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

Board/Staff Present:

David Cooper – Mayor Pro Tem
Brian Christison – Commissioner
Ricky Morris – Commissioner
Raymond Eaton – ORC
Brittany Burgess – Town Clerk

Mayor Beale and Commissioner Outland were absent.

Call to Order: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper called the meeting to order at 7 pm. 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. Mrs. Burgess made a motion to amend the agenda to add section E. Water Bills to Clerk’s Report. Commissioner Christison made a motion to approve the amended agenda, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

Approval of Minutes: The next item on the agenda was the approval or amendment of the minutes from the regular meeting dated August 3, 2023. Commissioner Morris made a motion to approve the minutes, Commissioner Christison seconded and the motion passed.

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 Morris seconded and the motion carried.

Public Comments: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper thanked the public for coming and explained that they get two opportunities to speak during the Board meeting, he then opened the floor for them to speak. Mr. Eaton explained that the two present were attending to speak about matters from the Maintenance Report.

Fire Department Report: Robbie Collier read the monthly report which will be included in the minute book. Mr. Collier also passed condolences to Mayor Beale and his family on the passing of his Mother In Law. Mr. Collier reminded the Board that Open House for the Fire Department will be September 23 from 10-2, John White is coming as a guest speaker. Chris Collier is now the Northampton County Fire Marshall and will be sworn in September 18th. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper is happy about the Fire Department having an Open House and suggests for them to put it on the sign out front of the Fire Department’s Building and put some flyers around town. Mr. Collier assured that the department will be working the next few weekends to spruce things up before the Open House. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper thanked the Fire Department for their quick response on Saturday, September 2nd. Mrs. Burgess informed Mr. Collier that she received a check from Northampton County for the Fire Department in the amount of $5,850.

Police Report: Commissioner Morris reported that he has some personal matters in the works right now for the Police Department. Citizens are happy with the Sheriff’s Department doing their rounds in town at night.

Clerk Report:

a. Mrs. Burgess provided the Change Order for the Peachtree/Chestnut Project that increases the project amount by $15,083.70 and extended Step Construction’s Substantial Completion date by 6 days. Commissioner Christison makes a motion to approve the Change Order, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

b. Mrs. Burgess read an email from the Town of Gibson, North Carolina that are asking for assistance in acquiring some Christmas decorations. She suggested either donating Town of Woodland’s old Christmas decorations to the Town of Gibson or offering them at a low price. The Board and Mr. Eaton spoke about ensuring that the new Christmas decorations and the old are interchangeable on the poles before going forward. Commissioner Christison made a motion to donate the Christmas decorations to the Town of Gibson with 25 brackets after Mr. Eaton inspects each set, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

c. Mrs. Burgess was informed by the League of Municipalities that the Town of Woodland needs to have 5 ARPA Policies approved by the Board. She typed up the policies and had Mr. Luther Culpepper, Town Attorney, look over and correct them. Commissioner Christison made a motion to approve the 5 ARPA Policies that Mr. Culpepper looked over and corrected, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

d. Mrs. Burgess received an email that the spring application that was submitted for WWTP Lagoon Dewatering and Septage Receiving Station was denied, but we are eligible to apply again through CDBG. Mrs. Helen Page has provided a Resolution for application for said project. Commissioner Christison motioned to approve CDBG 1 Project Resolution Lagoon Dewatering and Septage Receiving Station, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

e. Mrs. Burgess notified the Board that Water Bill were taken to the Post Office on August 29, 2023 to be mailed and they have not come back from Raleigh as of September 7th, so no one has received their water bill yet. Commissioner Christison made a motion to extend the late fee for September Water Bills by 10 days due to the mailing system, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

Maintenance Report:

Raymond Eaton read the monthly report. Mr. Eaton informed the Board that he plans to work on the leak right in front of the Grapevine and Mr. Charles Timberlake’s on Tuesday, September 12, and he needs all the help he can get to do the work and to help flag traffic.

a. Mr. Eaton informed the Board that he has some signs to put up at the park’s walkway and he is going to need assistance putting them up, as far as where to put them. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper asked about possibly getting the State to put a walking xing across Hwy 258 in front of the Duck Thru and Woodland Olney Apartments, in addition to our own pedestrian signs. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper told Mr. Eaton the signs around town need to be washed and straightened up on their posts. Commissioner Morris asked Mr. Eaton to please get Mr. Barry Lane to clean the street right near his home because the pine straw is taking over the street, Mr. Eaton said he would get him to blow the street off.

b. Mr. Eaton proposed two bids to the Board for Sidewalk Repairs. The first bid was from RamJack for $5,000 to spray foam underneath the sidewalks to raise them and make them level. The second bid was from LD Masonry to tear up the old sidewalks and lay all new sidewalks from Town Hall down to Hotsy with 2 handicap accessibilities for $43,000 with a down payment of $22,500 as soon as possible. Commissioner Christison made a motion to go with LD Masonry, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

c. Mrs. Burgess asked the Board what line item to use for the Walking Trail remodel that was done by Trinity Paving for $25,000. Commissioner Christison made a motion to move $4,000 from 45-420-08 Town Hall Generator and $5,000 from 45-420-06 Manholes to 45-420-02 Walking Trail to cover the costs for the remodel, Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion passed.

d. Mr. Eaton informed the Board that the Zoning Board approved the internet café. Mayor Pro Tem Cooper asked Mr. Wahid where the business is going to be located, Mr. Wahid replied at 500 Main Street which is under remodel right now. Mr. Wahid plans to have 10-15 machines playable and he plans to have security on the premises. He plans to have his hours of operation as 10 AM – 10 PM, but he is willing to close earlier if the Board would like. Commissioner Morris asked if we would need to have a Public Hearing in order to approve this business for the town, as he doesn’t feel comfortable voting on this without the full Town Board present. Mr. Wahid assured he is still another month or more away from opening the business due to the remodel, which will be similar to the one that is in Rich Square. Board would like to table this decision until the next meeting due to the absence of some of the Board members.

Comments from the Mayor Pro Tem: Mayor Pro Tem Cooper asked Mrs. Burgess to get a sympathy card to give to the Mayor for the loss of his Mother In Law. He said that the new Town Hall Generator is up and running. He would like Mr. Eaton to talk to the State about the hump in the road right in front of the Grapevine, would like to get it grinded down.

Comments from the Commissioners: No comments from the Commissioners.

Public Comments: No public comments.

Adjourn: At 8:48 pm, Commissioner Christison made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Morris seconded and the motion carried.