Whiteville Approves Mayor and Alderman Pay Raises
The Town of Whiteville met for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, October 2, 2023. Some of the items discussed included:
Communication from Mayor
- Communication from Mayor including discussion about diligent work being done to acquire grant money for street paving. Mayor Bowden asked for patience from the citizens as they work towards that effort and noted, if needed, patch work can be done until the bigger project is able to start. {4:35 minute mark}
Comments of Citizens
- Comments from citizens included clarity about when a water bill must be paid to prevent disconnection. The Town of Whiteville water bills are due on the 1st of each month. Residents are given an additional 15 days before a late fee is applied, and if payment is not made by the 25th of the month, service will be disconnected. Per the contract signed at account activation, it is stated account holders are to contact City Hall if they do not receive a water bill. The water bill payment is due each month even if a bill is not received. {5:58 minute mark}
Old Business
- Steven Stanley was appointed as the Municipal Code of Ethics Administrator, a new position by the State. Stanley will be the go to person if there is a question about the code of ethics for the Town of Whiteville. Each elected official has to complete their own annual code of ethics paperwork. {30:00 minute mark}
- Building code inspector is preparing letters for the addresses that have been condemned. Smaller projects/buildings currently with condemned signs are being worked on now with buildings being removed, but some may have to be put on another budget. The Town is trying to get a grant for the project that includes the expense of knocking down the building and hauling off the remains. {33:31 minute mark}
- Other old business covered included the Allen Extension; utility bulling rate study; sewer CDBG; and the THDA Housing grant.
New Business {43:27 min mark}
- The Town of Whiteville approved separating the water and sewer funds, per the recommendation of the Comptrollers Office.
- Creating an ordinance for the mobile home parks considering single-wides and double-wides being allowed, and they will have to be new or meet the expected standards of the ordinance that is created. If the mobile home is used, it may not be older than a certain year. This was just a discussion of the ordinance that will be created. It will affect current mobile homes in the park as well as ones moving into the park. {46:47 minute mark}
- All changes regarding the Mayor and Alderman pay have to be approved before the next election in August 2024, after which the pay increases will take affect. Pay increases for the mayor and alderman positions were approved for the first reading. The mayor’s pay will be $3,000 per month/$36,000 annually, a change from $5,000/annually. It is a fulltime position. The alderman’s pay will be $125 per month/$1,500 annually. {1:11:00 minute mark}
- Other issues covered included a Letter from Comptroller’s Office on interfunds, Library/public comments procedure 1st reading; utility bill service charge; food warmer rental and deposit usage charge; fulltime mayor and alderman pay; Jehr subdivision street name changes resolution; and Christmas bonuses.
Other Business {1:29:19 minute mark}
- Other business included utility adjustments and charge-offs, and paid September invoices.
Reports from Officers, Staff, or Board Members {1:32:30 minute mark}
Notices/Activities/Meeting
Christmas Downtown – Saturday, December 9, 2023
Holiday Closures – Wednesday and Thursday, November 22 and November 23, 2023; Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and December 26, 2023; and Monday, January 1, 2024.
Time is included on all meeting agendas for citizens to speak and the community is invited to attend all meetings.
Watch the September 2023 Town of Whiteville meeting.
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