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The Farmville Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom meeting platform, with Mayor John O. Moore presiding. Present for the meeting were Commissioners Jamin Dixon, Brenda Elks, Alma Hobbs, David Shackleford and Bert Smith; Town Attorney Christopher Edwards; Town Manager David Hodgkins and Town Clerk Amy B. Johnson. Other Zoom attendees were Library Director David Miller, Planning Director Justin Oakes and Rich Moore from McDavid Associates.
Mayor Moore called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
Commissioner David Shackleford offered the invocation, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Citizen Presentations
Mayor Moore stated there were no citizen presentations at this time.
Town Manager Comments
Town Manager Hodgkins had the following comments:
- The Town is still dealing with the adverse effects of COVID-19
- We are documenting all lost utility revenue a s a result of the Governor’s Executive Order #124
- Town Facilities remain closed until further notice. Recreation programs remain closed until May 15th
- General Assembly passed $150 million in potential aid for local governments, subject to Congress amending the “Cares Act” to permit direct assistance to smaller municipalities
Financial Report
Finance Director Amy Johnson provided the financial report for the month of April, 2020.
Agenda Changes
Mayor Moore asked for a motion to accept the evening’s agenda.
Commissioner Hobbs made a motion to approve the May 4, 2020 agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearing
1. Rezone Property at 3356 N. Contentnea Street from Central Business (CB) to
Residential- 5 (R-5)
Planning Director Justin Oakes stated the public hearing was to receive citizen input on a proposed rezoning request for Parcel 15492, located at 3356 N. Contentnea Street, from Central Business (CB) to Residential- 5 (R-5).
Mayor Moore declared the public hearing open at 6:48 p.m.
There being no further comments, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing at 6:49 p.m.
On motion by Commissioner Smith, the Board approved the rezoning request and adopted Ordinance (2020) 951, Ordinance Amending Chapter 157 Zoning, the Official Zoning Map of the Town of Farmville. The motion carried unanimously with Commissioner Dixon abstaining due to a conflict of interest as seller of the property.
2. USDA Rural Development Grant for Equipment for New Library Facility
Library Director David Miller stated the public hearing was to receive public comments regarding the Town’s proposal to obtain grant assistance from USDA, Rural Development, for the purchasing furniture and equipment for the forthcoming new library facility.
Mayor Moore declared the public hearing open at 6:50 p.m.
There being no further comments, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing at 6:51 p.m.
On motion by Commissioner Elks, the Board authorized the filing of the USDA grant application for furniture and equipment for the new library facility. The motion carried unanimously.
Special Presentation
3. Proclamation Declaring May as National Poetry Month in Farmville
Mayor Moore presented a proclamation declaring the month of May as National Poetry
Month in Farmville.
Items for Consent
4. Approval of Minutes
To approve the minutes from the following session:
- February 24, 2020 Retreat Session
- March 2, 2020 Regular Session
- March 12, 2020 Special Session
5. Adoption of Ordinance Amending FY 2019/2020 Budget- Library Department
To adopt an ordinance to amend the FY 2019/2020 budget in order to place grant funds received from the American Library Association into the Library Department – Special Programs account to offset expenditures.
6. Adoption of Ordinance Amending FY 2019/2020 Budget- Fire Department
To adopt an ordinance to amend the FY 2019/2020 budget in order to place funds received from insurance to repair the damage to the 2009 Freightliner into the Fire Department – Repairs/Maintenance Vehicles account to offset expenditures.
7. Adoption of Ordinance Amending FY 2019/2020 Budget – Various Departments
To adopt an ordinance to amend the FY 2019/2020 budget to cover any current and predicted over expenditures.
8. Adoption of Resolution Amending the Capital Project Budget and Approval of
Final Adjusting Change Order- Bonnie’s Alley Parking Improvements
To approve the final adjusting Change Order and to adopt a resolution amending the Capital Project Budget due to project completion.
9. Resolution Authorizing Sale of Surplus Real Property on East Cotton Street
To adopt a resolution authorizing the sale of land (Parcel 19355) to the H.B. Sugg
Charitable Organization.
10. Resolution Authorizing Sale of Surplus Personal Property
To adopt a resolution declaring certain personal property which is no longer in use as surplus and authorize the sale utilizing methods available under NCGS 160A, Article 12.
11. Re-Appointment of Library Board Member- Cheryl Patterson
To adopt a resolution re-appointing Cheryl Patterson to the Farmville Library Advisory Board.
12. Re-Appointment of Library Board Member- Anne Walters
To adopt a resolution re-appointing Anne Walters to the Farmville Library Advisory Board.
13. Personnel Policy Amendment- Adverse Emergency & Adverse Weather Pay
Policy
To approve the proposed amendment to the Town Employee Personnel Policy regarding the Adverse Emergency & Adverse Weather Pay.
14. Reschedule Regular July Board of Commissioners meeting to June 29, 2020
To approve the rescheduling of the July Board of Commissioners meeting to June 29, 2020.
15. Reschedule Regular September Board of Commissioners meeting to August 31,
2020
To approve the rescheduling of the September Board of Commissioners meeting to August 31, 2020.
On motion by Commissioner Smith,HHSSSS the Board approved/adopted the following:
- Approved the February 24, 2020 retreat session minutes, the March 2, 2020 regular session minutes and the March 12, 2020 special session minutes
- Adopted Ordinance (2020) 952, An Ordinance Amending the FY 2019/2020 Budget Ordinance- Library
- Adopted Ordinance (2020) 953, An Ordinance Amending the FY 2019/2020 Budget Ordinance- Fire
- Adopted Ordinance (2020) 954, An Ordinance Amending the FY 2019/2020 Budget Ordinance- All
- Approved the Final Adjusting Change Order and adopted Resolution (2020) 1485, Amending Capital Project Budget Ordinance for Contract No. 1- Water & Sanitary Sewer Improvements, Bonnie’s Alley
- Adopted Resolution (2020) 1486, Resolution Authorizing Disposal of Certain Real Property on South Main Street (Parcel 19355)
- Adopted Resolution (2020) 1487, Resolution Authorizing Town Manager to Dispose of Surplus Personal Property
- Adopted Resolution (2020) 1488, Resolution Re-Appointing a Member to the Library Advisory Board- Cheryl Patterson
- Adopted Resolution (2020) 1489, Resolution Re-Appointing a Member to the Library Advisory Board- Anne Walters
- Approved the Personnel Policy Amendment to the Adverse Emergency & Adverse Weather Pay Policy
- Approved the rescheduling of the July Board of Commissioners meeting to June 29, 2020
- Approved the rescheduling of the September Board of Commissioners meeting to August 31, 2020
The motion carried unanimously.
Items for Decision
16. Report on 2020 Census
Planning Director Justin Oakes provided the Board with an update of the 2020 Census. He reported Farmville’s response rate as of May 3, 2020 was at 52.7%. He asked the Board to continue to encourage citizens to participate. Oakes added the Census can be completed online by answering ten easy questions.
17. Disaster Recovery Grant Application
Rich Moore, from McDavid Associates, stated the Division of Water Infrastructure has been allocated approximately $105 million to allocate to applicants who have water and sanitary sewer needs resulting from impact from prior tropical events. Moore further stated that based on established criteria, Farmville is eligible for a 100% grant for a sanitary sewer project. His recommended scope is to relocate the Town’s sanitary sewer outfall that presently exists adjacent to Middle Swamp to a location outside of the floodplain. Moore asked for approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application to Division of Water Infrastructure.
Commissioner Hobbs made a motion to adopt Resolution (2020) 1490, Approving Clean Water State Revolving Fund Application. The motion carried unanimously.
18. Consideration of Interlocal Tax Collection Agreement with Pitt County
Town Manager Hodgkins stated Farmville is one of the few cities/towns in the county that still collects their own ad valorem taxes while Pitt County collects all others, with the exception of Fountain, Grifton and Winterville. Hodgkins explained while the Town has been successful in collecting property taxes, having one agency collecting all ad valorem taxes for Farmville would be more efficient and eliminate some of the confusion taxpayers have when they receive one tax bill from Pitt County and one tax bill from the Town of Farmville. He stated Pitt County has consistently had a higher collection rate that Farmville and would be free to use any available means to pursue tax delinquencies just as they now do for the county portion of taxes owed by property owners in Farmville. Hodgkins said if approved, the fee for collection will be 1½ % of the amount collected by the County.
On motion by Commissioner Smith, the Board approved the Interlocal Tax Collection Agreement between the Town of Farmville and Pitt County. The motion carried unanimously.
19. Presentation of Town Manager’s Recommendation Budget for FY 2020/2021,
Announcement of Budget Workshop Date, and Setting of Public Hearing Date
Town Manager Hodgkins stated that copies of the proposed FY 2020/2021 Budget will be distributed to all Board members tomorrow. He asked the Board to set the dates for the budget workshop and the public hearing.
On motion by Commissioner Elks, the Board set the budget workshop date to be Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in the Town Hall Courtroom. The motion carried unanimously.
On motion by Commissioner Elks, the Board set the public hearing on the FY 2020/2021 Budget to be Monday, June 1, 2020. The motion carried unanimously.
Citizen Comments
Town Manager Hodgkins read a citizen comment from Steven Hardy-Braz. He reported Steven expressed his support of the Library grant application. Moore also reported Steven thanked the IT staff for their skills and the Town for making tonight’s meeting open to the public through the Zoom virtual platform.
Adjournment
On motion by Commissioner Hobbs, the meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.