MINUTES

FEBRUARY 14, 2005

 

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners met Monday, February 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. for their regular Board 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.  Planning Board member Elease Goodwin was also in attendance.

 

 1.      Call to Order

 

Mayor Mofield called the meeting to order.  She then recognized Boy Scout Troop 800 from Page Church, who were in attendance.  Evan McKinnon, Troop Leader, stated the scout troop has been active for twenty-five continuous years.  He stated the boys are working on the citizenship requirements for their merit badges.

 

Mayor Mofield also recognized Mr. Jim Austin, General Manager of the new BestBuy store, which is to open on February 25, 2005.  Mr. Austin stated BestBuy would employ approximately seventy-four people.  He invited all those in attendance to be present for opening day on the 25th. 

 

Mayor Mofield then stated there were two Public Hearings to be held.

 

 2.      PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

a.       Public Hearing on a petition for contiguous annexation requested by Gwendolyn Hartson for property at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C.

 

Mayor Mofield opened the first Public Hearing on a petition for contiguous annexation requested by Gwendolyn Hartson for property at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C.

 

With no public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on petition for contiguous annexation requested by Gwendolyn Hartson closed.

 

b.       Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-09 requested by Gerald E. Bateman for Record and Data Storage Solutions, Inc., NC 211 Highway in an existing portion of the Pinnacle Furnishing Building, formerly known as Doxey Furniture.

 

Mayor Mofield then opened the Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-09 requested by Gerald E. Bateman for Record and Data Storage Solutions, Inc.,  for public comments and Board discussion.

 

Mr. Bateman stated there was a need for this type of record and data storage in this area and he was looking forward to serving Aberdeen and Moore County.

 

With no further public comments or Board discussion, Mayor Mofield declared the Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-09 closed.

 

 3.      Setting of the Agenda

 

Manager Zell asked that under New Business, 8-a, to table for further review at the next Work Session.

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Marquez, to approve the Setting of the Agenda as amended.  Motion unanimously carried.

 

 4.      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 January 10, 2005; Regular Work Session of January 27, 2005.

 

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

  

 5.      Financial Report

 

Finance Officer Beth Wentland gave the monthly financial report for the month of January.  She stated, in the General Fund, the January revenues exceeded the expenses by a wide margin of $193,128.18, thereby bringing the year-to-date net gain of $406,125.96.

 

Ms. Wentland stated, in the Water/Sewer Fund, January revenues were low because of the off-month for utility billing. And as a result, the expenses were greater than the revenues by $84,490.55 bringing the year-to-date net gain of $83,326.70.

 

Ms. Wentland stated as of January 31st in the General Fund, the Town has now earned 68.43% of the budgeted revenues and incurred 64.92% of the budgeted expenses.  In the Water/Sewer Fund, the Town has earned 49.16% of the budgeted revenues and incurred 43.89% of budged expenses as of January 31, 2005.  

 

 

 6.      Informal Discussion and Public Comment

 

a.       Commissioner Marquez commented on the grant that the fire department had received pertaining to the distribution of smoke detectors to Town residents.  Manager Zell stated this information pertaining to the smoke detectors has been placed on the Town’s TV screen and in the newsletter.  He stated that citizens may contact the fire department to request a device to be placed in their residence.

 

b.       Mayor Mofield stated that Mac Israel, Music Director at SCC, took a picture of the Depot during the last snow.  She stated from that picture, Mr. Israel created a picture note/post card.  She stated reproductions may be made if the Town so desires.

 

  7.     Old Business

 

a.       Consideration of adoption of voluntary annexation ordinance petitioned by Gwendolyn Hartson for property located at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C. with effective date of annexation as February 28, 2005.

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Shannon, seconded by Commissioner McMurray, to adopt voluntary annexation ordinance as petitioned by Gwendolyn Hartson for property located at 607 Park Drive, Aberdeen, N. C. with effective date of annexation as February 28, 2005.  Motion unanimously carried.

 

 8.      New Business

 

a.                  Consideration of approval of 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.

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Farrell, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to make the following findings:

 

A.               That the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the conditional use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort, or general welfare;

B.                That the conditional use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted or substantially diminish and impair property values within the neighborhood;

C.               That the establishment of the conditional use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permitted in the district;

D.               That the exterior architectural appeal and functional plan of any proposed structure will not be so at variance with either the exterior architectural appeal and functional plan of the structures already constructed or in the course of construction in the immediate neighborhood or the character of the applicable district as to cause a substantial depreciation in the property values within the neighborhood;

E.                That adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, and/or necessary facilities have been or are being provided;

F.                That adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide ingress and egress so designed as to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets; and

G.               That the conditional use shall, in all other respects, conform to the applicable regulations of the district in which it is located except as such regulations may in each instance be modified by the Board of Commissioners pursuant to the recommendation of the Planning Board.   Should any of the above conditions hereto be invalid, this permit shall become null and void and of no effect); 

 

and to approve Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#04-08 to amend Conditional Use Permit CU#02-03 to allow a five-foot front setback encroachment and a four-foot right side encroachment for Lot #32 and to allow a seven-foot front setback encroachment for Lot #33.   Motion unanimously carried. 

 

b.                 Consideration of approval of Preliminary Plat Review PLP#04-04 submitted by William C. Burrow for property located within Blue Street, Bethesda Avenue, Campbell Street and Main Street.

 

Item tabled until the next Work Session.

 

c.                 Consideration of adoption of a Resolution seeking North Carolina General Assembly Funding for the Support of the Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Regional Land Use Advisory Commission (RLUAC).

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Marquez, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to adopt the Resolution seeking North Carolina General Assembly Funding for the Support of the Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Regional Land Use Advisory Commissioner (RLUAC).  Motion unanimously carried.

 

 9.      Other Business

 

a.       Manager Zell gave a brief update pertaining to the notification of water testing on Well #12.  He stated letters were sent to residents affected by this well.  He stated he hopefully will hear the results of the testing soon. 

 

          A resident questioned why letters were sent out so late when testing was months past.  Manager Zell explained how the state requires the sampling of the water.  He also stated that water from Well #12 goes into the main line and by the time the water gets to the tank, the water is combined with four other wells and then is greatly diluted.  He then stated if the lab test from the state comes back with the same reading, then the Town will take this well off line until the situation is corrected.

 

b.       Manager Zell informed the Board pertaining to the Watershed Committee meeting with the County on Tuesday, February 15th.  He stated this committee is working on the situation on Highway 5 and will try to bring this to a resolution.  He stated, basically, the Town is trying to allow some development in order to protect this area.

 

c.       Manager Zell distributed to the Board a calendar for March and April.  He stated for the March 5th Retreat, to see if another date could be set.  After some discussion, the consensus of the Board was maybe meeting several evenings or to meet on March 19th.  The Board then tentatively set the Retreat for Saturday, March 19th.

   

10.     Adjourn

 

With no further items for consideration or discussion, 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