TOWN OF
REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING
APRIL 3, 2007
MINUTES
Members Present: Mayor Roger McElroy Aldermen: Saralyn Price
Mark DeMeola
Phil Aldridge
Colin Edwards
Staff Present: Manager Tim Barth, Attorney Chuck Dickson, Chief Scott Sutton, Planning Director Nathan Clark, Public Works Director Mike Mehaffey, and Town Clerk Vickie Best
Others Present: Approximately 10 people
1. Meeting Called to Order.
Mayor Roger McElroy called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m. in the Town Hall Boardroom.
Mayor McElroy asked that two item be added to the agenda under other business. One item is allowing or disapproving Alfa Engineering working on the Police Department, and the other is to discuss the silo located on the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
ALDERMAN ALDRIDGE MADE A MOTION TO ADD THE TWO ITEMS UNDER OTHER
BUSINESS.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Consent Agenda
a. Certificate
of Sufficiency: Will Carver,
(1.053 acres): Resolution No. 07-14, Setting a date for
a Public hearing on April 17, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
b. Certificate of Sufficiency: Dan Myers,
(0.61 acres): Resolution No. 07-15, Setting a date for
a Public Hearing on April 17, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
c. Petition
for Annexation: James Bennet,
Subdivision, Parcel #’s 7696-88-8076, 7696-98-0093,
7696-98-4237, (14.5 acres): Resolution No. 07-16,
Directing Clerk to investigate an annexation petition.
d. Correction and Approval of Minutes for March 22, 2007.
ALDERMAN PRICE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. a.
Public hearing on the proposed annexation agreement between the Town of
b. Consideration of an ordinance to adopt an
annexation agreement with the Town of
Manager Barth presented the maps to Council in February showing the dividing line. At that time Manager Barth explained the benefits of having an agreement for future planning and annexations. A public hearing was advertised with today’s date and time being the time for the public to address Council.
The dividing line between the Town of
Mayor McElroy opened the hearing at 3:40 p.m.
There being no comments from the floor, Mayor McElroy closed the hearing at 3:40 p.m.
Alderman DeMeola asked that Manager Barth send a thank you note to Manager Galloway and the Waynesville Town Aldermen.
ALDERMAN EDWARDS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT WITH
THE TOWN OF
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ordinance number 534 with the agreement attached was adopted as presented.
4. Appearance of Ernestine Upchurch to request
Town involvement in County bicentennial celebration.
Ms. Ernestine UpChurch, a
Ms. UpChurch explained that the people of the
Alderman Price added that Ms. UpChurch was able to provide her with the history of a dresser that once belonged to her grandfather.
ALDERMAN PRICE MADE A MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ERNESTINE UPCHURCH AS THE
MAGGIE VALLEY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. Appearance of
Ms. Michels addressed Council asking that she be allowed a sign on or near the fence directing people to her rental cabins. People pull into the Festival Grounds, think they are in a gated community, turn around, and leave. The directional sign currently in place does not help the situation due to location. People wanting to rent a cabin need to know to turn and go around the outside of the Festival Ground’s fence.
Ms. Michels also asked that the Town help bear the expense of maintaining the road. During events, the public uses the road. In addition, there seems to be problems when the Comfort Inn backwashes their pool.
Alderman Price stated that she would like to go look at the sign before making a decision.
6. Consideration of entering a contract for
July 4 fireworks.
The cost of the fireworks show is $6,000. If the Town enters into the contract, $3,000 is due now and the remainder is due after the fireworks display.
Council briefly discussed purchasing insurance in the event of inclement weather. The cost of such insurance is astronomical.
Ms.
7. Consideration of changing the personnel
policy regarding direct deposit and 401k benefit eligibility.
The first change is to delete Article V, Section 10 entitled “Direct Deposit” which states “Employees are required to participate in the Town’s direct deposit program.” The Town does not have a direct deposit program.
The second change is in regard to Article VI, Section 6, entitled “Supplemental Retirement Benefits.” The recommendation is that the Board adopt a policy where general employees are eligible for the 401K program after 30 days of employment, however, new employees are not eligible for the 3% match until after 6 months of employment.
ALDERMAN PRICE MADE A MOTION TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE PERSONNEL
POLICY AS DISCUSSED.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. Consideration of an appointment to the
Parks, Recreation and Festival Advisory Committee.
Alderman Price suggested reappointing Mr. Dan Massey, but to
change the bylaws to allow for a seven-member board with one alternate member,
rather than three. Mr. Burton Edwards
and Carol Burrell will serve as full voting members while Ms.
Alderman DeMeola agreed, adding that in the beginning stages of creating a Parks, Recreation, Festival Advisory Committee, a seven-member board was discussed.
PRFAC Chairman Tammy Brown concurred, adding that it makes a difference when everyone can vote. This makes the views more outreaching into the community.
ALDERMAN PRICE MADE A MOTION TO WRITE LETTERS TO MR. EDWARDS, MS
BURRELL, AND MR. MASSEY EXPLAINING THE CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS AND THAT MR.
MASSEY BE REAPPOINTED.
Ms. Selena Keller, Manager of Eaglenest Entertainment, asked if anyone had talked with Mr. Edwards and Ms. Burrell to see if they want to serve as full-members.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Consideration of changing the fee structure at the Festival Grounds.
PRFAC Chairman Tammy Brown addressed Council requesting to change the rental fee for the Festival Grounds from $1,000 with $4,000 in advertising expense, to a flat $1,500 for the weekend. There will be a charge of $500 per day for every day thereafter. The PRFAC would like to simplify the application process. Now that the new amenities are available, the grounds will be more attractive to event promoters. In order to have a successful event, promoters will advertise without the requirement.
Alderman Aldridge stated that he had never been in favor of the required advertisement.
ALDERMAN ALDRIDGE MADE A MOTION TO ELIMINATE THE ADVERTISING FEE AND
CHARGE A FLAT $1,500 PER WEEKEND AND TO MAKE THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS EVENT
FRIENDLY.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
10. Manager’s Report.
►Manager Barth provided Council with materials he and Mayor McElroy acquired at a meeting they attended in Cherokee about fiber optic service. A presentation will be arranged for Council at a later date.
Alderman DeMeola felt that it has become a necessity for kids in school.
Manager Barth agreed, adding that if the service comes
across
Alderman DeMeola felt this could be an issue introduced to
► Manager Barth
introduced Mrs. Karen Batick to Council.
Mrs. Batick will be the new Administrative Assistant. Everyone welcomed Mrs. Batick to
►
Manager Barth and Planning Director
► May 9 is Town Hall Day. There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed by the elected official. Manager Barth encouraged all the council members to try to attend.
► The construction of the new Police Department is moving forward. The foundation has been set and the exterior walls are being built. The last working day of each month at 9:00 a.m. a construction meeting will be held on site. All council members are invited to attend.
11. Other Business.
Mayor McElroy announced that the TDA Bill has now advanced
to the Finance Department in
The silo located on the Festival Grounds is in need of repair or demolition. A section fell from the top only confirming the need to take action. If a car or person had been nearby when the section fell it is unimaginable what the results would have been. The silo has become a liability for the Town. The Town has no means of maintaining the silo. In the worse scenario, the cost of demolition would be $3,000. If the silo crumbles when it is pulled down the cost will be approximately $1,000.
Alderman Aldridge stated that he would like to think about it before taking action. The silo holds a lot of personal feelings for a lot of people. Alderman Aldridge also felt that the silo was an eye catcher.
Ms. Michels, an adjacent property owner stated that now the silo has become an eyesore and the location makes it difficult for tractor-trailers to make the turn onto the road.
Alderman Edwards hated that so much money had been spent painting the silo for it now to be removed.
Ms. Lynn Collins, the Chamber/Visitors Center’s Director, felt that at one time the silo was an eye catcher but now that the waterfall is in place and the stage is built the silo blocks the view.
ALDERMAN PRICE MADE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE SILO.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Engineering is included in the budget for the construction of the police department. Testing the construction materials is part of any project of this nature. Alfa Engineering is a local company.
ALDERMAN DEMEOLA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALFA ENGINEERING.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
12. Meeting Adjourned.
ON MOTION OF ALDERMAN PRICE, WITH ALL IN FAVOR, THE MEETING ADJOURNED
AT 4:46 P.M.
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Vickie Best, CMC, Town Clerk