HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLAYTON TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014 THE CLAYTON CENTER 6:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Jody L. McLeod Mayor Pro Tem Michael Grannis, Councilman R. S. Butch Lawter, Councilman Art Holder and Councilman Jason Thompson ABSENT: Councilman Bob Satterfield Town Council voted to suspend their rules to unanimously approve the following action items: Draft minutes from June 2, 2014, regular meeting; May 28, 2014, budget work session meeting; and May 19, 2014, work session meeting Certificate of sufficiency and resolution setting date of public hearing for annexation petition 2014-03-01 Public notice for the following public hearings slated for the Monday, July 7, 2014, Clayton Town Council meeting: o Annexation petition request 2014-03-01 for 12 non-contiguous parcels located on Glen Laurel Road near Vinson Road o Rezoning request RZ 2014-53 located at 225 E Second Street o Rezoning request RZ 2014-41 located at 277 Guy Road o Special use permit SUP 2014-40 located at 277 Guy Road (contingent upon approval of RZ 2014-41) o Special use permit SUP 2014-14 located at US 70 Business HWY and Rose Street Clayton Fire Chief Lee Barbee and the Town Council took time to recognize the 30 years of dedicated service by long-time Clayton Firefighter Mickey Jones. He has decided to retire after beginning his career with the Town in 1984. His devotion to duty and valuable effect on the efficiency and moral of his fellow firefighters has been sincerely appreciated. With tear-filled eyes, Jones, with his wife by his side, shared that he will forever cherish his experience with the fire department, that he will remain active with his firefighting family, and that he wishes the same rewarding experience for the recruits about to follow in his footsteps. Clayton Public Power Director Dale Medlin introduced the newest Electric Department employee, Ken Lee, our newest electric line technician who told Town Council he was excited to be working for the Town. Clayton Fire Marshall Tony Atkinson introduced Town Council to the 18 new part-time firefighter recruits, including the first two women firefighters. The Town continues to grow, has seen several veteran firefighters retire in the past 18 months and has not hired new firefighter recruits since 2011. These new part-time recruits will go a long way to helping the Town of Clayton staff our two
busy fire stations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some come with vast amounts of prior firefighting experience, some are coming right out of high school. Some were born and raised in Clayton, others come from as far as Long Island, NY. Their training has already begun. Town Council welcomed new recruits Tyler Barbee, Cory Beard, Taylor Drane, Kyle Driver, Cody Eastman, Blake Grandy, Holly Holton, Brittany Johnson, Tim Inman, Anthony Marino, Brandon Murray, Matthew Nelson, Austin Pope, Adam Rosy, Efrain Santos, Jacob Slominski, Ryan Tillerson, and Anthony Verero. Parks & Recreation Center Supervisor Matt Lorion presented the plan for the annual July 4 th celebration at Municipal Park. This popular event attracts hundreds for free games, music, food, fireworks and fun. The event begins at 4 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 9:30 pm. Town Council was requested to help cut the free watermelon. Staff also dishes out free ice cream. The band this year is Jim Quick & Coastline, a fun, popular beach music group. Planning Director Dave DeYoung presented Rezoning Request 2014-53 at 225 East Second Street from Office-Industrial to Residential-6. The owner of the home inquired about adding a deck on his home and learned from town staff that the property may have been rezoned office-industrial when the adjacent old Town Hall property was zoned. The zoning will now reflect the current residential use. A public hearing will be held at the July 7 th regular Town Council meeting. Planning Director Dave DeYoung presented Rezoning Request 2014-41 and Special Use Permit 2014-40 for 277 Guy Road from Highway Business to Office- Industrial. The property is Crossroads or XRC Church and the rezoning request is associated with the Special Use permit request to allow LifeSpring Academy to share the facilities to operate a K-12 private school. LifeSpring Academy will co-exist with Crossroads Church on this 3.93 acres at 277 Guy Road, and would have a maximum of 150 students with approximately 17 staff. Town Council members would like staff to monitor the resulting traffic once the school is operational. A public hearing on these two requests will be held at the July 7 th regular Town Council meeting. Town Council voted unanimously to approve two resolutions authorizing the county tax administrator to levy and collect property taxes for the Town of Clayton. This is an annually recurring resolution. Town Council voted unanimously to approve the capital project budget ordinance which is related to the state/federal funding made available for town projects through CAMPO Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Town Council voted unanimously to approve six minor budget amendments to the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget, which the Town Manager explained do NOT affect the financial outlook of the Town moving forward.
Town Council voted unanimously to adopt the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Town of Clayton budget which included no increase in property taxes, no increase in electric rates, no layoffs, a $.17 increase in water rates to reflect the $.17 per 1,000 gallon increase being levied by Johnston County, a 1.5% cost of living increase and expansions of many services. Town Council gave guidance to the Town Manager to set aside $1.2 million in fund balance (cash reserves) outside of the budget for the possible purchase of 67 acres of park land in the southeast part of Town along Boling Street/Little Creek Church Road. Public hearings for both minor text amendments to Chapter 155 [NC GS 160A- 364] and text amendments to Chapter 155, Section 403: Signs [NC GS 160A-364] of the Unified Development Code were held with no one from the public speaking. These updates fix minor discrepancies in various sections of the Code and provide updates to the Town s Sign Code. The changes are intended to make doing business easier in the Town of Clayton. Town Manager Steve Biggs presented a proposal to the Town Council to examine the landscaping at The Clayton Center, the historic school buildings that serve as Town Hall and our Performing Arts Center. The manager pointed out a declining oak tree and 2 birch trees on the East Second Street side that he recommends removing. He also pointed out a large magnolia and pine tree that are not only partially obscuring the building but causing deterioration and deflection in the retention wall and sidewalk bricks. Biggs also proposed removing a hedge row in front of the building to open up the space on the Horne Street side, along with some other suggestions. The Mayor lamented that some of the declining trees have been in Clayton as long as he has been alive, but the damage being caused and the obscuring of the building the Town is so proud of are reasonable reasons to consider removing these trees. He saw the opportunity to open up even more space for public use and even for moneygenerating event use by The Clayton Center. Mayor Pro Tem Grannis suggested that for every tree removed a replacement tree should be planted in an appropriate public location to maintain the Town s commitment to preserving trees. The Town Manager alerted Town Council that a wildlife specialist will attend the July 7 th Town Council meeting to speak to members and the public in regard to creating an urban deer bow-hunting season utilized in several neighboring towns to curb growing deer populations. The Town Manager informed Town Council that the review is underway on the Brownfield Agreement which outlines the necessary site remediation needed on the former DuPont chemical property on Covered Bridge Road. Once approved, a 30 day public comment period is necessary. It is only after that process that the $600,000 purchase of this future park land on this site can occur.
Town Council members discussed Horne Square parking where commercial vehicles are occupying spots needed for weekend events in the square. Communications have been made with the businesses, but full compliance has not been reached. Staff was instructed to look into further enforcement action, i.e. ticketing vehicles or signage that points to the ordinance that prevents parking in these lots after midnight on weekends. Staff had hoped a new downtown parking plan and project would have provided additional parking for these commercial vehicles, however, details of that plan are still being worked on. The Town Manager did not have a report on the sale of Town of Clayton property regarding a small lot on Horne Street and will provide that at a future meeting. [NC GS 160A-266] Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:05 PM. Submitted by Stacy Beard, Public Information Officer
Calendar of Events o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, June 18, 2014 @ 6 PM o Town Square Concert Series Brickhouse Band Thursday, June 19, 2014 from 6 PM to 9 PM at Town Square o Planning Board Mtg Monday, June 23, 2014 @ 6 PM o Independence Day Holiday Friday, July 4, 2014 o Council Mtg Monday, July 7, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, July 16, 2014 @ 6 PM o Town Square Concert Series Steve Owens & Summertime Thursday, July 17, 2014 from 6 PM to 9 PM at Town Square o Council Mtg Monday, July 21, 2014 @ 6:0 PM o Fire Advisory Board Mtg Thursday, July 24, 2014 @ 7 PM at Fire Station 1, 325 West Horne Street o Planning Board Mtg Monday, July 28, 2014 @ 6 PM o Council Mtg August 4, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o National Night Out Tuesday, August 5, 2014, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Town Square o Council Mtg August 18, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, August 20, 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Town Square Concert Series Mostely Crue Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 6 PM to 9 PM at Town Square o Planning Board Mtg Monday, August 25, 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Labor Day Holiday Monday, September 1, 2014 o Council Mtg TUESDAY, September 2, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Zaxby s Movie Night Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 6 PM to 10 PM at Town Square o Council Mtg- Monday, September 15, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Clayton Harvest & Music Festival September 17 21, 2014, Downtown Clayton o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, September 17, 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Town Square Concert Series Nantucket Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 6 PM to 9 PM at Town Square o Clayton Harvest & Music Festival: temporary closure of Main Street from O Neil Street to Second Street for the vendors and car show Saturday, September 20, 2014, 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM o Planning Board Mtg Monday, September 22, 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Council Mtg Monday, October 6, 2104 @ 6:30 PM o NCLM Annual Conference October 12-14, 2014; Greensboro, NC o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, October 15 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Council Mtg Monday, October 20, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Planning Board Mtg Monday, October 27, 2014 @ 6:00 PM
o Fall Back: 2014 Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 2, 2014, at 2 AM o Council Mtg Monday, November 3, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Veteran s Day Holiday Tuesday, November 11, 2014 o Council Mtg Monday, November 17, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, November 19, 2014 @ 6:00 PM o Planning Board Mtg Monday, November 24, 2014 o Thanksgiving Day Holiday Thursday, November 27, 2014 & Friday, November 28, 2014 o Council Mtg Monday, December 1, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Council Mtg Monday, December 15, 2014 @ 6:30 PM o Board of Adjustment Mtg Wednesday, December 17, 2104 @ 6:00 PM o Christmas Holiday Wednesday, December 24, 2014; Thursday, December 25, 2014; & Friday, December 26, 2014