Town of Woodland Board
Minutes Date: February 2, 2023
7:00 PM

Board/Staff Present:

David Cooper - Mayor Pro Tem
Brian Christison  - Commissioner
Ricky Morris - Commissioner
Raymond Eaton - ORC
Donielle McDermott - Town Clerk

Mayor Beale, Commissioner Outland, and Chief Hoggard were absent.

Call to Order: Mayor Pro Tern Cooper called the meeting to order at 7pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a moment of silent reflection.

Approval of Agenda: The first item of business was the approval or amendment of the agenda. Commissioner Morris made a motion to amend the agenda to add 9c Southern Bank Fees, 9d Southern Bank line item, 1Ob Building Roof, and to approve the agenda. Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion carried.

Approval of Minutes: The next item on the agenda was the approval or amendment of the regular meeting dated January 5, 2023. Commissioner Christison made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.

Consideration of Bills: Commissioner Christison made a motion to pay all the current bills and to also pay all the regular bills that come in throughout the month. Commissioner Outland seconded and the motion carried.

Public Comments: No public comments

Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams: Alan Thompson, Town of Woodland's auditor, presented the board with the 2022 Fiscal Year Audit. Mr. Thompson stated it was a clean audit. There were three small findings that need to be addressed to the LGC within 60 days of this audit presentation. Commissioner Christison asked if there is anything we can do differently to not receive the segregation of duties finding each year. Mr. Thompson said this is most likely a finding we will have each year because of how small our municipality is and we are not unlike many other small municipalities.

Fire Department: Robbie Collier presented the monthly fire report. Mayor Pro Tern Cooper thanked Mr. Collier and the fire department for the dinner they provided last month. He also asked if Mr. Collier could pass along his thanks to the Woodland Ladies Auxiliary for all the work they do to raise funds for the fire department.

Police Report: Chief Hoggard was absent, therefore, Mayor Pro Tern read Chief Hoggard's report that was submitted.

Clerk Report:
a. The Town of Woodland approved donations up to $600, with $400 earmarked to go to the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce to help fund the annual 4th of July fireworks. However, the board approved a donation to Laureen Flood at the September's meeting in the amount of $750, $150 over the approved budget. Also, the chamber sent a letter asking for the donation to be made for $500 instead of$400. The board discussed these donations and came to a decision. Commissioner Christison made a motion to decrease line item I 0-420-94 Capital Outlay by $650 and increase line item 10-420-35 Donations to cover the donation already made to Mrs. Flood and the upcoming donation of $500 to the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried. Mayor Pro Tern Cooper asked Mrs. McDermott to make a note of the donation increase to the chamber for next budget year planning purposes.
b. Commissioner Christison made a motion to allow up to $20,000 to be spent using
the OSBM grant to purchase 40 pole mounted Christmas decorations. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.
c. Southern Bank called this past week to inform us of a new service they offer, Payee Positive Pay, which protects the town from having someone change the name of the payee on checks we send out. This service will be an additional $10 a month on top of the $295 we are currently paying for our bank services. The board decided to table this until a representative from Southern Bank can come to a meeting to give further clarification on this service.
d. Commissioner Christison made a motion to create a new line item, 10-420-31 titled Southern Bank Fees, to use instead of administration utility line item I0-420-13. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.

Maintenance Report: Raymond Eaton read the monthly report.
• There was a sanitary overflow on January 26, 2023. Mr. Eaton thanked Mayor Pro Tern Cooper for the help from Bryant and Lassiter during this overflow.
• Mr. Eaton would like to know where to put the blinking pedestrian signs that were donated to the town. He still needs to purchase poles for the signs. Commissioner Morris said he may need to contact the DOT first to coordinate placement of the signs.
• Mr. Eaton reminded the board that he is interested in purchasing the old Nationwide building if the town is interested in selling it.
• Mr. Eaton turned in a quote from Consolidated Pipe and Supply Company for
$14,382.15 for a self-priming engine driven trash pump, a 36 Reed manhole hook, and a Husqvarna saw.
• A company if Rocky Mount has the soft rock we can use to replace the asphalt on the walking path in the park. Mayor Pro Tern Cooper said his business also sells this and will get Mr. Eaton a price.
a. The maintenance department asked if we could start taking appointments for limb and yard debris pick up. This will save them from driving around town making a list of who has limbs and/or leaf bags to pick up. The board said yes.
b. Commissioner Christison made a motion to authorize Roof Central to replace the roof at Town Hal1 for $27,536.33. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.
• Commissioner Christison asked Mr. Eaton to get three estimates to have someone move our heating and ale vents to the ceiling, and to get three estimates for an electrician to install new lights in the ceiling.

CDBG: The monthly report is included in the Minute Book.

Comments from the Mayor: Mayor Beale was absent and Mayor Pro Tern Cooper was unsure of what the Chamber of Commerce is wanting in regards to the quilt. Mrs. McDermott explained all she knows is the chamber is having someone make a quilt representing Northampton County and each town in the county will have their own square. The chamber would like to know how we can represent our town. Mayor Pro Tern Cooper suggested possibly using a picture of our mural on our square. He asked Mrs. McDermott to check into this option.

Comments from the Commissioners; Commissioner Morris has had citizens ask why we have two officers working together during the day but none working at night. Mayor Pro Tern stated he heard recently of a drug arrest in town and he would like to see more things done like this other than tickets being written.
Commissioner Morris showed the board pictures of litter that continues to build up along a certain path on Dogwood and S. Sycamore. Mayor Pro Tern Cooper said the police department
needs to address this, give the individual responsible for littering a warning first and then proceed to ticket him.
The commissioners discussed the house at 415 Spruce St. and questioned the procedure for condemnation. This particular residence has been without water for almost a year, possibly throwing their waste in the backyard, not keeping up with their grass and allowing it to overtake their yard. The board asked Mrs. McDermott to contact the health department to advise on the condemnation procedures.

Public Comments: No comments

Adiourn: At 8:32 pm, Commissioner Christison made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.