The Farmville Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Courtroom with Mayor John O. Moore presiding. Present for the meeting were Commissioners Alma Hobbs, Bert Smith, Brenda Elks, David Shackleford and Jamin Dixon; Town Attorney Christopher Edwards; Town Manager David Hodgkins and Town Clerk Amy B. Johnson.
Mayor Moore called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Public Works Director Wes Thomas offered the invocation, which was followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag led by Commissioner Elks.
Citizen Presentations
Mayor Moore recognized Sallie Eason, who resides at 3682 Hillcrest Drive in Farmville.
Mrs. Eason expressed her concern over the “cat colony” located at the Rescue building. She stated she knows they are beneficial to the Rescue Squad because they help to control the rat population and she and a group in citizens would like permission from the Town Board to personally pay to neuter 15 of the cats and then return them back to the Rescue building area.
Mayor Moore recognized Ricky Smith, who resides at 9058 West Marlboro Road in Farmville.
Mr. Smith stated there is a right-of-way in front of his house and with the recent gas and water projects, holes have been dug but never fixed back completely right so he has issues even cutting his grass.
Town Manager’s Comments
Town Manager Hodgkins made the following comments to the Board:
- Town’s early voting site at the Community Center was successful
- The Health Department conducted COVID-19 testing at the Community Center and it was also successful. The Health Director has expressed interest in having a free flu shot clinic there as well.
- The Town will be picking up loose leaves at curbside for free during the month of November.
Financial Report
Finance Director Amy Johnson provided the financial report for the month of October, 2020.
Changes/Additions/Deletions to Agenda
Mayor Moore asked if there were any additional changes to the agenda.
Commission Elks made a motion to add Agenda Item #7- Cat Colony- Rescue Building to the evening’s agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to add Agenda Item #8- December Town Board Meeting Date Change to the evening’s agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Elks made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented with the above approved changes. The motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearings
1. Ordinance to Amend Chapter 157 of the Code of Ordinances to Add Solar Collectors as a Permitted Use in the RA-20 Zoning District
Planning Director Justin Oakes stated the public hearing is being held on a proposed ordinance amendment to Chapter 157 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Farmville. Oakes further stated this amendment would bring the Code of Ordinances into compliance with current North Carolina General Statutes regarding the use of Solar Collectors as an accessory use.
Mayor Moore opened the public hearing at 6:56 p.m.
There being no comments, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing at 6:57 p.m.
Commissioner Dixon asked for action to be delayed this evening.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to table this agenda item until the January 2021 Town Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
2. 2018 CDBG-NR Program Amendment
Mike Barnette, from McDavid Associates, stated the Town received funds to add ADA compliant restrooms to the Arts Council Annex to service the theater. Barnette requested a program amendment to allow the interior surfaces in a previously unfinished area of the Annex to be finished and to add minimal lighting and hanging facilities to allow for displays in the finished area. He stated one of the houses in the original program has requested to be removed from the program which will make funds available for this additional activity.
Mayor Moore opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.
There being no comments, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing at 7:01 p.m.
Commissioner Dixon made a motion to authorize submission of the program amendment and to authorize the Mayor to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing when prepared by the Clerk. The motion carried unanimously.
3. 2018 CDBG-I Program Amendment
Mike Barnette, from McDavid Associates, stated the Town had received bids for the 2018 CDBG-I Program – Basin 5 Sanitary Sewer Improvements to replace sewer collection lines. Due to the bid coming in under budget, Barnette stated the State has recommended that the Town add additional activities to the program to utilize these excess funds in addition to any unanticipated underruns during construction. He suggested expanding the existing project area to include additional sewer collection replacement on Moore Street, Barrett Street and Pittman Alley.
Mayor Moore opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m.
There being no comments, Mayor Moore closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m.
Commissioner Elks made a motion to authorize submission of the program amendment and to authorize the Mayor to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing when prepared by the Clerk. The motion carried unanimously.
Items for Discussion
4. Approval of Minutes
To approve the minutes from the following session(s):
- October 5, 2020 regular session
Commissioner Elks made a motion to approve the October 5, 2020 regular session minutes. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Re-Appointment of Tree and Community Appearance Board Member- Larry King
Town Manager Hodgkins requested adoption of a resolution to re-appoint Larry King to the Tree and Community Appearance Board.
Commissioner Hobbs made a motion to adopt Resolution (2020) 1495, Appointing a Member to the Tree and Community Appearance Committee – Larry King. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Re-Appointment of Tree and Community Appearance Board Member- LaRue King
Town Manager Hodgkins requested adoption of a resolution to re-appoint LaRue King to the Tree and Community Appearance Board.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to adopt Resolution (2020) 1496, Appointing a Member to the Tree and Community Appearance Committee – LaRue King. The motion carried unanimously.
7. Cat Colony- Rescue Building
Commissioner Elks thanked Sallie Eason and the other citizens in her group for caring about the cats and being willing to help.
Commissioner Elks made a motion to allow the colony of cats and kittens to be picked up by the rescuer to be altered and then re-released back to the area from where they were picked up. The motion carried unanimously.
8. December Town Board Meeting Date Change
Town Manager Hodgkins stated the Fire Department has not decided whether or not they will be having their annual Christmas party yet but if they do, it is always held on the first Monday in December. He suggested changing the December Board meeting date to Monday, November 30, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Commissioner Smith made a motion to change the December Town Board meeting date to Monday, November 30, 2020. The motion carried unanimously.