minutes of the special meeting of the wentworth town ... · councilmember moore seconded the...

Wentworth Council Special Meeting Minutes June 18, 2020 – pg. 1

The Wentworth Town Council held a special meeting electronically via ZOOM, a cloud based video

conferencing service, on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 7:00pm.

Council Members Present: Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner, Cheryl Moore,

Iris Powell, Dennis Paschal III (Note: The Town Clerk took a verbal roll call of Council members present at the start

of the meeting. All five members were present.)

Council Members Absent:

A quorum was met.

Staff Present: George Murphy, Town Administrator

Yvonne Russell, Town Clerk & Finance Officer

Others Present: Ellis Martin, Attorney – Fox Rothschild, LLP

Roy Sawyers – Rockingham Update/RCENO

Article I. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Dennis Paschal Jr. called the meeting to order.

Article II. INVOCATION

Councilmember Dennis Paschal III gave the invocation.

Article III. APPROVAL OF TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA

A. Requests and Petitions of Citizens

B. Approve/ Amend Agenda

Mayor Paschal Jr. made a MOTION, “We approve the agenda as written”.

Councilmember Paschal III seconded the motion. Town Clerk, Yvonne Russell asked

for a vote by roll call.

Councilmembers Cheryl Moore, Iris Powell, Dennis Paschal III, Mayor Dennis Paschal

Jr., and Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner voted in favor. The motion carried.

MINUTES Of the Special Meeting of the

WENTWORTH TOWN COUNCIL June 18, 2020

7:00 pm

Meeting Held Electronically via ZOOM


Article IV. PUBLIC HEARING

A. Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021

The proposed budget for FY2020-2021 has been available for inspection on the

Town’s website since June 3, 2020.

Mayor Paschal called the public hearing to order.

Mayor Paschal asked for any questions or comments. There were no questions from

the Town Council.

Ms. Russell stated, “We have not received any comments by mail or email”.

Mayor Paschal stated, “Anyone wishing to make comments on the budget can

contact us by email, Facebook, or call our office”.

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “To close the public hearing”.

Councilmember Paschal III seconded the motion. The Clerk asked for a vote by roll

call.



Ms. Russell explained that the public must have at least 24 hours to make

comments about the proposed budget before Council can consider adopting the

budget ordinance.

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We schedule a Special Meeting for June 22, 2020

at 7:00pm”.

Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. The Clerk asked for a vote by roll call.



(Note: The Budget Ordinance and Budget Estimates spreadsheet for FY 2020-2021 are herein

incorporated and made a part of these minutes.)


Article V. OLD BUSINESS

A. Sewer Alternates (Wentworth Park)

There was no new information to report on possible sewer alternates for the

Wentworth Park at this time.

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We table this item until the June 22, 2020 Special

meeting”.




Article VI. NEW BUSINESS

A. Consideration of Employee Evaluations for Fiscal Year 2019-2020

Mayor Paschal noted that Yvonne Russell and George Murphy have received their

annual evaluations.

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We (Personnel Committee) recommend they both

get a 1.2% merit increase and make the effective date back to the date of their last

anniversary”.




Article VI. B. DISCUSSION OF WENTWORTH PARK AMENITIES

George Murphy, Town Administrator reviewed a diagram of what he’s

recommending in the way of park amenities. He is recommending 11 trash

receptacles, 11 picnic tables, 9 benches, and 4 grills.

(Note: A diagram of Mr. Murphy’s park amenities recommendation is herein incorporated and made a

part of these minutes.)


In addition to the amenities listed on the diagram, the Town will also need to consider

a dumpster pad and possible fencing around the pad.

Mayor Pro Tem Conner asked if the picnic tables under the shelter will be

movable.

Mr. Murphy said they will be. He noted that the prices listed on his diagram are from

S&S Building and they include installation.

Council discussed whether or not it is a security risk to allow the picnic tables to be

moved. There was some concern that tables might get moved around and not put

back in their place, or they might be stolen. Mr. Murphy said he would talk with the

site supervisor about options for securing the picnic tables.

Mayor Paschal suggested adding two more grills on the opposite side of the park

near the parking area shown on the right side of the diagram. Specifically, one near

the picnic table shown to the left of the parking area, and one right below the parking

area near the trail entrance. He suggested placing another picnic table near the trail

entrance as well.


Councilmember Paschal III said he has heard some interest in placing a Pickle Ball

court at the Park.

Mayor Paschal mentioned that it appears Pickle Ball courts have been marked off in

the gymnasium of the Wentworth Consolidated School site.

Mr. Murphy said the gymnasium and school grounds might be a better location than

the Park for recreational sports.

Mr. Murphy discussed where the proposed dumpster pad would be located in the

Park.

Mayor Pro Tem Conner expressed concern about possible damage to the gravel

driveway from a garbage truck.

Mayor Paschal asked Mr. Murphy to discuss the possibility of damage to the gravel

driveway with the architect.

Council briefly discussed gates, fencing, and security cameras for the Park.

Mr. Murphy said he recently joined a Zoom meeting with a company out of California

that specializes in security camera systems, and he can get a sample of that

camera system to test out.

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We table discussion of the Wentworth Park

Amenities until our June 22, 2020 meeting”.

Councilmember Paschal III seconded the motion. The Clerk asked for a vote by roll

call.




Article VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Paschal announced, “The Wentworth Town Council will hold a Special Meeting

on Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7:00pm. This meeting will be held electronically via

ZOOM. Instructions on how to view the meeting will be posted on the Town’s website

at www.townofwentworth.com.”

There were no further announcements.

Article VIII. ADJOURN

Mayor Paschal made a MOTION, “We adjourn”.

Mayor Pro Tem Conner seconded the motion. The Clerk asked for a vote by roll call.


Jr., and Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Conner voted in favor. The meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted By:

_________________________________

Yvonne Russell, NCCMC

Town Clerk

Approved By:

________________________________

Dennis Paschal, Jr.

Mayor

minutes of the special meeting of the wentworth town ... · councilmember moore seconded the...

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