MINUTES

JANUARY 10, 2005

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners met Monday, January 10, 2005 for their first regular meeting.  Members present were Mayor Elizabeth Mofield and Commissioners Pat Ann McMurray, Donna Shannon, Arthur Parker, Robbie Farrell and Terry Marquez.  Others in attendance were Town Manager Bill Zell, Planning Director Giles Hopkins, Deputy Planner Heather Brown, Finance Officer Beth Wentland, Town Clerk Nancy Matthews and Matthew Moriarity, Reporter for the Pilot.   Aberdeen Planning Board member Elease Goodwin was also in attendance.

1.       Call to Order

Mayor Mofield called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  She stated there were four Public Hearings to be held.

          PUBLIC HEARINGS

a.                 Petition by Willis and Johnsie Calcutt requesting contiguous annexation of property located at 931 Magnolia Drive, Aberdeen, N. C.

Mayor Mofield opened the first Public Hearing on petition for contiguous annexation requested by Willis and Johnsie Calcutt for public comments and Board discussion.

With no public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on petition by Willis and Johnsie Calcutt requesting contiguous annexation closed.

b.                 Petition by Jackie and Brenda Upchurch requesting non-contiguous annexation of property located at 625 Arnold Avenue, Aberdeen, N. C.

Mayor Mofield then opened the Public Hearing on petition for non-contiguous annexation requested by Jackie and Brenda Upchurch for public comments and Board discussion.

With no public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on petition by Jackie and Brenda Upchurch requesting non-contiguous annexation closed.

c.                 Petition by John D. Berggren requesting non-contiguous annexation of property located at NC #211 Highway (Doxey Furniture property), Aberdeen, N. C.

Mayor Mofield then opened the Public Hearing on petition for non-contiguous annexation requested by John Berggren for public comments and Board discussion.

With no public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on a petition by John D. Berggren requesting non-contiguous annexation closed.

d.                 Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-08 to encroach the setbacks of lots specifically known as Lots 32 and 33, Glen Laurel – Phase 2.

Mayor Mofield then opened the Public Hearing on application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-08 to encroach the setbacks of lots specifically known as Lots 32 and 33, Glen Laurel – Phase 2.

Planning Director Giles Hopkins stated that new maps were distributed to the Board of which the request by Mr. Robert Stafford has been modified asking on Lot 32, a five-foot variance on the two corners.  On Lot 33, Mr. Stafford requests up to a 6.84 modification on setbacks.  He stated that the Planning Board will review and bring their recommendation back to the Town Board.

Mr. Stafford then reviewed with the Board the sizes of the two proposed houses and their attempt to keep the houses uniformed in this area.  Mr. Stafford informed the Board on the back side of the lots, there is a pre-existing sewer easement, which they cannot encroach on.

With no further public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on application CU#04-08 closed.

2.       Setting of the Agenda

With no additions or deletions to the Agenda, a motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Marquez, to approve the Setting of the Agenda as presented.  Motion unanimously carried.

3.       Approval of the Consent Agenda

All items listed below are considered routine or have been discussed at length in previous meetings and will be enacted by one motion.  No separate discussion will be held except on request by a member of the Board of Commissioners.

a.                  Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of December 13, 2004; Closed Session of December 13, 2004; Work Session of January 4, 2005.

Commissioner Shannon stated in the minutes of January 4^th, should be corrected to state: All employees who answer the phones for any departments within the Town, should identify themselves when speaking. (Minutes have been corrected.) 

A motion was then made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner McMurray, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the noted correction.  Motion unanimously carried.

4.       Financial Report

Finance Officer Beth Wentland gave a brief financial report pertaining to the revenues and expenses for the month of December.  She stated in the General Fund, the revenues were less than the expenses by $84,682.00 thereby reducing year-to-date net gain $212,991.34.  She stated in the Water/Sewer Fund, the revenues were greater than expenses by $106,930.91 giving a year-to-date net gain $167,817.25.

Ms. Wentland stated the General Fund has earned 55.90% of its budgeted revenues and incurred 56.64% of its budgeted expenses.  She then stated the Water/Sewer Fund has earned 47.79% of its budgeted revenues and incurred 37.18% of its budgeted expenses.

5.       Informal Discussion and Public Comment

Manager Zell introduced to the Board the Town’s new Police Chief, Michael Connor.  He stated Chief Connor has been with the Town for twenty-two years in which he served as Lieutenant. He stated this was Mr. Connor’s first official Board meeting serving as Chief of Police. 

Manager Zell then introduced to the Board the new Athletic Coordinator, Ms. Laura Bender.  He stated he was looking forward to working with both Chief Connor and Ms. Bender.

Manager Zell distributed to the Board a copy of a letter he received from Mr. Jim Austin of BestBuy.  In the letter was an apology for the error in the newspaper stating that BestBuy would be in Southern Pines when in fact, is in Aberdeen.

Mayor Mofield informed the Board that Curtis McInnis, former Mayor and was the Town Clerk for many years, is very ill.  She asked everyone to keep Curtis in their thoughts and prayers.

6.       Old Business

a.                 Consideration of adoption of an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by Willis and Johnsie Calcutt for property located at 931 Magnolia Drive with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.

A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Marquez, to adopt an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by Willis and Johnsie Calcutt for property located at 931 Magnolia Drive with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.  Motion unanimously carried.

b.                 Consideration of adoption of an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by Jackie and Brenda Upchurch for property located at 625 Arnold Avenue with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.

A motion was made by Commissioner McMurray, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to adopt an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by Jackie and Brenda Upchurch for property located at 625 Arnold Avenue with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.  Motion unanimously carried.

c.                 Consideration of adoption of an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by John D. Berggren for property located at NC #211 Highway (Doxey Furniture property) with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.

A motion was made by Commissioner Farrell, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to adopt an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the Town of Aberdeen as requested by John D. Berggren for property located at NC #211 Highway (Doxey Furniture property) with effective date of annexation as January 31, 2005.  Motion unanimously carried.

7.       New Business

a.                 Consideration of accepting a petition by Gwendolyn Hartson requesting contiguous annexation of property located at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C. and adopt a Resolution Directing the Clerk to Investigate a Petition Received under G.S. 160A031.

A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to accept a petition by Gwendolyn Hartson requesting contiguous annexation of property located at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C. and adopt a Resolution Directing the Clerk to Investigate a Petition Received under G.S. 160A-31.  Motion unanimously carried.

b.                 Accept the Clerk’s Certificate of Sufficiency and adopt a Resolution Fixing Date of Public Hearing on Question of Annexation Pursuant to G.S. 160A-31 for February 14, 2005.

A motion was made by Commissioner Shannon, seconded by Commissioner Marquez, to accept the Clerk’s Certificate of Sufficiency and adopt a Resolution Fixing Date of Public Hearing on Question of Annexation Pursuant to G.S. 160A-31 for February 14, 2005.  Motion unanimously carried.

8.       Other Business

Manager Zell informed the Board he had the Subordination Deed pertaining to the American Legion Building.  He stated that the Town of Aberdeen would have first option to pay off this loan if the American Legion failed in its obligation. If the Town paid off the loan, then the property would revert back to the Town of Aberdeen.

A motion was then made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Shannon, to approve the Subordination Deed for the American Legion.  Motion unanimously carried.

9.       Closed Session – Property Acquisition

A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to go into Closed Session to discuss property acquisition.  Motion unanimously carried.

10.     Adjourn

The Board returned to Regular Session.  With no action taken, a motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to adjourn the meeting.  Motion unanimously carried.

_____________________                              _______________________

Nancy M. Matthews, Town Clerk                       Elizabeth B. Mofield, Mayor