Town of Woodland Board Minutes
Date: August 1, 2019
7:00 PM

Board/Staff Present:

David Cooper – Commissioner/Mayor Pro Tem
Brian Christison - Commissioner
Barbara Outland – Commissioner
Pat Liverman – Commissioner
Donielle McDermott – Town Clerk
Marshall Lassiter – ORC
Mayor Manuel was absent

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a moment of silent reflection.

Call to Order: The mayor pro tem called the meeting to order at 7pm.

Approval of Agenda: The first item of business was the approval of the agenda. Commissioner Liverman made a recommendation to add item “a” under number 4, Public Comments, updates from last meeting. Clerk McDermott made a recommendation to add “d – Boat Factory, e – CDBG Grant, and f – Asset Management Grant” to the Clerk Report. Commissioner Christison made a motion to accept the agenda with these changes. Commissioner Liverman seconded and the motion carried.

Approval of Minutes: The next item of business was the approval or amendment of the minutes from the Regular Board Meeting dated July 11, 2019 and Closed Session Minutes dated July 11, 2019. Commissioner Liverman made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Consideration of Bills: Commissioner Liverman made a motion that all bills be paid along with any other regular bills that come in after this date. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.
a. Commissioner Liverman spoke with Cincy and Craig Ellison in regards to the rooster complaint that was discussed at the last meeting. She stated the talk went well, but Craig Ellison asked if the town planned to do anything about the people whose chickens are running loose in their yards. There was some discussion on this, and Mrs. McDermott volunteered to check with other towns about their animal ordinance asking if they specifically include roosters. Commissioner Liverman made a motion to table this topic until the next meeting. Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion carried.

Commissioner Liverman checked with Dr. Stanley’s daughter about dates for the ceremony/reception in memory of Dr. Stanley. August 18, 2019 from 4-5 will be a good date to have this. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper suggested we have food and be sure we publicize this event. Commissioner Liverman reminded the board to invite the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center. It was discussed that we need to also contact local churches, the fire department, and the health department to invite them all. Commissioner Liverman will contact the paper and ask if they will be able to advertise for us. Commissioner Christison made a motion to hold this ceremony on August 18, 2019 from 4-5 pm at the Woodland Town Hall. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Public Comments: Bob Gosney suggested Holly Taylor with the Roanoke Chowan News Herald may be able to do a write up on the ceremony for Dr. Stanley.

Barbara Gosney asked how many people have complained about the rooster. The board said only one. Mrs. Gosney made the point that town should not change an ordinance because of one complaint. She asks that the board go cautiously.

Fire Department Report: Mrs. McDermott read the account balance as of July 30, 2019 which was $45,947.72.

Mrs. McDermott shared with the board a quote from White and Woodley to replace the AC unit at the rescue squad building. Robbie Collier said the ac unit is not working so they called White and Woodley to have a look. It was determined the unit needs replacing. The fire department is not interested in putting in a new unit since they are hoping to have a new building in the near future. However, Robbie asked for a quote to replace it in case the town wanted to do so. This quote will be included in the minute book. White and Woodley also said they can put Freon in it for a temporary fix, but the cost is $500. Robbie told him not to do that at the time. The board discussed this and decided it would be worth putting Freon in the unit. Commissioner Christison made a motion to add a line item under Rental department in the name of Former EMS Bldg and move $500 from either CADA or Forbes into this line item. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Maintenance Report: Marshall Lassiter reported that Jessica Griffey is out of town for school therefore he does not have the usual maintenance report with hours worked from her. Mr. Lassiter said the crew has fixed leaks on Ashe, Oak, Maple, and Myrtle Streets this past month.

Mr. Lassiter reported the new lawnmower has been delivered. It is not exactly like the one we purchased last year because they quit selling that model, but it is very close.

The water tank was cleaned out and a new vent was welded on top by Utility Services. Through this process, the town had to connect to county water. Mr. Lassiter will pull a sample tomorrow when the tank if finished filling up, send the sample to Roanoke Rapids, and as long as the sample comes back clear, we will hook back up to town water on Saturday.

The case tractor is still in the shop.
Cement has been poured at the well site.

The maintenance crew has been cutting the spray fields. It is taking twice as long due to the tractor being out of commission.

August 15, 2019 the state will be here to inspect the town’s waster water treatment plant. There is concern because of the shape the lagoon is in. Mr. Lassiter is planning on requesting special treatment because of the refuse the state asked the town to receive back when Severn Peanut had a bad fire. Mr. Lassiter believes the town deserves special consideration for this. Mr. Lassiter will ask the state to allow us to use this material on our spray fields as we scoop it out. He also said the state suggested years ago that trees be planted on the spray fields, but later realized this was not a good move, therefore the trees have been removed leaving awful trenches.

Commissioner Outland said that Elizabeth Parker is asking for a speed bump on Oak Street claiming people are driving too fast on that road. Commissioner Christison asked if Powell Bill money is allowed to cover speed bumps. Mrs. McDermott will check on that. Commissioner Cooper said back when Robbie Collier installed our current speed bumps, he made sure he put them in locations that allowed every resident to get out of their back streets without having to go over a bump. He worked hard on this. Nothing more was discussed.

Mrs. McDermott shared a letter with the board from Mayor Manuel addressing the fact that Woodland did not receive the Clean Water grant that we were hoping to get.

The town received a letter saying we are now certified to analyze and report Total Residual Chlorine.

Well Report: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said there has been some activity, but that by the looks of the site when he rides by, he believes it will be about 60 more days before the well is complete. We have monthly progress meetings with the contractor and the engineer.

Police Report: Commissioner Outland said we are still having problems at the housing authority. Recently, one of the residents took her young children into Dollar General and filled their bag packs with frozen food and just walked out threatening the cashier to not say a word. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said he knows that Woodland residents are driving to other towns to go to their stores to shop in order to avoid our Dollar General. Commissioner Outland said the managers of the housing authority told her they were going to work hard on evicting the residents who are causing these problems.

Update on 415 Spruce St.: Commissioner Christison and Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said they need an officer to go with them on the property. Commissioner Christison asked Commissioner Outland if she could ask a deputy to go with them.

Clerk Report: Mrs. McDermott shared the accounts overview and checks issued with the board. These reports will be included in the Minute Book.

The Northampton County Chamber of Commerce thanked the board for donating once again to their 4th of July celebration.

Mrs. McDermott informed the board that the County Board of Commissioners meeting has been rescheduled for September 16, 2010 at 6:00 pm.

Mrs. McDermott told the board that she mailed a letter to the owner of 119 W. Main St. including the town’s ordinance on grass. She informed the property owner that they need to cut their grass by August 10, 2019 or a public hearing will be held on August 12, 2019 to discuss their yard and the next steps.

A company from Denmark emailed Mrs. McDermott a couple weeks ago inquiring about the boat factory. This company is interested in purchasing the boat factory to start up a business that produces wood pellets and wood shaving. The email asked if there are any restrictions on businesses in town and if we offer any sort of tax credits. The owner was in town today and stopped by Town Hall to ask if there were any town limitations on businesses such as this. Mrs. McDermott gave him information on how the property is currently zoned. He left his business card and asked the town to consider allowing him to bring his business to the boat factory.

Andrew DeIonno has asked if the Town of Woodland would like to reapply for the CDBG through the Upper Coastal Plains Council of Government again this fall. This grant would be for our wastewater system. Commissioner Christison made a motion for the town to reapply for the CDBG this fall of 2019. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Blaine Humphrey would like to know if the town would like to reapply for the Asset Management Grant for drinking water. The board discussed whether or not we could apply for this grant through the COG. Commissioner Christison made a motion to go forward with reapplying for the Asset Management Grant but only if we can do so through the Upper Coastal Plains Council of Government. Commissioner Liverman seconded and the motion carried.

Zoning Report: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said there is no zoning information to report. He encouraged the citizens to think about being on the zoning board as there is currently not enough people on that board.

Comments from Mayor Pro Tem: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center date has been moved back to November.

Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said the board is working hard behind the scenes on different things for this town.

The board does not want to lose Dollar General as they provide tax revenue for us.

The well is behind and we will be happy to see it finished.

Mayor Pro Tem Cooper reminded everyone to thank the town employees for all the hard work they do.

Comments from the Commissioners: Commissioner Christison said the board needs to try and tie up loose ends because soon there will be a new mayor and commissioners. He also agrees that he would like to find a way to keep the Dollar General in town.

Commissioner Outland agrees with Commissioner Christison that they need to tie up loose ends and finish putting things in place.

Public Comments: Patty Deneen asked the board what they mean by going through the yard at 415 Spruce St. She stated that you can see and document the yard without actually going on the property. Commissioner Christison said they do not want to send employees on the property without letting the homeowner know.

Patty Deneen then asked if there was an update on the grocery store across from Town Hall. She wanted to know if the man who bought it plans to open it up as a store or if it’s just a tax write off. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper said it’s up to the owner, it’s privately owned so we are at their mercy.

Closed Session: Commissioner Liverman made a motion to go into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-3181(a)(3) to discuss a contract. Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion carried.

Commissioner Liverman made a motion to adjourn the closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-3181(a)(3) and go into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-3181 (a)(6) to discuss personnel issues. Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion carried.

Commissioner Christison made a motion to go out of closed session. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Commissioner Liverman made a motion to go back into open session. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Back in Open Session: Commissioner Liverman made a motion to advertise the position of a full-time police officer in the newspaper for two weeks. Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion carried.

Adjourn: Commissioner Christison made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 pm. Commissioner Liverman seconded and the motion carried.

 

About Us

Welcome to the official web site of the Town of Woodland, North Carolina! Here you can find resources, important dates, town information, business and church listings, and more!

Contact

Town of Woodland, NC
PO Box 297
123 E Main St., Woodland, NC 27897
252-587-7161
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Closed for lunch 12:00-1:00pm