The following members of the Council were present:

Mayor Marcia Almond

Councilmember Robert Kehrberg

Councilmember Daniel Shields

Councilmember Nilofer Couture

Councilmember Larry Ingersoll

The following members of the Council were absent:

 

Stephanie Gibson, Clerk

The following non-Council members were Present: 

Residents Ron & Rochelle Mau, Ron Yount, Cathy Plemmons, Jim Hartley, Jack Brown, Dianne Yount, Ron Yount, Georgia Newsom, Niall Michelsen, Terry Michelsen, Co-Clerk, Andrew Mramor, Sarah Garcia, Kay Shapiro, David Shapiro, Andy Hansen, Raina Kaplan, David Kaplan, M. Woldeyohanne, Donna Harris, Planning Board, Amy Bollinger, Planning Board Chair, and John Allen with Brown Haven Homes.

 

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

     2. Announcements:

Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting. 

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

     4.  Approval of Meeting Minutes for April 01, 2025, Regular Council Meeting: (All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Shields made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for April 01, 2025, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. 

     5.  Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of April 2025: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Couture made a motion to approve the financial reports, Councilmember Ingersoll seconded the motion, unanimously approved.

     6.  STR Ordinance: Mayor Almond introduced Attorney Jackson and asked if anyone had questions about the ordinance. Attorney Jackson noted that the amendment would be reviewed by the Planning Board at their meeting and then their recommendations would be brought before the Council to be reviewed and voted on.

     7.  Public Hearing: Mayor Almond announced that the STR Ordinance was being revised and that the Council would vote on that and the proposed budget for FY 25-26 at the June meeting.

     8.  Public Comment: Resident Andrew Mramor spoke, saying that he was concerned about the proposed text amendment request submitted by Brown Haven Homes and the potential effect that it would have on the Village and said that he was especially concerned that the Mayor and Council had not opposed the developer’s request.  He said that he would like the Mayor and Council to pledge that they will vote in response to residents’ desires. He said that he and his wife purchased their home in hopes of having a quiet peaceful environment. Mayor Almond assured Mr. Mramor that she and the Council would vote in the best interests of residents and that they hear the resident’s concerns.

     9.  Reports: 

Mayor’s Report: Marcia Almond – Mayor Almond shared that she was at the League of Municipalities last week and there was discussion of several bills, including STRs, and bill 765. She said that most Municipalities have signed a resolution against Bill 765. Mayor Almond attended a Helene recovery meeting and the Director of Governmental Affairs, Erin Wynia, said she doesn’t think that Bill 765 has a good chance of being passed.

Mayor Almond attended a Flood Plan meeting and said that there have been no changes to the counties plan.

Roads:  Councilman Ingersoll said that the last mirror has been installed on N. Country Club Dr. He said that he road through Cave Springs HOA to determine necessary repairs. Councilmember Ingersoll said that the estimate was sent from Patrick Rice to clean out ditches along Cave Springs in the amount of $600. He said that he met with the buyer of Lot 41, Jamie Ashe, to tour Reservoir Rd., to determine necessary improvements so the lot can be accessed. Councilmember Ingersoll drove through N. and S. Country Club Dr. to assess necessary repairs. He said that he called Aaron Jones Paving & Grading to get estimates to provide gravel, repair potholes, and do “overlays” with respect to all referenced roads. He also called DOT and asked that they inspect portions of SCC Dr., the state-maintained portions that are in need of repair and is waiting to hear back. Robbie Hess has started mowing the entrance and road shoulders regularly. The manager at Sky at Cullowhee has repaired the dumpster enclosure so that the door/gate now closes as asked. Correction Enterprises said that the new Cave Springs Road sign has been shipped. Councilmember Ingersoll received two quotes for road work needed, the quote was $16,500 for Reservoir Rd. and $7,600 for Cave Springs and Meigs Way. Councilmember Shields made a motion that the Village get additional quotes for these projects, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved. Councilmember Ingersoll said that he will work to get additional quotes for these projects.

Village Safety:  Councilmember Couture said that officer Ashe patrolled 7 hours for the month, he was out of town part of May. She received 23 – 911 calls, she noted that 10 were from Pin Cushion, 10 were from Prospect and 2 from SCC.

•          TWSA: None 

•          Planning Board: Amy Bollinger, Chair of the Planning Board, shared that the board will be meeting on May 27^th to discuss the Brown Haven Homes development plan, it was continued from their last meeting.

      10.   New Business: 

Planning Board Member: A new Planning Board member is needed to fill the seat vacated by Marcia Franklin. Mayor Almond asked for nominations to the Planning Board. Councilmember Shields, recommended Raina Kaplan. Mayor Almond asked if there were any other nominations, none were mentioned. Councilmember Shields made a motion to appoint Raina to the Planning Board, Councilmember Couture seconded the nomination, unanimously approved. She will be sworn in prior to the next meeting.

       11.  Unfinished Business: 

•          Resolution against HB 765: Councilmember Ingersoll made a motion to submit a resolution against HB 765, Councilmember Kehrberg seconded the motion, unanimously approved. Mayor Almond said that she will have Stephanie submit the resolution. 

•          Updates on Engineering Study: The Engineering Study is underway and should be concluded soon. Updates are sent as the company completes each stage of the study. 

•          Updates on Ordinance discussed for Animal Care:  TBC
  
•          Update on Grants: TBD

     12.  Additional Comments:  

     13.  Adjourn: At 8:35pm, Councilmember Shields made a motion to adjourn.