Smithfield
Town Council report from September 1 session |
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Council members present:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, Roger Wood
Council approves plan for Veterans Day
fireworks show, likely at Community Park
Town Manager Mike Scott presented the idea to honor the nation's military veterans and give townspeople an uplifting event in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. "It's very difficult to find things for the community to do and it not be a mass gathering," he told the council.
He and town staff have tentatively agreed on a fireworks display at Community Park where there's lots of room in nearby parking lots for folks to watch the show from inside their vehicles.
There's also a possibility of arranging a flyover of jets from Seymour Johnson Air Force base at Goldsboro and perhaps a performance by Army parachutists, the manager reported.
"We've got plenty of unspent funds in the Parks & Recreation budget for this because we haven't had part-time employee expenses" as a result of recent shutdowns of the town's recreation programs and facilities, he noted.
The council gave its wholehearted approval to the idea, with details, including location, yet to be finalized. Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11.
FINAL APPROVAL FOR NEW UTILITY LATE-PAYMENT DATES
The council adopted a plan agreed upon at last month's meeting to extend by 10 days the deadline for paying utility bills. Smithfield customers of water, sewer, and electrical services are divided into two groups: one with bills due by the 5th of the month, the other by the 20th. The new policy means the first group may now pay without penalty as late as the 14th of the month and the second group as late as the 29th. Finance Director Greg Siler said mailed payments must be received no later than those dates to avoid penalties; postmarked dates will not suffice. On a related matter, Town Manager Scott said the amount of arrears in utility payments to the town has been reduced from about $128,000 a month ago to about $22,000 now, thanks to contracts recently negotiated with customers who have agreed to pay up within the next six months.
TIGHTER RULES ON OVERGROWN WEEDS ADOPTED
The council adopted a revised town ordinance on Noxious Weeds and Grass that Planning Director Stephen Wensman and Town Attorney Bob Spence Jr. said would tighten up the rules and streamline the process for enforcement. The new ordinance targets repeat offenders, Mr. Wensman said, as the current process for enforcement "takes so long it appears ineffective" to those who file complaints with the town. The new law provides "greater clarity" in determining whether wooded areas are covered by the rules, and it clearly states that maintenance of public rights-of-way is the responsibility of adjoining property owners, Mr. Wensman said. Councilman Travis Scott wondered aloud if the N.C. Department of Transportation could be held accountable for not properly keeping its roadsides mowed. "With this new policy, can we fine the state?" he asked.
READ, in final draft form, the new ordinance adopted by the council>
ZONING AMENDMENT PERMITS CHILD CARE AT CHURCHES
At the request of a church owner and the Planning Department, the council amended the town's zoning ordinances to allow child-care centers as an "accessory use" at places of worship, which may locate in any zoning district. Lesley Thomas, who made the request, is owner (and her husband is pastor) of a church located on Second Avenue in East Smithfield that plans to expand facilities to accommodate day care for youngsters up to age nine. After amending the ordinance and conducting a public hearing on her request, the council approved a special-use permit for the new operation. Council members asked why such programs have been disallowed in churches by the town's zoning rules. Planning Director Wensman said they were permitted until 2008, when the town's Unified Development Ordinance was rewritten to prohibit day cares in residential districts. In granting Ms. Thomas the permit for her child-care center, council members expressed displeasure with the rule prohibiting such operations at churches and instructed the town to refund a $400 application fee Ms. Thomas had paid to request the zoning-law amendment.
Rita Barksdale, director of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, brought the board an update on efforts to get the library's finances in order following a budgetary shortfall this past fiscal year. By laying off two full-time and two part-time employees and switching to a new system of cataloguing and processing books and other materials by vendors, the library has saved $130,000, she said. "We're doing our due diligence to be good stewards with our finances," she assured the council, which refused to grant the library's full request for additional aid from the town in 2020-21.
TOWN'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICER IS AFRICAN AMERICAN
Alexander Watts took the oath of office administered by Mayor Moore to become the newest member of the understaffed Smithfield Police Department. He recently completed Basic Law Enforcement Training to qualify for his service with the town. His employment leaves the Police Department with three vacant positions.
SCHOOL-BOARD CANDIDATE MAKES HIS PITCH
During the "Citizen Comments" time set aside during each month's meeting, the council heard from Rick Mercier, one of eight candidates in the running for four seats on the Johnston County Board of Education up for election November 3. He said he has been "extremely discouraged" by "incompetence we've seen at times from the present school board," and he pledged to "put the interests of families and students ahead of developers." Mr. Mercier, who resides in Flowers Plantation east of Clayton, told the council he has a daughter enrolled at Smithfield-Selma High School this year.
CONSULTANT CHOSEN FOR RISK-ASSESSMENT PLAN
The council authorized Public Utilities Director Ted Credle to negotiate a contract not to exceed $60,000 with Withers & Ravenel, an engineering consultant based in Cary, "to develop risk assessments and emergency-response plans" for the town's water system as required by the American Infrastructure Act approved by Congress in 2018. Mr. Credle said six firms submitted proposals for the work, with Withers & Ravenel rated most qualified by the town's staff. Unlike other projects, the town is restricted by state law from seeking monetary bids on professional services such as this, Mr. Credle noted. Councilman Travis Scott cast the only no vote on a motion approving the Cary firm's selection.
EQUITY DRIVE'S REBUILD TO INCLUDE NO-PARKING SIGNS
The council authorized "No Parking" signs to be erected along Equity Drive as the deteriorating street is rebuilt with a sidewalk along one side. "This is intended to eliminate parking on the shoulder of the street, so the street is not damaged further," noted Police Chief R.K. Powell. Town Manager Scott said reconstruction of the street should begin later this month. Equity Drive serves hotels and other businesses as a loop off Outlet Center Drive.
FIRE DEPARTMENT GETS A FEDERAL FEMA GRANT
The council approved acceptance of a $32,381 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to install an exhaust-removal system at Fire Station No. 2 in West Smithfield. The town will put up 5% of the project's cost --- $1,619 --- as a required match for the grant. The town had requested $160,500, but other items in the request were ruled ineligible for this particular source of FEMA funding, Fire Chief John Blanton reported.
PUBLIC WORKS GETS NEW "ZERO TURN" MOWER
The council approved the purchase from low-bidder W. Landis Bullock Industrial and Contractor Supply of Smithfield for $12,251. Bullock's bid was the only one of three that fell within the department's budget of $13,000 for the new mower.