The council also voted 4-1 to increase the mayor’s salary by $300 per month and to provide a $200 monthly stipend for in-county travel.
“The biggest concern I had when we were trying to get this (budget) done was we were not over-anticipating how much money was coming in,” said Town Manager Carl Dean, who described the budget as conservative.
Taxes remain at $0.415 per $100 valuation in the proposed budget. The budget increases the access fee for both water and sewer service by $1 and increases the overall rates for water by four percent and for sewer by six percent. A $0.60 increase in monthly garbage collection fees and a $0.40 increase in monthly recycling fees also are included. Parks and recreation program and facility costs were raised recently also.
The mayor’s salary is to be increased from the current $729 per month to $1,029 per month, with a $200 monthly stipend for travel within the county. The mayor requested the increase before recusing himself from the discussion and vote.
“This will bring me closer in line with other Wake County mayors,” Mayor Dick Sears said.
“His salary hasn’t been adjusted over the years,” Councilman Tim Sack said, adding that the increased compensation was comparable with the mayoral salaries in Morrisville and Garner.
Councilman Chet VanFossen said he favored a stipend because it could be taken away. He said, when the mayor’s salary was considered several years ago, he was concerned that another mayor could be elected who would not be as active a mayor as Sears but would receive the same salary.
“He (Sears) has been and is the face of Holly Springs and that’s what he does best,” VanFossen said.
“That’s why we wanted to set aside a stipend that the city board could take away from another mayor.”
Councilman Parrish Womble said other Wake County mayors hold other jobs.
“I don’t know why he (Sears) doesn’t have one,” Womble said. “We’ve got a town manager, assistant town manager, economic development director – they have that job to do. I don’t see the mayor doing all this stuff, not to warrant $12,000 a year.”
Womble cast the only vote against the increase in salary and the stipend for the mayor.
The budget includes $70,000 for updating the town’s transportation improvement plan and $65,000 for donations to nonprofit organizations, including $35,000 for the town chamber of commerce.
The town’s projects this year include ongoing work on the community center; environmental planning for Stephens Grove Blvd., a road that is to connect Ralph Stevens to Piney Grove-Wilbon Rd.; and multiple sidewalks: along Main St. from downtown to the bypass, downtown to Womble Park and around Bass Lake Park. A sewer pump upgrades study also is planned.
Seven new positions are funded in the budget: two police officers, a school resource officer, three firefighters and a recreation program specialist. The town also is reclassifying positions in its information technology department. While no cost of living adjustment was in the proposed budget for employees, merit or performance pay and a 5 percent 401(k) contribution and longevity benefits was included, as was a state-mandated retirement increase of 1.51 percent.
As part of budget discussions, Womble asked for money for Christmas decorations so the town could display lights from the downtown section to Food Lion on both sides of the road and “make it presentable.” The town budget includes $7,500 for Christmas decorations.
“If we run out, could we get some more?” Womble asked.
Town staff said the budgeted amount was a 25 percent decrease in what staff requested but that the town could look at funds again as the year progressed. Staff said the expenses mostly were needed to hire an electrician to wire poles for the lights.
As part of the public comment period, a nearby resident who teaches drama at the town cultural center called attention to the increase of non-residential rates for classes from 20 to 50 percent. She said people had approached her and said they could not pay the new rate. She said she was hoping to grow the program but the increase in rates might limit programs.
The budget was approved in a 4-1 vote with Womble voting against the motion.
Grants awarded, again The council unanimously voted to allocate remaining grant funds, awarding $1,300 to the town Rotary Club and $300 to Kids Vote.
The item came up at the meeting when Charles Galt addressed the council on behalf of the club. He highlighted the club’s local service: providing Meals on Wheels and scholarships, supporting youth leaders and more. He asked that the council reconsider funding.
At its previous meeting, the council voted 3-2 to award funds to nonprofits for projects that benefit Holly Springs. The town Rotary Club did not receive funding at the last meeting because the club’s application allocated grant funds to a project that packages meals to be sent overseas. VanFossen and Womble, both Rotary members, voted against the motion after funding for the town Rotary Club was not supported by other council members at that previous meeting.
Since the meeting, the Rotary Club submitted a revised application. Though council members said they were concerned reconsidering the club’s application set a precedent, all voted in favor of funding the club and in favor of funding Kids Vote, which did not meet the grant application deadline.
“You don’t want other organizations to come back and do this kind of stuff,” said Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams. “We were going according to the rules given to us (in determining grant funding at the previous meeting). And that’s within the law. … And, we’re responsible for that.”
“Last year, they submitted the same request and it was passed, and it (the denied grant) puts them in a bad spot because they thought they were doing the right thing but in the review process, they didn’t review it in the same way as in years past,” VanFossen said. “I think we all agree that the Holly Springs Rotary Club works tirelessly in the town of Holly Springs for the town of Holly Springs.
“If that sets a precedent, then so be it because I believe they were not judged fairly,” he said.
Williams said the grant shouldn’t have been awarded for the overseas project last year.
“You weren’t here last year,” Womble said.
Town grants are to be awarded early this coming fiscal year, staff said, with money being distributed to agencies in mid-August. Other meeting news The council approved a development plan for Pinewoods Luxury Apartments, 70 units in two three-story buildings be located on more than five acres near the intersection of Lassiter Rd. and Sunset Lake Rd.
The gated development is to include a pool.
A resident near the project said she was concerned about the safety of children playing near the road during construction, and the council said a sign would be installed along the roadway. She also said she was concerned about the road and properties along it being damaged by construction traffic. The developer is to pave Lassiter Rd. as part of the project.
As part of its consent agenda, the council received $1,763,195 in reimbursement from the state Department of Transportation and approved allocating the money to pay the remaining balance of the town’s road projects debt. The town’s original loan was for $4,342,000 in April 2004 and covered improvements at the Holly Springs Rd. intersections with Main St. and Sunset Lake Rd.
The council approved a resolution in support of a bill the General Assembly is considering. The bill is to protect email addresses that citizens have provided to towns for email lists.
“It prevents that information from becoming public record,” Dean said, adding that the email addresses could be taken and used for marketing purposes.
“It protects our citizens by doing this, and that’s why we’re recommending it,” he said.
The council appointed one remaining position on the Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, reappointing Stephane Daniel.
The council approved annexing 1.9 acres along Avent Ferry Rd. across from Trotter Bluffs. A Goodwill store is to be located on the property.
As part of the public comment period, a local resident spoke in defense of the Sunset Ridge subdivision against what he said was recent bad press and talked about how the neighborhood was tied to the history of the town.
“The people of Sunset Ridge are always there to work for this town,” he said.
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