3 11 OKAY.

SO CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON MUD HARRISON? NO.

YOU SERVED ON THAT BOARD ON THE ADVISORY OF WORK.

W WHY DID Y'ALL SELECT TWO GYMS? TH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD VOTED ON.

IT WAS A SIX TO ONE VOTE TO ACCEPT THAT CONCEPT WHEN THEY BROUGHT IT TO THE, I KNOW WHEN IT CAME, I'M GONNA JUST, YOU KNOW, CAUSE I'VE HAD, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF CITIZENS REACH OUT TO ME NOW, AND THEY'RE SAYING INSTEAD OF TWO GYMS, WHY DIDN'T THAT TEAM GET ADVISORY BOARD AND EVERYTHING, UH, OPT MEN TO HAVE THE SWIMMING POOL PUT IN THE MAIN, THE MAIN PART OF THAT LOOK INTO IT WITH RECEIVING, WE DID A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SPACE.

THE THING ABOUT A DOUBLE GYM THAT NOT ONLY WAS IT FOR YOU SPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT ALSO WOULD, WOULD DOUBLE AS AN ASSEMBLY ROOM, A LARGER SPACE, AS WELL AS IF A DISASTER OCCURRED.

AND YOU HAD A RED CROSS ACTIVATE THAT SHELTER WOULD BE A LARGER SPACE FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO JUST A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM.

YEAH.

I MEAN, JUST BROUGHT UP TO ME BY SEVERAL CITIZENS.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, WAS THAT BROUGHT UP IN YOUR MEETINGS OKAY.

WHEN THEY DID THE PUBLIC INPUT? ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I THINK THE CAVEAT TO THAT IS THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THE AQUATIC CENTER.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T GET PUSHED INTO THE FOREFRONT, BUT, UM, LITTLE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY THAT DID COME OUT AND SPEAK, THEY ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE, THE PLAN.

I MEAN, I'VE, I ULTIMATELY HAVE VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT IT WAS A 61.

AND EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD AGREED TO THIS PLAN.

UM, WE NEED ABOUT 3.6 MILLION.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL IN AND BINGO SAID, I MEAN THE DOUBLE GYM HAS A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.

UM, YOU CAN HAVE TOURNAMENT'S COME OUT HERE.

UM, ALL THE STATES, IT'S NOT A BENEFIT.

I'M JUST, I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION, WAS IT BROUGHT UP IN MEETINGS? I BELIEVE IT WASN'T BROUGHT UP.

I THINK DEFINITELY, PROBABLY BY, UM, FORMER ALDERMAN, UH, BERNARD WAY.

OKAY.

ALSO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE WAS THAT, UM, IF YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TWO GYMS HERE, SO, AND THEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT PUTTING $500,000 IN A CUPBOARD OUTSIDE BASKETBALL COURT.

SO I THINK THAT'S, I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THREE COURTS HERE NOW, THAT'S IT? I MEAN, THEY SAID WE STEPPED BACK FROM IT.

THAT WAS SUGGESTED FOR THE FACT OF RIGHT.

WE DON'T HAVE, HONESTLY, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO BE BUILT IN 2020 5, 26, APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS.

THERE IS NO OPTION RIGHT NOW, BUT THE GYM IS NOT OPEN 24 HOURS.

SO THAT HAVING A, SOME SHORTER SHELTER OVER THE BASKETBALL COURT, THAT'S THERE, THEY CAN GO

[03:30:01]

WHENEVER.

UH, I JUST, I JUST DON'T SEE PUTTING $500,000 IN AN OUTDOOR COVERED BASKETBALL.

RIGHT? WELL, THE BOARD DECIDED THAT NOT TO GO WITH THAT.

YEAH.

UM, I KNOW WE DIDN'T VOTE ON ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS THE FINAL DECISION ON THAT? WE STILL HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DECISION ON THAT ARC MONEY ONLY BUY CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE APPROVE.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE COUPLE COURT FOSTER WORKS THE SIZE OF THE FORMER STANLEY WHITE REC CENTER, AND THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 SQUARE FEET.

SO, UM, SO, SO THE PLAN, THE 35,000 OPTION ONE IS WHAT THE DESIGNERS CAME UP WITH BASED OFF OF THE $8 MILLION BUDGET THAT WE HAD THREE YEARS AGO.

SO BECAUSE OF DELAYS, WE'RE NOW FACING THIS ALMOST $4 MILLION INCREASE, THAT'S CORRECT.

WE EXPERIENCED IT WITH THE ELEVATOR, SAME DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AND THE LONGER YOU HAVE TO DELAY, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD OPTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I, YOU KNOW, ON THE DOUBLE GYM WITH THE TOURISM AND JEFF YOU'RE ON THAT BOARD, BUT, UH, TDA IS LOOKING FOR MORE ASSETS.

SO THAT WILL HOLD TOURNAMENTS BECAUSE TOURNAMENTS BRING PEOPLE IN, THEY SPEND THE NIGHT.

SO POTENTIALLY WE COULD ASK FOR A GRANT FROM THEM.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GRANTED BRICK AND MORTAR MONEY FOR TRON PALACE AND FIREMAN'S MUSEUM, BUT I CERTAINLY SO I MEAN EVERY, EVERY LITTLE BIT D PHRASE, YOU KNOW, KIM, KIM WANTS THE DEBT SERVICE GOING TO BE FOR THE ELEVATOR.

IF WE STRETCH IT OUT TO 20 YEARS, WHICH I THINK WAS THE LONGEST TERM.

UM, WE, WE, UM, I RECOMMENDED THE 15 YEARS, UM, IT COULD GO UP TO 20 YEARS.

AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT, UM, $260,000 ANNUALLY OVER THE 15 YEARS WE HAVE ABOUT JUST OVER $2 MILLION, UM, COMING OFF THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

SO FOR 20 YEAR, WHAT DO YOU KNOW IF THAT WAS BEING, UM, IF WE DID 20 YEARS AT 4 MILLION, SO WE WERE ASKING THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL 195,000 ANNUALLY, WE'RE JUST OVER 5.18.

SO WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING $600,000 IN DEBT SERVICE TO PAY FOR THE ELEVATOR AND THE ADDITION TO THE COST OF STANLEY WHITE, ROUGHLY.

YEAH.

AND WE'VE GOT, WE HAVE 2 MILLION COMING OFF IN DEBT SERVICE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THEN, BUT WE'VE GOT, I MEAN, THIS COMING BUDGET YEAR, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO KIND OF HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S COMING DOWN, THE PIPE THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUESTED FIRE STATIONS, BIG DEAL.

THERE'S SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

I MEAN, FIRE TRUCKS, FIRE STATIONS, POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE THESE, I MEAN, W WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE NEEDS OF THE BUDGET.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT OVER 12 YEARS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DEBT SERVICES FOR DIFFERENT THINGS BY OUR TRUCKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND I THINK WE DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD FUND BALANCE OR, YOU KNOW, BUDGET AMOUNT TO BE ABLE TO COVER THIS ELEVATOR IN THE ADDED EFFECT OF THE INCREASE TO STANLEY WHITE.

I MEAN, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO DO OPTION TWO.

UM, BUT LIKE, LIKE ULTIMATE BIG WAS SAID, WE HAVE THE BULK OF IT.

I MEAN, PARTNERSHIPS, IF WE WAS GOING TO ALLOCATE $500,000 OR A MILLION FROM THESE ARP FUNDS, I MEAN, WE CAN BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN.

WE'RE ONLY, WE'RE ONLY OUT 3.6 MILLION.

SO I THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FINANCE IT AND COVER IT.

YOUR RECREATIONAL PROFESSIONAL.

I MEAN, YOU SEE THE NEED OF A TWO JIM STANLEY WHITE CENTER, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THAT FACILITY WAS DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE.

UM, AND THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO BUILD A RECREATION CENTER THAT WOULD GET US IN THE NEXT 60 TO 70 YEARS.

THE, THE OLD STANLEY WIRE RECREATION CENTER LASTED ABOUT 45 YEARS.

UH, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT GENERATION TO PLAY THERE.

SO, UM, REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GIVE US.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH A SINGLE GYM, YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THOSE ANYMORE AND COMMUNITIES THIS SIZE.

SO, SO WHAT, WHAT IS ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT WAS THIS BIG TO THE LEFT TOP LEFT ON OPTION TWO? IT WAS LIKE SOME FLEX SPACE.

SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE TOP LEFT, THAT IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING AS WHAT WAS ON THE OTHER, OTHER PAGE ON THE SECOND FLOOR

[03:35:01]

THAT IS WEIGHT ROOM, CARDIO ROOM AND ADDITIONAL RESTROOMS. UM, I WISH TRIP WAS STILL HERE, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S SUCH A SIGNIFICANT COST IN A SECOND GYMNASIUM FOR, IS IT THAT'S THE SECOND FLOOR TOO? IS THAT WHAT IT IS? AND THE SECOND FLOOR CHANGES.

SO, SO THEN WHY DON'T WE TELL THEM THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO COURTS AND NOT A SECOND FLOOR AND SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.

WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THEN WE'LL RUN INTO ISSUES WITH SPACE ON THAT SIDE.

WHAT THE FUCK? THE FOOTPRINT'S THE SAME, ISN'T IT? WHETHER YOU PUT SOME ON TOP OF THAT, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST DOING SOME, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU WOULD INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT IF YOU TOOK THE SECOND FLOOR ITEMS AND PUT THOSE ON THE FIRST FLOOR THAT WOULD INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT MAYORS AND DO AWAY WITH THE SECOND.

SO, SO TELL HIM THAT THIS OPTIONAL SECOND GYM THAT'S OUTLINED HERE FOR FUTURE GROWTH.

WHAT THE PRICE WOULD BE THAT NOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE FOOTPRINT TOO, RIGHT? IT WILL, WELL, YOU GUYS, 61 VOTED ON THIS PLAN AND IT WOULD INCLUDE EVERYTHING HE'S SAYING, MAKE IT ONE FLOOR INSTEAD OF TWO THAT'S THAT'S WHEN WE FELT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT FOR $8 MILLION, AND THEN TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE WE VOTED ON THAT PLAN.

WHAT, SO BACK TO THEM AND SEEING HER, IF YOU COULD INCORPORATE, CAUSE IT'S WHITE ROOM IN THE BATHROOMS THAT YOU'RE INCORPORATING INTO THE FIRST FOUR, WE LEAVE THE TWO GYMS JUST IN CORPORATE.

I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SECOND FLOOR, BUT I GET IT WITH THE MONEY.

CAUSE THE SECOND IS THAT WHAT THAT IS, IS THAT A WALKING TRACK, ELDERLY COMMUNITY WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT.

AGAIN.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T FIND FINANCING.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT WITH THE ELEVATOR.

WHY CAN'T WE DO IT TO JUST COME UP TO THE GYM? AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DOUBLE GYM, THINK ABOUT THE SPACE FOR THE RED CROSS SHELTER THAT WAS ARGUED ABOUT THAT'S MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN THERE.

IF WE EVER ARE HIT WITH A FEAR SITUATION OR A HURRICANE, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE INPUTTED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE A BENEFIT TO THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE JUST DON'T.

WE HAVE OUR PONDS AND WE CAN GO GET FINANCING.

WE ASKED FOR A MILLION LAST MEETING AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $500,000 FOR A SHELTER.

THAT'S 1.5 THERE.

SO THEN NOW WE'RE UP TO FOUR.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I MEAN, WE DIDN'T THE SHELTER.

I WOULD TALK TO THEM, RIGHT.

IT WAS DISCUSSED IN WITH THE EARTH BORN.

SO IN IT BEING DISCUSSED, INSTEAD OF IT NOT GOING THERE, YOU HAVE 1.5 TO PLAY WITH BECAUSE OF THE 1 MILLION FOR THE ELEVATOR.

WELL, WE'RE FINANCING THE WHOLE WORLD, WE'RE FINANCING THE WHOLE THING.

OKAY, THERE YOU GO.

2.5.

SO I MEAN THERE'S MONEY.

I FEEL LIKE WE CAN FIND THE MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OPTION ONE.

I MEAN, DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

SO YOU JUST NEED THAT SHOW OF HANDS FOR DIRECTION.

I JUST NEED DIRECTION ON HOW YOU'D LIKE TO PROCEED.

UM, I'M GOOD WITH LIGHT AND SHADOW.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT ACTION IS.

OPTION ONE.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE OTHER OPTIONS FOR FINANCING YOUR OTHER PHONES AVAILABLE.

I AGREE.

SO YOU'RE, Y'ALL AGREEING TO OPTION ONE, ACTUALLY ONE.

YEAH.

I'M GONNA SAY SINCE THAT, SINCE THAT'S WHAT THE CONSENSUS OF THE PLANT ADVISORY BOARD WANTED AND YOUR CITIZENS WANTED, SO LET'S MAKE IT A MOTION.

WE VOTED ON IT.

SO YOU MIGHT MOTION IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SINCE THIS IS WHAT WAS VOTED ON 61, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION ONE AND FIND, ALLOW STAFF TO FIND FINANCING IN PARTNERSHIP LIKE SABRINA SAID, UM, TO COVER THE REST OF THE FUNDING.

SECOND.

YEAH.

ON THE COMMENT ABOUT THE VOTE OF 61, I THINK IF YOU GO BACK TO THE RECORD, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE BUDGET FOR THIS WAS GOING TO BE $8 MILLION.

I CAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT AGREE WITH YOU, BUT, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE ELEVATOR WAS GOING TO BE ONE, 1.5 TO $2 MILLION IN LIQUID.

I MEAN, WE ARE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES RIGHT NOW AND THE MORE WE DELAY, THE MORE WE KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY CHEAPER.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT LITTLE WE WERE GOING TO GET NOW FOR 7.8 MILLION.

SO THAT, THAT DOES BOTHER ME BECAUSE WE EXTENSIVELY ALL, YOU KNOW, I PUT MY NECK OUT ON THE LINE THERE WITH WALKING TRACKS AND, UM, HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR ALL CITIZENS TO TAKE PART IN.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD BUILD A FACILITY THAT'S

[03:40:01]

THAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR CITY.

AND I, I HATE THAT PRICES ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.

MAYBE AS WE GET DOWN THE LINE AGAIN, I KEEP PRAYING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CORRECT THEMSELVES.

UH, CAUSE IT'LL HELP EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY DO.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE THIS PROJECT.

WE'VE BEEN KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD OF WAY TOO LONG.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT MARGARET, SHE NEEDS TO GET ON STICK.

LET'S TRY THE PART AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND SEE WHAT OTHER FUNDS WE CAN BRING IN HERE TO DEFRAY THE COST.

MAYBE WE CAN GET CLOSE.

SO WITH YOUR CALCULATIONS AT 11.9 MILLION, WE, WE HAVE 8 MILLION IS ALL THE MONEY OWED TO ME SAID THAT WAS CORRECT.

AND THEN, SO THAT LEAVES 3.9.

AND THEN IF THIS BOARD CHOOSES TO DO SO WE GOT 2.5 FROM THE ART MONEY, WHICH THAT LEAVES US WITH 1.4 MILLION, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO TRY TO FIND SO WE CAN FIND ONE POINT.

YEAH.

I MEAN REALLY? YES.

SO, SO I WOULD SUPPORT THIS.

SO WE HAVE A SECOND.

I LIKE TO CALL IT.

WE DID HAVE LESSONS AND YOU FELT QUESTION SEVERAL ROLL CALLS STARTED WITH ELEMENT ALDERMAN BENGAL.

YES.

ARE THE WOMAN HARRIS ALDERMAN ASKED HER I'M GOING TO VOTE? YES.

ONLY BECAUSE FOSTER SAID HIS, THAT IS THE CENTER OF THE FUTURE MAYO OUTLAW OTTOMAN KINSEY, ALDERMAN, BEST ALDERMAN ITEM.

OKAY.

UH, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE? UH, MR. WHAT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS FRIDAY, UH, WE HAVE THE GRAND OPENING OF MARTIN MARRIED AT A PARK AT 11:00 AM SO THAT EVERYONE CATCH HIM THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING ALSO HAVE A HOT DOG LUNCH OUT THERE.

SHE HAVE A LOT OF FUN CANOES AND KAYAKS.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO OUT IN THE WATER, UM, WE'D LOVE TO ACCOMMODATE YOU ON THAT.

ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FEW STREET CLOSURES.

THE SOUTH GLEN BURNIE ROAD RAILROAD CROSSING WILL BE CLOSED AGAIN TOMORROW, MARCH 23RD, FROM 7:00 AM TO 12 NOON.

SO THEY CAN FINISH MILLING, REPLACING TIES AND REPAVING.

AND ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD, FROM 6:00 AM TO 4:00 PM.

SEMINIS STREET WILL BE DOWN TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN NEWTON DRIVE AND THE BOULEVARD AND WATER RESOURCES IS GOING TO BE REPAIRING.

AND THEN THE GROUND THAT YOU GET A LOCAL BUSINESS.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, I WOULD SAY MAYBE A FUTURE MAKING A BIT OF BUDGET AMENDMENT CHANGE ON THE ORIGINAL, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVED WHAT? 8 MILLION.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE AT THAT POINT, UH, ARCHITECT, UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

AND APPROVE A NEW ONE OR HOW WILL YOU DO THAT? YEAH, I THINK ONCE WE GET THE ACTUAL AMOUNT.

OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR.

IT'S GOOD TO DO

[26. New Business]

BUSINESS STARTING WITH ALBAN ODOM, NOTHING.

ALL REMAN, ALDERMAN KINSEY.

IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY MANAGER REVIEW.

OKAY.

YES.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WE'RE STILL WITH ALMOND KINSEY.

DO YOU HAVE A DATE IN MIND, RIGHT? UH, MAYBE THE NEXT MEETING.

OKAY.

DOES THAT AGREEABLE TO THE BOARD? YES.

YES, YES.

OKAY.

WE'LL DO THAT NEXT MEETING.

OKAY.

YEP.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? HEY, THANK YOU, MAN.

I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE NEWBURN FARMERS' MUSEUM WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW NINE 11 MEMORIAL, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE MEMORIAL PARK AT JASON TO THE MUSEUM.

THE CEREMONY WILL BE AT 3:00 PM, SUNDAY, APRIL THE THIRD, AND EVERYONE IS CERTAINLY INVITED.

I HOPE EVERYONE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE MONUMENT.

IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ARTWORK AND, UM, I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT AND BOBBY YOU TO COME UP WITH KIND OF SAME THING.

BUT THEN I NOTICED SHE HAD ABOUT 10 OR 12 FIREMEN OUT THERE.

AND IF THEY WORK IN 47, SO YOU WANT A PIECE OF MACHINERY DALE TODAY, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ANY BRICKS TO BE BALLER OR WHATEVER AND UPDATE US.

YEAH, WE HA WE HAD A VISION FOR THAT PART, PROBABLY WHAT FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO.

AND IT REALLY IS THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE LAST SEPTEMBER 11TH, UH, GET TOGETHER.

WE HAD A MEETING WITH HEAD.

THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE HERE THAT WERE AFFECTED BY IT, OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PARK.

UM, DID THEY HAVE AN ASSET? I'VE BEEN PROUD OF IT, PART OF IT.

SO GREG YEARS AGO, THE MAYOR NOT HAD A VISION FOR THAT LOT, BUT DIDN'T HAVE IT.

SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR ARC AND I'M GLAD

[03:45:01]

YOU DID.

CAUSE THAT WAS THE BETTER VISION.

AND IT'S WORKED OUT BEAUTIFUL.

ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IN THE FUTURE IS WE STILL HAVE ONE OF THE BAIL OR THE BAIL THAT WE HAVE ON DISPLAY DOWN THERE.

NOW IS THE BAIL THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE FIRE BELL THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE FIVE POINTS COMMUNITY.

UH, WE HAD THE BAIL.

WAS IT HERE? THE BAIL THAT WE COME IN HERE, THAT'S HERE.

ISN'T THAT AT THE, UH, IS THAT TRAUMATIC? THIS DEAL NOW THAT WAS THE CLOCK.

GEORGE, IS IT STILL UPSTAIRS? THE BAIL? WOW.

ENOUGH.

WE HAVE ANOTHER BAIL.

THERE WAS A FIRE BELL THAT WE THINK WAS A FIRE BELL THAT WAS HERE AT CITY HALL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, RAISE FUNDS AND PUT ON DISPLAY AS WELL.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING LIKE WHAT, THE ONE THAT WE HAVE DOWN THERE.

NOW WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT PEDESTAL, MOUNTAIN MINT, BUT IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HOPEFULLY BE, IF SOMEONE OUT THERE WANTS TO HELP RESTORE ONE OF OUR FIRE BELLS AND PUT IT ON DISPLAY AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME YOUR FUNDS.

AND IS IT TRUE? FRED, IF YOU RUN THE BAIL PANEL, WHICH BAIL HE KNEW OUR TOWN TO GET TO WITHOUT YEAH.

THEY WOULD DROP THE REIGNS AND HE WOULD, HE WOULD RUN BACK TO THE FIRE STATION BACK IN HE BED TOGETHER.

AND HE KNEW, KNEW RIGHT WHERE TO GO.

WHAT ELSE YOU GET? YOU KNOW, FRED, NOT A THING, SIR.

WELL, ADAM, UNTIL ALL THE FIRE FIRETALK UM, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS 100 YEARS IN THE GREAT FIRE.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE, WE HAVE MONTHS TO PLAN TO MAKE SURE WE DO SOMETHING TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

BUT ALSO SOME BACK UP ISN'T THIS WEEKEND, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE PULLING THE TRUCK? THIS AREN'T YOU PULLING THE TRUCK THIS WEEKEND.

OKAY.

SO WILL YOU COME UP HERE AND JUST TELL HIM WHAT IT'S, WHAT IT'S ABOUT BECAUSE ME AND OLIVIA HAVE THE DATE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

YEAH.

IT CLOCKED SATURDAY MORNING.

WE WILL BE DOING THE MDA FUNDRAISER HOPE FOR HARRISON.

AND WE HAVE, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 12, 13 OR SO, AND WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF SPOTS FOR, SO WE'VE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT.

THAT'S MADE O'CLOCK 10 O'CLOCK AND I WILL BE PULLING APART.

I WILL BE, I'VE GOT A TEAM MYSELF.

SO THAT GOES FROM EIGHT, 10.

DIDN'T TEND TO HAVE OPEN HOUSE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS AND STUFF AND WE DO COME DO SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AWESOME.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

AND AGAIN, ALWAYS JUST LIKE THIS, UH, THANK THE STAFF, UM, UH, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD, ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS WHEN I'M NOT AN EXPERT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

OKAY.

GOT TWO PIECES OF BUSINESS THIS EVENING.

SO THE FIRST IS, UM, WE, AS A BOARD NEED TO ADDRESS THE SEATING OF THE NEW BOARD NOW THAT THE ELECTION DATES ARE IN PLACE.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS THAT, UM, IF THERE IS NO, UM, IF THERE IS NO RUNOFF THAT THE NEW BOARD BE SEATED AFTER THAT ELECTION IS A CERTIFIED, WHICH WILL BE IN JUNE, IF THERE IS A RUNOFF THAT THE NEW BOARD WOULD BE SEATED AFTER CERTIFICATION OF THAT ELECTION, WHICH WOULD BE AN AUGUST 1ST OR SECOND.

SO SECOND IN JUNE.

SO I KNOW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE SHOOTING IN JULY 1ST.

NO, IT'S BECAUSE, UM, MAY 17TH IS NOW THE, THE, UH, ELECTION, IF THERE'S NO RUNOFFS, THEY USUALLY TAKE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 10 DAYS, TWO WEEKS TO CERTIFY.

SO YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST OR SECOND MEETING IN JUNE, DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY HAVE TO CERTIFY.

AND THEN, UM, IF THERE IS A RUNOFF, YEAH, THE NEW BOARD CAN'T BE SEATED UNTIL AUGUST AND AGAIN, THAT'S AFTER CERTIFICATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE I NEED TO ADD TO THAT MOTION STOP.

OKAY.

JEFF MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

MOTION PERIOD.

OKAY.

AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE OF BUSINESS, UM, IS REGARDING THE TISDALE HOUSE.

THAT IS THE HOUSE THAT CURRENTLY SITS ON THE PROPERTY WHERE STANLEY WHITE IS GOING TO BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY TO MOVE IT.

UM, AND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION HAD CONTACTED US AND HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THEM AND IT IS A VERY, VERY HISTORIC HOUSE.

AND THEY WOULD LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO SAVE IT.

SO WE INQUIRED ABOUT THEM MOVING IT.

THEY LOOKED ALL AROUND FROM LAND.

THE ONLY PIECE OF LAND WE COULD COME UP WITH WAS THE LOT THAT SITS, UM, BEHIND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

SO IF YOU'RE ON THE REM, IS THAT IT RIM AVENUE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

SO IT'S THAT BIG GREEN SPACE THAT'S THERE.

[03:50:01]

THAT'S ACTUALLY TWO LOTS.

THE HOUSE WILL FIT ON THE LOTS THERE.

SO IN SPEAKING TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UM, IT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PROBABLY GIVE TO AN ORGANIZATION.

IT'S JUST NOT, I DON'T THINK IT'S KOSHER.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE THE RIGHT ONLY IF WE RESTRICT IT TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.

AND SO THIS IS A HOUSE THAT BASICALLY WE'D LIKE TO MOVE AND THEY WOULD ADVERTISE IT, PUT IT ON THE WATT AND THEN RESELL IT AS IT IS FOR SOMEBODY TO BUY IT AND RESTORE IT AND MAKE IT BE PART OF THAT BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THEY WOULD BE BUYING THE PHARMACY.

WHAT WE WOULD DO IS BASICALLY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO MOVE IT, PUT IT ON THE LOCK THAT WE OWN AND THEN SELL IT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY.

WE WOULD RETAIN, WE WOULD RETAIN THE PROCEEDS, RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

BUT IF, IF THEY DO IT, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US OTHER THAN TO GO THROUGH AN UPSET BID PROCESS, WE COULD SELL UPSET THE PROCESS FOR THE LOT.

THEY MAY OR MAY NOT GET IT.

OKAY.

AND DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST TO MOVE IT? DID WE HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE, ROUGH ESTIMATE, ROUGH ESTIMATE TO MOVE IT, PUT IT BACK IN THE FOUNDATION AND WORK ON THE FORCE IS GOING TO BE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I MEAN, SO YOU GOTTA MOVE IT TO GET THE STANLEY WHITE BELT.

SO, I MEAN, I WAS THINKING IN THE, IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF A REDEVELOPMENT, BUT I MEAN, THEY BARELY HAVE 100,000.

YEAH.

THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO TAKE ON A PROJECT LIKE THAT.

SO I'M JUST PUTTING THIS BEFORE THE BOARD SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS IS, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION.

UM, WE COULD REALLY DO WHATEVER, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE HOUSE IS WORTH SAVING.

YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SURE MATT SHELLEY WOULD AGREE WITH ME.

WE'RE BOTH PRESERVATIONISTS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT HOW SHOULD WE SAVE? IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY TO IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS PART OF A BIG FARM AREA BACK IN THE DAY.

AND I WOULD JUST REALLY HATE, HATE TO SEE THAT HOUSE.

IS THERE ANY ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REPAIRING THAT HOUSE? NO, BUT WE WOULDN'T REPAIR IT.

WE WOULD JUST SELL IT AND THEN JUST SITS THERE AND NOBODY BUYS IT AND THEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF ESTIMATE ON APPRAISAL OF WHAT IT WOULD BE WORTH TO YOU? IF WE DID EXPENSE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO, WELL, JUST TO MOVE IT, UM, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GAIN THAT BACK IN THE SELLER OF THE HOUSE? THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

YEAH.

I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FALLS APART IN THE MIDDLE OF FIRST STREET? I CAN'T REMEMBER.

THE LAST TIME I SAW A HOUSE IN NEWBURGH, WE'D MOVED A LOT OF HOUSES AND NEW BOOKS.

SO JUST NOT SURE PUTTING OUT THERE SO WE WOULD HAVE DISCUSSION YEAH.

A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE CALLS THAT MOVING IT, PUTTING IT ON OUR LOT, SELL IT.

AND THEN WE GET OUR MONEY BACK.

TRY TO GET OUR MONEY BACK.

WE'D BE SELLING WELL.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTION.

I MEAN, PRESERVATION WAS WILLING TO PAY TO MOVE IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED A PARTNER GIVE THEM THE LOT, LET THEM PUT IT THERE.

THEN THEY WOULD PAY ALL THOSE FEES.

BUT AFTER TALKING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.

CAN WE NOT LET THEM HAVE THE LOCK UNTIL THEY AND PAY US WHEN THEY SELL THE PLACE? NO, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THOSE NUMBER, THE REAL ESTATE SALE PROCEDURES.

SO WE CAN GIVE IT AWAY.

IF IT'S LIKE HABITAT, WE GIVE IT AWAY WITH RESTRICTIONS, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, OR WE GO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS.

WELL, I MEAN, GIVE IT AWAY FOR LOW INCOME, LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

WELL, SOMEONE THAT SOMEONE'S GOING TO PAY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, FIX IT UP.

RIGHT.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A STANDING OFFER TO TAKE THE HOUSE TO ANYONE FOR A DOLLAR.

SO TAKERS.

WE HAVE NO TAKERS FOR A DOLLAR.

NO, NO.

WE HAD NOBODY WHO WOULD TAKE THE HOUSE FOR A DOLLAR MOVE IT.

SO PRESERVATION STEPPED IN AND SAID, WE'LL TAKE THE HOUSE AND WE'LL PAY YOU TO MOVE IT.

WE HAVE NO PLACE TO MOVE INTO.

SO WHY CAN'T THEY? SO CAN'T SELL THEM THE LAND WE CAN'T, BUT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ENOUGH UPSET.

WE CAN'T CONTROL WHO THE BUYER IS.

THE HIGHEST BIDDER ALWAYS WINS.

UM, SCOTT FOSTER HAS ANYBODY, UM, GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DEMOLISH THE WALL? I WAS QUESTION, WELL, NOW WE CAN DEMOLISH IT IN HOUSE.

IT WOULD JUST BE THE TIPPING FEES TO LANDFILL.

AND IF THERE'S ANY, UM, ESPECIALLY STATEMENT, I'M NOT SURE WE CHECK THAT YOU GOT TO WORRY ABOUT NUMBER FIVE, 6,000 HOMES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DIGEST IT AND KICK IT DOWN

[03:55:01]

THE ROAD TO MAKING WHAT'S YOUR TURNAROUND TIME ON HOME BEING IN THE MOOD, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE HOUSE BY THE END OF JUNE.

SO AGAIN, UM, TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE.

IF YOU WANT TO STAND AND WHITE BILL, I GUESS NOW IF WE MOVED THE HOUSE, PUT IT THERE.

COULD WE, CAN WE SELL THEM THE HOUSE THEN FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THAT POINT? UM, FOR A HUNDRED, WHATEVER IT COSTS US TO MOVE IT TWICE.

WELL, NO I'M SAYING, CAN WE PUT THE HOUSE ON THE LOT, DO THAT AND SELL THEM THAT.

SO AT LEAST GET OUR MONEY BACK.

YEAH.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THE HIGH BIDDER.

IT'LL GO THROUGH THE OPTIONS.

YOU STILL WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE AUCTION PROCESS, BUT AT LEAST WE GET OUR MONEY BACK.

CAN WE, CAN WE DO THAT INSTEAD OF THE MINIMUM BID OR WHATEVER WE WANT IT TO BE? YES, SIR.

AND YOU SAID, WE CAN'T GIVE, GIVE, GIVE THE HOUSE, GIVE THE LAND.

CAN'T GIVE THAT IF WE DO, WE CAN, IF WE RESTRICT IT TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THEY ARE, BUT WE GIVE IT TO THEM STILL RESTRICTED BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET THROUGH.

AND OF COURSE THIS IS NOT THE MONEY THAT'S SPENT TO SET IT UP.

IT IS NOT MOVE IN CONDITION.

IT'S A HOUSE THAT NOW IS GOING TO NEED ANOTHER SIX FIGURE INVESTMENT, RIGHT? AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND.

YES.

YES.

SO AT THE END OF IT, BUT IT WILL BE .

YEAH.

SO ULTIMATELY BY JUNE WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESOLUTION.

IT'S GOT IT FROM DOWN.

YES.

MA'AM MAYOR CAN, CAN THERE BE A ESTIMATED APPRAISE VALUE FOR THE HOUSE WE CAN, BUT IT'S JUST LIKE THE HELP'S GOING ALL THEM FIGURES WERE NINE, $10 MILLION OR SOMETHING TO MOST INVESTORS.

THIS WAS 27 8.

AND SO DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF RESTORATION THAT IT COULD, UM, THE TECHNICAL EXHAUSTION OF, UH, SIDE OF THE ABA, UH, OR WHATEVER COMPLIANCY LEVEL YOU WANT TO GO TO, UH, FROM LES TAYLOR, I MEAN, RIPPING THE WALLS OUT AND CHANGING THE WALLS, UM, TOTALLY ENERGY, EFFICIENT INSULATING, ET CETERA.

IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TO ME, UH IT'S WHEN WE GET IT BACK, UH, WE DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO TAKE 10 YEARS TO, TO RETROFIT THIS HOME.

SO WHEN YOU GET IT OVER THERE, I ASSUME WE'LL GO REPLICATE A PORCH SIMILAR TO WHAT IS THERE.

CAUSE THAT PORCH IS TOAST.

ONCE WE START LIVING THE PROCESS.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BASICALLY MOVE THAT HOME.

AND WE HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AND DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT, UH, EVERYTHING FROM RECLAMATION OF THE HARDWOODS, ET CETERA, IN THERE FROM A RECYCLING STANDPOINT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOME.

SO WHERE AS FAR AS THE MOVABILITY PRACTICALITY OF WHERE TO THAT'S THE MOST OPTIMAL LOCATION FROM THERE, UH, SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA TO RESTORE THAT HOME IS GOING TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 150, AND IT'S JUST RATTLED UP TO 2 50, 300 FANDOM.

THAT HOUSE WOULD QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS BECAUSE IT'S IN AN OVERLAY DISTRICT.

GHENT IS OF THE OVERLAY DISTRICT OF WHAT MAY QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS OPPORTUNITY.

YES.

UM, WELL, UH, BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT, OH, BECAUSE IT'S MOVED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPOT.

YOU CAN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LOCATED IN A DISTRICT INTEREST, SO THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITIES, I'M CURIOUS.

CAUSE THAT WOULD BE AN ATTRACTION FOR SOMEBODY TO BUY IT, POTENTIALLY OWNER OCCUPIED.

BUT IF IT BECOMES A, UH, INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTY, THEN THE FEDS ALSO UNDERSTOOD.

BUT NO I'M SAYING IT AS A PERSONAL RESIDENCE, THAT MIGHT BE AN ATTRACTION FOR THE YEAH.

YEAH.

IF THAT'S AVAILABLE, THEN IT'S 15% 15 WITH THE STATE.

YEP.

AND THEN IF IT'S, UM, UH, INCOME PRODUCING SAY SOMEONE DECIDED TO RENT IT OUT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE, UH, A FAMILY, THEN IT CAN BE UP TO 40%, TOTAL, 20% STATE AND 20% FEDERAL.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

UH, I THINK, I THINK WE'VE, WE HAVE FAILED.

WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB AT MARKETING IT.

I THINK IF YOU PUT A SIGN OUT FRONT AND BEEN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS, PUT A SIGN, FREE HOUSE, DOLLAR HOUSE, WHATEVER, SEE IF YOU'RE GETTING TAKERS,

[04:00:01]

IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO DO THAT.

BUT SCOTT, MY LAST QUESTION ON THIS IS, IS THERE A WAY TO PACKAGE A POTENTIAL SALE TO SAY THIS HOUSE ON OUR LOT? WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT, HEY, WILL, CAN, CAN YOU DO THAT? CAN YOU SAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THIS.

IF WE GET AN OFFER LIKE IN ADVANCE, THAT WAS ACTUALLY MOVING IT.

CAN WE GET A CONTRACT? I WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

MAYBE BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME UP AND SAY, I'LL GIVE YOU $120,000, THEN IT'S WORTH US TO MOVE IT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING OUR MONEY BACK OUT OF IT VERSUS TAKING THE RISK OF MOVING IT AND NOT GETTING THEM.

IF WE KNEW WE HAD A STARTING BID AT THAT AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE AUCTION PROCESS.

I MEAN, YOU, CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE OPTION AND THEN DECIDE TO NOT ACCEPT THE BID BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE.

SO THEN WHY DON'T WE JUST START THE BID PROCESS? AND IF IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE DON'T DO IT.

I MEAN, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW.

SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU PROCEED WITH THE 0.9 MILLION 35,000 SQUARE FEET, AND YOU SH YOU IN ANY WAY, YOU RETARD THE START OF THAT STANDING LIGHT CENTER, THEY'RE NOT CALLED AS PRICES, BUT SO LONG.

SO HERE YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT $140,000 IN RECOVERY AND YOU WAIT SIX MONTHS BUILDING THAT AND SEE WHAT THAT 11.9 THIS, AND IN THE PAST, THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY HAS GONE INTO SOME ABOUT OLDER HOMES AND REMOVED THINGS THAT THEY COULD SAY SALVAGE FOR, IF YOU'RE RESTORING ANOTHER HOME, CORRECT LIKE MOLDINGS, UM, MANTLE PIECES OR, YOU KNOW, HARPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND, UH, SOME COLUMNS AND DECORATIVE TRIMS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I MEAN, IF WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE SAME, CAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE HOLDING UP OF NOW AN $11 MILLION PRIVATE.

YEAH.

MAYBE WE SHOULD OFFER THAT TO THEM TO SEE IT, HOW MUCH OF THAT STUFF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S THE HOUSE ITSELF.

THEY WANT TO SAY, BUT NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

I GET IT.

I THINK THE MAYOR GETS IT.

SCOTT.

WHAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO DO AT THIS POINT IS SEE, I LIKE THE SUGGESTION OF ALDERMAN.

CAN WE PACKAGE IT AND PUT IT OUT THERE? YOU KNOW, EVEN FOR 10 DAYS AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, THIS HAS TO BE MOVED HERE ON THIS LOT, UH, YOU KNOW, UNFINISHED 120 OR WHATEVER WE THINK IT'S GOING TO COST US AND SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, START THE BIDDING WAR, WHATEVER WE CAN GET ANY TAKERS.

YEAH.

I I'M LET ME REFLECT ON THAT.

OKAY.

IT'S IT'S GONNA REQUIRE PERFORMANCE BONDS.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WE'RE SECURE AND WE EAT.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S FAR FROM A GARDEN VARIETY TRANSACTION.

YEAH.

AND I'M SURE PRESERVATION WOULD HELP AT LEAST ADVERTISE IT OR PUT IT OUT THERE.

THEY HAVE A STATEWIDE MAGAZINE AND REGIONAL MAGAZINE THAT THEY COULD ADVERTISE IT IN WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD GET SOMEBODY IN TERM PELVIS.

NO THEY DON'T.

MR. HUGHES, IF YOU CALLED THE MOVER TOMORROW MORNING, IS IT SIX WEEKS OUT, THREE MONTHS TO GET THAT THING MOVED OUT, HAVE TO FIND OUT YOU HAVE A BALLPARK.

OH, PRESERVATION.

CAUSE THEY DID THE WORKUP AND THEY KNOW THEY'VE GOT ALL THE FACTS.

YEAH.

YOU GOTTA BE GOOD TO KNOW.

SO WE HANG IT UP WITH THE 11 FOOT WITH THE PROJECT IS RIGHT.

THEN ONCE YOU GET YOUR DIRECTION, SO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

THEY THERE, THEY WILL START WORKING ON THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR THAT.

THERE IS CONSIDERABLE CONCERN IN THE NEWARK COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DEMOLITION OF THAT HOME.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

YES.

I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THINKING THAT BAD BOY TISDALE HOUSE AT NEWBURN, NC.GOV.

AND WE ALL GET A COPY OF ALL THE FLOWERS FROM HER COLONIAL FLOORS.

YOU REALLY WANT THEM TO FAIL IF YOU MISS BY FLOWERS OR YOU REALLY MISSED OUT ON IT.

OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION, UM, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING OUTREACH MINISTRY YOU WOULD HAVE IN OUR ANNUAL CAP BITE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE.

UM, APRIL 3RD AT 5:00 PM AT ST.

PAUL CATHOLICS CHURCH.

IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE COME OUT AND HAVE THE CELEBRATE.

UM, THAT'S APRIL THE THIRD AT 5:00 PM AT ST.

PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH.

OKAY.

SO, UM, ARE WE GOING TO LIKE IMMEDIATELY GET A, LIKE A 10 DAY WHAT WE DO IN AUTISM? WELL, IF THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION, HE'S GOING TO TRY TO FIND A PACKAGE AND I, WE WILL BE IN TOUCH, BUT

[04:05:01]

IF WE CAN PACKAGE IT, IF WE CAN PUT THE LOT AND THE HOUSE TOGETHER AND TRY TO PUT IT OUT THERE BEFORE WE MOVED THE HOUSE TO SEE IF WE'VE GOT ANY TAKERS AND YOU PRESENT A NEXT NEXT AGENDA FOR NEXT TWO WEEKS, 10 WEEKS.

OKAY.

I NEED Y'ALL.

[27. Closed Session.]

I APOLOGIZED, I NEED YOU TO CLOSE SESSION.

UM, IF YOU'LL KEEP YOUR SEATS, I CAN DO IT IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS WHILE THE AUDIENCE LEAVES.

BUT, UM, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, UM, CITY OF NEWBURGH VERSUS KAZEEM, INC.

UM, TO MAINTAIN OUR ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, WHICH WAS 1 43, 3, 10, 11 83.

SO MOVED SECOND MOTION AND SECOND CLOSE SESSION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

.