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READY?[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Brinson. Pledge of Allegiance.]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 9TH, 2024 NEW ROOM BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY ALDERMAN BRISSON.
I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, MR. DALE MOORE TO COME UP AND, UH, WHILE I'M, WHILE HE'S COMING UP, HE'S OUR TEACHING PASTOR AT UNION POINT CHURCH AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
AND, UH, PLEASE, WELL, BLESSINGS EVERYBODY.
LORD, I JUST WANNA GIVE YOU THANKS.
I WANNA PRAISE YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND LORD, PARTICULARLY FOR THIS EVENING, LORD, YOU HAVE CALLED US TOGETHER FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
AND LORD, I CAN SPEAK YOUR BLESSING UPON EACH ONE.
UH, LORD, THOSE THAT MAKE DECISIONS, THOSE THAT MAY BE MAKING, UH, UH, STATEMENTS, THOSE THAT'LL BE, UH, SPEAKING TO VARIOUS THINGS, LORD, YOU KNOW WHAT IT ALL IS.
AND SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, GOD, UH, WE NEED YOUR WISDOM.
WE NEED YOUR WISDOM AND ALL THING, YOUR WISDOM FROM ABOVE, WHICH IS PURE AND IS PEACEABLE AND FULL OF MERCY AND OPEN REASON, AND GOOD FRUITS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE TOLD US.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.
AND LORD, I THANK US, THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN LEADERSHIP.
UH, LORD, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY COULD BE DOING, BUT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO DO THIS.
AND I PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU'LL JUST BLESS THEM, ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING, LORD, JUST MOVING YOUR MIGHT AND YOUR POWER.
AND WE THANK YOU IN JESUS' NAME.
PLEASE DO SO AS WE PLEDGE AND ALLEGIANCE AND FLAG OUR COUNTRY, OUR PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LITTY AND JUSTICE RAW.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN KRILL.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
BOARD ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? IS STILL MOVED? SECOND, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IN A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]
APPROVED.NEXT IS REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.
FIRST UP IS MS. RUTH COOPER OF 10 22 COLTON WAY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
UH, AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE NEWBURN.
UH, WE CAN'T BEAR LITTER PROGRAM.
UH, I'M GONNA BE OUT AT PIERCE PARK TOMORROW AT THREE TO PICK UP LITTER.
I'M SO GLAD Y'ALL ARE DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS EVERY YEAR NOW.
AND, UM, BRENDA HAS MY LITTLE FLYER ABOUT THE, UH, SEMI-ANNUAL LITTER PICKUP IN DUFFY FIELD, WHICH IS MAY 4TH.
AND AS THE CHIEF SAID, MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU.
UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YOU COME TO THAT.
UM, WE HAVE LIKE 10 ZONES IN DUFFY FIELD THAT WE HAVE LINED OUT.
IF, UH, 20 PEOPLE SHOW UP, THAT WOULD BE TWO PEOPLE PER ZONE, AND WE COULD GET A LOT OF LITTER.
IF 40 PEOPLE SHOW UP, THAT WOULD BE FOUR PEOPLE PER ZONE, AND WE MIGHT EVEN GET ALL OF THE LITTER.
AND, UM, I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE WHOLE PROGRAM FOR THE, WE CAN'T BEAR LITTER PROGRAM THAT CARRIE WARREN AND GEORGE CHILES ARE DOING, BUT I HOPE THERE'S A BIG COMPONENT TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO LITTER LESS.
I KNOW WHEN I SEE VACANT LOTS IN DUFFY FIELD THAT DON'T HAVE LITTER, THEY DON'T GET LITTERED AS MUCH.
WHERE IF THERE'S A LOT THAT'S HEAVILY LITTERED.
WHAT'S ONE MORE DORITO WRAPPER OR MOUNTAIN DOAN? YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO THROW LITTER THERE, SO I HOPE THERE IS A BIG EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY PEOPLE AT YOUR CHURCH, ANY YOUTH GROUPS, ANYBODY THAT MIGHT WANNA COME TO THIS DUFFY HILL LITTER PICKUP, THE FOOD WILL BE REALLY GOOD.
MY HUSBAND, AND I'LL BE FIXING IT.
IT'S MENTIONED HERE AND THERE.
THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, RAFFLES OF LITTLE, UH, WALMART GIFT CARDS LAST YEAR, I THINK A BOY SCOUT GROUP THAT CAME AS PART OF CLEAN SWEEP.
I THINK THEY ALL GOT LITTLE WALMART GIFT CARDS.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS JUST A SEMI-ANNUAL THING THAT WE DO.
WE DO GET GLOVES, BAGS, GRABBERS AND STUFF FROM PUBLIC WORKS THE DAY BEFORE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THESE MAPS MADE UP THAT WE GIVE TO PEOPLE FOR A ZONE THAT THEY WOULD WORK IN.
AND WE, WE GET QUITE A LOT OF LITTER PICKED UP, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE PEOPLE.
AND I ALSO JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING ON THE WELLNESS CENTER IN DUFFY FIELD.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A COUPLE YEARS, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR FOR A LONG TIME IN THE PAST DUFFY FIELD KIND OF GOT PROMISED THINGS THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
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BUT I'M SO GLAD THINGS ARE HAPPENING NOW, LIKE STANLEY WHITE AND THE WELLNESS CENTER AND OUR LETTER PICKUP.SO HOPE TO SEE SOME OF Y'ALL THERE.
I THINK BOB BRINSON CAME A YEAR AGO, DIDN'T YOU, BOB? AND I KNOW, UM, MARVIN'S BEEN THERE IN THE PAST, AND I'M THERE TWICE A YEAR, PLUS OTHER TIMES.
NEXT IS CHARLES CUSHMAN OF 47 0 1 TRENT RIVER DRIVE.
UM, AS THE MAYOR SAID, MY NAME IS CHARLES CUSHMAN.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY APOLOGIZING FOR MY INFORMAL DRESS TONIGHT.
UH, I HAVE BEEN MOVING FURNITURE INTO THE HARVEY MANSION ALL DAY LONG, AND I'M GOING BACK THERE TO CONTINUE THAT AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE HERE.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO THIS EVENING TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT, UM, AN EFFORT THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING, UM, REGARDING THE NAMING OF A ROADWAY FOR A, UH, PILLAR OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, A LEADER FOR MANY DECADES IN NEW BERN, MR. MARVIN RAINS, MARVIN PASSED AWAY IN 2013.
HE WAS A CIVIC LEADER, A BUSINESS LEADER, UM, PRETTY MUCH UNIVERSALLY BELOVED, I THINK YOU'D FIND.
UM, AND ALONG WITH KEVIN ROBERTS AND, UH, MARVIN'S SON MICHAEL, UH, WE'RE UNDERTAKING AN EFFORT TO TRY TO, UM, NAME A SECTION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA 43 CONNECTOR FOR MARVIN RAINS.
UM, I'M GOING TO VERY BRIEFLY GO THROUGH KIND OF THE, UH, THE, THE LEGAL PROCESS WITH DOT, SORT OF THE, HOW THIS GETS DONE.
AND THEN I'M GONNA LET KEVIN AND MICHAEL ADDRESS WHY IT OUGHT TO BE DONE.
UM, SO THE DOT UH, HAS A PRETTY STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR THE NAMING OF ROADS, BRIDGES, OR FERRIES.
UM, THIS OF COURSE, WOULD BE A ROAD, IT'D BE A SECTION OF NORTH CAROLINA 43 CONNECTOR, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES.
UM, PART OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED, AND PART OF WHICH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.
UM, THE, UH, REQUESTING PARTIES, WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE OUR GROUP OF THREE PEOPLE, SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO THE DOT, WE WOULD BE COVERING THE COSTS OF THE APPLICATION TO THE DOT.
THERE'S NO COST WHATSOEVER TO THE CITY.
UM, PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS INCLUDES THE PREPARATION OF A FORM, UH, THAT KIND OF SETS FORTH, UH, THE, THE PARAMETERS OF THE REQUEST.
AND ALONG WITH THAT FORM, YOU'RE ASKED TO SUBMIT A RESOLUTION FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE JURISDICTION OF THAT ROAD LIES.
UM, IN THIS CASE, THE ROADWAY LIES PARTIALLY IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN AND PARTIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
SO WE'RE GONNA UNDERTAKE A SIMILAR PARALLEL EFFORT WITH CRAVEN COUNTY TO DO THIS AS WELL.
UM, THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE, UH, PASSED BY THIS BOARD, UM, WITH A VOTE.
IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS BRIEF AS YOU GUYS CHOOSE.
UM, THERE'S A FOLDER IN FRONT OF YOU THAT, UH, WE'VE BROUGHT FOR EACH MEMBER TONIGHT THAT CONTAINS, UH, RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD PASSED ALREADY BY THREE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, SWISS BAY, THE NEW BERN CHAMBER, AND THE NOOSE RIVER ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HAVE ALREADY PASSED RESOLUTIONS.
UM, IN SUPPORT OF THIS, THE DOT ALSO ASKED CIVIC GROUPS TO, TO, FOR YOU TO SUBMIT THREE CIVIC GROUPS OF, OF A RESOLUTION AS WELL.
THE CITY COULD UNDERTAKE A RESOLUTION SIMILAR TO THAT OR SOMETHING, UH, SIMPLER, MORE BRIEF IF IT SHOWS.
UM, THAT'S SORT OF THE OVERVIEW.
UH, AS I SAID, THE THE CONSTRUCTION OF 43 IS GONNA REALLY RAMP UP NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE JUST HOPING TO GET OUR PAPERWORK TOGETHER.
UM, THE, THE WAY THE TIMING WORKS IS WE NEED TO SUBMIT OUR PAPERWORK TO THE DOT, UM, BY COMPLETION OF THE ROADWAY, AND THAT'S KIND OF A MOVING TARGET.
SO WE'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE FILE ALTOGETHER, UH, UH, IN PLENTY OF TIME.
UM, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, KEVIN AND MICHAEL HAVE SOME KIND OF MORE, UH, PERSONAL DETAILS TO SHARE.
NEXT UP IS KEVIN ROBERTS OF 1,008 COLTON WAY.
YOU'LL LOVE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS TO THE WHAT THE WHY.
OH, BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY GET TO WORK, UH, WITH MARVIN, SPEND SOME TIME PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY WITH THE MAN.
A GOOD MANY OF YOU KNEW AND WORKED WITH MARVIN.
I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY DID, BUT TRULY WAS A NATIVE OF THIS AREA AND A MAN OF THIS AREA.
HE WAS THE TYPE OF MAN THAT IF YOU, IF YOU WONDERED JUST HOW THIS MIGHT WORK OR HOW THAT MIGHT WORK, HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AND GIVE HIS OPINION, UH, ON TOPICS THAT MEANT SOMETHING.
AND WE'RE ALL, YOU'RE BOMBARDED WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR OPINIONS.
BUT, BUT, UH, A LOT OF TIMES MARVIN WAS SAID TO BE A MAN, A FEW WORDS, UH, BUT WHEN YOU ASK HIM FOR HELP ON SOMETHING, HE WAS ALWAYS THERE.
I WOULD NEVER GO SO FAR AS TO SAY HE'S THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S EVER CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS COMMUNITY IS WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE SO MANY HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IN THIS CASE, ON
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THAT STRETCH OF ROAD, MARVIN KNEW THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS IN THIS MARKET TO GROW, FOR THIS MARKET TO GROW AND DO WHAT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE ASKING US TO HELP IT DO THAT WAS WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY LIE IN THAT AREA.HIGHWAYS ARE ALWAYS THE THING THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
PEOPLE MOVE WHERE THEY CAN MOVE.
HE KNEW THAT THAT WAS AN AREA THAT HAD TO HAPPEN.
AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT PROJECT AT THE TIME, UH, IT ACTUALLY BECAME FUNNY AT TIMES, THE NUMBER OF TRIPS HE WOULD MAKE TO RALEIGH TO LOBBY FOR THIS EFFORT.
SO I THINK IN THIS CASE WHERE MARVIN'S CONCERNED, UH, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST DO A GOOD THING HE DID THAT, HE, IT WAS SAID THAT, UH, WOULD THAT STRETCH OF ROAD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT HIM? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT? THE OLD THING, WE'RE ALL REPLACEABLE, I GUESS IT MIGHT HAVE, BUT EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH IT, DOT PEOPLE AND LOCAL LEADERS AT THE TIME SAID THAT IT SURELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS HAPPENED AS EASILY AS IT DID WITH MARVIN AT THE HELM.
UH, WE'LL ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT ROAD BEING THERE.
I THINK IT'S A NICE THING FOR US TO DO, TO THINK ABOUT, UH, NAMING IT IN HIS HONOR.
AND NEXT UP IS MICHAEL RAINS OF 7 0 4 MADAM MOORES LANE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING OUR REQUEST TONIGHT.
UM, LIKE KEVIN SAID, UH, I GOT, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE MY FATHER GO TO, TO RALEIGH AND TO, UM, SEE HIM WORK MORE BEHIND THE SCENES AS THAT'S THE TYPE OF PERSON HE WAS.
HE TYPICALLY, UM, STAYED OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT AND REALLY LIKED TO DEAL WITH THINGS INDIVIDUALLY WITH PEOPLE.
SO I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET TO SEE HIM FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 15 YEARS, WORK ON WHAT HE WOULD, HE AND I KINDA REFER TO AS THE OUTER LOOP OF NEW BERN.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD, YOU COULD LOOK AT NEW BERN ON MAPS LIKE WE WOULD ALWAYS DO, AND YOU'D SEE, UH, WE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE RIVERS AND, AND, AND GREAT GEOGRAPHICAL THINGS, BUT NEW CAN ONLY GO SO FAR TO THE EAST.
YOU RUN INTO HAVE LOT, UM, CROATAN.
AND I'D SIT AROUND WITH MY FATHER AND, AND OTHER CIVIC LEADERS.
WE, THEY'D ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, WHERE'S CITY GONNA GROW? WHERE'S IT GONNA GROW? AND, UM, WHEN BOS DID THEIR EXPANSION, I REMEMBER THAT'S WHEN SOME MOVEMENT STARTED GOING WITH THIS 43 CONNECTOR.
AND, UM, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO, TO SEE HALF OF IT BUILT PROBABLY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO OR MORE, ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT.
'CAUSE FATHER PASSED AWAY 11 YEARS AGO.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING MORE FRUSTRATING IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY KINDA, UH, DEVELOPMENT OR SEEING ANYTHING DONE WHERE IT STOPPED HALFWAY.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT FINISHED.
BUT AFTER HE PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY IN 2013, PEOPLE STARTED SAYING, WE OUGHT TO NAME THIS ROAD AFTER YOUR FATHER.
WE, WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO THAT.
AND THERE WAS A, A LOT OF, UH, PUSH AT THAT TIME, BUT AGAIN, IT WAS A HALF BUILT ROAD AND, UM, IT KIND OF JUST WENT BY THE WAYSIDE.
AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE ROAD FINALLY GOT FUNDED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT'S GONNA BE BUILT, UM, FOUND OUT NOW MID 2025.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR ALL OF Y'ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP GET IT FINISHED.
I, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW MY FATHER, HE WOULD'VE NOT ASKED FOR ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
UM, I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT HONOR FOR IT TO BE NAMED AFTER HIM AND CERTAINLY BE MUCH BETTER THAN 43 CONNECTOR
IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD NAME FOR A ROAD.
BUT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND I APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT YOU CAN GIVE.
UM, THAT'S ALL THE PETITION OF CITIZENS FOR TONIGHT.
[Consent Agenda]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH EIGHT? MAKE A MOTION.
WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FRILL.
[9. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Rezone Properties on Glenburnie Road Identified as Tax Parcels 8- 212-4004 and 8- 212- 026 from R- 10 Residential to C- 3 Commercial.]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER NINE.CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTIES ON GLEN BURNEY ROAD, IDENTIFIED AS TAX PARCELS.
8 2 1 2 4 0 0 4 AND 8 2 1 2 0 2 6.
FROM R 10 RESIDENTIAL TO C3 COMMERCIAL MR. GOFF, EVENING MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN EVENING.
THE UH, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE GLEN BURNIE ROAD REZONING REQUEST.
THAT CASE NUMBER IS REZ DASH 0 0 2 8 2 2 20 24.
THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE IS WARDEN SMITH, PA, AND THE OWNERS ARE, UH, AS FOLLOWS, JKB ASSOCIATES AS WELL AS RKC
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ASSOCIATES PARAPHRASING.UH, AND IT'S LOCATED JUST OFF OF GLEN BURNIE ROAD.
UH, THE CURRENT ZONING IS R 10 OR RESIDENTIAL 10, AND THE PROPOSED ZONING IS COMMERCIAL THREE.
UH, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 5.191 ACRES IN SIZE.
THE R 10 ZONING DISTRICT IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE SINGLE AND TWO FAMILY HOMES.
IT'S A MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, AND MOST DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS THAT TREND.
THE COMMERCIAL THREE ZONING DISTRICT IS ESTABLISHED, UH, FOR OFFICES, PERSONAL SERVICES AND, AND RETAIL GOODS, AS WELL AS CONVENIENCE GOODS.
UH, A LOT OF THESE ARE LOCATED ALONG MAJOR THOROUGHFARES AND ARTERIAL ROADS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND GOODS FOR THE CITIZENS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE IS THE, UH, USE COMPARISON CHART.
THE PERMITTED USES ARE SHOWN WITH A Z NEXT TO THEM, AND THE USES THAT ARE PERMITTED BY SPECIAL USE ARE FOLLOWED BY AN S.
UH, SOME OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES, UH, BOTH DO INCLUDE THE USE OF SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED.
UH, WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESIDENTIAL 10 ZONING DISTRICT ARE MAJOR COMMERCIAL USES.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIS REQUEST IS THE PROPOSED REZONING INVOLVES TWO PROPERTIES, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY ZONED R 10, UH, ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTIES, UH, R ZONED C3 C FIVE, AS WELL AS R 10, R 10 A AND R SIX.
UH, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED REASONABLE AS A NATURAL EXPANSION OF THE COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
IN THE FOLLOWING MATCH, YOU'LL SEE THAT, UH, THESE ARE ADJACENT TO EXISTING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
UH, AND ON THE FEBRUARY 15TH, 2024 MEETING, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE, UH, RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THIS REQUEST.
THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT THE SIGN WAS POSTED ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY NOTIFYING THE CITIZENS AND ALL THOSE WHO PASSED BY THAT THERE IS A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING TAKING PLACE FOR THIS REQUEST.
AND THIS JUST GIVES ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.
YOU CAN SEE THE STREET SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF AMHERST AND SOUTH GLEN BURNIE.
THIS VICINITY MAP SHOWS ITS LOCATION, AGAIN, ADJACENT FROM THAT INTERSECTION.
AND TO THE NORTH, YOU'LL SEE HJ MCDONALD MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PROPERTIES ARE ZONED R 10.
AND IN THIS PICTURE, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE, UH, SUBJECT PROPERTIES AS WELL AS PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH ARE ZONED R 10.
AND ALL THOSE TO THE EAST, WEST, AND SOUTH ARE ZONED C3.
SO WHAT, UH, IS NEEDED FROM THE BOARD TONIGHT IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING.
UH, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS REQUEST.
THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE WE OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT IS THE PROPOSED USE FOR THIS PROPERTY? SO THE PROPOSED USE WAS NOT DISCLOSED, AND STAFF DOES NOT ASK ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSED USE IS FOR THIS APPLICATION.
UH, FOR A STRAIGHT REZONING REQUEST SUCH AS THIS, ALL THE USES THAT ARE PERMITTED WITHIN C3 SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN UNTIL BUILDING PERMITS ARE PULLED.
AND WHAT IS THE ZONING FOR HJ MCDONALD? THAT WOULD BE R 10.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AS, AS THESE TWO, UM, PIECES OF PROPERTY EXISTS CURRENTLY, COULD THEY ACCOMMODATE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UNITS ON 'EM GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY'RE RATHER LONG AND NARROW? I MEAN, GIVEN SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, UM, A ROADWAY, YOU KNOW, TO GET INTO ACCESS THEM, COULD THEY EVEN BE DEVELOPED? I, I WOULD NOT SAY THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE, THE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT WIDER, UH, OFF TO THE WEST.
UH, BUT THAT DOES FACE AN ACCESS ISSUE.
AGAIN, IT, IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO GET ACCESS, BUT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
UH, THE MUCH SKINNIER PIECE REPRESENTS A MUCH, MUCH LARGER DIFFICULTY AND LIKELY WOULD NOT MEET SETBACKS.
I KNOW YOU'LL DISCUSS THIS DURING DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW, BUT WOULD ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY BE OFF RACETRACK ROAD OR WOULD IT BE OFF OF ELIZABETH AVENUE? DO OR DO YOU KNOW? STEPH DOES NOT KNOW AT THE TIME BECAUSE, UH, A SITE PLAN WAS NOT PROPOSED FOR A SPECIFIC USE YET, UH, THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AND THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT.
UH, WHETHER OR NOT THAT ACCESS IS GRANTED OFF OF EITHER ONE OF THOSE ROADS, UH, WOULD DEPEND ON, UH, THE DRIVEWAY PERMIT THAT'S EITHER ISSUED OR, OR DENIED.
IS IT, IS IT REASONABLE TO THINK ACCESS COULD COME OFF OF GLEN BURNIE? IT COULD BE REASONABLE THAT A, A POTENTIAL DECELERATION LANE OR, OR WHATNOT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE SITE, UH, COULD BE USED OFF OF GLEN BURNIE.
UM, THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR THE OTHER
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ROADS AS WELL.SAME COULD BE SAID AS WHERE, SAY AGAIN? YEAH, MY ONLY CONCERN IS WOULD BE, AND AND I KNOW THIS IS JUMPING THE GUN HERE, BUT WOULD BE ACCESSING OFF ELIZABETH OR TWO ELIZABETH AND WITH THE FIRE STATION RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND THE INTERSECTION RIGHT THERE AS WELL.
SO, AND I KNOW THAT WILL HAPPEN DURING DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW.
UH, AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M WITH THE LAW FIRM OF WARDEN SMITH, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT TONIGHT.
ALSO REPRESENTING THE OWNERS JKB ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND RKC ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
UM, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THIS IS REALLY, UH, NOT AN EXPANSION OF THE C3 ZONE, ALTHOUGH IT, IT APPEARS THAT WAY.
THIS IS MORE OF A CLEANUP PROCESS BECAUSE OF THESE TWO SLIVER PARCELS ARE REALLY, UH, AS YOU SAY, IT'S NOT PRACTICAL TO PROBABLY USE THEM FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
IT MAKES SENSE AND IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN TO HAVE THEM INCLUDED IN THE C3 DESIGNATION.
AS FAR AS MS. ROYAL'S, UH, COMMENT, ALDERMAN ROYAL'S COMMENT ABOUT QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER, UH, WHAT THIS USE IS.
AGAIN, AS, UM, MR. GO SAID, THIS IS BASICALLY SUPPOSED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY USE THAT COULD BE DONE UNDER THE C3, UH, CATEGORY AT THIS POINT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC PLAN THAT'S BEEN, UH, ADDRESSED YET AT THIS TIME, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO INCLUDE THESE TWO AREAS WITHIN THE C3 DESIGNATION BASED ON THEIR LOCATION, SIZE, AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE OWNED BY THE SAME OWNERS AS THE OTHER PORTION OF THE C3 THAT'S ON THAT SIDE.
SO WE'D ASK YOU TO, TO, UH, APPROVE THIS REQUEST AND BASICALLY JOIN THESE TWO WITH THE OTHER PARCELS AS C3 DESIGNATION.
ANYONE ELSE WITH COMMENTS? IF THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER NINE OR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MY, MY CONCERN IS THE ACCESS COMING AND GOING.
I, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT PART THERE.
HOW ARE THEY GOING, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY COMING INTO THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, THAT HASN'T BEEN SPELLED OUT.
I, I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF WANTS TO CHIME IN, BUT THE ACCESS OF WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, IT'S STILL FACING THE SAME, THE SAME CONUNDRUM WITH GETTING THERE, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL, THEY STILL, THERE'S NO CLEAR ACCESS THAT IS CORRECT.
WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL SITE PLAN THAT'S SUBMITTED, WE COULDN'T REVIEW THAT.
UM, AND EITHER PUBLIC WORKS OR DOT WOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY, DEPENDING ON WHO'S ISSUING THAT DRIVEWAY PERMIT.
UH, AND DEPENDING ON THE USE, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A A, A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WITH A DRIVE THROUGH, UH, A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS WOULD LIKELY BE REQUIRED FROM DOT.
UH, AND IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE WARRANTED AND REQUIRED DURING THAT PROCESS, AS WELL AS RESTRICTING AND CONTROLLING ACCESS.
I, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE, UM, THAT LITTLE SLIVER, UM, THAT YOU MENTIONED COULD BE A DECELERATION LANE WHOSE CAUSED IS THAT DOT'S CALL, SINCE ITS THEIR ROAD, THE APPLICANT, WHOEVER WOULD PROPOSE THAT SITE PLAN COULD PREEMPTIVELY PROPOSE THAT, UH, OR DOT COULD REQUIRE THAT.
AND AND THEY OWN THE SAME OWNER THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO IT, CORRECT.
WELL, MAYOR, IF NOBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTIES ON GLENBURN ROAD IDENTIFIED AS TAX PARTIALS EIGHT DASH 212 DASH 4 0 0 4, AND EIGHT DASH TWO 12 DASH 0 26 FROM R 10 RESIDENTIAL TO C3 COMMERCIAL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
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ALDERMAN ASTOR.[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving Substantial Amendments to the FY2019 and FY2022 Annual Action Plans of the Community Development Block Grant Program.]
10.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS THROUGH THE FY 2019 AND FY 2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLANS OF THE CDBG PROGRAM.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
AT THE LAST MEETING, WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THESE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO MOVE OLD UNSPENT FUNDS TO THE NEW SUNNYSIDE HALF BASKETBALL COURT INSTALLATION.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AMENDMENTS.
PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 10.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, A MOTION IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLANS OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
ONLY QUESTION I HAVE FOSTER ANY IDEA ON TIMING FOR THIS? UM, I'M GONNA LET DEIA ANSWER WHERE WE STAND ON THE CURRENT BIDDING PROCESS.
BUT ONCE THOSE BIDS COME, COME IN AND THE CONTRACTORS ARE ABLE TO WORK ON THE ACTUAL CONCRETE AND, AND, UM, THE FENCING, IT'S LITERALLY A MATTER OF A WEEK BEFORE PARKS OF RECREATION STAFF FINISHES THE PROJECT.
SO, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S A 60 DAY START PERIOD.
WITHIN, WITHIN, IT'LL BE WITHIN 60 DAYS.
THAT WE'LL HAVE THE CONCRETE AND FENCING DONE.
AND THEN COURT, UM, THE BASKETBALL GOAL INSTALLED.
OBVIOUSLY I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SUMMERTIME WITH KIDS BEING OUTTA SCHOOL.
IT'D BE GREAT IF WE CAN GET IT DONE.
[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Real Property Identified as Tax Parcel ID 8- 243- 128.]
11.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZE IN THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX PARCEL ID.
MR. HUGHES, THE OTHER MR. HUGHES, THE YOUNGER MR. HUGHES
UH, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO, UH, APPROVE A PURCHASING AGREEMENT FOR A VERY SMALL PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, LOCATED ON RACETRACK ROAD.
UM, THIS IS ABOUT A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT TRACK.
IT ACTUALLY MAKES UP THE, UH, THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF OUR RACETRACK ROAD WATER TANK SITE.
THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY APPROACHED US A FEW MONTHS AGO TO SEE IF WE'D BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.
WE REALLY DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THE PARCEL EXISTED.
AND DOING SOME RE REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY LINE, SEEING WHERE IT WAS ON SITE, WE FIGURED OUT THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS IN FENCING IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SITE, WE'VE ACTUALLY FENCED IN THE PARCEL, UH, LIKE IT WAS THE CITY'S KIND OF CUTTING OFF THE ACCESS TO THE OWNER.
WE'VE CREATED A LITTLE GATE THERE, A DRIVE ACCESS THAT WE DO UTILIZE FROM TIME TO TIME, UH, FOR OTHER OPERATIONS AT THE, UH, THE RACETRACK, UH, TANK SITE.
SO, DOING ALL OF OUR EVALUATION, WE KIND OF COME TO THE CONCLUSION WE HAD TWO OPTIONS.
ONE, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE, LEAVE ALL OF OUR FENCING IN PLACE LIKE IT WAS, OR OPTION TWO, BASICALLY TAKE THE FENCING DOWN, MAKE SOME FENCING MODIFICATIONS TO ALLOW THE OWNER ACCESS TO HIS PARCEL.
AND DOING ALL THAT EVALUATION, WE DETERMINED THE BEST, BEST PATH FORWARD FOR THE CITY WAS TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE JUST PURCHASING THE, THE PARCEL OUTRIGHT.
SO MORE BENEFIT FOR THE CITY THAT WAY THAN TO GO REARRANGE ALL THE FENCING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE PROPERTY SE SALE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.
I GUESS YOU'RE ON THE NEXT ONE TOO.
[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the 2023 Local Water Supply Plan.]
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2023 LOCAL WATER SUPPLY PLAN.UH, IN NORTH CAROLINA, EVERY YEAR, LOCAL WATER SUPPLY PROVIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE WHAT THEY CALL LOCAL WATER
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SUPPLY PLAN.SO ANYBODY THAT, UH, PRODUCES WATER AND SUPPLIES IT TO THE PUBLIC IS REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH KIND OF A PLANNING WORKSHOP EVERY YEAR TO LOOK AT, UH, YOUR DEMOGRAPHICS, LOOK AT GROWTH, LOOK AT POPULATION TRENDS, LOOK AT DEMAND TRENDS ON YOUR WATER USE, LOOK AT CHARACTERISTICS FROM YOUR WATER SUPPLY.
LOOK, UH, HOW ARE YOUR WELLS DOING, UM, HOW ARE THE LEVELS TRENDING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND ALL THAT GOES INTO A VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER DOCUMENT.
AND YOU LOOK AT HOW WELL ARE YOU GONNA DO IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, NEXT 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 40 YEARS.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE ACTUALLY ARE RUNNING THE LOCAL WATER SUPPLY PLAN PROJECTIONS OUT TO 2070.
SO THEY'RE MAKING YOU LOOK AT WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR SUPPLY SITUATION'S GONNA BE WITH, UM, FORECASTED GROWTH AND DEMAND THROUGH THE YEAR 2070? UH, WE GOT ALL THAT COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE, WHICH WAS APRIL 1ST.
AND HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE LOOKS LIKE IN 2070 WE'RE STILL GONNA BE ABLE TO SUPPLY 99% CAPACITY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE NEARING OUR CAPACITY WITH OUR CURRENT SUPPLY IN THE YEAR 2070.
SO AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 35, 40 YEARS, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A NEW, YOU KNOW, SOME, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY, BUT IT'S NOTHING THAT'S ON THE FORECAST FOR ANY TIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
SO, WATER SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT WE PROVIDE WATER FOR, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD HANDLE ON AND, AND DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF A CONCERN WITH, UM, TO FINALIZE THE PLAN, WE SUBMIT IT TO THE STATE, THEY APPROVE THE CONTENT, THEY APPROVE EVERYTHING THAT'S IN IT, AND THEY SEND US BACK A, A LETTER THAT SAYS, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
WE WOULD, WE'D NOW LIKE YOUR BOARD TO APPROVE THE PLAN FOR THIS FISCAL OR THIS CALENDAR YEAR DOING SO COMPLETES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GENERAL STATUTE.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU UNITES THE FINAL RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PLAN FOR 2023.
AND THAT WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GENERAL STATUTE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? NO, I JUST HAVE A STATEMENT.
UM, JORDAN, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO ORDER FOR OUR CITIZENS OF THIS CITY AND ELECTRIC POLICE AND FIRE, UM, IT'S, IT'S A DIRE NEED FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND WHEN WE HAVE STAFF IN PLACE, LIKE YOURSELF AND, AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS, UM, AS I JUST MENTIONED, UM, ELECTORATE AND POLICE AND FIRE, AND WE CAN COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND PREPARE SUCH A REPORT FOR US TO COME BEFORE US.
UM, I KNOW, KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, SO CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING.
'CAUSE I WANT MY WATER TO BE CLEAN.
I, I APPRECIATE THE COMPLIMENT.
I I WILL SAY I'M PART OF A VERY BIG TEAM.
YOU'RE, IT TAKES THEY, THEY ALL TAKE THEIR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO WHAT THEY DO.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SERVING THIS COMMUNITY IS, IS, YOU KNOW, OUR TOP PRIORITY.
AND THEY, THEY SHOW UP EVERY DAY READY TO DO THAT.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
JORDAN, A QUESTION, AND I GUESS A COMMENT, UM, WHEN WE LOST OLA, THAT WAS A BIG USER OF WATER.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WITH CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND NEW ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY, UH, OUR OUR CONSUMPTION WAS GOING DOWN.
I'M SURE THAT'S FACTORED INTO ALL OF THIS.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 2070, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD SEE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURER OR SOMETHING INDUSTRY THAT WOULD COME HERE THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WOULD REALLY MOVE THAT NEEDLE ENOUGH TO WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE ANY SORT OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS? ON, ON THE TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, SO HOMES, BUSINESS AND SCHOOLS.
I, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO REALLY UPSET THAT PROJECTION.
UM, INDUSTRIAL USE IS REALLY KIND OF THE WILD WEST.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET WITH WATER USE.
YOU COULD TAKE A A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT USES 200 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY FOR A FEW BATHROOMS. MM-HMM.
YOU COULD TAKE A 2000 SQUARE FOOT INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT NEEDS A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY FOR SOME TYPE OF PROCESS.
SO IT'S REALLY THE WILD WEST SO THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET WITH INDUSTRIAL DEMAND.
UH, JEFF WOOD WITH THE COUNTY, AND I HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT'S BACK AND FORTH, OR WHAT SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIES MAY NEED, WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
WHAT I TELL YOU, I HAVE SEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH JEFF, AND EVEN IN SOME OF THE REQUESTS WE'VE HAD, IT SEEMS LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AS A WHOLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DOING A BETTER JOB AT REUSING WATER INSTEAD OF, UH, I GUESS AS, AS THE INDUSTRIES HAVE EVOLVED AND THE VALUE OF WATER HAS INCREASED, IT'S NOT AS CHEAP AS IT USED TO BE.
SO FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, I THINK THEY'VE GOT BETTER AT REUSING AND RECYCLING WATER IN THEIR OWN PROCESS.
SO EVEN THE HIGH WATER USE INDUSTRIES AREN'T USING AS MUCH AS THEY DID IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
SO I I, THERE THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE OF GETTING A REAL HIGH USE
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INDUSTRY IN HERE THAT MAY NEED A, A BIG DEMAND AND WOULD REQUIRE US TO TAKE A MUCH D DIFFERENT LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS.BUT EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OF WHAT'S THE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENED AROUND NEWBERN AND IN NEWBURN, NOTHING YET HAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, MOVED THE NEEDLE SUBSTANTIAL THAT MAKE US BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS WE HAVE IN HERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IT'S PLEASURE.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2023 LOCAL WATER SUPPLY PLAN.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONETHELESS, HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.
[Items 13 & 14]
ITEM 13 AND ALSO 14.IF YOU WANT TO, WE CAN CONSIDER BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER.
UH, NUMBER 13 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 10 17 MAIN STREET.
AND ITEM NUMBER 14 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 5 1 5 FIRST AVENUE.
MR. HUGHES MAYOR, WE RECEIVED A BID IN THE, IN, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000 FROM THIRD PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND ESTATE INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY IN QUESTION.
THE BID WAS ADVERTISED, BUT NO ADDITIONAL BIDS WERE RECEIVED.
THE PROPERTY IS A VACANT POINT.
1 2 5 ACRE RESIDENTIAL PARTIAL WITH A TAX VALUE OF $6,000.
IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN DECEMBER OF 2013 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.
IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, THE CITY SHOULD RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $616 AND 10 CENTS, AND THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE $2,383 AND 90 CENTS ON THE NEXT PROPERTY.
NIKKI REEVE SUBMITTED A BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,800 FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE 15 FIRST AVENUE.
THIS PROPERTY IS A VACANT 0.074 ACRE RESIDENTIAL PARCEL WITH THE TAX VALUE OF $5,400.
IT WAS ACQUIRED JOINTLY BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN MARCH OF 2013 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.
IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $501 90 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE $2,298 AND 10 CENTS.
COURT HAVE QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PROVEN THE SALE OF 10 17 MAIN STREET AND APPROVING THE SALE OF FIVE 15 FIRST AVENUE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.
[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving an Audit Contract for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024.]
NUMBER 15.CONSIDER ING RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AUDIT CONTRACT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR AUDIT SERVICES WAS EMAILED TO 59 FIRMS AND ADVERTISED ON THE CITY AND STATE'S WEBSITES.
IN RESPONSE, THREE PROPO PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED.
AFTER REVIEW, WE RECOMMEND THE SELECTION OF THOMSON PRICE, SCOTT ADAMS AT A COST OF 47,500.
THIS FIRM HAS PERFORMED, UM, NEW BERN'S AUDIT SINCE 2019 AND, UM, HAS SEEMED TO DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
AND WHEN LOOKING AT THOSE THREE AUDITS, UM, THEY WERE THE MO OR THE THREE RFPS, THEY WERE THE MOST REASONABLE WITH THE HOURS THAT THEY ALLOCATED.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE THREE, UM, CAR RIGS.
INGRAM HAD 294 HOURS WITH $56,200, UM, AND GOING UP 2,500 EVERY YEAR.
AS PRESTON, DOUGLAS AND ASSOCIATES HAD 280 HOURS, UM, ALLOCATED WITH 47,250.
THOMPSON PRICE HAD FOUR 47,500, UM, WITH 405 HOURS IN DOING OUR AUDIT.
IN THE PAST, THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY MORE AWARE OF HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AUDIT CONTRACT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 20, 24.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL.
STARTING WITH ALDERMAN P PRILL.
[16. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish the Broad Street Pier Project Fund.]
ITEM NUMBER 16.CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE BROAD STREET PIER PROJECT FUND.
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THE BOARD APPROVED THE USE OF $120,000 FROM WARD THREE'S ARBA FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC FISHING PIER.AT THE ITS LAST MEETING, THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES A PROJECT FUND FOR THE BROAD STREET PIER PROJECT BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAY I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HAVE NOT THE RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE BROAD STREET PIER PROJECT FUND.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[17. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for the Municipal Service District Fund.]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 17.CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT FUND.
MS. OMAN, FOR DECADES, THE FARMER'S MARKET ON SOUTH FRONT STREET HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT WEAR AND TEAR.
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 2ND AND DISCUSSED THE NEEDS AND HAS RECOMMENDED $90,000 FROM THE MSDS FUND BALANCE TO BE APPROPRIATED TO MAKE THE NEED REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATES THAT $90,000 FROM FUND BALANCE FOR THE COST BOARD.
HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER 17? MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET COORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT FUND.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[18. Discussion of New Bern' s Election Cycle.]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 18, DISCUSSION ON NEW BERN'S ELECTION CYCLE.OKAY, MAYOR ALDERMAN, WE HAVE SENT A COUPLE OF UPDATES FOR THIS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAVE, UH, ADJUSTED ON, ON THE, UM, ON THE PRESENTATION.
SO I WANT TO GO THROUGH THESE AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR TIME GOING THROUGH THIS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DON'T HESITATE TO TO ASK.
SO, IN THE NONPARTISAN ELECTION, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT METHODS THAT, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN TAKE.
THE FIRST IS THE PLURALITY OF METHODS.
THAT'S BASICALLY THE TOP VOTE, UH, WINS THE ELECTION.
THEN WE HAVE THE ELECTION AND RUNOFF METHOD, WHICH IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY, UH, ADHERE TO WITH THE CITY OF NEWBURG.
THE THIRD METHOD IS THE PRIMARY AND ELECTION METHOD TO WHERE, UM, IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE SAME POSITION, THEN YOU HAVE A PRIMARY THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE HELD IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR.
UM, ONCE THAT A PRIMARY TAKES PLACE, THEN THAT WOULD BE WHITTLED DOWN TO THE TOP TWO IS THAT THE ELECTION WOULD BE HELD IN NOVEMBER.
IF THERE ARE LESS THAN TWO CANDIDATES, UH, FOR THAT POSITION, THEN THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENCES WITH, WITH THIS METHOD.
AND IF THE ELECTION WAS MOVED TO AN EVEN YEAR, UH, THE, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE PRI PRIMARY WOULD BE HELD IN THE SPRING, WHICH WOULD EITHER BE MARCH OR MAY.
DEPENDING ON WHEN THE STATE SETS THAT SCHEDULE FOR FOUR SPRING PRIMARIES AND THE ELECTION WOULD BE HELD IN NOVEMBER, THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE CITY OF NEWBURG FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE IF THAT OCCURRED.
NOW, IF WE, IF WE HAVE OUR ELECTION AND WE REMAIN IT IN THE ODD YEARS, WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS.
SO OCTOBER, 2025, IF WE KEEP THINGS AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, OCTOBER 25, UH, THAT ELECTION IS ESTIMATED TO COST $52,550.
THEN WITH THE NOVEMBER RUNOFF, IF ONE IS NEEDED, THAT WOULD COST $42,550, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF $95,100.
NOW, I WANNA GO AHEAD AND SAY RIGHT NOW, EACH YEAR WHEN WE HAVE AN ELECTION, THE, THE COUNTY DOES GIVE US AN ESTIMATE.
THE LAST ELECTION WE HAD, WHICH WAS IN 20 22, 20 20 22, WE ONLY PAID $28,000.
AND THEY GAVE US, I THINK IT WAS A 50 OR $60,000 ESTIMATE.
SO WE REALLY WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE ELECTION OCCURS AND WE ACTUALLY GET THE INVOICE.
SO WANT TO, WANT TO PREFACE THAT.
SO IF OUR ELECTIONS MOVE TO EVEN YEARS WITH THE ELECTION AND RUNOFF METHOD THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IF THAT ELECTION IS HELD IN OCTOBER OF 2026, THEN WE WILL BE PAYING $52,550.
IF THERE'S A RUNOFF IN NOVEMBER, THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SOME ELECTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER, AND WE WOULD JUST BE, UH, GOING ON THAT SAME ELECTION WITH THE PRIMARY AND ELECTION METHOD.
IF THE PRIMARY IS HELD IN SPRING OF 26 WITH THE OTHER PRIMARIES
[00:45:01]
AND THE ELECTIONS HELD IN NOVEMBER WITH THE OTHER ELECTIONS, THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO THE CITY FOR THOSE ELECTIONS.AND THE BIG THING IS, IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE YOUR METHOD OF ELECTION, THAT COULD BE DONE ON THE CITY LEVEL.
THE ATTORNEY CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF WE ARE WANTING TO CHANGE THE ELECTION FROM ODD TO EVEN YEARS, THAT WILL, UH, REQUIRE A BILL AND WE WE'LL HAVE TO GO TO, TO RALEIGH, UH, TO REQUEST THAT WHICH TAKES TIME.
UM, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START THEIR SHORT SESSION AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IF THE BOARD WANTS TO CONSIDER THAT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.
MY MY THOUGHT IS TO STAY EXACTLY WHERE IT'S SET.
THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT BECAUSE PARTISAN AND NON-PARTISAN ARE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, ANIMALS.
UH, OVER THE YEARS WHEN, UH, THAT HAS CITYWIDE ELECTIONS, UH, IT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL.
SO THE STATE AND THE CITY CAME IN.
I MEAN, THE STATE AND THE FEDS CAME IN AND CHANGED IT TO ODD YEARS.
SO THEREFORE IT WORKED OUT VERY, VERY WELL FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME.
AND IT'S STILL WORKING OUT VERY WELL.
UM, THAT'S JUST MY TAKE ON THAT, YOU KNOW, PARTISAN AND NONPARTISAN.
THERE ARE TWO ANIMALS THERE, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY DID THE, THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
AND SO THE, THE THREE EXAMPLES WE GAVE ARE NONPARTISAN, SO IT'S NOT PARTY AFFILIATED.
WITH, WITH, WITH EACH OF THESE.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT, WE DIDN'T GIVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARTISANS SINCE THE CITY TRADITIONALLY HAS NOT DONE A PARTISAN ELECTION.
SO JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT, I THINK WHAT HE IS REFERRING TO IS HELD WITH OTHER ELECTIONS THAT ARE, AND SO EVERY ELECTION IN THE COUNTY, THEY, THEY ARE THE PLURALITY METHOD.
AND THEY ARE, EVERYONE HAS MOVED TO THE EVEN YEAR.
WELL, THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NOT CHANGED THAT, THAT CYCLE OR ADHERES TO THE PLURALITY METHOD FOR ELECTIONS.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S UP TO THE BOARD ON, ON HOW THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CV HAD.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I THINK THEY CHANGED OVER.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOARD, YOU COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
THAT'S JUST MY, IT COULD TAKE.
I, I WOULD, UM, SINCE I WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THIS UP, I WOULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, REMIND US THAT 2022, WE ACTUALLY HELD OUR ELECTION DURING THE PRIMARY.
SO WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT THAT PROCESS WAS NOT A BAD PROCESS.
UM, IN, IN MORE RECENT HISTORY, MY THOUGHT PROCESS IN BRINGING THIS UP WAS EXACTLY THAT IS IS IT'S 90,000, $95,000 THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BUDGET, UM, EVERY FOUR YEARS.
AND YOU KNOW, AS YOU HAVE SEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, OUR BUDGET IS CHALLENGING.
AND SO TO CARVE OUT $90,000 TO HOLD AN ELECTION, WHICH WE COULD MOVE AND, UH, BASICALLY SPEND NOTHING, TO ME THAT'S, UH, A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE THING TO DO.
AND WHAT I WOULD POINT OUT THAT, UM, THE MANAGER BROUGHT UP THE REASON WHY WE PAID $28,000 IN 2022, AT LEAST THE REASON WHY I THINK WE PAID 2022 WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET CHARGED ANYTHING FOR THE ELECTION BECAUSE IT WAS HELD DURING THE FEDERAL PRIMARY.
BUT WE ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE RUNOFF BECAUSE IT WAS HELD AS A ONE-OFF ELECTION, UH, ON OUR, ON OUR OWN.
AND SO THAT WAS WHY I HAD AM PROPOSING OR ASKING THE MANAGER TO CONSIDER AND THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THAT PRIMARY AND ELECTION METHOD, UH, BECAUSE I HEARD OUR MEMBERS HERE WANTING TO RETAIN THE RUNOFF, UH, AND NOT DO THE PLURALITY METHOD.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY TO ME, THIS PRIMARY ELECTION METHOD, UH, MOST RECENTLY WAS USED BY OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION PRIOR TO 2022 BEFORE THEY WENT, UH, PARTISAN.
THAT WAS HOW THEY DID THEIR NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS.
AND, UH, SO ESSENTIALLY AS, AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR MAYORAL RACE OR OUR WAR II RACE, THOSE
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RACES WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE PRIMARY AND THEN THE REST OF OUR RACES THAT HAD, UH, WERE EITHER UNOPPOSED OR OPPOSED, UH, THE TOP TWO FROM THE PRIMARY AND THE REST OF US WOULD SHOW UP ON THE ELECTION.SO IT'S KIND OF, UM, THE OPPOSITE OF A RUNOFF, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS A RUNOFF.
AND SO THAT WAS THE, UH, METHOD.
I AM, I AM RECOMMENDING, I I ASK THE BOARD, CONSIDER IT AND, UH, CONSIDER MOVING IT TO AN EVEN YEAR ELECTION IN ORDER TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS
UM, SO YOU WERE SAYING A COST AT THE SIZE OF OUR BUDGET, UH, I LIKE THAT TERM WHEN WE SPENT OVER $5 MILLION ON THE ELEVATOR OUT OF HOW MANY MEN, OUT OF HOW MANY MEETINGS WE HAVE A YEAR.
UM, HAVE WE DID ANY CALCULATION ON THAT? I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS COST IS UNNECESSARY.
NOT WITH THE SIZE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
UM, MY THING IS THAT, UM, UH, A PARTISAN AND A NONPARTISAN RACE DETERMINES ON WHO'S, UH, IN POWER AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN IF YOU'VE SEEN HOW THEY HAVE CUT THE DISTRICTS UP OUT THROUGH THE STATE, IT'S EVIDENCE IT SHOWS YOU RIGHT THERE, I MEAN, HOW THEY'VE BEEN CUT UP SO BAD.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT? I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR OF COURSE YOU DON'T KNOW.
I NO, IT'S NOT, I SAID, I DON'T KNOW.
I SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT AFFECTS OUR WARDS BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT DRAW OUR AWARDS AND IT'S NONPARTISAN AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PARTISAN POLITICS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT HAS BEEN CHANGED.
AND YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND CHANGE IT AGAIN.
I, I AM NOT ADVOCATING A PARTISAN ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF NEW VERNON.
YOU'RE SAYING THE COST, THE COST.
I, I DON'T SEE WHERE COST COMES IN TO BE ANY TYPE AN EFFECT ON SOMETHING WITH THE SIZE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
UH, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD YOU ARE AND IT'S NOT REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THINGS KEEP GETTING CHOPPED UP AND CHANGED AROUND IS EVIDENCE, YOU CAN SEE IT WITH YOURSELF.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SEE
RIGHT? UH, I WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE.
BUT, UM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, I, AND ANOTHER, ANOTHER THING, I AM NOT ONE THAT WANT TO MOVE, UM, ANNA AN EXTRA YEAR TO THIS CURRENT TERM.
I I DON'T WANT TO ADD AN EXTRA YEAR TO IT.
UM, AND I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME.
I KNOW I GOT A DOG IN THE FIGHT, BUT WITH ME, I REALLY, WHETHER WE GO WITH MORALITY OR WE GO WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, THE NON NON-PARTISAN RUNOFF, UM, IT'S TOTALLY LEFT UP TO THIS BOARD TO DECIDE WHICH, WHICH METHOD WE USE.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
WE ARE NOT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CHANGING FROM, UH, NONPARTISAN TO PARTISAN.
IT'S ABOUT MOVING IT A YEAR UP INTO 2026.
AND SO THAT WE CAN STILL KEEP THE SAME, I GUESS HOPEFULLY KEEP YOU WANTING TO KEEP THE SAME RUNOFF METHOD.
WELL, IT IS THE, IT IS THE PRIMARY, IT IS A PRIMARY AND ELECTION METHOD, BUT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY IN THE PRIMARY NARROWING THE FIELD FROM WHATEVER IT IS DOWN TO TWO PEOPLE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS A WRONG, RIGHT? AM I, AND SEE WITH ME, THE TEMPORALITY METHOD SOLVES THE WHOLE PROBLEM.
YOU GET OUT THERE, YOU CANVAS YOU, YOU RUN YOUR ELECTION, YOU CANVAS, YOU TALK TO YOUR CITIZENS, AND YOU GET YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND COME OUT AND THEY VOTE FOR YOU.
THEN HOWEVER, THAT ELECTION TURNS OUT, IF YOU END UP WITH TWO VOTES OVER, THEN YOU WON.
AND I DON'T FEEL THAT, ME PERSONALLY, NOW, I DON'T FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A SECOND CHANCE TO GO OUT THERE AND CANVAS AGAIN AND
[00:55:01]
GET VOTES AND TALK TO PEOPLE AGAIN.I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
BUT WHATEVER THIS BOARD WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW, UM, IS GONNA REQUIRE, I, I THINK, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
UM, I'M GONNA JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW.
ANYBODY DOWN HERE BEFORE I MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE, BEFORE YOU DO, I, I'LL ADJUST ONE THING, BUT I, I WANT GIVE THEM, I, I, YEAH.
UM, I, I, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE ALDERMAN BRITON'S, UM, FOCUS ON TRYING TO SAVE MONEY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT THOUGHT PROCESS.
HOWEVER, UM, I DON'T SEE A REAL COMPELLING ARGUMENT BEING MADE, UM, AS TO WHY A CHANGE IS NECESSARY TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY, UH, UTILIZE WITH THE OFF YEAR, UM, ELECTION CYCLE.
I WOULD BE, I THINK, IN AGREEMENT WITH ALDERMAN VEST TO FOCUS A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER THE RUNOFF ELECTION VERSUS A PLURALITY METHOD.
UM, THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT I THINK IS WORTHY OF FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD TO REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE PROS AND CONS OF, OF BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE.
UM, VERSUS JUST BASING A DECISION ON THE, THE COST OF STAYING WITH THE, UH, THE ODD YEAR ELECTION CYCLE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY IF THE ULTIMATE DECISION IS TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT REQUIRES, UM, LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, UM, I THAT I UNDERSTAND MORE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE BETTER.
UM, BUT I'D RATHER, UH, SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME DISCUSSING IT AMONGST OURSELVES BEFORE A FINAL DECISION IS MADE.
ALL, ALL I WAS GONNA SAY WAS TO THE, THE POINT OF EXTENDING THIS BOARD, IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE TO AN EVEN YEAR EXTENDING THIS BOARD'S, UH, TERM ONE YEAR, RIGHT.
UH, TO ME, AGAIN, I MENTIONED THIS THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THIS UP.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS ONLY GONNA SERVE THREE YEARS AND THREE MONTHS AND MOVING THE ELECTION TO AN EVEN YEAR WOULD BRING US TO A FOUR YEAR TERM, FOUR YEARS AND THREE MONTHS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE OPPOSED TO EXTENDING SOMETHING TO FIVE YEARS OR PROBABLY CUTTING IT TO THREE YEARS TO CHANGE IT TO AN EVEN YEAR.
AND SO MY THOUGHT PROCESS AS WELL IS BRINGING THIS UP NOW FOR THIS BOARD TO DECIDE, IS BECAUSE IF WE DECIDED TO MOVE IT TO AN EVEN YEAR AND EXTEND ONE YEAR, IT WOULD BE AS CLOSE TO A NORMAL FOUR YEAR TERM AS YOU COULD GET.
UH, AND THAT'S ALL I WAS GONNA ADDRESS.
ALL MY BEST, UM, UM, ATTORNEY DAVIS, DO YOU CAN, DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THE CITY HAS BEEN ACTUALLY USING THE NONPARTISAN RUNOFF ELECTION PROCESS? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN? I, I, NO MA'AM.
40 YEARS THAT I, I KNOW OF, BUT I DON'T KNOW PREVIOUS TO THAT.
YOU SAY FOUR, DID YOU SAY 44 0? YES, MA'AM.
SEE, YEARS AGO WHEN THEY HAD ELECTIONS CITYWIDE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURGH, BLACKS WASN'T ABLE TO BE ELECTED ACROSS CITYWIDE.
SO THE FEDS AND THE STATE CAME IN AND THEY CHANGED THINGS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, IT WAS NONPARTISAN.
IT WASN'T REPUBLICANS, IT WASN'T DEMOCRATS, IT WAS A NONPARTISAN RACE.
SO IT KEPT, IT GAVE EACH INDIVIDUAL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
AND THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME ABOUT.
AND OVER THE YEARS, UM, IT DEPENDS UPON WHO'S THE WINNING INDIVIDUAL.
IF IT'S REPUBLICANS, IF IT'S DEMOCRAT, IF IT'S
[01:00:01]
INDEPENDENT, IT DOESN'T PUT OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN JEOPARDY.THEY HAVE WENT IN AND CUT UP THE DISTRICT SO BAD THAT THEY SPLIT IT UP HERE AND THERE.
AND NO ONE WANTS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THEY'RE AFRAID.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT IS.
UM, THEN WE HAD COVID TO COME IN AND THEN WE HAD THE, UH, CENSUS DONE.
SO THINGS ARE JUST GETTING CHOPPED UP HERE AND THERE.
AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE HISTORY AND KNOW WHAT YOUR PAST HAS BEEN IN ORDER TO GO FORWARD.
AND THEY KEEP COMING IN CHANGING EVERYTHING.
AND IF YOU DON'T SAY NOTHING, YOU AGREE WITH THEM.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, WATCH AND SEE AND IT'LL HAPPEN.
UM, I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
UM, I VEST MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY.
I THINK YOU WON YOUR FIRST TIME.
JUST TWO ME AND ALDERMAN WHITE.
SO YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO MM-HMM.
UM, HAVING SAID THAT, UM, MAKES MY POINT PROBABLY EVEN STRONGER.
UH, HAVING BEEN IN, UH, ELECTIONS WITH MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE.
UM, THIS LAST MAYOR ERECT, UH, ELECTION, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, AND I THINK IT'S EITHER 10 OR $15, IT'S A NOMINAL FEE TO GO FILE FOR RUN FOR OFFICE.
UM, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES THAT FILED FOR OFFICE ACTUALLY MOVED OUT OF THE CITY LIMITS DURING THE ELECTION.
UM, NEVER PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF THE FORUMS OR WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DEBATES IN ANY OF THE FORUMS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST ANYBODY CAN PROBABLY FIND 10 OR $15 TO GO SAY, HEY, I, I WANT TO SEE MY NAME ON A BALLOT AND NOT BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.
WHAT I FEEL LIKE THE RUNOFF DOES IS PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE WHEN THEY GO TO THE BALLOT WHERE THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING FROM.
AT ONE TIME, I THINK WE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE THAT RAN FOR MAYOR.
UM, AND, AND THE HISTORY WILL ALSO SHOW THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A RUNOFF, I BELIEVE ALDERMAN, P PRI, ALDERMAN, ROYAL, MYSELF, WE ALL THREE WON OUR LAST ELECTIONS THROUGH A RUNOFF.
NOT THIS LAST TIME, BUT THE DATA KIND OF SHOWS THAT IT'S LIKE 70 OR 80% OF THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE A RUNOFF, THE PERSON THAT CAME IN SECOND DURING THE FIRST ELECTION ACTUALLY ENDS UP WINNING, WHICH TELLS ME THAT WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN A OR B, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO CHOOSE VERSUS A, B, C, D, AND EVER.
HOW MANY, UM, I, I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE, UH, IT WOULD BE REALLY HYPOCRITICAL FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND ADVOCATE THAT WE NOT KEEP A RUNOFF ELECTION WHEN I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SITTING WHERE ALMOND BRISON WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO IF WE DID NOT HAVE A RUNOFF.
UM, SO WHATEVER WE DO, IF WE DECIDE TO DO ANYTHING, UM, I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF THE PLURALITY METHOD.
IT'S GREAT ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
UM, I JUST, IT WOULD BE, IT'D BE CRAZY, HONESTLY, FOR ME TO SAY, NO, LET'S DO AWAY WITH IT WHENEVER.
THAT'S HOW I BECAME AN EL ELECTED OFFICIAL.
UM, I I WILL, I WILL MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT THE, THE PARTISAN ISSUE THAT ARM MCKENZIE BROUGHT UP.
AND I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT THAT WHEN THERE'S NO OTHER RACES GOING ON AND SOMEBODY GOES TO THE VOTING BOOTH AND IT'S JUST SOMEBODY'S NAME, THERE'S NOT A, A LETTER OR DESIGNATION NEXT TO 'EM, UM, IT, IT GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE OF VOTING FOR THE PERSON AND NOT NECESSARILY THE PARTY.
THE ISSUE IS, UM, WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST ELECTION, IT WAS STILL A NONPARTISAN ELECTION, BUT IT'S ALSO A PUBLIC RECORD IN NORTH CAROLINA WHAT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION IS.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE PARTIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION PROCESS AND THEY ARE PUSHING THEIR PARTICULAR CANDIDATE, IT ESSENTIALLY BY DE FACTO TURNED INTO A PARTISAN ELECTION.
IT MAKES YOU WORK HARDER, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, BECAUSE I'VE TOLD PEOPLE NUMEROUS TIMES, WE DON'T DEAL WITH PARTISAN ISSUES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE DON'T, 'CAUSE I PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THIS.
UM, IT'S ABOUT HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DOING WHAT A PARTY OR A CHAIRMAN OR SOMEBODY TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO.
SO TO ME, THE THE PARTISAN THING, I MEANT I RUN ON MY NAME AND MY RECORD.
I DON'T, I DON'T RUN ON WHAT PARTY I'M AFFILIATED WITH.
UM, I DO THINK THAT IF YOU LEAVE THIS AS IT IS, THIS IS GONNA BE A THREE YEAR TERM.
UH, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A FOUR YEAR TERM.
SO EVERY TIME THAT SOMEBODY WAS ELECTED OUT OF THE LAST 40 SOME YEARS THAT THE ATTORNEY MENTIONED, IT WAS FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, OTHER THAN WHEN IT USED TO BE TWO YEAR.
MY POINT IS, IS THAT IF THERE IS EVER A CHANGE
[01:05:01]
TO DO IT, WOULD, IT WOULD BE NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ADDING A YEAR ONTO OUR TERM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE SERVING A FULL FOUR YEAR TERM.MY LAST COMMENT IS, I DON'T CARE WHAT WE DO, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME,
UM, I'M GONNA KEEP DOING WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS A GOOD JOB FOR THE CITIZENS.
IF THE ELECTION IS NEXT YEAR, IF IT'S THE YEAR AFTER THAT, SO BE IT.
UM, I FULLY INTEND TO RUN FOR REELECTION BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO GET SOME MORE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
UM, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
UH, I DO THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THE, THE COST.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO TELL A CITIZEN THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE OUR ELECTION A YEAR AND NOT COST US ANYTHING.
UM, BUT WE DECIDED TO KEEP IT ON AN ODD YEAR, WHICH COULD COST US UP TO 90 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO I, I'M USUALLY ONE TO SAY, LET'S GO, LET'S MAKE A DECISION, LET'S GET IT DONE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE TONIGHT.
SO ATTORNEY, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, CAN YOU GIVE US A DROP DEAD DATE ON WHEN YOU NEED A DECISION FROM THE BOARD? MAYOR, I, I CAN'T.
UM, BUT I CERTAINLY BY NEXT MEETING, OR ACTUALLY THIS WEEK, I CAN EMAIL AND LET YOU KNOW.
I'VE HAD REPRESENTATIVE TYSON ON STANDBY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS KNOWING THAT YOU WERE CONTEMPLATING THIS DECISION.
HE'S WAITING FOR MY ANSWER IN THE MORNING TO LET THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF KNOW WHAT TO DO.
UM, 'CAUSE THIS IS A SHORT SESSION.
SO IF WE SAID GO IN THE MORNING, UM, IT IS STILL A SLOG TO GET THIS DONE.
UM, BUT I WILL DO MY ABSOLUTE BEST TO GET US A DROP DEAD DATE SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE.
AND THAT'S ONLY WITH RESPECT TO THE ODD, EVEN THE OTHER METHODOLOGIES.
WE CAN AMEND OUR CHARTER WITH THE STATUTORY PROCESS, AND THAT TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
SO WE CAN DO THAT AMONG OURSELVES, BUT WE CANNOT DO ODD EVEN WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE LOCAL BILL.
I WILL CIRCULATE THAT, UM, THIS WEEK TO EACH OF YOU.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON HIS, MY CLOSING REMARKS TONIGHT IS NOT TO CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW YOU ARE SERVING.
WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVE? WHY ARE YOU SO INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKEN? UM, WE ALWAYS, YOU ALWAYS HEAR THIS PHILOSOPHY, MONEY.
IT COSTS MONEY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, IT, IT COSTS MONEY TO FIX UP EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE THE RICH, YOU'RE GONNA ALWAYS HAVE THE POOR NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
ALL THESE THINGS IS GONNA ALWAYS BE THERE, OKAY? SO YOU HAVE TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE A, A SMALL BUDGET.
MR. MANAGER, CAN YOU TELL THE END OF EVERYBODY WHAT THE BUDGET IS? OUR BUDGET GENERAL FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION TOTAL WITH ALL ENTERPRISE.
50 MILLION, ALL SAID AND DONE.
SO, AND THEY SAID, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO AFFECT US? 90 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS EVERY FOUR YEARS.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
I STAND VERY TALL IN WHAT I BELIEVE IN.
AND I MEAN, FOR YEARS, HISTORY SPEAKS SIT FOR ITSELF.
YOU KNOW? UM, I CAN GO BACK AND GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY LESSONS, THINGS THAT THIS BOARD DID THAT WAS INHUMANE TO HUMANKIND, THAT IT PASSED THE BILL TO DIG SOMEBODY UP JUST OUT THE GRAVE, YOU KNOW? BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MONEY, EVERYBODY HAS TO LIVE ON MONEY.
WHY IS THAT A ISSUE? I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, I WOULD JUST, JUST TONIGHT, HOW MANY OF US BOARD MEMBERS RIGHT NOW WANT TO JUST TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS? I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I AM.
YOU COULD, YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION.
WE COULD VOTE ON LEAVING IT AS IT IS, IF THAT'S WHAT WELL, I, I LIKE TO GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY.
IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, AMENABLE TO JUST LEAVING IT THE WAY IT IS, THEN NO FURTHER DISCUSSION IS NEEDED.
I MEAN, BUT I'M ONE, I'M THE FIRST ONE.
NO, YOU GONNA BE MY, YOU TELL ME I'M NUMBER TWO.
NO, YOU JUST SAID YOU WERE AND SO I WAS THE SECOND PERSON.
THAT WAS GOING BE MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, I KNOW, UH, ALDERMAN PRI SAID HE'D LIKE SOME MORE DISCUSSION, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION.
UH, ARE YOU FINE WITH THAT OR DO WE NEED MORE DISCUSSION? THAT WAS JUST MY QUESTION.
[01:10:01]
OH, I, IF, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION TONIGHT, PROBLEM.IF SOMEONE MAKES MAKE A MOTION, I MAKE A MOTION THAT IT STAYS EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS.
UM, LEMME GET BACK TO MY NOTES HERE.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KINZIE.
SO YOU CAN PUT THIS ONE TO REST.
UH, ELECTION WILL BE HELD NEXT YEAR.
AFTER ALL DEBT, YOU GONNA SAY NO,
AFTER ALL THAT SPEECH YOU GAVE US, YOU GONNA SAY NO? YEAH.
ABOUT THE RUNOFF METHOD? WELL, IT, IT'S BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.
ALL THAT, AND, AND I'LL AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SAY WHY, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT TO CONSIDER AND I HAD NO INTENTION ON MAKING A DECISION TONIGHT BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES, IF WE'RE GONNA CALL IT OUT, SO MANY TIMES THIS BOARD SITS HERE AND KICKS THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON TOPICS FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS AT END.
BUT TONIGHT ON SOMETHING EXACTLY THAT IS WHAT I CONSIDER FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.
UM, WE JUST DECIDED TO MAKE A DECISION AND, UH, IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND THINK ABOUT SOMETHING, I THINK IT WAS TONIGHT ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THE BOARD DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.
UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPTION TO PRESERVE THE RUNOFF THAT WOULDN'T HAVE COST US ANYTHING.
SO IF THAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE, THE MOTION, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE VOTED FOR THAT.
AND ANOTHER STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE.
IT'S, 'CAUSE THIS IS A TOPIC WE HAD TONIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU INCLUDED ME IN IT.
WELL, I MEAN, AND I DO CARE ABOUT THE ELECTION PROCESS.
WELL, I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT WE HAD THREE VARIATIONS OF THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
AND THERE'S BEEN OTHER TOPICS AS THE BOARD LOOKED AT WHERE WE HAD DIFFERENT VARIATIONS AND WE DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE PEOPLE WALKED IN.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW IT TONIGHT.
SO I'M JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, I LIKE BEING CONSISTENT ABOUT THINGS AND, UM, THAT'S ALL.
SO, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 18? ALRIGHT,
[19. Appointment(s).]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 19.I DO NOT SEE ANY OF THE AGENDA PACKAGE.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS TO MAKE THIS EVENING? ALRIGHT,
[20. Attorney's Report.]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ATTORNEY'S REPORT.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR FINAL VERSION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA.
UH, I UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR LAST MEETING, WE, WE WERE STILL HUNG UP ON, ON ONE LAST ISSUE, AND THAT IS THE REMOTE PARTICIPATION OPTION.
UM, SO LET ME START AND, AND, AND GO BACK THROUGH THE LAW, UM, SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
PRIOR TO OUR STATE OF EMERGENCY REMOTE MEETING STATUTE, YOUR VOTING AND QUORUM STATUTES WERE SILENT AS TO HOW YOU WERE COUNTED PRESENT FOR A QUORUM OR FOR VOTING.
MEANING THE STATUTE DIDN'T SAY THAT YOU HAD TO PHYSICALLY BE HERE FOR NOT OVER MY CAREER.
THOSE OF US THAT DO THIS FOR A LIVING, UM, GOT COMFORTABLE ALLOWING FOLKS TO BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS, CALL IN, UM, AND LISTEN TO A MEETING.
AND THEN WE WOULD KEEP CHECKING WITH THEM VERBALLY.
ARE YOU STILL THERE? ARE YOU STILL THERE? SO THAT THEY WERE DISSIPATING AND THEY WERE COUNTED FOR A QUORUM AND THEIR VOTES COUNTED.
UM, WE DID THAT WITH SOME COMFORT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE COUNTED TOWARD A QUORUM DIDN'T MATTER.
AND WE TOOK COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT THEIR VOTES NEVER BROKE TIES.
SO WE ALWAYS WENT, APPROACHED IT WITH, WE DON'T HAVE CLEAR STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS.
UM, BUT TO BE SAFE, LET'S NOT PUSH IT TO WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE A LEGAL CONUNDRUM AND WE CAN'T ANSWER IT WITHOUT GOING TO COURT.
WHEN THE, UH, STATE OF EMERGENCY REMOTE PARTICIPATION STATUTE WAS ADOPTED, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT YOUR PARTICIPATION ELECTRONICALLY IN THOSE MEETINGS COUNTS TOWARD A QUORUM AND IT COUNTS TOWARD A VOTE.
SO NOW WE HAVE A STATUTE, WE, WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE LEGISLATURE KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A LAW TO TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE PHYSICALLY COUNTED AS PRESENT AND TOWARD A, A QUORUM AND, AND FOR VOTING PURPOSES.
[01:15:01]
WHICH MEANS THAT OUR VOTING STATUTE AND OUR QUORUM STATUTE DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE ELECTRONIC MEETING COUNTED TOWARD BEING PRESENT OR NOT.SO SINCE THAT STATUTE, THE MAJORITY OF US THAT DO THIS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE NOT ALLOWING PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT WOULD COUNT TOWARD A BOARD OR COUNT TOWARD A VOTE.
SO THE VERSION THAT I PITCHED THE BOARD IS TWO OPTIONS.
PARTICIPATING AND HAVING IT COUNT IS NOT AN OPTION.
MY ADVICE WOULD BE NOT TO DO IT THAT WAY BECAUSE JUST MY LUCK, JUST YOUR LUCK.
WE WOULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THAT PERSON ON THE PHONE CREATES THE CORN OR TIPS A VOTE.
AND NOW I HAVE TO TELL THE BOARD, WE'VE GOTTA GO TO COURT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAW TO TELL US.
THAT STRIKES ME AS AN UNFORCED ERROR.
IT ALSO STRIKES ME AS, UM, INEFFICIENT IN THAT IF, IF YOUR PARTICIPATION FOR A QUORUM OR FOR A VOTE DOESN'T MATTER, THEN WHY ARE WE DOING IT? RIGHT? SO, SO THE OPTIONS WE HAVE ARE TO CALL IN AND NOT BEING ABLE, NOT BEING COUNTED TOWARD A QUO, NOT BEING ABLE TO VOTE, BUT BEING ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS DURING A DISCUSSION.
SO WE ALLOW THAT OR WE JUST SIMPLY DON'T ALLOW IT.
AND YOU MIGHT NOT ALLOW THAT ON THE THEORY THAT NOW WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, IF YOU'RE NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT, EVERYTHING IS STREAM LIVE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE OVER MY CAREER.
I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT IN YOUR FINAL DRAFT.
SO NO, NO CALL INS, NO CALLING PRESENT.
THEREFORE YOU AVOIDING GOING TO COURT.
DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ATTORNEY'S ASKING FOR? IT'S ESSENTIALLY TO ALLOW SOMEONE WHO'S NOT PHYSICALLY HERE TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, BUT NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE TO VOTE.
SO I FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE PRESENT.
SO ATTORNEY DAVIS, YOU'RE SAYING IF YOU'RE NOT PRESENT, THAT CONSTITUTES A
SO, SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY, UM, MAYBE I HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
BUT I CAN LISTEN AND PARTICIPATE IN IN DISCUSSIONS OF WHATEVER.
THAT'S THE STATUTE DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO CALL IN AND PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY OUTSIDE OF A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY.
AND, AND THAT'S THE MOST CONSERVATIVE VIEW, WHICH IS MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TRIP OURSELVES UP.
AND THAT'S JUST FOR EMERGENCY MEETINGS? IS IT FOR REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS? NO, MA'AM.
YOU CAN CALL INTO A REGULAR MEETING.
YOU CAN'T CALL IN, YOU CAN JUST WATCH.
OR YOU CAN CALL IN AND ASK QUESTIONS, BUT YOU'RE NOT COUNTED AS BEING HERE AND, AND YOUR VOTE IS NOT COUNTED.
UM, TO MUDDY THE WATER EVEN MORE.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT A CLOSED SESSION? SO IF THE BOARD GOES INTO A CLOSED SESSION AND SOMEONE'S ON THE TELEPHONE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY? YEAH.
I, I, I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION WITH A CLOSED MEETING BECAUSE THE BOARD, NONE OF US HAS ANY CONTROL OVER THE OPEN MIC.
SO IF YOU WERE LEANING TOWARD ELECTRONIC DISSIPATION AND THANK YOU MAYOR, WE WANT TO EXCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLOSED SESSION.
THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE TO YOU.
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT, BUT, UM, THE, THE FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THAT HOT MIC WOULD CONCERN ME.
WELL, THE FACT I WAS THINKING WE DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE IS IN THE ROOM WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S PARTICIPANT.
WELL, THAT'S MY POINT WITH THE HOT MIC.
WHICH, WHICH THEN LEADS US ALL TO NOT SAY ANYTHING IN OUR CLOSED SESSION AND WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS.
I I, I'LL AGREE WITH ALDER MCKENZIE.
I, I, I'M SENSITIVE TO EMERGENCIES THAT MAY COME UP AND NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT ALDERMAN BEST HOW, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE VERY PAINFUL TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT A TOPIC AND BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION.
AND THEN WHEN YOU TAKE A VOTE, YOU CAN'T VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY THING.
I THINK IT JUST DIMINISHES THAT.
I I WAS GONNA SAY TOO, THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN THAT WHEN A MEMBER HAS NOT BEEN PRESENT, BUT THEY ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THE MM-HMM.
PRESENTATION OR THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, WE'VE ACTUALLY TABLED IT TO THE NEXT MEETING SO THEY COULD PARTICIPATE.
SO I, I WOULD SAY NO ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION
[01:20:01]
AS WELL.DO WE HAVE ONE MORE? WE HAVE FOUR OUT OF THE OTHER THREE.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, SO YOU WILL SEE THAT FINAL VERSION ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA.
THANK, THANK, WOULD YOU RESTATE THAT FINAL VERSION PLEASE? WHAT IT WILL READ.
IT WILL, IT WILL HAVE NO PROVISION FOR ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION OUTSIDE OF A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY.
YOU JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO DIAL IN AND SAY ANYTHING.
[21. City Manager's Report.]
ALRIGHT, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT A FEW THINGS FOR YOU.JUST A REMINDER, COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAY IS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH.
SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN MEET AT PIERCE PARK AND, UH, CITY STAFF WILL LEAD FOLKS OUT FROM THERE.
THAT WILL START MR. MANAGER, JUST, JUST TO COMMENT ON THAT.
I PUSH TO HAVE THIS THING DONE.
UH, THE ONLY FEEDBACK I'LL SAY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
UM, WE HAVE THESE THINGS ON THE WEEKEND, UM, DURING THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL KIDS CAN PARTICIPATE, I THINK WE'LL HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION.
BUT I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UM, TELL EVERYBODY I'M NOT GONNA BE THERE TOMORROW EITHER.
UH, 'CAUSE I'M LEAVING AS SOON AS WE FINISH THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND START HEADED TOWARD WEST.
UH, BUT I AM A HUGE PROPONENT AND SUPPORTER OF THE PROGRAM.
NEXT ITEM I WANT TO, UH, LET EVERYONE KNOW IS, UH, ALDERMAN ROYAL HAD REQUESTED TO ALLOCATE SOME FUNDS TO A TURN SIGNAL, UH, ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, UH, HEADING WEST ON HIGHWAY 70.
THAT SIGN THAT, UH, LIGHT WAS INSTALLED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND IT IS IN FULL OPERATION.
SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, DRIVE DOWN COUNTRY ROAD, UM, UH, COUNTRY CLUB ROAD AND TAKE THAT, TAKE THAT EXIT.
UH, MAGIC MIDWAY RETURNS TO LAWSON CREEK PARK.
UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY SETTING UP NOW.
THEY WILL OPEN THEIR CARNIVAL UP ON FRIDAY.
THEY WILL BE HERE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY.
SO, UH, UH, THIS IS, UH, THEY'VE RETURNED MANY TIMES.
THEY NORMALLY COME TWICE A YEAR.
AND, AND WE'VE HAD REALLY GOOD RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THAT.
SO IT'S A NICE FAMILY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.
AND THEN EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
AND ALSO, THE LAST THING I HAVE IS I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT, UH, NEXT WEEK, UH, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THE ECONOMIC, THE, THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS SENDING THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO NEWBURN.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TWO PROPERTIES SOUTH FRONT IN HANCOCK IN THE OLD DAYS INN PROPERTY.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE GONNA TALK WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN FOCUS GROUPS AND WANT TO ASK THE GOVERNING BOARD WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS MONDAY, UM, WHETHER THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WORK SESSION WHERE YOU CAN ALL BE TOGETHER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, UH, TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS OR IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SMALL GROUPS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON TO MEET.
SO I'D LIKE A LITTLE DIRECTION ON WHAT THE, WHAT THE BOARD WOULD PREFER.
BUT YOUR INPUT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS.
I WOULD SUGGEST, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
I WOULD SUGGEST A ONE HOUR WORK SESSION.
IT COULD BE ANY TIME IN THE AFTERNOON OR IN THE EVENING WHENEVER THE BOARD PREFERS.
AND LET ME ADD TO MY STATEMENT, AGAIN, I VALUE THE INPUT OF THE BOARD AND I VALUE YOUR PERCEPTION.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN HEAR ONE ANOTHER'S TAKE ON THE PROPERTY AND LISTEN TO HOW YOU EVALUATE IT.
AND IT HELPS SHAPE ALL OF US AND COME OUT WITH A COLLECTIVE COHESIVE, UH, DECISION AS TO WHAT WE AGREED TO.
I VALUE THAT I CAN DO MONDAY, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE AT NIGHT.
I, I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT IN RALEIGH THAT'S BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SIX WEEKS NOW.
HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE? I CAN DO MONDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK AND THAT'S IT.
IS THERE ANOTHER DATE THAT WOULDN'T BE PRESSING? I MEAN, NOT SO PRESSING.
WE, WE COULD DO THE TUESDAY, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AFTER, AFTER 6:00 PM THERE ARE ALREADY, UH, SESSIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.
OTHER, OTHER THAN SMALL GROUPS OF, I DEFINITELY CAN'T DO TUESDAY.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT TWO, ONE THAT CAN'T DO MONDAY AT ALL.
ALDER INVEST, CAN'T DO MONDAY.
UM, I CAN DO, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AFTER FIVE.
UH, ALDER MCKENZIE CAN'T DO AFTER FIVE.
I CAN DO THREE O'CLOCK AND THAT'S IT.
[01:25:01]
UH, I, I'M, I CAN DO MONDAY, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S A WORKABLE SOLUTION.UM, SO, SO SINCE THEY'RE ONLY HERE FOR THOSE TWO DAYS, WHAT ARE OUR OTHER OPTIONS IF WE CAN'T GET, WELL, LET ME, LET ME, IF I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE OR NOT.
I MEAN, MY POINT IS, I, IT'S A POSSIBILITY I COULD BE BACK IN NEWBURN BY SIX IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MONDAY NIGHT AT SIX OR MY BEST.
I, I'M, I'M SAY I CAN 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, AUBURN ROYAL
I CAN ONLY DO THREE O'CLOCK, SIR.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT SIX, SIX TO ONE THAT WE COULD DO MONDAY AT SIX.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? I'M, I'M KIND OF A MAYBE SO I, YEAH, SIX TO ONE IS PROBABLY GONE.
UM, SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE NEED TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING, UM, MONDAY, APRIL THE 15TH AT 6:00 PM AT CITY HALL IF SOMEONE WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION MOVED.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, I ASSUME THE CLERK WILL SEND OUT AN INVITE FOR US, SO IT WILL BE ON OUR CALENDAR APRIL 15TH, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
AND MAYOR, WE'LL REACH OUT TO DER MCKENZIE AND ALDERMAN BRENTON IN CASE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND AND WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT WORKING OUT OF TIME TO GET YOUR INPUT.
YOU CAN'T DIAL IN AND LISTEN THOUGH, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
YOU CLEARED THAT UP TONIGHT, SO I'M NOT GOING THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE MR. HUGHES? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.
[22. New Business.]
UH, NEW BUSINESS ALDERMAN PRILL.UH, JUST ONE QUICK THING, FOSTER, IF I COULD, UM, THIS PAST SATURDAY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, MEET WITH THE SKY SALE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, THEY HAD A SAT SATURDAY, UM, MEETING SCHEDULED AND THEY ASKED ME TO JUST DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF JUST ISSUES OR CONCERNS OR EVENTS HAPPENING, UM, IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONE QUESTION THAT CAME UP DURING THAT DISCUSSION WAS, UM, WITH REGARDS TO THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC LIGHT INSTALLATION AT BROAD AND, AND MIDDLE STREET, UM, A GENTLEMAN, UM, A RESIDENT AT SKY SALE HAD INDICATED THAT HE HAD HAD A PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK THIS GOES, THAT THE EXISTING FLASHING LIGHTS COULD BE RELOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND, AND I, I TOLD HIM ABOUT, I, I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN HIM AND, AND YOURSELF AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT WAS.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THOUGHTS YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF MAYBE REUSING THOSE FLASHING LIGHTS SOMEWHERE ELSE DOWNTOWN.
SO I HAVE ASKED THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO EVALUATE OTHER AREAS DOWNTOWN SINCE, SINCE, UM, THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH FUNDS FROM DOWNTOWN INITIALLY TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER AREAS, ANY INTERSECTIONS THAT THIS, THAT THIS WOULD WORK AT.
AND SO WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD AS, AS TIME GETS CLOSER FOR THEM TO START WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
OLIVER PRILL THAT, THAT GENTLEMAN, I MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS MORNING AND HE ASKED ME THE SAME THING AND I TOLD HIM I HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT THAT, BUT HE WAS ADVOCATING FOR MIDDLE STREET WHERE BEAR PLAZA'S AT.
YES, THAT'S WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR, WHICH PROBABLY MAKES SENSE.
ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ALDERMAN ROYAL? NONE AT THIS TIME, PLEASE.
ALDERMAN ASTOR? NOTHING TONIGHT, SIR.
UH, LAST FRIDAY WE, WE LOST A, A VERY GREAT LEADER AND A MENTOR IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN.
AND I'D LIKE TO GET A PROCLAMATION, UH, PUT TOGETHER FOR HIS FAMILY.
IS THAT YOUR MOTION? THAT IS MY MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION TO HONOR DR.
SIDNEY BARNWELLS PASSING? YES.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU WANT INCLUDED? I CAN GET INFORMATION FROM THE FAMILY.
AND, UH, I CAN BRING IT TO YOU MADAM CLERK.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, SIR.
ANYTHING ELSE? THAT IS IT ALL INVEST? I WAS GOING, UM, ALSO MENTION ABOUT, UH, DR. BROWN WILL'S PASSING AND ALSO I WAS GONNA ASK FOR PROCLAMATION AS WELL, SO WE ON THE SAME PAGE THERE.
[01:30:01]
GONNA ASK WHAT DIRECTION DO THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE ON? BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THE STREET THAT DR.BARNWELL LIVES ON CHANGED TO DR.
BARNWELLS WAY OR WHATEVER THE, THE FAMILY, UM, NAME WANTS THEY WANT TO USE.
SO IS THAT A PUBLIC WORKS? HOW, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THAT? MR. ATTORNEY? YES, MA'AM.
THE, THE BOARD CAN RENAME THE STREET.
SO I NEED TO BRING THAT BACK TO YES MA'AM.
CAN, YOU CAN GET SOME DIRECTION TO STAFF, UM, ON, ON THE SPECIFIC, THE VERY SPECIFIC NAME THAT WE WOULD LIKE, AND THEN WE CAN START RESEARCHING HOW MANY FOLKS ARE INVOLVED AND WHAT THE STEPS ARE.
BUT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CONTROL.
WHEN YOU MEAN FOLKS INVOLVED, WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? THE RESIDENT, THE RESIDENTS ON THAT STREET, THE RESIDENT.
IS THERE ONE OR 200 OR, UH, NO, IT'S PROBABLY ONLY ABOUT FOUR.
SO WE, WE JUST NEED TO GET THE FACTS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THE STEPS TO MAKE SURE OKAY.
SINCE WE'VE HAD A MPO, UH, NEW BERN MPO MEETING SINCE OUR LAST, UH, MEETING AND I WANTED TO BRING UP UPDATES TO I 42, UH, IN JAMES CITY, THE, UH, EXPECTED COMPLETION OF THAT HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO THE END OF 2025.
YEAH, I MEAN, BUT THAT, THAT THIS TIME IT'S DUE TO, UH, RELOCATION OF UTILITIES AND THAT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME.
AND THEN THE I 42 BYPASS, UH, AROUND HAVELOCK, UM, THEY WERE WANTING TO GET THAT DONE BY THIS SUMMER, BUT THAT'S NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO THE END OF THIS YEAR, 2024.
AND IF YOU'RE CURIOUS, UH, THE I 42 IN BETWEEN BOTH OF THOSE, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN, THAT CONTRACT'S ALREADY BEEN LET AND THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT WE ACTUALLY WON'T SEE ANYTHING UNTIL 2025 AS WELL.
AND THEN, UH, NEW BERN IS ACTUALLY HOSTING THE MPO CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK FOR THE STATE AND, UH, THEY WILL BE HERE, UH, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
SO, UM, IF YOU'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS, THAT'D BE THE TIME TO BRING IT UP.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS I'M GOING TO THE NCLM DINNER TOMORROW NIGHT, THE REGIONAL DINNER WITH LEGISLATORS.
I KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LEGISLATORS HERE, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING, UH, ANY OF YOU'D LIKE ME TO BRING UP TOMORROW NIGHT, UH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
AND THEN, UM, I DID WANT TO BRING UP THE, UH, FOLKS THAT TALKED ABOUT, UH, RENAMING, UM, THE 42, UH, THE, UH, 43 CONNECTOR TO MARVIN RAINS.
UM, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF DOING A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THAT, UM, IF THERE'S CONCURRENCE FROM THE BOARD.
ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? I DON'T THINK THERE'S CURRENTLY ANY RESIDENTS INVOLVED OR NO, NO.
I GUESS PROCEDURALLY, UH, WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK SO WE WOULD NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO GIVE DIRECTION TO BRING THAT BACK.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, DRAFT A RESOLUTION FOR CONSIDERATION OF, UH, SUPPORT IN NAMING THE I 40, UH, 43 CONNECTOR TO, UH, MARVIN RAINS OR WHATEVER THE, UH, WHATEVER THE FAMILY REQUESTED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, I, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START TALKING ABOUT THINGS.
I KNOW THAT, UM, APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S EFFORTS TONIGHT.
UH, DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO, SIR.
MAY CAN I, CAN I ADD REAL QUICK? YES, MA'AM.
I JUST CHECKED MY CALENDAR REGARDING MONDAY.
IT'S POSSIBLE I MIGHT NOT BE HERE.
I HAVE AN EARLY APPOINTMENT IN RALEIGH ON TUESDAY AND I MAY LEAVE MONDAY TO MAKE IT.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD JUST END UP WITH FOUR.
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN, BUT I JUST, EITHER WAY WE'RE COVERED SO WE CAN HAVE A MEETING, UH, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF ON THE BLOCK YES SIR, I WILL DEFINITELY BE HERE.
UH, ALDERMAN FRILL, WE CAN DEFINITELY BE HERE.
SO MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE A SMALL GROUP, BUT WE'RE COVERED IF MORE THAN FOUR SHOW UP.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[01:35:01]
I MOVE.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.