Smithfield
Town Council
    report from June 1 session

Council members present: Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, Marlon Lee,
Steve Rabil, Travis Scott
Absent: John Dunn, David Stevens, Roger Wood


LAWRENCE DAVIS PROMOTED TO HEAD PUBLIC WORKS

The council approved the promotion of Lawrence Davis from Public Works superintendent to Public Works director. He had been serving as acting director since Lenny Branch retired from the director's position earlier this year.

Mr. Davis has been employed by the town since 2007. He was promoted to crew leader for the General Maintenance Division in 2014 and to Public Works superintendent in 2016.

A graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School, Mr. Lawrence attended St. Augustine's University in Raleigh for two years and holds several training certificates related to Public Works.

His annual salary as director is $70,013. In addition, he receives a $50 monthly cell-phone stipend and a take-home town vehicle for work purposes only.

"Lawrence Davis has been operating as Public Works director since January 2021 and has done an outstanding job," Town Manager Mike Scott noted in a memo recommending the promotion.

Regarding the retirement of Fire Chief John Blanton, effective June 1, Mr. Scott announced that Assistant Chief Jeremey Daughtry is serving as acting chief until Mr. Blanton's successor is chosen. Meanwhile, the town is advertising for applicants for the position.
RESIDENT WANTS ALLEY GARBAGE PICKUP CONTINUED

During the Public Comments portion of Tuesday's meeting, Rodney Taylor of South First Street asked the council to reconsider its budget-related decision to discontinue using alleyways behind a number of South Smithfield residences for weekly garbage collection. "We're not happy about the decision," he said, speaking for his neighbors. "People should have been notified." Noting that the change in service is not yet in effect, Mayor Moore said "we're in the process of making these notifications" to affected residents.


 CONTRACT AWARDED FOR RESURFACING STREETS

The council approved a $240,627 contract with low-bidder Garris Grading & Paving of Farmville to resurface segments of 11 different streets throughout town. "How are these streets being picked?" asked Councilman Lee, who cast the lone dissenting vote against the contract.

When Mayor Moore said the selections are based on a consultant's study done "several years ago," Mr. Lee said he's "sick and tired" of such studies and suggested town officials and staff check out the streets first-hand to see which ones are in most need of repair.

Here's the list of streets to be resurfaced under the contract approved Tuesday:

• 100 block of Daughtry Street.
• 116-117 block of Moon Beam cul-de-sac.
• 200-215 block of Rodgers Circle.
• 500-800 blocks of West Wellons Street.
• Magnolia Drive cul-de-sac.
• 100 block of North Fifth Street.
• 54-56 block of White Oak Drive.
• 1000-1009 block of Cherry Street.
• 2-5 and 6-13 blocks of Eden Drive.
• 900 block of Northern Avenue.
• 600 block of Caswell Street.


SAINT ANN COLUMBARIUM APPROVED FOR 4,000 NICHES

Following a quasi-judicial public hearing that drew no opposition to the proposal, the council approved a special-use permit for Saint Ann Catholic Church to build a landscaped columbarium on its grounds that eventually could provide 4,000 burial niches.

Dean Penny, the church's finance chairman, said the church currently has more than 7,000 members and "no burial options" like a conventional graveyard to accommodate its congregants. He called the columbarium concept for interring cremated human remains the "most feasible and environmentally friendly option" available to the church.

Following terms of a newly enacted town ordinance regulating columbarium of the size proposed, the church will put 15% of niche sales into a perpetual-care fund that could grow to $2.4 million once the entire project is built, Mr. Penny noted.

At Mayor Moore's suggestion, the council added a condition to the permit requiring the church to provide the town with an annual financial statement for the perpetual-care fund.


FIRST STEP TAKEN FOR AMAZON SITE'S ANNEXATION

The Samet Corporation and its investment partners have requested annexation to the town of their 193-acre tract where the Amazon processing center is being constructed in West Smithfield. The council approved the first step in the process, which requires the town clerk to "investigate the sufficiency of the petition." Approval of the actual annexation will come at a subsequent council session.


UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO GET ONLINE "SMART PORTAL"

Utilities Director Ted Credle announced that the town's electric customers will be able to track their power usage and billings through an online "Smart Portal" application, effective July 6. The service for town customers will come free of charge, he noted. He said the service will be especially useful for large commercial customers, giving them the capability of downloading the data into spreadsheets for analysis. Providing the service is costing the town about $5,000 to set up, Mr. Credle told the council.


RESIDENT COMPLAINS ABOUT DAMAGE TO LAWNS

During Public Comments, Emma Gemmell of Hancock Street complained about town crews damaging her lawn when picking up yard debris placed behind the street curb as required by the town. "Those scooper things take my grass," she exclaimed. She pointed out that putting trash into street gutters creates stormwater problems, especially during heavy downpours.


CHURCH CONCERT AT AMPHITHEATER APPROVED

The council approved a permit for Compass Community Church to conduct a concert with amplified sound at the Neuse River Amphitheater on the Town Commons from noon till 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26.


DAV CHAPTER MAY CONTINUE USING BUILDING

The council renewed a lease agreement with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 44 for its use of a former dwelling on town property at 1500 Buffalo Road as the chapter's headquarters. The chapter will pay the town just $1 annually but will pay for utility services from the town and maintain liability insurance. The chapter has occupied the structure since 2010 and has spent $10,300 since then upgrading the HVAC and sewer systems, according to a memo to the council.


 APPEARANCE COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENT

The council reappointed Peggy Scott to a third term on the town's Appearance Commission. She is the wife of Town Manager Mike Scott. Meanwhile, current vacancies on various town advisory boards include two positions on the Appearance Commission, two on the Historic Properties Commission, one in-town seat on the Board of Adjustment, and three seats on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee including two slots for high-school representatives.
JUNE 24 SESSION FOR YEAR-END BUDGET FIXES

The council recessed Tuesday's monthly meeting until 7 p.m. Thursday, June 24 when year-end budget amendments will be considered for approval. That's a task that must be done before the start of the new fiscal year July 1.
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