May 2020
The following members of the Council were present:
Mayor Jim Wallace
Councilmember Marcia Almond
Councilmember Nilofer Couture
Councilmember Ron Yount
The following members of the Council were absent:
Councilmember Jerry Rice, III
The following Non-Council members were Present:
Stephanie Gibson, Clerk
- Call to order: at 7:00pm Mayor Wallace called the meeting to order.
- Announcements:
Reminder – Please silence cell phones for meeting
- Approval of Agenda: Councilmember Yount made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilmember Almond seconded the motion, unanimously approved.
- Approval of Meeting Minutes for April 7, 2020 Regular Council Meeting: (All meeting minutes are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Almond made a motion to approve the meeting minutes for April 7, 2020, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.
- Acceptance of Financial Report & Checklist for the month of April 2020: (All financial reports are posted on the Forest Hills website once approved.) Councilmember Yount made a motion to reclass funds in the amount of $500.00 from Street Maintenance, Non-Powell to Contingency and approve the financial report for April, Councilmember Couture seconded the motion, unanimously approved.
- Public Comments: None
- Reports:
Mayor’s Report: Jim Wallace
- Review of BH Graning’s Contract renewal: Council would like to have the state schedule for road clearing coordinated with BH Graning. Mayor Wallace said he would speak to BH Graning about coordinating schedules and what the cost of clearing the state-maintained roads at the same time he does the Village roads would be.
- Items needed for Assembly Hall: Mayor Wallace said the items needed to be purchased for the Assembly Hall for Council use have been purchased, Stephanie ordered them, and they were delivered to his house from Walmart. The items include two additional tables, a trash can for the room and one for each restroom, trash bags, a clock, and paper towels. Councilmember Yount donated a vacuum cleaner for use at the Assembly Hall. Mayor Wallace said that he needed to look at sound barriers, he said that he met with Eldred Spell and discussed sound issues and Mr. Spell said that adjacent walls need to be covered to help with the echo in the room. Council discussed options and will review at next meeting.
- Virtual Meetings: Mayor Wallace said that he checked on the potential of virtual meetings and the Attorney General said that during the Corona Virus, virtual meetings are allowed if they allow for the public to have access. He said that public hearings are not recommended.
Roads: Jerry Rice – Councilmember Rice was absent
RPO/TAC: Marcia Almond – Councilmember Almond said that no new projects will be started but that the existing ones will continue.
Planning Board: No meetings held for March or April
Village Safety: Nilofer Couture – Councilmember Couture said that the patrol report noted checks for speeding and that officers patrolled 9 times for the month. She said that there was a fight at the University Inn that was not on the 911 report.
- New Business:
- Community assistance during the Pandemic: Nilofer – Councilmember Couture gave an update on the community assistance and said that several people had expressed appreciation for community volunteers being willing to assist if needed and knowing they had someone to call on.
- Review of proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021: Stephanie – Stephanie provided copies of the proposed budget for the fiscal year 20-21 prepared by the budget committee. Council reviewed the proposed budget and made no changes. A public hearing will be held at the June meeting to approve the budget.
- Unfinished Business:
- Assembly Hall Schedule/Procedure for use: Council discussed creating a calendar and having a point person to assist with any scheduling requested.
- Assembly Hall sound resolutions: Council discussed possible options and will review at next meeting,
- Patrol Contract/hours: Council discussed having officers patrol an additional 5 hrs. per week when school starts and having patrol do periodic check on resident’s homes as some by be traveling.
- Parking on Roads: Mayor Wallace said that Ken Dickert has had issues with parked vehicles blocking his drive. Council discussed signage and potential for law enforcement to address this issue.
10. Additional Public Comments: None
11. Adjourn: At 8:20pm, Councilmember Almond made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Yount seconded the motion, unanimously approved.