* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Best. Pledge of Allegiance.] [00:00:04] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025 NEW NEWBORN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING. THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY ALDERMAN ROYAL. GOOD EVENING, YOU LET US PRAY. OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GATHER AS A BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY, TO LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE, FOR WISDOM, FOR KNOWLEDGE AND DIRECTION. WE PRAY TONIGHT, FATHER GOD, THAT YOUR WILL WILL CONTINUE TO BE DONE AS WE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER OUR NEIGHBORS, THOSE WHO ARE IN A CRISIS IN THIS HOUR, THOSE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM FOOD INSUFFICIENCY, WHATEVER THE NEEDS MIGHT BE. WE LOOK TO YOU FOR HELP, AND WE THANK YOU THAT AS A CITY GOD, THAT WE WILL PULL TOGETHER AND AGAIN, LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELF. YES, I PRAY TONIGHT THAT YOU WILL BLESS US, THAT WE, THAT OUR DECISIONS WILL BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. YES, I PRAY THAT UH, EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT WILL BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD AND RESPOND RESPECTIVELY. THIS IS MY PRAYER AND I ASK IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO DO SO, PLEASE STAND AS WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY. I PLEDGE ALL TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES. AMERICA STANDS NO NATION OF THE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR HONOR . OKAY. [2. Administration of Oath of Office for 1St Ward Alderman.] BOARD ITEM NUMBER TWO IS, UH, TO CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE VACANCY IN WARD ONE. UH, SO I WOULD LOOK TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT SO MOVED. SECOND, UH, THAT APPOINTMENT IS FOR ALDERMAN ELECT TRAY FERGUSON, TO BE CLEAR. IS THAT CORRECT? SO MOVED. OKAY. SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, UH, ALDERMAN ELECT FERGUSON, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO HAVE THE OATH ADMINISTERED. DO YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? DO YOU JAMES TREY FERGUSON SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO. DO YOU JAMES TREY FERGUSON, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT, MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, NOT INCONSISTENT THEREWITH, AND THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF YOUR OFFICE AS ALDERMAN, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO. DO YOU JAMES TREY FERGUSON, SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES, WHICH ARE OR MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF, THAT YOU WILL ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF SETH, THE STATE, NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES TO HELP YOU GOD. I DO. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALDERMAN FERGUSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WOULD JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THIS BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THIS VACANCY. THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS OF WARD ONE FOR ENTRUSTING ME IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT ROLE, AND I SEEK TO REPRESENT YOU TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. AND [00:05:01] WITH THAT, READY TO GET TO WORK. ALRIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN FERGUSON. HERE. ALDERMAN ROYAL. HERE. ALDERMAN ASTOR? HERE. MAYOR ODOM. HERE. ALDERMAN KENZIE. ALDERMAN. BEST PRESENT? ALDERMAN OUTLAW. HERE. OKAY. [4. Approve Agenda.] BOARD. NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? MOTION CHANGE. MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SORRY. IF THERE'S NO CHANGES, I'D LIKE TO PROVE TO THE SENATE AGENDA AS IS, UH, THIS NUMBER FOUR, APPROVE THE AGENDA. YEAH, PROVE THE AGENDA AS IS. OKAY. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AGENDA'S [5. Request and Petition of Citizens.] APPROVED. NEXT IS REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS. MADAM CLERK. THANK YOU. WE HAVE MS. SORAYA BLISS. HELLO THERE. THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE ALDERMAN IN THE ROOM. UH, HOW MANY OF YOU THINK THAT THE CITIZENS OF NEW BERN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR AN ARBORIST REPORT FOR EVERY TREE REMOVAL PERMIT? EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO CITY ORDINANCE OR HPC GUIDELINE REQUIRING AN ARBORIST REPORT FOR EVERY TREE REMOVAL PERMIT, DESPITE THERE BEING NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT MANDATES EVERY TREE REMOVAL PERMIT HAVE AN ARBORIST REPORT, THE CITY WENT AHEAD AND ADDED THAT REQUIREMENT ANYWAY. I BET I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. HOW IS IT THAT STAFF IS ALLOWED TO UNILATERALLY AT A BLANKET REQUIREMENT TO A FORM THAT COST A CITIZEN ON AVERAGE TWO TO $400? ONE ANSWER THE CITY PROVIDED IS QUOTE, THE ARBORIST NOTE IS INTENDED TO BE A COURTESY TO AN APPLICANT TO PUT THEM ON NOTICE IN CASE THEY NEED MORE THAN A SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPH. IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY IS IT PRESENTED AS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT? FOR THE RECORD? THE TREE PERMIT FORM WAS ALTERED IN 2022 AFTER I QUESTIONED THE CITY'S DEMAND FOR AN ARBORIST REPORT TO REMOVE A TREE THAT WAS DOING DAMAGE. ANOTHER THING THAT DOESN'T FEEL QUITE RIGHT IS HAVING A HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADMINISTRATOR AND AN HPC BOARD CHAIR UNAWARE OF WHAT HAND TOOL MEANS. THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS A TOOL THAT YOU HOLD WITH YOUR HANDS THAT'S INCORRECT. THIS TIES TO HPC GUIDELINE 6.1. POINT SIX REQUIRING HAND TOOLS FOR PAINT REMOVAL. RECENTLY, THE CITY SAID THAT IT'S BEEN INTERPRETING THAT GUIDELINE TO ALLOW MECHANICAL DEVICES YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS FOR FIVE TO ARGUABLY 30 YEARS. IF THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE, WHICH SEEMS SUSPECT, HOW HAVE YOU, THE OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE HPC ALLOWED AN INTERPRETATION OF A RULE THAT IS SO DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE ACTUAL RULE TO STAND FOR THREE DECADES? SHOULDN'T THAT BE FORMALLY CHANGED AND PUT INTO WRITING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC? ARE THERE OTHER 30-YEAR-OLD UNWRITTEN RULES THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD BENEFIT FROM KNOWING WHO GETS ACCESS TO THESE SECRET INTERPRETATIONS? AND IF THE RULES AND LAWS ARE NOT WRITTEN DOWN, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING EXERCISED FAIRLY AND CITIZENS ARE GETTING THEIR DUE PROCESS? SPEAKING OF DUE PROCESS IN 2020, WELL, WITHIN THE FIVE TO 30 YEAR INTERPRETATION WINDOW, I WAS TOLD SPECIFICALLY I HAD TO FOLLOW RULE 6.1, 0.6 AS WRITTEN. HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM THE EMAIL BETWEEN ME AND THE CITY ME. ARE YOU SAYING THAT ONLY HANDHELD TOOLS CAN BE USED TO SCRAPE LOOSE PAINT? NO. MECHANICAL METHODS OF ANY KIND ARE PERMITTED TO SCRAPE CITY GUIDELINE 6.6, 1.6, REMOVE PAINT AND OTHER LOOSE MATERIAL WITH SCRAPERS, SANDPAPER AND SIMILARLY, MODERATELY ABRASIVE HAND TOOLS. ME. ARE YOU SAYING THAT NO SANDING IS PERMITTED ON HISTORIC HOUSES OR JUST NO MACHINE SANDING CITY, NO MACHINE SANDING TO REMOVE PAINT ME. ANOTHER METHOD I UNDERSTAND IS, OKAY, IS HEAT, IS THAT CORRECT? C THAT IS NOT A MODERATELY ABRASIVE HAND TOOL. I HAD TO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF EXTRA DOLLARS AND HAD YEARS OF DELAY TO MEET YOUR DEMANDS. IT WOULD'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL IF I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT THE UNWRITTEN RULES APPLIED TO. MY ASK IS THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN SINCE APRIL. STOP OPERATING IN THE DARK. HOLD YOURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND PRO TIP, DON'T ASK THE PERSON THAT BROKE IT TO FIX [00:10:01] IT. THAT'S THE SAME THING AS ASKING THE ARSONIST TO LOOK INTO THE FIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [Consent Agenda] OKAY, BOARD. NEXT UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE AWARD? ON ITEM SIX THROUGH 11 HERE, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SECOND. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. AYE. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASTOR. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. [12. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Close the Terminus of E Street.] NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 12. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO CLOSE THE TERMINUS OF E STREET. MR. HUGHES, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS MADE A REQUEST TO CLOSE A PORTION OF THE E STREET RIGHT OF WAY. UM, THIS REQUEST IS BEING MADE TO HELP FACILITATE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S WEST A STREET PROJECT. AFTER CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING, THE BOARD IS ASKED TO CONSIDER PERMANENTLY CLOSING THIS TERMINUS. DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 12, AND THAT IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE CLOSING OF TERMINUS OF E STREET. IF THERE'S ANYBODY'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME. YES, MA'AM. ALRIGHT. THAT WAS GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. UH, I JUST WANT, UH, UNDERSTAND WHICH AREA EACH SUITE ARE YOU PAYING ON CLOSING? I MEAN, IS IT THAT ONE LOCATED THERE BY, UH, K BY DOWN K STREET? MR. SO, SO THE AREA IN QUESTION, YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP RIGHT HERE, UM, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE, UH, NORTH BURN STREET AND WEST A STREET WHERE THEY COME TOGETHER. E STREET IS AN UN UNIMPROVED RIGHT OF WAY RIGHT THERE. AND SO IT'S BASICALLY THE AREA THAT GOES UP TO THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY. THAT IS THE ONLY AREA. OKAY. THAT'S OVER OFF NATIONAL AVENUE. UM, THAT IS, WELL, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT ADJACENT TO IT. IT IS CLOSER TO, UH, GREENWOOD CEMETERY THAN ANYTHING. OKAY. YEAH. I'LL, OKAY. RIGHT OFF. YEAH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THERE'S NO OTHERS. UH, WHITE CLOTHES, PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 12, MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO, UH, CONSIDER TO ADOPT RELU ADOPT AN, AN ORDINANCE TO CLOSE THE TENDERS OF EAST STREET. SECOND MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STORY WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL. ALDERMAN ROYAL, YES. ALDERMAN ASTOR. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. DERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS [13. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Rezone Two Parcels Located at 207 South Glenburnie Road from I- 1 Industrial District to R- 10S Residential District.] ITEM NUMBER 13. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE TWO PARCELS. LOCATED AT 2 0 7 SOUTH GLEN BURN ROAD FROM IOWA ONE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R 10 S RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. MS. RUTH? THANK YOU. YOU NEED THE REMOTE? YEAH. MS. COLLEEN, WE NEED THE REMOTE FOR THE POWERPOINT. IT'S IN FRONT OF THE LAPTOP IN FRONT OF OH YEAH, YOU ANSWER THAT. THANK YOU. THIS EVENING WE HAVE ONE REZONING REQUEST. IT'S LOCATED AT 2 0 7 SOUTH GLEN BURNIE ROAD. THIS IS A REQUEST TO GO FROM THE CURRENT ZONING OF INDUSTRIAL ONE TO A PROPOSED ZONING OF RESIDENTIAL 10 S BOTH PROPERTIES, UH, BOTH PARCELS TOTAL JUST UNDER AN ACRE AT 0.9 ACRES. THE CURRENT ZONING IS A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT. IT'S DESCRIBED HERE. IT'S, UH, WE ARE JUST LOW INTENSITY INDUSTRIAL AND WAREHOUSING TYPE USES, AND THE PROPOSED ZONING IS RESIDENTIAL 10 S. RESIDENTIAL 10 S IS A ZONING DISTRICT WHERE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BY RIGHT, AND ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S ALLOWED IN THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC USE REQUIRING SOME KIND OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT. THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE OUTLINED ON THE CHART BEFORE YOU O THIS LOCATION IS ABOUT 800 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION ON OAKS ROAD. THIS IS A VISUAL OF THE PROPERTY. YOU CAN SEE THERE IS AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOME ON SITE. AS I ALWAYS ILLUSTRATE TO YOU, WE NOTIFIED ALL PROPERTY OWNERS [00:15:01] WITHIN 100 FEET AND THEY WERE MAILED NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. HERE'S AN AERIAL IMAGE THAT SHOWS THE RESIDENCE AND THE VACANT PARCEL BEHIND IT. THIS ILLUSTRATES IN THE YELLOW WHERE THERE'S RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND THEN IN THE LIGHT GRAY WHERE THERE IS THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND THE DARKER GRAY, THAT'S HEAVIER INDUSTRIAL. SO WE CAN SEE THE SAME ZONING AND USES ARE IN THE VICINITY. A COUPLE OF CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE YOUR DECISION. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD DID RECOMMEND UNANIMOUSLY THAT THIS REQUEST GETS ADOPTED BASED ON CONSISTENCY WITH THE LAND USE PLAN UPDATE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, LOOKING AT WHAT'S IN THE VICINITY AND THE EXISTING USE ON PROPERTY BEING A RESIDENTIAL USE ALREADY. WITH THAT I WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES. MS. RE, IS THAT THE PROPERTY RIGHT THERE BY THE FOOD BANK AND THE NC DTS ON THOSE? IT'S RIGHT BY N-C-D-O-T? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE REZONING OF 2 0 7 SOUTH GLEN BURNIE ROAD FROM I ONE INDUSTRIAL TO R 10 S. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE DO SO. AT THIS TIME MAY I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND, THE MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 13? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. YES, SIR. FOR STAFF, UM, WHAT IS THE GENERAL MOTIVATION BEHIND THE CHANGE? IS THAT, OBVIOUSLY THE ZONING BOARD DIDN'T, DIDN'T JUST PICK THIS, BUT, UM, THEY DID FIND IT CONSISTENT WITH THE AREA. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MIX OF USES OUT THERE. HOWEVER, OFTEN THESE REQUESTS AND I BELIEVE IN THIS SITUATION COME DUE TO FINANCING AND THE USE ON THE PROPERTY MATCHING THE ZONING OBJECTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE TWO PARCELS LOCATED AT 2 0 7 SOUTH GLEN BARNEY ROAD FROM ONE I ONE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R 10 S RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR. ALDERMAN ASTER. YES. ALDERMAN VEST. YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. MAYOR ODOM? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I, I DIDN'T WANNA JUST SAY, UM, IN ASKING THAT QUESTION, I, I, I THOUGHT, UH, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT BEING LIKE AN ATTORNEY KNOW, KNOW THE ANSWER BEFORE THE QUESTION, BUT, UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW SITUATIONS IN NEWBURG WHERE PARTICULARLY C3 ZONING, UM, IS, IS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND, UM, IN MY LINE OF WORK ALL THE TIME, I'M HAVING TO ANSWER FOR LENDERS, TO LENDERS AS TO IF THAT IN ANY WAY IS, UH, EFFECTS BY YOU AND THOSE TYPE THINGS. SO, UM, THERE ARE SOME MOW ONES I'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU WITH, BUT, UH, , I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID THAT, BUT THANK YOU. THANKS. [14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement with We Can Be Association for 408 Hancock Street] OKAY, NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 14. CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE WE CAN B ASSOCIATION FOR FRO OH EIGHT HANCOCK STREET. MR. HUGHES MAYOR AT THE SEPTEMBER 23RD BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING, THIS GROUP MADE A PRESENTATION REGARDING THEIR DESIRE TO POTENTIALLY LEASE 4 0 8 HANCOCK STREET FOR THE PURPOSES OF A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THAT PROPOSED LEASE IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. IT IS FOR FIVE YEAR LEASE, UH, AT $1 PER YEAR. UH, THIS GROUP IS HERE. WE'D LIKE TO ASK THEM TO COME UP AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO, AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ASK ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROJECT. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF NEW MEMBERS SINCE THOSE PRESENTATIONS WERE ORIGINALLY GIVEN. SO I HAVE, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS, UM, ABOUT IT. IF, IF, WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN? SURE. UH, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. UM, THAT BUILDING, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE SPENT A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN IT. WOULD THAT NOT BE THE CASE? I'LL RUN. ASKED HER. OH YEAH. AND, AND I HATE FOR IT SITTING THERE VACANT, AND I CERTAINLY HOPE, UM, THAT THIS OR SOME OTHER USE WILL, WILL COME ABOUT. UM, A COUPLE, UH, UH, THOUGHTS I HAVE IN, IN THINKING ABOUT, I, I DON'T MEAN TO IMPEDE, UM, THE PROCESS, BUT [00:20:01] WE DO HAVE TWO NEW ALDERMAN COMING ON BOARD IN DECEMBER AND, UM, THIS LEASE IS, IS IT FIVE YEARS? IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT, THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE LONGER THAN THE TERMS OF THE ENSUING BOARD. UM, AND I'M NOT, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PER SE ABOUT, UM, THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, BUT IN NEW BERN, IF WE'RE STILL DOING IT, WE'VE ALWAYS, UM, ASKED THAT ANYBODY THAT PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN, THAT IF THEY, THEY HAVE TO, MOST OF 'EM THAT I'M AWARE OF, THEY ARE 5 0 1 C3 AND WE HAVE ALWAYS ASKED FOR AN ANNUAL AUDIT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE SOLVENCY AND THE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND, UH, NOT TRYING TO MICROMANAGE A PARTICULAR, UM, ENTITY, ET CETERA. UM, I JUST WANT TO CAUTION THE BOARD THAT THERE, THERE, THERE IS A NEW BOARD COMING. I, I WOULD JUST SLIGHTLY TO END MY COMMENTS BY ASKING THE FIRST WORD ALMAN AS THE COURTESY OF USE. SIR, HAVE YOU HAD SUFFICIENT TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A PRESENTATION IN SEPTEMBER? I BELIEVE, UH, I'M JUST MYSELF NOT THAT FAMILIAR BECAUSE YOU ARE A NEW ORGANIZATION AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ASKED TO USE THAT IN THE PAST AND, AND, AND ALL OF 'EM WERE GOOD, BUT OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS THE FACT ACT THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWING A 5 0 1 C3 THAT WAS NOT WAS, LET'S JUST SAY QUASI COMPETING WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR, UM, ANY OTHER OF THE 60 BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS IN BERN THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY BENEFITED THE CITY. AND THESE 60 ORGANIZATIONS THAT I SPEAK OF ARE PART OF WHAT MAKE NEW BERN WHAT IT IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CITY OF NEW BERN DOESN'T DO, MAYBE COULD DO, BUT THANKFULLY GROUPS LIKE THIS DO IT FOR US. SO WE DO LIKE TO PARTNER. UM, BUT THE CONCERN I HAVE IS WHETHER OR NOT THE FIRST WORD ALDERMAN HAS HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO REVIEW THIS AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT. AND, UM, LET ME JUST LOOK AT THE LEASE AGAIN. I DID HAVE A QUESTION. CAN I MAKE A COMMENT JUST FOR A MINUTE? YOU SAID WE WERE A NEW ORGANIZATION, WE CAN BE, HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE 2020, SO WE HAVE HAD FIVE YEARS. THIS, UH, NEW MODEL THAT WE'RE ESTABLISHING WITH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS NEW TO US, BUT THAT WE CAN BE, HAS BEEN IN PLACE AS A NONPROFIT SINCE 2020. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN COMMITMENTS FROM PUBLIX AND SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP WITH. AND WHO ARE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING YOU? SO, UM, WE, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE LEASE CONFIRMED AND SIGNED BEFORE WE ARE WILLING TO KIND OF, UM, CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, UM, I HAVE PERSONALLY DONE A LOT, I'M JANE DALE BY THE WAY. UM, AND, UM, I HAVE DONE A LOT OF FUNDRAISING FOR ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW BERN. I HAVE HELPED, UH, NOT SINGLE-HANDEDLY, BUT I'VE HELPED RAISE WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR NONPROFITS IN NEW BERN. AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY, BUT ANY EFFORT HAVE THIS MUCH SUPPORT, HAVE THIS MUCH EXCITEMENT. PEOPLE ARE BEATEN DOWN THE DOOR TO HELP SUPPORT THIS AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S GONNA BE AN EC UM, AN ECONOMIC HELP TO DOWNTOWN NEW BERN. IT'S GONNA HELP WITH RECRUITMENT FOR JOBS FOR YOUNG FAMILIES WHEN THEY WANNA MOVE HERE. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR GRANDCHILDREN WHO, UM, WHO ARE VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN. I, I PERSONALLY, UM, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE BETTER FOR THAT LOCATION. UM, THE ONLY QUESTION I, I'LL ASK YOU WHY, WHY YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB OF, UM, MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION. THERE IS AN ASSIGNMENT CLAUSE IN HERE, I BELIEVE IT'S ITEM WELL, UM, UH, ITEM 10. UM, IF, IF THE BOARD OF ALMAN APPROVED YOUR ASSIGNING PORTIONS OF, OF, AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY CAN ANSWER THIS A LITTLE BETTER THAN I CAN, UM, IF, IF THERE'S, UH, AN ASSIGNMENT OF SORTS AND THERE'S, UH, AN INCOME STREAM GENERATION OF ANY SORT, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO? SO ALDERMAN OUTLAW, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE TERMS OF THE LEASE IS $1 PER YEAR. UM, AND THERE'S ALSO AN INSURANCE REQUIREMENT OTHER THAN THOSE TWO FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, THERE'S NO FINANCIAL OR REVENUE STREAM THAT WILL COME TO THE CITY OF NEW GARDEN AS A RESULT OF THIS LEASE. OKAY. SO IS, IS THIS A HYPOTHETICAL THAT IF ON ITEM NUMBER 10, IF, IF THEY, IF WE ENTERED THIS LEASE AND, AND THEY SUB LIT A PORTION OF IT AND THE INCOME GENERATED WAS A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH [00:25:01] THAT WOULD GO TO THE ORGANIZATION AND NOT THE CITY, IS THAT CORRECT? IT WOULD NOT GO TO THE CITY. IT WOULD BE CON CONTROLLED BY WHATEVER, UH, FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT OR WHATEVER CONTRACT BETWEEN THE SUB LETTER AND THE LESSEE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. MM-HMM. OKAY. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. SO I HAVE LOOKED AT THE LEASE AND, AND I'VE TALKED TO FOSTER ABOUT IT AND I'VE GONE THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING NOW I DON'T SEE ON THE PRINTOUT THAT'S IN FRONT OF ME THAT THERE WAS A PURPOSE PROVISION IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE USED AS A PUBLIC PURPOSE FOR A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. UM, AND SO, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR TERMINATION IF THAT WAS NOT A PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE LEASE, IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERMS OF THE LEASE. IS THAT CORRECT, SIR? YES, SIR. PROVISION NUMBER THREE CONTROLS THE USE OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT PROVISION EXPRESSLY SAYS THAT THIS LEASE IS FOR THE PROVISION OF A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND RELATED ENGAGEMENT AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES. AND IF THE, THE, THE, THE PREMISES ARE EVER USED FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, THEN THAT WILL CONSTITUTE DEFAULT. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM ALDERMAN OUTLAW'S CONCERN IS THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE LEASE FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT'S NOT JUROR'S MUSEUM, THAT WOULD BE THE EVENT OF DEFAULT THAT WE COULD TERMINATE. BUT THE PRIMARY CONCERN I HEARD FROM ALDERMAN OUTLAW IS THAT WE DO HAVE TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO WILL BE TAKING OFFICE IN DECEMBER AND THAT THIS BODY WOULD BE A VOTING ON A FIVE YEAR TERM LEASE THAT THOSE NEW MEMBERS WOULD NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON. I, I'M ALL FOR A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC AMENITY THAT NEW NEEDS, AND OBVIOUSLY I'M BIASED THAT I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DOWNTOWN. UM, AND SO I, I LIKE THE IDEA, I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE SCHEMATICS, MORE OF THE PLAN FOR THE FUNDRAISING AND WHAT GOES INTO THE EXHIBITS DETAILING IT. BUT I ALSO CAN HEAR ALDERMAN OUTLAW'S CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE A NEW BOARD TAKING EFFECT, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE ESSENTIALLY SADDLED WITH THIS LEASE WITHOUT ANY INPUT. SO, UH, I'M, I'M PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, BUT I'M ALSO PREPARED IF THE BOARD WANTS TO CONTINUE IT UNTIL THE DECEMBER MEETING FOR THOSE NEW MEMBERS, UM, TO, TO HAVE THEIR SAY THAT THAT'S FINE AS WELL. I, MY UNDERSTANDING THOUGH, FROM TALKING TO THESE LADIES TONIGHT IS THAT THEY NEED, YOU KNOW, THE LEASE AGREEMENT IS ONE STEP AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR PLAN FOR PUTTING TOGETHER FUNDRAISING, PUTTING TOGETHER THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OPENING THAT MUSEUM AND, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO I, I DON'T WANNA HINDER THAT ABILITY EITHER, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. YES. WELL, THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, UM, WITH THIS, UH, LEASE AGREEMENT IS THAT WE, UH, HAVE OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT IS LEASING CITY PROPERTY, BUT THEY'RE ONLY UNDER A ONE YEAR LEASE. AM I CORRECT? UH, MS THAT IS CORRECT. SO THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT, THAT THEY'RE UNDER, I I DON'T WANT US TO START SOMETHING HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH A FIVE YEAR LEASE AND THEN, UH, DOWN THE ROAD WE HAVE OTHER NONPROFITS COMING IN AND UM, I THINK WE START THIS, THEN THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PURSUE. UM, AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITH THE CITY THAT'S LEASING CITY PROPERTY, HOW ARE WE GONNA JUSTIFY THAT THEY'RE HERE? IT'S BOUGHT BEFORE THIS BOARD YEARLY, AND I, THAT'S THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT TO BE YEARLY THAT THE NONPROFITS COME BEFORE THIS BOARD. SO BECAUSE THAT IS, WELL HOW LONG IS THE LEASE FOR THE FIRES MUSEUM? THE CURRENT FIRES MUSEUM? LONGER THAN A YEAR. YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A 20 YEAR LEASE I BELIEVE. I, I BELIEVE WHAT, WHAT ALLMAN INVEST IS REFERRING TO. UH, WE DID HAVE A ONE YEAR, YOU MAY KNOW THIS BETTER, ALLMAN, AS WE HAD A ONE YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE FIREMAN MUSEUM, THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES RAISING FUNDS, WE COULD NOT RAISE FUNDS WITH ONE YEAR LEASE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY. SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON WHY THE ASK WAS FOR LONGER THAN ONE YEAR. IT IS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY STATED, THEIR THEIR GOAL IS TO, TO DO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY AND THEY, THEY WOULD REQUEST IT LONGER THAN A ONE YEAR LEASE FOR THAT PURPOSE. OKAY. WELL IF THERE'S OTHER, UM, NONPROFITS THERE ARE UNDER A ONE YEAR LEASE. SO I GUESS IF, IF THOSE NONPROFITS WERE GOOD WITH THAT ONE YEAR LEASE AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS FIVE YEAR LEASE. UM, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I THINK, UM, THE AREA DAY REPORTING IS UNDER ONE YEAR LEASE. THAT'S CORRECT. WELL SEE THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT, I I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE BOARD EXTEND THE SAME LEASE AGREEMENT TO ALL OF THE NONPROFITS THAT POLICING, I BELIEVE AREA DAY REPORTING FUNDING IS FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. THAT MIGHT BE WHY THE LEASES MAYBE A ONE YEAR TERM VERSUS AN EXTENDED ONE. MR. HUGHES, IS THERE A TIMELINE I THOUGHT WE HAD DISCUSSED, AND I DON'T SEE IT IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT UP HERE, BUT IS THERE A TIMELINE FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE LADIES A, A YEAR TO GET TOGETHER TO FUNDRAISE, TO PUT UP THE EXHIBITS TO OPEN THAT WE CAN TIE TO [00:30:01] THE LEASE AGREEMENT SO THAT IT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BELAYS THE CONCERNS OF IT JUST SITTING HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND NOT HAVING ANY INVESTMENT? WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDE THAT AS AN ADDENDUM AND I'M HAPPY TO LET THEM MAKE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING ON, ON ANY POTENTIAL TIMELINES FOR THIS PROJECT, OUR, OUR ESTIMATED COMPLETION. SO IT, IT DOES TAKE QUITE A BIT OF TIME FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING AND FOR THE EXHIBITS TO BE CREATED. UM, SO I BELIEVE THERE'S A STIPULATION IN THE RENTAL AGREEMENT THAT AFTER TWO YEARS, IF IT IS, IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT WE WERE INFORMED THAT AFTER TWO YEARS, IF WE WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WORKING AS A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM THEN, THEN WE WOULD HAVE 30 DAYS TO VACATE. UM, WE INTEND ON OPENING THIS MUSEUM IN 2026. UM, AGAIN, AT WHAT PART OF 2026? THAT DEPENDS ON HOW SOON WE GET OUR LEASE. SO AGAIN, WE, WE'VE NOT OPENED ANY DONATION RECEIVING OF A DONATION, SO WE CAN'T SAY YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT THAT WE HAVE THIS MONEY FROM THIS PERSON BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING UNTIL WE SIGN OUR LEASE. MM-HMM . UM, HOWEVER, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DONATED TO US IN THE PAST THAT ARE INTERESTED. WE'VE HAD LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED. SO AS SOON AS WE GET THAT MONEY, AND THEN IF THERE'S NOT ANY, UM, MAJOR FOUNDATIONAL THINGS, WE ALREADY HAVE ALL OF OUR EXHIBITS WITH OUR BLUEPRINTS, WE HAVE THE RENDERINGS, WE JUST NEED TO GET OUR LEASE, RECEIVE OUR FUNDING. AND THEN WE'LL, I, I'M GOING, I'M GOING TO TRY TO SUPPORT, I I I MEAN ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE GOOD FOR THE CITY AND NEW. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NEW ALMAN. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE IS FOR YOUR COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH THE FIRST BOARD OR ALDERMAN AND IT NOT BEING A QUORUM. THE THE OTHER TWO, UH, ALDERMAN THAT ARE COMING ON IN, IN, IN DECEMBER AND THEN THAT KIND OF AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, COULD, YOU KNOW, REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD AT THE FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER. AND, UH, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN FUNDRAISING AND, AND PARTICULARLY THE FIREMAN'S MUSEUM AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE, UH, FARMER'S MARKET, UM, YOU CAN'T RAISE MONEY ON A ONE YEAR LEASE AND, AND YOU REALLY SOMETIMES CAN'T RAISE MONEY ON FIVE YEAR LEASE BECAUSE I, IN READING YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BE MAKING SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THERE AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FUNDRAISE WITHOUT A, A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY. SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS WORTH IS, IS FOR YOU. AND THAT'S JUST MY ADVICE TO THE BOARD AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED THAT IN FORM OF MOTION. IT COULD BE TABLED WITHOUT A MOTION UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. COUNSELOR, YOU WOULD NEED, THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. YEAH. AND, AND WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, YOU AGAIN MEET WITH THE TWO INCOMING ALDERMAN AND THE FIRST BOARD ALDERMAN AND, AND MAYOR I, I THINK ALDERMAN FERGUSON ASKED, ASKED A QUESTION. I WANNA MAKE SURE HE GOT AN ANSWER. MM-HMM . UM, THERE IS A DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU THAT IS A COPY OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WAS REVISED TODAY. THE ONLY CHANGE TO THAT DOCUMENT IS IN PARAGRAPH TWO FOR TERMS, UM, WHICH WOULD ALLOW TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN THAT YOU RAISED. IF THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUILDING NOT BEING UTILIZED, UM, WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UM, THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE ADDED AND, AND RECOGNIZING THAT CONCERN THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY THE OPTION TO TERMINATE THE LEASE. I DON'T, SO I'M LOOKING AT SECTION TWO OF THE DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF ME THAT SAYS IN THE EVENT THE LEASE IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE PURPOSES STATED HEREIN BY IN A DATE. IT'S, YES, SIR. SO CAN I PUT, I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? THAT YES SIR. BASIC ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED, YOU COULD INSTALL A DATE THERE. AND SO YOU SAID WITHIN TWO YEARS THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD, UM, DISCUSS TODAY THAT WITHIN TWO YEARS WE INTEND ON OPENING WITHIN THE YEAR. SO THAT IS OUR GOAL, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THINGS HAPPEN, BUT THAT IS OUR GOAL. WE BELIEVE WITH THE, UM, THE RENDERINGS, THE QUOTES WE'VE RECEIVED ALREADY, THAT WE BELIEVE THIS IS VERY FEASIBLE FOR US TO DO. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HAVE IT OPEN BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2027? YES. ALRIGHT. WOULD THAT CHANGE? I WOULD MAKE A MOTION, ABSOLUTELY. YES. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH WE CAN B ASSOCIATION FOR 4 0 8 HANCOCK STREET AS PRESENTED WITH THE DATE FILLED IN THAT THE, UH, PUBLIC PURPOSE STATED HERE IN A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SHALL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? DID THAT RESOLVE YOUR CONCERN, ALDERMAN OUTLAW? UM, WELL MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN WAS, UH, WHAT FIRST WARD ALDERMAN FELT LIKE BECAUSE [00:35:01] IT IS HIS WARD. UM, BUT I DO STILL HAVE CONCERNS OF THE, OF THE, OF THE, OF THE INCOMING, THE INCOMING HARM. BUT, UM, I HEAR YOU MOTION IN YOUR SECOND AND I CALL FOR THE VOTE. IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION? WHAT WAS THE DATE AGAIN? OCTOBER, 2027? DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. I THINK IT WOULD BE TWO YEARS. ABOUT TWO YEARS IN A MONTH. OKAY. UM, MAY I SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICKLY? UM, AS WE KNOW AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE FUNDRAISED FOR NONPROFITS HAVE, UM, WE KNOW THAT THE END OF THE YEAR IS, IS REALLY THE BUSY TIME OF YEAR, YEAR TO FUNDRAISE. WE HAVE EVENTS SUCH AS GIVING TUESDAY COMING UP, AND WE'RE REALLY GONNA DO A BIG PUSH FOR FUNDRAISING IN DECEMBER. UM, NOT FOR NONPROFITS JANUARY, FEBRUARY. THEY'RE REALLY SLOW MONTHS. SO IF WE WERE TO PUSH THIS BACK ANOTHER MONTH, THIS WOULD REALLY PUT US BEHIND ON OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS. UM, AND IT, IT COULD REALLY HAVE A, A PRETTY MASSIVE EFFECT. SO I REALLY DO ASK THE CURRENT BOARD OF ALDERMAN TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS, HAVE, HAVE SOME FAITH. UM, PLEASE LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND PLEASE VOTE WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE. OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD? MAY I SAY SOMETHING AS WELL? SURE. I'M SORRY. UM, WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, INVITE, UM, ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE MUSEUM. UM, WE CAN POST THAT ON OUR WEBSITE OR WE CAN YOU, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME AND VISIT OR, UM, WE CAN EMAIL ANYONE WITH OUR PROGRESS. SO WE'D BE FREE TO, TO OPEN THAT UP TO ALL OF YOU. SO, ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. UM, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL. VOTE SERVED WITH ALDERMAN. BEST PLEASE. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASHER? YES. MAYOR ODOM? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. OKAY. BOARD. UH, NEXT IS [Items 15 - 18] ITEM NUMBER 15 THROUGH 18 CAN ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER. SO I'LL READ THEM ALL AT ONE TIME IN SPIRIT OF SAVING SOME TIME, NUMBER 15 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF TAX PARCEL ID 8 0 0 6 1 1 7 A ON THE CORNER OF DUNN AND NORTH BURN STREET. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 8 0 4 WEST STREET. NUMBER 17, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 8 0 9 GREEN STREET. AND ITEM NUMBER 18 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF EIGHT 19 MILLER STREET, MR. HUGHES. SO ON THE FIRST ONE, A BID WAS SUBMITTED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,785 FOR THE PARTIAL IN QUESTION BID WAS ADVERTISED BUT NO UPSET BIDS RECEIVED. THE VACANT PARCEL IS THE FORMER SITE OF THE MARY WHITE PARK. IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE PARK SYSTEM IN MARCH OF 2025 AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED CER LESS PROPERTY. THE BIDDER OWNS THE ADJACENT 2.06 ANCHOR TRACK OF LAND. ON THE NEXT ONE, A BID WAS SUBMITTED, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,825 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE 8 0 4 WEST STREET PROPERTY. THE BID WAS ADVERTISED WITH NO UPSET BIDS RECEIVED. THE PROPERTY IS A VACANT 0.061 ACRE RESIDENTIAL TRACK WITH THE TAX VALUE OF $7,650. IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN MAY OF 2015 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE. IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THIS BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $1,426 77 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $2,398 23 CENTS AND THE NEXT PROPERTY A BID WAS RECEIVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF 8 0 9 GREEN STREET. THE BID WAS ADVERTISED BUT NO UPSET BIDS WERE RECEIVED. THE PROPERTY IS A VACANT 0.109 ACRE RESIDENTIAL TRACK WITH A TAX VALUE OF $6,000. IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN AUGUST OF 2019 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE. IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THIS BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $586 22 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $2,413 78 CENTS. AND THE LAST PROPERTY, UH, BID WAS RE, UH, WAS RECEIVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF EIGHT 19 MILLER STREET. THE BID WAS ADVERTISED WITH NO UPSET BIDS RECEIVED. THE PROPERTY IS VACANT 0.127 ACRE RESIDENTIAL TRACK WITH A TAX VALUE OF $6,000. IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE. IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THIS BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $241 50 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $2,758 50 CENTS FROM THE PROCEEDS. THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ALL OF THOSE OR ANY OF THOSE? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, MAY I MAKE A MOTION? SURE. OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION, APPROVE THE SALE OF TAX, UM, PARTIAL 8 0 0 6 1 1 7 A ON THE CORNER OF DUNN IN NORTH BURN STREET. UM, ALSO APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR THE SALE OF 8 0 4 WEST [00:40:01] STREET, SALE OF 8 0 9 GREEN STREET AND SALE OF EIGHT 19 MIDDLE STREET. SECOND. A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL HEARING WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASER. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS ITEM [19. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Rename Trent Street to Luke Martin Drive.] NUMBER 19. CONSIDER ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RENAME TRENT STREET TO LUKE MARTIN DRIVE. MR. HUGHES. SO WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM MR. ROBERT MARTIN JR. TO, TO RENAME THIS STREET THE TRENT ROAD. I MEAN, I'M SORRY. TRENT STREET IS LOCATED IN THE PEMBROKE COMMUNITY AND HE HAS REQUESTED THIS STREET BE RENAMED LUKE MARTIN DRIVE. TRENT STREET IS SOMETIMES CONFUSED WITH TRENT ROAD ON MAPPING APPS AND RENAMING OF THE STREET COULD POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE THIS CONFUSION. MR. LUKE MARTIN WAS A TEACHER IN PAMLICO COUNTY AND SERVED AS THE LEAD BRICK MASON IN THE RESTORATION OF TRIAD. PALACE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO GIVE SOME DIALOGUE, UH, REGARDING MR. LUKE MARTIN. HE WAS THE SON OF THE NEXT SLAVE AND CIVIL WAR UNION SOLDIER. THIS IS NOTEWORTHY. HIS FATHER WAS ENSLAVED AT A PLANTATION NEAR PLYMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA, BUT ESCAPED AND BECAME A MEMBER OF THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA COLORED VOLUNTEERS LATER CALLED THE 35TH US COLORED TROOPS. UM, MR. MARTIN WAS A MASTER BRICK MASON, A CONTRACTOR AND A TEACHER WHO SERVED AS ONE OF THE LEAD BRICK BRICK MASONS AT THE TRIUMPH PALACE. HE WAS ALSO A RECIPIENT OF THE ORDER OF THE LONGLEAF PINE AND WAS ORDERED ON THE FLOOR OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY REPRESENTATIVE GK BUTTERFIELD. AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, IN 2014, CRAVEN COUNTY DESIGNATED THAT DAY AS LUKE P MARTIN JR. DAY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE SONS OF UNION, VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR. AND IN 2013 NEW BERN ACADEMY UNVEILED HISTORICAL MARKER THAT HONORS HIS FATHER'S REGIMENT. UH, IN 2015, MR. MARTIN DIED AT THE AGE OF 97. I SAY TONIGHT IT IS SUITABLE THAT A STREET IN PEMBROKE BEAR HIS NAME AND HONOR OF HIS LIFELONG RESIDENCY IN THE PEMBROKE COMMUNITY AND IN RECOGNITION OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY, HIS FAMILY IS PRESENT HERE TONIGHT. AND I HOPE THIS BOARD WILL VOTE FAVORABLY TO RENAME TRENT STREET TO LUKE MARTIN DRIVE. THANK YOU. MOTION. IS THAT, IS THAT YOUR MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION. I MOTION THAT TRENT STREET BE RENAMED TO LUKE MARTIN DRIVE. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I ACTUALLY THOUGHT YOU CALLED FOR DISCUSSION. YEAH. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION NOW? I AM DONE . ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. DERMAN MEMORIAL. YES. DERMAN NASTER. YES. DERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTWELL. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILY. AWESOME. [20. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing Approval of Recommended Projects from the Municipal Service District Advisory Committee.] NEXT STEP IS ITEM NUMBER 20. CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FROM THE MSD ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR. HUGHES. ON NOVEMBER 4TH, THE MSD ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET AND MADE A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNING BOARD TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS. THE FIRST ONE IS P*****K STREET SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THIS WOULD INCLUDE REPLACING THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE 200 BLOCK OF P*****K STREET, WHICH GOES FROM EAST FRONT STREET TO CRAVEN STREET WITH AN EXPOSED AGGREGATE SIDEWALK. ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $100,000. THE SECOND PROJECT IS THE CRAVEN STREET PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND THIS INCLUDES COMPLETELY RENOVATING THE CITY PARKING LOT BESIDE MORTGAGE RESTAURANT BY REPAVING IMPROVING THE LANDSCAPING IN WALKWAYS, WHICH WILL CONNECT TO BEAR PLAZA. ESTIMATED, UH, COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $750,000 AND THE THIRD PROJECT IS SUPPORTING THE NORTH CAROLINA MAIN STREET CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE HELD HERE IN NEW BERN ON MARCH 10TH THROUGH 12TH 2026. THE EVENT WILL BE HOSTED BY SWISS BAY AND THE CITY OF NEWBURN. APPROXIMATELY 1000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT FROM ACROSS THE STATE. FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE BANNERS AND SUPPORT OPENING EVENTS AT A COST OF $10,000. FUNDS FOR THESE PROJECTS WOULD COME FROM THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT, UM, UH, ENTERPRISE FUND. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS MR. MAYOR? I'D MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FROM THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST ONE THING TO NOTE. SURE. UH, FOR DISCUSSION, [00:45:01] UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INNER CORE AREA AND THE CONNECTION OF MIDDLE STREET TO CRAVEN STREET, THE EXTENSION OF BEAR PLAZA. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT BOARD HAS BEEN DISCUSSING, I BELIEVE, FOR OVER A DECADE. AND TO HAVE UNANIMOUS, UH, RECOMMENDATION AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING WAS A TRUE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND FEAT TO SHOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO START WORKING THROUGH PHASE ONE OF MAKING THAT A BETTER PLACE, UH, FOR DOWNTOWN. AND SO I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY NEEDED. IT HAS SUPPORT AND SIDE ASK THAT YOU VOTE FOR. WELL SAID. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL. ALDERMAN ROYAL? YES. ALDERMAN ASTER. YES. ALDERMAN DUST. YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. OTTERMAN FERGUSON. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 21. [21. Consider Adopting a Resolution Certifying and Approving the October 7, 2025 Bond Referendum Results.] CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION CERTIFIED AND APPROVING THE OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 BOND REFERENDUM RESULTS. MS. STEVENS. GOOD EVENING. AT THE OCTOBER 7TH ELECTION NOTICE APPROVED BONDS FOR $10 MILLION IN STREET SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, 8 MILLION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS, AND 6 MILLION PER STORE WATER IMPROVEMENTS. THE GENERAL STATUTES REQUIRED WERE TO DECLARE AND CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF THE BOND REFERENDUM AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION. THE RESULTS OF THE BOND REFERENDUM WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025. THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS. IT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD. ON ITEM NUMBER 21, MAKE MOTION WE ADOPT RESOLUTION CERTIFYING AND APPRO. THE OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 BOND REFERENDUM RESULTS. SECOND. A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR. ALDERMAN ASTOR. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT [Items 22 - 24] UP, WE WILL CONSIDER 22, 23 AND 24. TOGETHER. UH, I'LL READ THEM ALL. NOW. 22 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. FUND NUMBER 23 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE PARTS AND RE RECREATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND. AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 24 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING A CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE STORM ORDER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND. MS. STEVENS, THE CITY, CITY, IS CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF THE THREE CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH DEDICATED PROJECT FUNDS FOR THE UPCOMING IMPROVEMENTS FUNDED THROUGH THE VOTER APPROVED BONDS. THE STREETS AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND WOULD ESTABLISH THE FUND $2 MILLION BOND SUPPORTED CITY STREETS AND SIDEWALK UPGRADES. THE PARKS AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND ESTABLISHES THE FUND FOR $8 MILLION BOND SUPPORTING THE ENHANCEMENTS OF PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. AND THE STORM WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND ESTABLISHES A FUND FOR THE $6 MILLION BOND SUPPORTING STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT. EACH ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES TEMPORARY ADVANCES FOR 60 FUNDS TO COVER PROJECT EXPENDITURES INCURRED PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF BOND. THESE ADVANCES WILL BE REIMBURSED ONCE BOND PROCEEDS ARE RECEIVED. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE LINES 22, 23 AND 24 UNLESS WE HAVE TO READ ALL THAT STUFF OVER AGAIN. SECOND. I THINK WE'RE GOOD. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASER. YES. MAYOR ODOM. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS [25. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Declaration of Intent to Reimburse Expenditures for the $ 10, 000, 000 Street and Sidewalk Improvement Bonds, 8, 000, 000 Parks and Recreational Bonds, and $ 6, 000, 000 Stormwater Bonds] ITEM NUMBER 25, WHICH APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE LAST ITEMS. AND THAT'S TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPROV, A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES FOR THE $10 MILLION STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT BOND. $8 MILLION, PARKING, RECREATION BOND, AND $6 MILLION. STORM WATER BOND. MS. STEVENS. PURSUANT TO IRS REGULATIONS, IT IS NECESSARY TO ADOPT THE, UH, DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE PRIOR TO INCURRING EXCUSE EXPENSES FOR THE PURCHASE OF ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE THREE BOND PROJECTS. DOING SO ALLOWS THE CITY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FOR ITEMS PAID FOR PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS BOARD. HAVE QUESTIONS? IF NO QUESTIONS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE EXPENDITURES FOR THE 10 MILLION STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT BONDS, 8 MILLION PARKS AND REC AND 6 MILLION STORM STORM WATER BONDS. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASER. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. MAYOR ODA. YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT [26. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the 2019 Electric Improvements Project Fund.] IS ITEM NUMBER 26. CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING [00:50:01] THE 2019 ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND. MS. STEVENS CITY OWNED ELECTRIC LINES THAT CONFLICT WITH THE N-C-D-O-T ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS IN HALF BLOCK ALONG MILLER BOULEVARD AND THE NC 1 0 1 AREA OF THE LOCATED AT THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION OF APPRO, AN AGREEMENT WITH NE THAT PROVIDED THAT DT WOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR ENGINEERING EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RELOCATION. THE AMENDMENT RECOGNIZES THE ESTIMATED EXPENSES AND THE REIMBURSEMENT OF $166,548. DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? SO IS IS THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ENGINEERING? WHAT ABOUT THE RELOCATION? THIS IS JUST THE ENGINEERING RELOCATION WILL COME LATER. OKAY. WHEN, WHEN THOSE ESTIMATES COME IN. THANK YOU. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDED TO 2019 ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RUN. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL HEARING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON. ALDERMAN FERGUSON. YES. ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASR? YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. MAYOR ODOM? YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER [27. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY2025- 2026.] 27. CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 25 26. MS. STEVENS, THIS AMENDMENT RECOGNIZES MARTIN MARIETTA'S DONATION A THOUSAND TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT ALSO, UH, AMENDS THE MSD FUND TO APPROPRIATE $860,000 FOR THE PROJECT ALREADY DISCUSSED. DOES COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I I HAVE A QUESTION. UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS IS COMING FROM MARK MARIETTA. COMING FROM MARK MARY FROM THE MSD FUNDS? NO, THAT'S GONNA BE FROM THE MARK MARIETTA CORPORATION. THEY'RE MAKING A DONATION TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION TO ADOPT A WHY THE NEXT AMENDMENT IS THAT NUMBER 27? YES MA'AM. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH THE ALDERMAN. ROYAL ALDERMAN ROYAL. YES. ALDERMAN ASTOR. YEAH. YES. ALDERMAN BEST? YES. ALDERMAN OUTLAW. YES. ALDERMAN FERGUSON? YES. MAYOR ODOM? YES. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP [28. Appointment( s).] IS ITEM NUMBER 28 APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT, MR. MAYOR? I HAVE TWO FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION. UH, I BELIEVE FROM THE RECOMMENDATION OR THE LIST, UH, THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE CLERK, THE HPC HAS AN OPEN SPOT FOR THE WARD ONE APPOINTMENT. UH, MS. MOLLY BALES IS CURRENTLY ON THAT BOARD AND IS WILLING TO SERVE AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT. SO I WOULD MOVE TO, UH, REAPPOINT MS. MOLLY BALES TO THE HPC SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO REAPPOINT MOLLY BALES. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, SHE IS REAPPOINTED. UH, AND THEN WITH THE ELECTION, AYE. RESIGNED MY, UM, SPOT ON THE NEWBURN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. UH, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING AN ATTORNEY WITH SOME LAND USE EXPERIENCE HAS, UH, GREATLY HELPED THAT BOARD. UH, AND SO I DID REACH OUT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MR. GEORGE OLIVER, WHO HAS DEALT WITH LAND USE AND SOME ZONING. UH, AS PART OF HIS PRACTICE. UH, HE WAS INTERESTED AND WILLING TO SERVE IN THAT SPOT ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE TO APPOINT GEORGE OLIVER TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HE IS HERE BY APPOINTMENT. ANYTHING ELSE? DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT? NO. OKAY. [29. Attorney's Report.] NUMBER 29 IS THE ATTORNEY'S REPORT. NOTHING SIR. NO. NO BABY TO REPORT YET? NONE YET. ALL RIGHT, WELL GOOD LUCK ON THAT. THANKS. UH, ITEM NUMBER [30. City Manager's Report] 30, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. NOTHING TO REPORT TONIGHT SIR. ALRIGHT. UH, 31 IS [31. New Business.] NEW BUSINESS. UH, WE'LL START WITH ORMAN OUTLAW. UM, FOSTER, WHAT, WHAT'S, UH, ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT? A RETREAT. SO YOU WERE GONNA BE NOTIFIED WHETHER WE'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA BE PULLED ABOUT POTENTIAL DATES, THE RETREAT WE HAD WANT TO HAVE THAT WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JANUARY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW. OKAY. THAT SIR? OKAY. NO SIR. ALRIGHT. ALDERMAN. BEST NOTHING TONIGHT. ALDERMAN ASKED HER NOTHING TONIGHT, SIR. ALDERMAN ROYAL, NOTHING TONIGHT. ALDERMAN FERGUSON? NOTHING TONIGHT. AND I HAVE NOTHING. AND [32. Closed Session.] I BELIEVE WE DO NEED A CLOSE SESSION. WE DO, SIR. PURSUANT TO NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 1 43. THREE 18. 11 8, 4 TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND SENTENCE. CAN I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? I MOVE. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? [00:55:01] HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION. I HAVE TO DO IT TO NOTIFY. NO WONDER BOBBY GOES DOWN. OKAY. WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING? MAKE A MOTION WE ADJOURN. SECOND. HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN. FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. A. ANY OPPOSED? WE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.