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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-13-1997 Regular Session 211 . MINUTES HILLSBOROUGH TOWN BOARD October 13, 1997 7:30 PM, Town Office Complex The Hillsborough Town Board met in regular session on October 13, 1997 at 7:30 PM in the Town Office Complex. Present for the Board Meeting were Mayor Horace Johnson, Commissioners Kenneth Chavious, Evelyn Lloyd, Catherine Martin, Richard Simpson, and Remus Smith. Staff present were Interim Town Manager Sherry Carter, Town Engineer Tom Hartye, Police Chief Nathaniel Eubanks, and Planning Director Margaret Hauth. Mayor Horace Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. I. PUBLIC CHARGE Mayor Johnson read the Public Charge. II. ADDING ITEMS TO THE PRINTED AGENDA Interim Manager Carter brought a memo from Chapel Hill Manager Cal Horton regarding the landfill item to the Board's attention and noted that Item XI.B.l is to be deleted. She asked the Board to discuss water restrictions during the Engineer's report. She asked the Board to change the closed session topic from potential litigation to a personnel issue. III. AUDIENCE COMMENTS . Jim Boericke, Allan Gurganus, and Jennifer Miller asked to speak to item 9a. IV. RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION Mayor Johnson read a resolution in memory of Jack Moore and presented it to Mr. Moore's two sons. The Board members individually expressed their condolences to the family. Mayor Johnson read a proclamation regarding World Population Awareness Week. V. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 8.9.11 .12 .15 .18 . AND 22 TOWN BOARD MEETINGS Upon a motion by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd, the Board moved to approve the September 8,9,11 ,12,15,18, and 22 meeting minutes as written by a 5-0 vote. The motion was declared passed. VI. INFORMATIONAL Chairman ofthe Orange County Board of Commissioners Bill Crowther and Budget Director DQnna Dean distributed information about the upcoming bond referendum. They answered questions about portions . of the package. Chairman Crowther urged the Town Board and the public to support the entire bonq package. 1 212 VII. REPORT FROM THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER . Interim Manager Carter reported on the status of non-agenda items. The Board agreed to delay the enforcement of removal of items in the cemetery until February. Commissioner Smith suggested that citizens be given flexibility to place more decorative items on grave sites during the non-mowing season with the understanding the Town staffwill remove them in the spring. By consensus, the Board directed staff to prepare an ordinance amendment to allow this flexibility. Commissioner Simpson asked about the parking signs on Margaret Lane. Interim Manager Carter reported that they have been installed. VIII. REPORT FROM THE TOWN ENGINEER Mayor Johnson announced that the Town has been awarded a $254,000 grant to secure property along the Eno River through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Town Engineer Hartye explained that the land secured will help the Town meet its mitigation requirements for the reservoir. Engineer Hartye presented his status report of on-going projects. IX. REPORTS A. Scotswood Contiguous Annexation Report. Mayor Johnson asked the Board members' preference to hear from staff or Mr. Mersereau first regarding Scotswood. The members agreed to hear from Mersereau first. Mersereau distributed tables containing his analysis ofthe impact of annexing Scotswood on the Town's finances. Commissioner Smith asked what qualifications Mersereau has. He responded he is a retired engineer. He said his conclusion is that the Town would lose money by annexing the development due to the costs of providing the area with services. Mersereau presented petitions with 142 signatures opposing the annexation. . Interim Manager Carter presented the staff report detailing two options for making the development contiguous to existing Town Limits. She highlighted the assumptions in the report and noted those things that were held constant. Commissioner Chavious asked whether the Water Fund could borrow money from the General Fund and vice versa if necessary. Interim Manager Carter said yes, but such borrowing negatively impacts the Town's credit and bond ratings. Jim Boericke spoke in opposition to the annexation. He noted that attempting to provide services to a development of this scale when the Town is routinely faced with water restrictions is irresponsible. Allan Gurganus spoke in opposition to the annexation. He said that a development of this size will ruin Hillsborough's small town feel, which is why he moved here. He added that residents of Scots wood won't shop downtown or participate in Town functions except to require services. Jennifer Miller spoke in opposition to the annexation. She agreed with the previous speakers and added traffic congestion in the area as another negative aspect. George Horton asked to speak and asked the board why they were allowing so much public comment outside of a public hearing process. Mayor Johnson responded by saying citizens can come to any meeting and ask to speak on a topic on the agenda and the Board has routinely allowed this. He added that people sign up at the beginning of the meeting to speak. Horton asked that himself, Craig Lloyd, and Alex Hernandez be added to the speakers list. . 2 ~ 213 Craig Lloyd spoke in favor of annexing the development. He said the Chamber is contacted often by people looking to locate in Hillsborough and this development would increase their options. He also spoke in support of the soccer development proposed nearby on property formerly included in the development. . Horton spoke in favor of annexing the development. He said he is one of the developers and reminded the Board members that the report prepared by the Town's staff showed significant revenues to accrue to the Town if the development is annexed. Horton added that he asked Hernandez to come and speak about the potential impact a soccer development would have on the town's economy. Hernandez briefly described the soccer program run by his organization, its expanding membership, its limited facilities, and the economic impact tournaments usually generate. Commissioner Martin asked if there was a reason the soccer facility could not be developed ifScotswood remained outside the city. No answer was offered. Upon a motion by Commissioner Martin, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd, the Board moved to end consideration of annexing the Scotswood development. The vote was 2-3, with Commissioners Chavious, Simpson, and Smith voting no. The motion failed. Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Simpson, the Board moved to conduct further study on the annexation request. The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Lloyd and Martin voting no. The motion was declared passed. Commissioner Martin clarified her position on the issue by stating she is not in favor of annexing . the development as either a satellite or a contiguous development. Commissioner Smith asked that the staff determine the cost to provide water and sewer service to the properties which connect Scotswood to Town, using the two routes studied and to determine who will pay for the extension. Commissioners Simpson and Chavious agreed with that request. Mayor Johnson called a two minute recess. When the meeting was reconvened, Commissioner Simpson asked to discuss the manner in which discussion on agenda items was being handled. He expressed concern about allowing citizens to speak when no hearing had been called and not allowing Board members to finish speaking before calling a recess. Mayor Johnson explained that allowing citizen comment was something he added to each Board meeting to provide an open process and that, as chair of the board, he called a recess to allow citizens to leave when the item was complete. Commissioner Chavious said he had not finished expressing his view when Mayor Johnson called the recess. He added that he would check on the ability of a Mayor to call a recess in the middle of a meeting. B. Fairview Citizens on Patrol Training Interim Manager Carter presented the proposed budget amendment to purchase two-way radios as part of the Training program. Commissioner Lloyd expressed her concern that current officers are not qualified to teach the citizen patrol. Commissioner Simpson noted that there are a number of outside resources where trainers can be hired from. . 3 214 Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Martin, the Board moved to direct the Interim Manager to verify whether outside trainers will be needed and to approve the budget amendment by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. . C. Parks and Recreation Board concerning Occoneechee Mountain Park Parks and Recreation Board Chair Wendy Olson presented the board's report on Occoneechee Mountain to the Town Board. She noted the Town's exposure to risk once the park is formally opened and the serious need for designated park staff. Commissioner Martin asked that a written job description be drafted for the Board's consideration during the coming budget process. Mayor Johnson asked about the expenditure of the state grant funds and how the project is progressing. Olson noted that since volunteers are doing all the work, the project is progressing slowly. Commissioner Smith noted that the Police Department should be able to assist with opening and closing the park gate and some patrol of the park currently. X. ITEMS FOR DECISION - CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Enforcement of delinquent Business Licenses as recommended by the Deputy Tax Collector. B. Approval oflist of streets to be resurfaced/paved during the 1997-98 Fiscal Year. C. Approval to change the November 1997 Board meeting to November 17, 1997. Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd, the Board moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. . XI. ITEMS FOR DECISION - REGULAR AGENDA A. Consideration of Priority List for 1999-2005 Transportation Improvement Plan. Planning Director Hauth noted that NCDOT staff have not yet completed the feasibility study for Elizabeth Brady Road, but the project is still considered viable. She added that the South Churton Street project is simply an investigation of alternatives to relieve congestion south of the river. Mayor Johnson asked about the public hearing before the Board of Transportation. Hauth said the date has been changed to November 10 in Jamestown, but attendance is not required as our request is made through the regional organization in Durham. Mayor Johnson expressed his opinion that attending the hearing is important. Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Chavious, the Board moved to submit the Priority List as written and not send a representative to the hearing by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. B. Consideration ofLap4ftll Interlocal Agreement. Interim Manager Carter asked the Board members to confIrm their availability for the meetings regarding the landfill selection. Commissioner Smith said he would not be available for the meeting on October 22. Mayor Johnson updated the members on the selection progress and highlighted the memo from . Chapel Hill manager Cal Horton. 4 215 Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Simpson, the Board moved to approve the dates of October 22, November 20, and November 24 as special meetings relating to the landfill by a 5-0 vote. The motion was declared passed. . Commissioner Smith asked staff to investigate the distance a landfill must be from the city limits. C. Approve resolution to contract with the Department of Transportation for the reinspection and analysis of all public bridges on the Town's municipal street system. Interim Manager Carter said this contract is for the inspection of the Exchange Park Lane bridge only. Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Chavious, the Board moved to adopt the resolution establishing a contract with the Department of Transportation by a 5-0 vote. The motion was declared passed. D. Consideration of request from Highwoods Mobile Home Park to tie-into the Town's sewer system. Engineer Hartye explained the current situation in Highwoods and the management's request for relief from Town policies not allowing pump stations when gravity service is available and not allowing private pump stations. He noted that some of the extension would have to be force main regardless and likened this circumstance to the one experienced by Tony Laws. Craig Morgan spoke on behalf of the Park's management. . ' Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd, the Board moved to allow the tie-in with the condition that the pump station be dedicated to the town and the appropriate fees paid by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. E. Authorize the Town Engineer to approve/disapprove request for fire hydrant location. Engineer Hartye explained the request received from Mr. Hey linger relating to the relocation of a hydrant on Webb Street. He also explained the difficulty with the request. By consensus the Board agreed to allow Engineer Hartye to deny the request for relocation. F. Designate a voting delegate for the North Carolina League of Municipalities conference Mayor Johnson and Commissioner Chavious are attending. Upon a motion by Commissioner Lloyd, seconded by Commissioner Smith, the Board moved to designate Mayor Johnson as the voting delegate by a 5-0 vote. The motion was declared passed. XlI. CLOSED SESSION A. Closed Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter. . Upon a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd, the Board move~ ~o go into Closed Session to discuss a personnel matter by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. 5 . . . 21G XIII. ADJOURN Upon a motion by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioners Smith, the Board moved to adjourn the meeting by a vote of 5-0. The motion was declared passed. Respectfully submitted, M~gWcl~;'~ 6