TOWN OF DUCK
TOWN COUNCIL
REGULAR MID-MONTH MEETING
The Town Council for the Town of Duck convened at the Duck Municipal Offices at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tempore Allan Beres; Councilor Nancy Caviness; Councilor Monica Thibodeau; and Councilor Neil Morrison.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Gene Schwarz.
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Manager and Town Clerk Christopher Layton; Planning Director Suzanne Cotellessa, Town Attorney Donald I. McRee, Jr. and Deputy Town Clerk Lori Kopec.
OTHERS ABSENT: None.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Beres at 1:00 p.m. He encouraged the audience members to hold off on comments or questions until after each presentation by the staff.
Planning Director Cotellessa stated that the Community Improvement Committee had its first meeting earlier in May. She reviewed the Village Improvement and Community Appearance Awards programs with Council and the audience as well as the proposed flyers that would be given out to the community associations and merchants. She also reviewed the Community Appearance Award application and the proposed notice to be sent to the newspapers with Council and the audience. She asked Council for their blessing on the documents so the Committee could move forward with the program.
Councilor Caviness asked if the individual merchants would receive the flyers. Planning Director Cotellessa stated they would be handed out to each merchant.
Mayor Pro Tempore Beres asked Planning Director Cotellessa to review the timetable for the program. Planning Director Cotellessa went on to review the timetable, approval process and the dissemination of funds to Council and the audience.
Councilor Morrison asked if the same individuals are representing both committees. Planning Director Cotellessa stated he was correct.
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE TOWN OF DUCK FEE SCHEDULE
Town Manager Layton stated that the Town’s fee schedule was adopted on July 1, 2003 without any substantial changes made to it. The Town staff had been able to study the fees and make recommendations concerning the fees to ensure they accurately reflect the activities occurring in Town. He stated that the revisions would become effective with the new budget, effective July 1, 2005.
Planning Director Cotellessa reviewed the proposed fee schedule with Council and the audience.
It was consensus of Council to include the revised fee schedule in the new budget.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED FY 2006 BUDGET
Town Manager Layton presented Council with a Power Point presentation, reviewing the items of the last work session as well as presenting Council with his revisions for the budget.
John Summers of 123 Sea Hawk Drive West was recognized to speak. Mr. Summers thanked Town Manager Layton and Council for their support of the Duck Trail. He stated that the Trail is the nicest one in the County in his opinion, thanks to Coinjock Farms. He stated that the Duck Trail Advisory Committee appreciates that the portion of the Trail that received a grant for the expansion has a few problems, but felt the Town should not give up on the grant altogether. He proposed a new area for an expansion in Town so the grant money could be used. He stated the Committee felt it was extremely important to keep expanding the Trail and not lose the grant money that the Tourism Bureau has given the Town. He strongly recommended keeping the expansion of the Duck Trail in the proposed budget.
Sam Taylor of 111 Skimmer Way was recognized to speak. Mr. Taylor felt the Town’s surplus should be addressed. He stated that the amount of the surplus should be addressed as well.
Charlie Pratt of 126 Pintail Drive was recognized to speak. Mr. Pratt asked if recycling was a definite thing in the proposed budget. Mayor Pro Tempore Beres stated that it was consensus of Council to keep recycling in the proposed budget at their last meeting. Mr. Pratt asked again if recycling would be a definite thing in the budget or would there be some give and take. Mayor Pro Tempore Beres stated that the public hearing on the budget is not scheduled until June 1, 2005, with Council voting on it by the mid month meeting of June so the County can be informed by July 1, 2005, what the tax levy will be.
Town Manager Layton asked Mr. Pratt to explain his question for clarification. Mr. Pratt stated that he felt that recycling could be an item that could be removed from the budget to save the Town some money. He asked if recycling is important or is it being added for “good feelings”.
Councilor Thibodeau stated that Council had discussed recycling at length over the past year and felt that recycling is an important addition to the Town, mainly because it’s what the citizens and tourists of the Town want.
Amy Beres of 146 Dune Road was recognized to speak. Ms. Beres asked how many recycling bins would be at each house. Town Manager Layton stated that each home would receive one (1) recycling bin with the option of purchasing additional bins if needed.
John Summers stated that recycling means a lot more to the tourists than some of the residents.
Town Manager Layton stated that Mayor Schwarz has been attending a lot of homeowner association meetings and the majorities are asking for recycling in Town.
Council went on to discuss the option of recycling at length with the audience, as well as when to implement it.
Councilor Morrison pointed out that the Tourism Bureau is willing to allow the Town to re-apply for the grant for the Duck Trail in 2006. He stated that the Bureau is very interested in helping the Town with the projects for the Municipal Property. John Summers reiterated that he does not want the Town to lose the grant money they will be getting this year and that the Town should leave the expansion of the Duck Trail in the proposed budget. Council, Town Manager Layton and the audience went on to discuss the expansion of the Duck Trail and the possibility of leaving it in the proposed budget.
Council and Town Manager Layton discussed the soundside boardwalk at the Municipal Property.
Council, Town Manager Layton and Planning Director Cotellessa discussed the public events coordinator and Planning intern positions.
Mayor Pro Tempore Beres asked for Council’s opinion on the tax rate for the Town. Councilor Thibodeau stated she would be comfortable with a nine cent tax rate as she did not want to have to raise the rate in years to come. Councilor Caviness stated she was comfortable with nine cents as well and echoed Councilor Thibodeau’s comments. Councilor Morrison stated he could live with the nine cent rate.
Mayor Pro Tempore Beres asked if the tax rate is nine cents, what cuts or deferrals could be made to allow the Duck Trail construction to be left in the budget. Town Manager Layton stated in order to add $50,000 at the nine cent rate, he would slightly reduce the Police capital outlay, would continue to defer slightly on the Municipal Property improvements and would slightly decrease the Fire Department’s subsidy and curbside recycling.
Councilor Morrison asked for clarification. Town Manager Layton stated he would take $30,000 from the Municipal Property improvements, $10,000 from the Police capital outlay, and either cut $10,000 by delaying implementation of curbside recycling or $5,000 from Fire subsidies and $5,000 from curbside recycling.
Council and Town Manager Layton discussed a timeframe for starting curbside recycling in Town and ways to advertise it to the public.
It was consensus of Council to set the tax rate at nine cents, keep the Duck Trail expansion in the budget as well as curbside recycling, but deferring recycling until the Fall.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilor Morrison moved to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 4-0.
The time was 2:55 p.m.
__________________________
/s/ Town Clerk
Approved: ______________________
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/s/ Allan Beres, Mayor Pro Tempore