Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Follow Up – May 2019
TOWN OF HOLDEN BEACH
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ REGULAR MEETING
HOLDEN BEACH TOWN HALL – PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019 – 7:00 P.M.
1. Invocation
2. Call to Order/ Welcome
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Agenda Approval Approved as amended. Item 16 was removed due to illness and an Executive Session was added to the end of the meeting.
5. Approval of Minutes All Approved
a. Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 28, 2019
b. Minutes of the Special Meeting of April 12, 2019
c. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 16, 2019
d. Minutes of the Special Meeting of April 19, 2019
6. Public Comments on Agenda Items None
7. Recognition of PAR Course Eagle Scout Project, Todd Robbins – Christy Ferguson Todd’s project added gravel to the PAR course.
8. Recognition of International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Award of Credentialed Manager Status to Town Manager Hewett – Tommy Combs, ICMA Senior Advisor Town Manager approved to join group that provides mentoring and advice to other Town Managers based on experience and education.
9. Lockwood Folly Inlet Sedimentation Analysis Presentation – Fran Way, Applied Technology & Management Mr. Way presented findings of an engineering study done to show that sand from Lockwood Folly Inlet should be placed on the East End of Holden Beach instead of Oak Island. Sand from the last project was placed by the Corps of Engineers on Oak Island’s west end, which is accretional.
10. Fire Department Update – Fire Chief Doug Todd David Ward reported for Chief Todd. Department had 1429 calls in 2018, 211 (15%) were on the island. Asking for no increase in fees for 2019. Staffing on Island begins May 24, 7am-7pm. Did not discuss letters.
a. Letter of Support for West End Access
b. Letter of Support for Second Water Tower
11. Police Report – Chief Jeremy Dixon There were 14 incidents last month including breaking and entering and larceny. Owners are returning to houses to find they were broken into during the winter. There were 15 traffic stops and one DWI. Pets are now prohibited from the strand between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Beach equipment must also be removed.
12. Discussion and Possible Action on Status of 2018 Audit – Mayor Pro Tem Fletcher A draft of the 2017-2018 audit has been received. Town Manager needs to prepare management summary and response to items that were found in the audit. He plans to submit this next week.
13. Discussion and Possible Action – Review of Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 Budget Message – Commissioner Freer wants the budget to be revenue neutral, that rate is $0.20/$100. He would also like to see the fund balance ratio improve and not take money from the BPART fund. Commissioner Sullivan would like to reduce the tax rate even further, an additional two cents to $0.18/$100. After discussion, Commissioner Sullivan made a motion to reduce the proposed tax rate which didn’t receive a second. Motion was made to reduce to revenue neutral rate, which carried unanimously. Town Manager will go back and revise budget accordingly.
14. Receipt of Inlet and Beach Protection Board Report – Commissioner Freer Received. Board’s ongoing work was discussed and members were thanked.
15. Discussion and Possible Action – Construction Management Services of the Vacuum Sewer System #4 Upgrade Status Report – Public Works Director Clemmons Contract for Station #3 (800 OBW block) was received but not yet reviewed. This station will be more difficult and costly due to acoustic engineering required.
16. Discussion and Possible Action on Proposed Ordinance for Maximum House Size Construction – Planning Director Evans Postponed to next month due to illness.
17. Discussion and Possible Scheduling of a Date for Interviews for Inlet & Beach Protection Board Vacancy – Town Clerk Finnell Scheduled for prior to next BOC meeting, June 18, 2019.
18. Discussion and Possible Action on Ordinance 19-08, An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Holden Beach – Town Clerk Finnell Housekeeping issue, approved unanimously.
19. Town Manager’s Report The Town received a CAMA grant for $21,000 for a walkway and a reimbursement from FEMA for some of the storm damage from last year’s storms. Summer Concerts start this weekend. The Splash Pad will be open this weekend. Island-wide roll back of trash cans began today. Recycling becomes weekly as of next Tuesday. Trash cans on the beach were being added today.
20. Mayor’s Comments Has had some calls about smoking on the beach. Expects a large crowd this weekend.
21. Board of Commissioners’ Comments Mayor Pro Tem Fletcher discussed the turtle nesting. Commissioner Sullivan thanked attendees and passed along Commissioner Kwiatkowski’s apologies for her absence. Commissioner Butler encouraged everyone to be safe this weekend. Commissioner Freer also encouraged safety in light of the rip current dangers.
22. Public Comments on General Items Ashley Royal shared some general thoughts about the meeting.
23. Adjournment The Board went into executive session for advice from their attorney. No action was taken.