TOWN
OF
TOWN
COUNCIL
MINUTES
– REGULAR SESSION
December
10th, 2007
The
Town of Seven Devils Town Council met in regular session on Monday, December 10th,
2007 at Town Hall. Members present were
Mayor
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dodson called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Members and citizens
recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
OATHS OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY
ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS
Town Clerk Karen E. Daniels administered the oath of office
to re-elected Town Council Members Richard DeMott and Kathy Copley. The oath of office will be administered to Member
Wilkinson at a later date.
ELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR
PRO TEM
Member DeMott made a motion that Bob Dodson be elected
Mayor. Member Copley seconded the
motion. The members agreed unanimously.
Member Copley made a motion that Richard DeMott be elected
Mayor Pro Tem. Member Ehlinger seconded
the motion. The members agreed
unanimously.
OATH OF OFFICE FOR MAYOR AND
MAYOR PRO TEM
Town Clerk Karen E. Daniels administered the oath of office
to Mayor Dodson and Mayor Pro Tem DeMott.
ADOPT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion to adopt the agenda. Council
Member Copley seconded the motion. The
members approved unanimously.
APPROVE MINUTES
·
November
13, 2007 Regular Meeting
Council Member Ehlinger made a motion to approve the November
13th, 2007 minutes. Mayor
Pro Tem DeMott seconded the motion. The members
approved unanimously.
TOWN'S FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 2007
-
Marcie
Spivey, Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. -
Mayor Dodson welcomed Ms.
Spivey. Ms. Spivey then presented a
handout for the Town Councils review.
She spoke about the audit that Martin Starnes had conducted for the Town
and said that there were no findings or questioned costs and no material
internal control weakness identified.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott stated that
some years ago a silent partner removed some of the Town's funds. He asked Ms. Spivey if the Town is protected
from that happening again. Ms. Spivey
said the Town currently has good control and in order for this to occur it
would require collusion. Mr. DeMott
asked if there is anything specific she would suggest for the Town to maintain
its security. Ms. Spivey said the Board
should stay involved and continue to get reports. Mayor Dodson asked Ms. Spivey if the report
the Council gets on a monthly basis is sufficient. Ms. Spivey said she has seen the report but
she will take another look at the monthly report. Member Copley asked Ms. Spivey where the
attachments were that were listed in the letter. Ms. Spivey said she would check on the
attachments.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion to accept the June 30, 2007 Financial Audit from Martin Starnes &
Associates. Member Ehlinger seconded the
motion. The members agreed
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – Terminating PARTF Grant
for Otter Falls
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion to open the Public Hearing.
Member Copley seconded the motion.
The members agreed unanimously.
Mayor Dodson stated the Town had
previously sough two (2) grants to purchase Otter Falls. The Town received one (1) grant but had not
received the other grant before the owner of Otter Falls sold the property. He said the Town now needed to terminate the
grant the Town received. The Town
Manager stated one of the requirements for termination is to conduct an
advertised public hearing to solicit public comments concerning the proposed
termination. There were no comments from
the citizens.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion to close the Public Hearing.
Member Ehlinger seconded the motion.
The members agreed unanimously.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Carol Isquith, 1648 Skyland Drive
stated at the last TDA meeting the Committee had reviewed the submissions from
the contest for the Town of Seven Devils Slogan. The Committee decided to present (Seven
Devils Discover Our "Positive Altitude") to the Town Council
for approval as the Town of Seven Devils Slogan.
STAFF UPDATE
The Town Manager announced the
Christmas Party is Friday, December 21st at 12:00 and will be
catered by Daniel Boone Inn.
Attorney Angle passed out a copy
of a plat of the tennis courts from 1988 that had actual dimensions and the
surveyor said he has marked the corners.
He encouraged the Council to go to the property and familiarize themselves
with the corners of the property. Mayor
Dodson announced that the Town of Seven Devils has a deed and that after more
than a year the courts now belong to the Town.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott asked the
Town Manager about the status of the surplus vehicles. The Town Manager explained they have not been
able to repair the 2003 Ford because they have not been able to locate the
problem. He said as soon as it is
repaired he will move forward with the surplus vehicles.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
Action on Tennis Courts – CLOSED -
B.
Personnel Policy Workshops – After
discussion the Council agreed to schedule the first Personnel Policy Workshop
for Thursday, January 10th at 10:00 am. Mayor Dodson requested the Council to review
the Personnel Policy before that date. -CLOSED
-
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Action on PARTF Grant Termination
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion to return the PARTF Grant funds.
Member Ehlinger seconded the motion.
The members agreed unanimously. –
CLOSED –
B.
Action on DENR for Groundwater Monitoring Wells – The Town
Manager explained he had been talking with Bill Anderson from Appalachian State
regarding two sites (Town Hall & the Maintenance Building) for monitoring
wells for a NCDWQ Groundwater Study and the USGS interest in running some tests
in Well #5. Council Discussion followed
regarding possible other sites for the monitoring wells.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott made a
motion the Council agree in principal to the monitoring of the wells pending
agreeing on the location of the monitoring wells. Member Ehlinger seconded the motion. The members agreed unanimously. - OPEN –
C.
Action on Proclamation – National Courtesy,
Character & Citizen Month
Member Copley made a motion to
pass the Proclamation in Recognition of February being designated as National
Courtesy, Character & Citizenship Month.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott seconded the motion. The members agreed unanimously. – CLOSED –
D.
Action to Declare Five Police Glock Pistols Surplus
and Purchase by Current Police Officers – The Town Manager explained five glock
pistols had been replaced with a 75/25 percent grant (25% being the Town). He explained the service life of the pistols
is between five (5) and seven (7) years and the replaced pistols were over eight
(8) years old. The Manager recommended
that the pistols be sold to Town police officers for $200 each.
Member Copley made a motion to
declare five (5) glock pistols surplus and allow the current police officers to
purchase the surplus glock pistols.
Mayor Pro Tem DeMott seconded the motion. The members agreed unanimously. – CLOSED -
E.
Action on Bonus for Town Employees
Mayor Dodson made a motion to
give the Town Employees the same bonus as last year of $350.00. Member Copley seconded the motion. The members agreed unanimously.
- CLOSED -
F.
Action on TDA Recommended Slogan
Member Copley made a motion to
accept the TDA's recommendation for the Town of Seven Devils Slogan (Seven
Devils Discover Our "Positive Altitude"). Mayor Pro Tem DeMott seconded the
motion. The members agreed unanimously. –
CLOSED -
G.
Action on Thackurdeen Letter - Mayor Dodson
referenced a letter presented on behalf of Rambascia Thackurdeen regarding a $3,664.27
assessment for the Telemark water line extension for each of her Telemark lots
20, 21, 22, 28, and 33 which resulted in a total assessment of $18,321.33. In her letter Mrs. Thackurdeen states she is
81 years of age, unemployed, on a fixed income and the assessment poses a hardship
for her. Discussion followed and the
Council agreed they could not legally accommodate one debtor over another. The Council agreed to take no action on this
matter. – CLOSED -
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Planning Board – Vice Chairman Bob
Haugh of the Planning Board Bob said they are going to have Joe Furman from
Watauga County Planning and Inspections come and visit on January 23rd
or 24th at 3:30 regarding High Quality Water Area within a mile of
the Watauga River. Member Copley referenced
page 2, Item C – and said there was discussion about looking at the Zoning
Ordinance about items related to Special Use Permits that would apply to
Recreational Use property the Cottoms own.
At the last Planning Board meeting it was recommended that this be
tabled because there was legal action pending and she was not sure how a
discussion might relate to legal action.
After thought and discussion with some others, she wondered if the
Planning Board and the Council could have a workshop to discuss the proposed
changes in the Zoning Ordinance.
Attorney Angle stated the Town can change the Zoning Ordinance at any
time but it gets a little complicated because there is only one business we are
dealing with and you have to stay away from contract zoning. You can have general discussion of zoning it
can't be discussion related to a specific request of that party. Other properties that these zoning changes
would apply to were discussed. Mayor Pro
Tem DeMott suggested they talk to an independent party such as the Institute of
Government before proceeding. The Town
Manager agreed he and the Zoning Administrator would call the Institute of
Government and discuss contract zoning. The
Council agreed if everything seems good, the Planning Board will propose a
couple of dates for the Council and Planning Board to have a workshop.
B. Public Works – Member Copley stated she
would not be present at the next meeting and pointed out the December 18, 2007
agenda is included with the Public Works minutes. She stated they had voted John Buchanan as
Vice Chairman and she will make sure he is aware she will be out of town.
C. Public Safety – No meeting held last
month.
D. ABC Board – There were no additional
comments.
E. Financial Report – Mayor Dodson made a
motion to accept the Financial Report as presented. Mayor Pro Tem DeMott seconded the
motion. The members agreed unanimously.
F. TDA – There were no additional
comments.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Member Copley excitedly discussed
the Storm Water Management Planning Committee meeting on November 30th
2007. She explained the purpose of the
meeting had been to learn more about Derek Goddard of Blue Ridge Environmental
Consultants (BREC) and his local work. Member
Copley said Derek is available to come to the Town Council meeting in January
and provide more specific information.
She said Derek will develop a proposal that meets the Town of Seven
Devils needs and explain the grants available and what they fund. He will also prepare an agreement between
BREC and the town about the work BREC would do and if the grant application
they write is funded, they would get the contract. Member Copley said Derek will have the
proposal to the Town Manager before the next Town Council meeting so the
information can be included in the agenda packet. Mayor Pro Tem DeMott expressed the necessity
of River Keepers being kept in the loop and that he feels a River Keeper Person
will be in place very soon. Member
Copley said if River Keepers has someone in place we will be sure to keep them
informed.
RECESS
At 6:52 pm, Member Copley made
the motion to recess until Thursday, January 10th at 10:00 am. Member Ehlinger seconded the motion. The members agreed unanimously.
TOWN COUNCIL CONTINUATION MEETING
Thursday, January 10th 2008
The Seven Devils Town Council
reconvened at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 10th 2008 at Town
Hall. Members present were Mayor Bob
Dodson; Mayor Pro Tem Richard DeMott; and Council Members Bill Wilkinson; Kay
Ehlinger; and Kathy Copley. Town Manager
Brad Lambert recorded the minutes.
Mayor Dodson made a motion to
come out of recess at 10:00 am. Mayor
Pro Tem DeMott seconded the motion. The
members agreed unanimously.
There was considerable discussion
during the workshop concerning form, fit, and function of a personnel handbook
for Town employees. Approximately
one-third of the proposed handbook was reviewed.
ADJOURN
At 12:05 pm, Member Wilkinson
made a motion to adjourn. Mayor Pro Tem
DeMott seconded the motion. The members
agreed unanimously.
______________________________ ______________________________