Tuesday, September 15, 2009 – 12:30 p.m.
Attendance: Mayor Larry McMahon, Mayor Pro Tem James Lilly, Commissioners Henry Thompson, Sr., Beverly Johnson, Administrator Dwight Smith, Clerk Pam Lisenby
Absent: Commissioner Alphonzo Rush (ill), Commissioner Harold Thompson (out of town)
The Norwood Town Council met for a special meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. at the Norwood Town Hall. The meeting had been duly advertised in THE STANLY NEWS & PRESS, as well as in the Norwood Town Hall.
Mayor McMahon presided and called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. He welcomed guests Dianne and Jerry Frappier, Michael Walser of Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates and Dexter Hinson, STANLY NEWS & PRESS representative.
Mayor McMahon called for a motion to enter a public hearing. Commissioner Henry Thompson so moved, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. The motion passed 3-0.
Administrator Smith stated that today’s special meeting was advertised at the last regular meeting of the Norwood Town Council.
AGENDA ITEM #1 – SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION GRANT
Administrator Smith introduced Michael Walser of Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, adding that Walser had worked with Norwood over the years on other grants and had improved many houses in town.
Walser stated the public hearing was to seek approval for an $850,000 community revitalization grant. He said the primary need for the grant must be housing, but there could be a secondary need such as infrastructure. Walser said that many houses in Norwood would certainly qualify for the grant, but an area had to be identified where there was a housing need and an infrastructure need. Walser said he recommended the Eastover Avenue area because there were many houses in need of renovation and several in need of demolition, as well as a desperate infrastructure need with Eastover pump station. Walser added that this was a competitive grant with no funding guarantees, but he felt the Eastover area would have the best “points”.
Walser stated that if the grant was funded, target-area residents in the low to moderate income range would receive 100% help. Walser continued that if residents did not qualify, they would still receive help but would have to contribute toward the cost.
Administrator Smith asked if there was any way to include Poplin Street in the target area. Walser said Eastover Avenue would rank more points on the grant application.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly asked what constituted “low to moderate income”. Walser said, according to HUD, four persons making $49,500 or less per year or one person making $30,050 or less per year qualified as
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low to moderate income. Walser said, in his opinion, the majority of the Eastover Avenue area, if not the entire area, qualified as low to moderate income. Walser added that every house on the street must meet the standards.
Jerry Frappier, an Eastover Avenue resident, asked if the target area would include Atkins Avenue. Walser said if there were funds remaining after completing Eastover, then the work could continue around Atkins.
Administrator Smith asked if at least half the grant could be used for infrastructure. Walser said 51% must go toward housing and 49% to infrastructure.
Dianne Frappier of Eastover Avenue stated that the Town would have to come up with quite a bit more for the infrastructure project. Administrator Smith said there was another grant for that.
Commissioner Johnson asked if applying for the revitalization grant would hurt the Rural Center grant. Walser said no.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly asked about Norwood’s chances of being funded for the revitalization grant. Walser said it was not a perfect project area, but he felt the chances were “good”. Walser added that there was only one application in this region last year, but he knew Badin was applying this year for a street drainage project.
Administrator Smith said Norwood had a good chance because the sewer system in the Eastover Avenue area had been condemned and Norwood had already received Rural Center funding.
With no further comments, Mayor McMahon called for a motion to close the public hearing and return to regular session. Commissioner Henry Thompson so moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lilly. The motion passed 3-0.
Mayor McMahon said it was very important that this matter be settled today.
Commissioner Henry Thompson made a motion to give Mayor McMahon authority to sign the attached TOWN OF NORWOOD AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION AND CERTIFICATION. Mayor McMahon signed this and other documentation for Walser regarding the grant application.
Commissioner Johnson asked Walser when Norwood would know about the funding. Walser said there was no time schedule, but it should be by the end of the year. Walser stated this was the first year of grant funding with no match, adding there were no extra points for offering to provide a match.
AGENDA ITEM #2 – DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN TOWN LIMITS
Administrator Smith stated that this agenda item should be deferred until there was a full Board present and Police Chief Randy Smith was present.
Commissioner Johnson made a motion to defer consideration of this matter until a later date. Commissioner Henry Thompson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
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AGENDA ITEM #3 – AGREEMENT WITH STANLY COUNTY ENFORCING MINIMUM HOUSING CODE
Administrator Smith stated that Norwood’s attorney needed to review this document and give his legal opinion.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly made a motion to defer consideration of this matter until a later date. Commissioner Henry Thompson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
AGENDA ITEM #4 – NORWOOD MEMORIAL PARK CONCERNS
Administrator Smith stated there were problems with Norwood Memorial Park being used for profitable functions.
Mayor Pro Tem Lilly made a motion to defer consideration of this matter until such time as Police Chief Randy Smith could be present. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
AGENDA ITEM #5 – HARBORVIEW SUBDIVISION
Administrator Smith presented a plat of Harborview Subdivision which was ready to record. Smith said it would need to go through the normal process (Planning Board to Town Board), but he wanted the Town Board to look at it to make sure it met all requirements. Smith said this had been “going on since 2006” and a house had finally been sold, but the owners had forgotten to submit the final plat. Smith added that the preliminary plat had been approved by both Planning Board and Town Board. Smith stated that the Planning Board would have a special meeting on Thursday, September 17 at 12:00 Noon.
Administrator Smith stated that the name “Harborview Lane” would have to be changed because there was already a Harbor Road in the area.
Commissioner Johnson suggested the Town Board review the requirements. It was the consensus of the Board that the lots were numbered consecutively, there were no deed restrictions or covenants, the survey date and plat preparation date were present, as well as the township, county and state, there were no mortgages and no professional engineer yet as nothing had been done.
Commissioner Johnson asked if water and sewer were in place. Administrator Smith answered that they were in place and had been approved by the State.
Commissioner Johnson stated that the driveway width had not been changed on the plat per the variance granted by the Norwood Zoning Board of Adjustments.
Smith stated there were no sidewalks required.
Commissioner Johnson made a motion to approve the final plat of the Harborview Subdivision with the driveway width change. Mayor Pro Tem Lilly seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
With all advertised agenda items having been discussed, Commissioner Henry Thompson made a motion to close the meeting at 1:03 p.m. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
LARRY McMAHON, Mayor
PAM LISENBY, Clerk