TOWN OF DUCK
TOWN COUNCIL
REGULAR MID-MONTH MEETING
June 20, 2007
The Town Council for the Town of Duck convened at the Duck Municipal Offices at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2007.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Neil Morrison; Mayor Pro Tempore Monica Thibodeau; Councilor Nancy Caviness; and Councilor Denver Lindley, Jr.
Council Members ABSENT: Councilor Bart Smith.
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Manager and Town Clerk Christopher J. Layton, Director of Community Development Suzanne Cotellessa; Town Attorney Donald I. McRee, Jr.; Police Chief Dale Hamilton; Fire Chief Donna Black; Public Relations Coordinator Kathy McCullough-Testa; and Deputy Town Clerk Lori Kopec.
OTHERS ABSENT: None.
Mayor Morrison called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m.
Town Manager Christopher Layton was recognized to speak. Town Manager Layton introduced Andy Garman to Council and the audience as the Town’s upcoming Director of Community Development. He stated that Mr. Garman comes to the Town from the Town of Nags Head and would be starting on July 9, 2007. Mayor Morrison and Council welcomed Mr. Garman to the Town.
UPDATE ON 2007 EVENTS
Public Relations Coordinator Kathy McCullough-Testa was recognized to speak. Ms. McCullough-Testa went on to give a short update on the upcoming 2007 events happening in Town as well as her recent updates to the Town’s website. She also went on to show Council and the audience a short public service announcement that is presently running on Government Access Channel 20 regarding the 4th of July parade.
Mayor Morrison pointed out that at the 2006 4th of July parade, the fire trucks had stopped at the end of Christopher Drive, causing the whole parade to come to a standstill. He asked if that could be resolved so as not to happen this year. Fire Chief Donna Black was recognized to speak. Fire Chief Black stated it would be addressed so it won’t happen this year. Police Chief Dale Hamilton was recognized to speak. Police Chief Hamilton stated that all of his officers would be available this year to keep the flow of traffic moving smoothly.
Mayor Morrison asked if music will be worked into the parade. Ms. McCullough-Testa stated that there would be patriotic music played in the vehicles that will be in the parade. She stated that there will also be bagpipers and a fiddler in the parade.
Mayor Morrison thanked Ms. McCullough-Testa for her presentation.
OVERVIEW OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Fire Chief Donna Black was recognized to speak. Fire Chief Black went on to give a short presentation to Council and the audience regarding the 2007 Emergency Operations Plan. She pointed out that the key players were present for the presentation in that they were the ones that would be available in the event of an emergency.
Fire Chief Black asked Mayor Morrison if the Emergency Operations Committee had met yet this year. Mayor Morrison stated there was supposed to be a meeting approximately one (1) week ago but it had been canceled. He hoped they would meet again soon.
Town Manager Layton stated that the Town has learned some lessons from Hurricane Isabel. He felt the Town has done a good job of implementing the NIMS Incident Command System especially when it comes to flooding issues. He stated that he would be relying on staff for various issues during an emergency. He thought staff was small enough that things could be done efficiently. He stated with regard to damage assessment, the Town should be in good shape once Andy Garman is on board.
Public Relations Coordinator Kathy McCullough-Testa was recognized to speak. Ms. McCullough-Testa stated that she is the Joint Information Center liaison for the Town and that her role is to give information to the EOC on what is happening in Town before, during and after a storm. She stated that she will update the Town’s website as well as sending faxes and emails to keep the public informed. Town Manager Layton pointed out that having a dedicated staff or Council person going to the Joint Information Center is difficult because the Town is so small.
Councilor Caviness noted that the supplies of food were for the Town’s EOC and not to provide logistical support for everyone that does not evacuate. She stated that it is focused on the people dealing with the emergencies. She stated that they have a plan for food based on a certain amount of days that the EOC may need it after a hurricane. She stated that Council had in their handouts a Hurricane Personal Preparedness sheet that they need to fill out for the Town EOC. Police Chief Hamilton stated that the Town will be utilizing ready to eat meals this year and recommended stocking up on them as they have a three (3) year shelf life.
Pat Scarlett of Kellogg’s was recognized to speak. Ms. Scarlett reminded Council and the audience to make sure their vehicles are fueled up before a storm event. She stated that she would make sure that Kellogg’s will have items on the shelves that are needed for a hurricane, such as flashlights, batteries and plywood. Councilor Caviness stated that coolers were another good item to have on hand. Ms. Scarlett pointed out that while Kellogg’s will be the EOC for the Town staff, it will not be a shelter for those individuals that do not evacuate.
Town Manager Layton stated that the Crown Gas Station in Southern Shores is one of the gas stations that have generators so people can still get fuel. He stated that if any member of the Town EOC purchases anything from Kellogg’s for the storm event to please keep the receipts so the Town can be reimbursed through FEMA. Fire Chief Black pointed out that the Emergency Operations Plan has forms in it to help keep track of time and supplies.
Police Chief Hamilton stated that he makes sure to schedule his officers so they are available during an emergency situation.
Councilor Caviness asked if anyone that signed up for the SORIN program had concerns about evacuating. Police Chief Hamilton stated that there are three (3) people signed up that are very capable of evacuating. He stated that there is one who has family in the Town of Southern Shores that can help him. He stated that the Police Department intends to contact the people on the program to find out what their plans will be if a storm heads to the Outer Banks.
Mayor Morrison asked if a curfew was instated after Hurricane Isabel. Police Chief Hamilton stated there was and that it was County wide. Town Manager Layton stated that a curfew would be needed after a storm event.
Director of Community Development Suzanne Cotellessa was recognized to speak. Director Cotellessa stated that damage assessment has both long-term and real time aspects. She stated that well ahead of the storms, staff sets up various zones in Town for damage assessment. She stated that after Hurricane Isabel, staff tried to automate the process more so there would be an easy way for people out in the field to indicate levels of damage. She stated that other jurisdictions have come up with better ways to go out in the field and determine the level of damage after a storm. She stated that this will all fall on Andy Garman’s shoulders. She stated that Mr. Garman is familiar with the hand-held computers to determine damage assessment. She stated that the key is to gather people together that will be involved with the damage assessment and training them to use the hand held computers. She noted that the Town is required to have an assessment within twenty-four (24) hours after a storm event. She pointed out that the hand held’s will come in handy with regard to GPS.
Andy Garman was recognized to speak. Mr. Garman stated that the Town of Nags Head has put together the electronic hand held program. He stated that after the Thanksgiving Nor’easter the Town was hit pretty badly, with approximately sixty (60) homes damaged. He stated that the hand held computers were used to document beach step damages. He stated that the Town set up a website where homeowners could log on and see the actual damage to their homes which helped with regard to public information. Pat Scarlett thought the program was a good idea for every town to use. Mr. Garman agreed and stated it gives homeowners a level of comfort.
Town Manager Layton stated that the Town has a contract with Crowder Gulf for debris removal. He stated he would be bringing forward to Council two (2) additional contractors for local contracting of debris removal. He stated that the Town has to deal with the issue of private roads, which is never reimbursed from FEMA. He stated that Council will need to be prepared to make the decision of cleaning up the private roads. He reminded Council that the Town will not be able to be reimbursed for the clean up of private roads. He stated that the Town cannot get reimbursement for the clean up of NC 12 but can for the bike path. He stated that a debris management plan will help with regard to FEMA’s accounting of debris removal. He stated that he would be sitting down with the other towns in coming up with one for each town. He stated that one of the requirements of the management plan is that a monitor has to be in place when the debris is loaded onto the trucks to sign off on how full it is.
Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau asked if Town Manager Layton was going to sit down with the other managers in the other towns. Town Manager Layton stated that a meeting will be set up specifically for the debris management plan. Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau asked how many meetings would be needed. Town Manager Layton stated that there are templates available and it would be a matter of making some changes to it.
Mayor Pro Tempore Thibodeau asked how families of staff members staying behind for storm events would be taken care of. Fire Chief Black stated that a destination could be chosen for the families to gather at. Town Manager Layton noted that if the storm is a Category 4 or 5, it would be good for staff to be together at a destination that would be close enough so they could return after the storm.
Town Manager Layton asked Council and staff to fill out their hurricane preparedness sheet and get them back to him as soon as possible.
Mayor Morrison thanked Fire Chief Black for her presentation.
Town Manager Layton stated he would be bringing to Council at their July meeting a Zoning Ordinance Technical Review Committee resolution to establish a committee who will study some of the ordinances for the Town. Mayor Morrison stated that Council would probably appoint two (2) Council Members and two (2) Planning Board members to the committee. He asked Council to think about who they would want on the committee. Town Manager Layton stated that staff would be at every meeting but would not be part of the committee.
Mayor Morrison stated that the next meeting will be on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
There being no further business to discuss, Councilor Lindley moved to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
The time was 2:45 p.m.
____________________________
/s/ Christopher J. Layton, Town Clerk
Approved: July 5, 2007
_______________________________
/s/ Neil Morrison, Mayor