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MINUTES WORK SESSION JUNE 2, 2005
The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners met Thursday, June 2, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. for their regular Work Session. Members present were Mayor Elizabeth Mofield and Commissioners Pat Ann McMurray, Robbie Farrell, Arthur Parker, Donna Shannon and Terry Marquez.
Others in attendance were Town Manager Bill Zell, Deputy Planner Heather Brown, Deputy Clerk Regina Rosy, Matthew Moriarity, Reporter for the Pilot and Jim Desart, Reporter for the Moore County Independent Newspaper. Planning Director Giles Hopkins and Town Clerk Nancy Matthews were absent from the meeting.
Mayor Mofield called the Work Session to order. The following items were reviewed and discussed:
1. Public Hearing on proposed budget estimate for Fiscal Year 2005-2006.
Manager Zell stated the Public Hearing for the proposed budget estimate for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 will be held on June 13th along with the reading of the budget message. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
2. Public Hearing on Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#05-04 submitted by Stainback Family Trusts for a Residential Planned Development to be located in an R-20 Residential District.
(a) Application for Site Plan Review SP#05-08 submitted by Stainback Family Trusts for a Residential Planned Development to be located in an R-20 Residential District.
Manager Zell stated the cleanest process to follow would be to have the Public Hearing and then vote on the issue immediately afterwards in order for this item to be complete.
Commissioner Farrell was concerned about having the Public Hearing and then voting on this item during the same meeting. He was concerned how this could affect property owners in the particular area.
The Board decided if there are no negative comments at the Public Hearing on June 13th, then they will go ahead and vote on this issue. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
3. Public Hearing for Rezoning RZ#05-03 submitted by Ribera-Dixon Development LLC to rezone property located on the east side of NC 5 Highway between Turning Leaf Way and Olivia Lane from R-20 Residential District and HC Highway Commercial District to R-10 Residential District.
Mayor Mofield asked whether R-10 zoning would allow multi-family units. Manager Zell stated it would allow multi-family units. He then stated this item will be discussed further after the Public Hearing on June 13th. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
4. Public Hearing for Rezoning RZ#05-04 submitted by the Town of Aberdeen to rezone one additional parcel located behind the recently rezoned parcels along US #1 Highway between Elm Street and Maple Street from R-6 Residential District to O-I Office and Institutional.
No comments were made regarding this item. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
5. Public Hearing for Zoning Code Text Amendment ZA#05-02 regarding Section 155.087 SET TIME LIMIT; EXPIRATION to allow for the extension of conditional use permits.
Deputy Planner Heather Brown distributed the revised proposed Zoning Code Text Amendment ZA#05-02 to the Board due to some changes Attorney Robert Hornik had made. There was no discussion regarding this item. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
6. Public Hearing for Street Name Amendment SNA#05-01 regarding adding L. (Wick) Wicker’s Way to Section 157.01 Street Naming and Renaming.
Mayor Mofield asked who had suggested the naming of this street. Manager Zell stated Mr. Marshall Donathan had suggested this naming of the street. Agenda item as Public Hearing.
7. Application for Conditional Use Permit CU#05-03 submitted by Nextel for a wireless co-location on an existing tower in the C-I Commercial and Industrial (Light) District.
Mayor Mofield requested that Nextel provide the Board with more legible maps because the ones they were given were not clear. Deputy Planner Heather Brown informed the Board she could make them full-size copies of the maps if they so desired. Agenda item as New Business.
8. Increase of the Planning & Zoning Fees.
Manager Zell explained to the Board that the increase in planning and zoning fees would bring Aberdeen more in line with the fees charged by neighboring municipalities. Commissioner Shannon asked what difference in revenue these changes would bring to the Town. Deputy Planner Heather Brown stated she would research and bring back to the Board as to what the difference in revenue would be.
Commissioner Marquez asked when was the last time that these fees had been increased. Deputy Planner Heather Brown stated fees were last increased in 2002.
Mayor Mofield suggested that rezoning fees and conditional use permit fees be increased higher so that more consideration will be given to future applications. She believes there should be more respect for our zoning that is currently in place and if fees are increased, then more thought will be given to future applications. She suggested the fee be $100/acre instead of $20/acre.
Commissioner McMurray requested that this item not be voted on until the Work Session on July 28th in order to have time to further review.
9. Increase of the Water and Sewer Tap Fees.
Manager Zell stated by increasing the water and sewer tap fees, the Public Works Department will have more revenue in order to do much needed future improvements. This item will be discussed in more detail at the Work Session on July 28th.
10. Increase in Garbage Pick-up Fees.
Manager Zell explained he is looking at putting the increase for the garbage pick-up fees in the FY 2005-2006 budget so he needs to know soon what the Board’s thoughts are on this issue. Commissioner Marquez stated she thinks the fees should not be increased since the Town is doing well financially and concentrate more on other areas to increase fees. Manager Zell explained to the Board the Town is not even close to covering the cost of sanitation expenses with the current cost of garbage pick-up fees.
11. Recommendation of Longevity Increase.
Manager Zell presented to the Board the proposed longevity increase plan. He explained that by increasing employee base salaries by only 2% and adding this longevity plan, this would save the Town $40,000 over a three-year period rather than giving employees a 3% base salary increase with no longevity increase. He thinks this is important to approve this longevity increase in order to keep good employees and motivate them to stay with the Town. The Board was in favor of the longevity increase. Agenda item as New Business.
12. Pending Planning Board Vacancies.
Commissioner McMurray stated she knew of two people who would be interested in serving on the Planning Board. No consensus from the Board on nominations at this time. Agenda item as Old Business.
13. General Provisions Amendment GP#05-02 to Section 31.31 Composition; Terms; Vacancies regarding successive terms
Commissioner McMurray stated she feels there needs to be a term limit for Planning Board members because there are several citizens who are interested in serving on this Board.
Mayor Mofield agreed that it would be good to have term limits so that a member would not be tied down for too long a period and get burnt out. Agenda item as New Business.
14. Other Business.
a. Manager Zell informed the Board that Elizabeth Cox with Habitat for Humanity had contacted him. Habitat is planning to build five houses in a one-week period on Keyser/Blyther Streets. However, they are going to need to have infrastructure in place before they begin construction. He stated the Town will need to apply for a Division of Community Assistance Grant in order to fund this project. The consensus of the Board was to apply for the grant.
b. Manager Zell informed the Board of a letter Public Works Director Rickie Monroe had received from the railroad. A new policy has been established and no trees or shrubs can be closer than three feet from the cross-ties and must be trimmed so that nothing protrudes toward the railroad within 23 feet in height. He told the Board that either the Town could do this maintenance work or have the railroad do this, which would mean much more cutting than necessary. Mayor Mofield was very upset and stated the Town should do nothing at this time.
c. Manager Zell reminded the Board of Clean Sweep/Litter Sweep on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Everyone attending should meet at the Town Hall parking lot located on N. Poplar Street.
d. Manager Zell informed the Board if the Town is going to get the new telephone system through Alltel, that action needs to taken immediately. He stated the Sprint contract will run out on August 20th and they must be given a 45-day notice. He stated the new equipment would need to be ordered from Alltel now because some items could possibly be on back order. After some discussion, the consensus of the Board was in favor the new telephone system and to proceed.
e. Commissioner Farrell said a citizen had called him asking if he could use a golf cart to transport customers from his business across the street to the Aberdeen Commons Shopping Center. Manager Zell stated he would contact Police Chief Mike Connor to look at the liability and safety of this issue. Commissioner McMurray suggested a crosswalk be placed in this location.
15. Closed Session – Pending Litigation
A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to go into Closed Session to discuss pending litigation. Motion unanimously carried.
16. Adjourn.
A motion was made by Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to leave Closed Session and return to the Work Session. Motion unanimously carried.
The Board returned to the Regular Work Session. With no action taken, a motion was made by Commissioner Shannon, seconded by Commissioner Farrell, to adjourn the Work Session. Motion unanimously carried.
_________________________ _______________________ Regina M. Rosy, Deputy Clerk Elizabeth B. Mofield, Mayor |