January 2023

Village of Forest Hills Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 03, 2023 – 7:00 pm
Forest Hills Assembly Hall, Cullowhee NC
 

The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Jim Wallace

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Ron Yount

The following members of the Council were absent:

Councilmember Marcia Almond

Councilmember Daniel Shields

The following non-Council members were Present:

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

Larry Ingersoll, Village Homeowner

  1. Call to order: at 7:00pm Mayor Wallace called the meeting to order. 

     2.  Announcements:

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting. 

     3. Approval of Agenda: Councilmember Yount made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     4. Approval of Meeting Minutes for December 06, 2022, Regular Council Meeting:(All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Yount made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for December 06, 2022, Councilmember Almond seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     5. Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of December 2022: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Couture made a motion to accept the financial report, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     6. Public Comments: None

     7. Reports: 

Mayor’s Report: Jim Wallace – Mayor Wallace met with B.H. Graning to discuss receiving a quote for potential landscaping of the parcel the village is purchasing on the opposite side of the entrance.

Roads: Ron Yount – Councilmember Yount said the roads look good, there were several trees removed that were of concern.

RPO/TAC: Marcia Almond – Councilmember Almond had no new reports.

Planning Board: Rick Cardona was absent.

Village Safety: Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Couture said that the village was patrolled a total of 46 hrs. for the month, she said law enforcement received 40 - 911 calls for the month and that approximately 50% of them came from Prospect and University Inn.

  1. New Business: 

Ordinance Administrator Replacement:  Larry Ingersoll said that he would be interested in the position.  Councilmember Almond made a motion to nominate Larry Ingersoll as the new Ordinance Administrator, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  Larry will be sworn in prior to the next meeting. 

NCLM Legislative Goals:  NCLM asked that Municipalities select their top 10 Legislative Goals and submit them.  Councilmember Yount made a motion for Councilmember Almond to be the voting delegate, Councilmember Shields seconded the motion, unanimously approved.  Council noted that Broadband  and affordable housing would be two main priorities. 

  1. Unfinished Business: 
  • Municipal Grant due in January:  Mayor Wallace will get the information for the proposed project and submit the Municipal Grant. 
  • Planning Board meeting/member status: Councilmembers discussed the Planning Board status.  Stephanie said that village homeowner, Tim Eckard, had been sworn in and has been added to the website.  Councilmember Almond said that she was not able to reach Rick Cardona and doesn’t know if he is still planning to chair the board.  The other 3 homeowners, Amber and Leroy Quick and Stephanie Rankin who had volunteered have not been sworn in that we are aware of.  Councilmember Almond will follow up with those members and Mayor Wallace said that he would try contacting Rick and follow up.
  • VFH SW Corner Property:  Mayor Wallace said the contract has been signed by the Village but not by the Dillard’s, he will follow up with the Attorney and/or Realtor
  • Discussion of entrance work not covered by the Municipal Grant:  Councilmembers discussed the work on the left side of the entrance, Mayor Wallace provided two drawings that showed the left side of the entrance and drew the property with trees and bushes and how they would look at that side and the buffer they would provide.  Mayor Wallace said he would take those to BH Graning and ask for a quote.  Council noted that additional quotes would be needed for work costing over $5,000.
  • Short Term Rentals:  Mayor Wallace said that Attorney Anthony Fox will be attending the February meeting and will discuss this issue. 

    10.  Adjourn: At 8:35pm, Councilmember Almond made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.