Town Board - Regular Meeting

Isn't it this like isn't it like EQ 2023 EQ exclamation point something like that? Yeah. I don't know. Does it finally run in 2023. It's like EQ capital 2023 then little EQ exclamation point I think. No, no, mine's the same. Yeah, exit formula. Yeah, he he gave us all the same. So, no, no, that's what it was last last time. [laughter] I've lost him. I've lost Edwin.

And again, my thing won't open. This happened to me before. What is the deal? Do we have a printed one? Yes, I I've been making her print me one because this happened and that's that time that it happened

cuz I just have the two and the one, right? The two agenda and the set. Yep. That's what I thought. Yep.

I'm not feeling any pressure tonight. [laughter] Excuse my paper one. All right, people get in here. [clears throat]

I am. Yeah, just like think. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our December 2nd meeting. Um this is our organizational meeting and we'll be recognizing our outgoing board member and welcoming two new commissioners on. So thank you all for joining us for that. We always start our meeting with a moment of silence and every meeting I remind everyone to silence their phone. So look at your phone and please do that. Now can keep it out for pictures and things, but let's not have everyone swearing in be interrupted by a ringtone or a announcement from a map or some strange sound like that. All right, if you will please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. And now, if you're able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Smith, announcements.

Yes, good evening. I'll make this extremely quick. We have far more important matters at hand this evening. Um, but just a reminder for leaf collection season. Uh, currently underway until January 15th. Plastic bags are no longer accepted for our leaf collection per waste connections. So, please be sure to use brown paper biodegradable bags for any leaves in addition to your yard waste bin. Uh, you can put out as many as 10 bags during your weekly collection. And we ask that you please don't include food waste, dirt, or rocks. Uh, also want to share uh, it is the season and there are plenty of holiday events going on in Huntersville. Uh, so this weekend, December 5th and 6th, we have our town tree lighting at 600 p.m. on December 5th in Veterans Park. And the entire event runs from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. And then on December 6th, we have holidays in Huntersville from 3 PM to 8:00 PM where you can enjoy live music, beverages, food trucks, and new this year, you can enjoy Santa's workshop, which is an immersive holiday experience for the entire family. And that event will be ongoing throughout December, uh that'll also be happening on December 5th, 11th, 12th, and 13th from 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 321 next to Veterans Park. And if you want to learn more about those events or hear u more details about our holiday events, please visit our Huntersville Parks and Recreation Facebook page. It's all ahead.

Thank you very much. We have some public comments this evening and we will start with Gatewood Campbell and Johnny Campbell if you can give me a wave. Thank you. Miss Campbell, you have six minutes. And before we begin, this is a special occasion this evening and so um we have a lot of new folks in the audience and so I just want to remind everyone of our public comment policy. Um so she will have six minutes because there are two people here. Um but speakers should be civil and courteous in their language and presentation. Insults, personal attacks, accusations, profanity, vulgar language, inappropriate gestures or other inappropriate behavior is not tolerated. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to the use of bigotry, slurs, or bias against any individual or group of individuals based on race, religion, national origin, sex, including sex orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity, disability, age, political affiliation, etc. Discriminatory and defamatory comments are strictly prohibited. You may begin.

Good evening, mayor, board, staff, and guests. Thank you for reading the public comment policy. I've spoken many times and I'm fully aware of the policy. I'm an engaged citizen, a voter, and a Hunterville resident since 1999. I was appointed to the volunteer downtown planning steering committee, probably because I am engaged and I pay attention. I watch and I reach out. I'm an educated rest uh resident. I ask questions. At the last meeting, I spoke directly about a comment made about me by our mayor that was released in a foyer. While I spoke, many of you were engaged in activities other than listening to me. I appreciate one of you reaching out, acknowledging what was said about me and expressing regret for how that has affected me. I watched as some of you scrolled, typed, and even engaged in conversation while I spoke. I will continue to show up, email you, and share the knowledge I gain. I will not be intimidated. Even when the words you type while sitting right here in this room while I am speaking are about me and are so profane and vulgar that they would violate that public comment policy. This bord apology to the residents of this town, be engaged. Download the Town of Huntersville app. Subscribe to the news to the newsletter. Follow the town of Huntersville on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Next Door. Attend planning board and town board meetings like this. Read the agendas. If you want to know something, ask. If you have the questions, it's likely someone else does, too. So, ask. You can email the entire board and town manager at the same time using board membershville.org.

And our second speaker is Chris Woolak. You have three minutes. Hi, I'm Chris Woolak. I live in Vermillion. Um I notice on the agenda today that you're going to be talking voting on the um calendar for the upcoming year. I'm not sure if you're aware, but the Meckllinburgg County Board of um community uh county commissioners also meets on the second and or first and third Tuesdays, which means any of us residents that might want to attend both meetings would not be able to. So, if that's something you could consider for some either tonight or some very soon future. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Wac. And now, may I have a motion to adopt the agenda? I make a [clears throat] motion to adopt the agenda. And is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. Now, may I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Motion to adopt the consent agenda. And is there a second? I second.

Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? And the motion carries unanimously. We do not have any public hearings this evening, nor do we have any other business this evening, but we do have something special to do for item number 11. Commissioner Bergsman, I want to thank you so much for your service to the town of Huntersville. I've known you a long time and I know that your passion is true and your volunteerism is pure of heart and we have enjoyed getting to know you and knowing your family and we have been honored to serve with you and you will be missed because I believe that you have made this board a better board by always questioning, always pushing and always asking all the right questions and that can never be faulted. So I very much appreciate you and I have something for you. come over. [clears throat] So, we um you may have noticed the new big building next door and so that was one of our very first actions as a board and so we had a rendering of the the new town hall framed for Commissioner Bergen for her gift. [applause]

[applause] [applause] [applause] Commissioner Berguson, I know that you let me know that you didn't have any comments, but I still wanted to give you a chance in case you changed your mind. Oh, sure. Thanks. No, actually, I don't. Just um thank you to everyone for the last two years. It's been an honor. Thank you. We are going to take a brief recess and reorganize and then we will um install the new officers or elected officials. So, one moment, please.

Well, I'm not sure. Oh. All right, everyone. If you will take your seats, please. All right, thank you everyone. And now for the fun part of the evening. We will swear in um the incoming board. We are very excited about that. We have some special guests here. Judge George Bell, Judge Jennifer Fleet, and Judge Matt Newton are here to celebrate with us. [applause]

All right. I hear I'm the MC tonight. Um, so we're in trouble. First time in 30 years I got to do this. So, uh, even though I'm only only 35, but, um, so, mayor, um, obviously it's a special night tonight and obviously we got a couple special folks here on the front row and, um, we'll make it easy. I will call the first judge up and then, um, the first group up, and then any of your family members, etc. that you may want to come up and whether you're holding a Bible, a cookbook, or uh, it doesn't matter. So, you know, whatever whatever you want to hold, you uh bring that up and bring your family members up. I don't know all the family members here tonight, so we'll be I will struggle if I have to get that right. But I have a list here, so we'll we'll get started and get on to the real business. Uh again, uh first person up, we have District Court Judge Matt Newman, and I think he's going to do some swearing in for Mayor Christy Clark, Commissioner Jennifer Hunt, Commissioner Edwin Quarl, Commissioner Latoya Rivers, and Commissioner Nick Walsh. And I think we have planning on doing all of those at one time. Judge, don't ask me for help. We're in trouble.

Maybe the mayor separate. So, we'll start with the mayor first and then other commissioners. Uh before we get started to all current commissioners and outgoing commissioners, thank you all for your service. Uh and then also, um congratulations to all of the commissioners elect. Uh, so we will get started with you, Madame Mayor. Um, did you have family here in attendance? I know Chris was here. So, so if you won't, you can uh just walk right out here to the uh the center of the aisle or right there. Uh, and if you would repeat after me. [laughter]

I I state your name. I, Christy Clark, do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States I will support and maintain and laws of and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as mayor of the town of Huntersville, North Carolina. I will faithfully discharge the duties of my as mayor of the town of Huntersville, North Carolina. North Carolina. So help me God.

So help me God. Congratulations, Madame Mayor. [applause] [applause] Okay. So next I will be calling up uh Commissioner Hunts. Commissioner Rivers, Commissioner Walsh, and Commissioner Quarls. And all family and friends, please come forward.

Okay. Yeah. [laughter] [clears throat and snorts] That one is a long one in the middle. Okay. Is everyone

that's everyone set? All right. Uh so please all of you repeat after me. I state your name. I do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution Con and laws of North Carolina and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith. I consistent there and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as commissioner of the town of Huntersville, North Carolina.

as So help me God. Help me God. Congratulations to you all. [applause] [cheering]

I'm so excited. [laughter]

I got a better one right here.

[laughter]

for you. All right. So, uh we got most of them out of the way. We got a couple couple newbies coming in now. [laughter] We're going to take it easy on you, though. Um, so next we have District Court Judge Jennifer Fleet who is going to administer oath of office for Commissioner Scott Cornet. That's great. And if you want, Judge, if you want to go to the mic so we can, you know, get it all crisp and clear. We like to We want to record you for once. We want to record you for once. [laughter]

Alrighty. Okay. All right. You ready? Yep. I state your name. Scottet do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will support and maintain that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina constitution laws not inconsistent therewith not inconsistent there and that I will faithfully discharge I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office the duties of my office as commissioner of the town of Huntersville, North Carolina. I'm so proud of you. [applause]

[applause]

All right, we're going to save the best for last, I hear. [clears throat] All right, I don't know if that's Superior Court Judge George Barl, whom I know, or either he's going to come up and do the oath of office for Commissioner Heather Smallwoods. Maybe both. Um, Judge Amazing.

All right, as we're getting set up, I just wanted to say congratulations to all the newly elected uh members of the town board of Huntersville and Mayor Clark. Congratulations. Thank you. All right, Heather, are you ready? I'm ready. All right, please repeat after me and I'll try to keep it nice and short for you. [laughter] I, Heather Smallwood, I, Heather Smallwood, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support that I will support and maintain and maintain the Constitution the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the and the Constitution and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith not inconsistent therewith and that I

and that I will faithfully discharge will faithfully discharge the duties the duties of my office of my office as commissioner as commissioner of the town of Huntersville of the town of Huntersville North Carolina North Carolina so help me God so help me God

CONGRATULATIONS [applause] [applause] okay Yeah, we got to get out. I'm relieved of my duties now.

Thank goodness, [applause] [cheering]

Heather and Scott. [laughter] It's your time. Right. Thank you again, judges, and um welcome to Commissioner Coronett and Commissioner Smallwood. We're very excited. And I also wanted to recognize um one other person before we um proceed with our business this evening, which is former mayor Bales who's also here and SOMEWHERE [applause] I believe former mayor Annarella is also somewhere around here as well. So um it's nice to have all the mayors in the room. So we um have a small amount of business before we conclude our e our events this evening. So, um, let's begin with a motion for the adoption of the agenda.

I make a motion to adopt the agenda. And is there a second? A second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? And the motion carries unanimously. And now, have we have a motion for the consent agenda? Make a motion to adopt the consent agenda. And is there a second? I second.

Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. We have no public hearings. We have some new business to do this evening. Item 17A, consider election of mayor prom. Is there a motion to elect the mayor prom? I make the motion that we elect mayor promp Jennifer Hunt as mayor promp. And is there a second? I'll second that. Any discussion? Well, I can say that it's been an honor to serve with her for two years, and I'm very excited for another two years,

to have her as my right-hand gal. So, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? And the motion carries unanimously. Item number 17B, consider adopting the 2026 town board regular meeting schedule. Is there a motion for our meeting schedule? I would like to make a motion that we adopt the 2026 town board regular meeting schedule. And is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? And the motion carries unanimously. We always end our meeting with closing comments. And so, Commissioner Corinette, do you have any closing comments?

Just like to thank you all for coming and I'm really excited to be working with you guys. So, thank you. [clears throat] Commissioner Walsh. Uh, I just want to welcome our two new colleagues to the boards and those who are returning. Looking forward to the next couple of years and thank my beautiful bride of almost 40 years for all her support over the four terms that I've been elected. Commissioner Rivers, [clears throat]

I'm a little long-winded. [laughter] Well, um, first I want to give honor to God for placing me back in this position one more time. um if it had not been for him, I don't know where I would be or what this journey would look like. So, I am blessed, honored, and and just happy to be here again to all of you. Thank you all so much for your support, for your patience, for believing in this board, and welcome to the two colleagues, the two new kids on the block. You guys are going to be amazing. And what I said to Scott, well, I'm sorry, Commissioner Cornette, let me correct myself now. Um, Commissioner Smallwood, just be true to yourself. Depend on the staff because they are knowledgeable. Trust your gut because you're smart enough to know what is right, what is wrong, and you do what you feel is in the best interest for the town of Huntersville. One thing that I remember coming into this that Mayor Bells actually taught me is to sit back and observe. Observing is how you learn. So if you have any questions, depend on your colleagues. We don't know everything, but we'll guide you as much as we can. And again, congratulations to the both of you. And lastly, but certainly not least, to my family. Thank you all so so much for your patience [laughter] and for loving me through all of this. I know there have been moments where I have missed some special events for my daughters, but I love you both dearly and I'm doing this for you. So, always know that. And I love you all. Thank you all so, so much.

Commissioner Hunt, Mayor Pro.

Yeah. Okay. Before I go on my thank you tour, I want to congratulate Commissioner Smallwood and Coronet. Welcome. And if you need anything, please ask. Um, as first I want to thank my colleagues that I've worked with the last two years. Thank you for collaborating with me and supporting me through all of the various endeavors, whether it was the environmental sustainability committee, updating the tree mitigation ordinance, budgeting for the arborist. I'm really grateful to you for your support. I've enjoyed working with you as a team, but also for the friendships we've built. I appreciate you. Um, infinite thank yous to our staff who are wonderful and dedicated. I'm not going to call anybody out by name because they don't really like that. But I am deeply grateful to you and for your patience and expertise and willing to answer all the questions and you're super collaborative. I appreciate that about you. I have the utmost respect for all of you and I am very grateful that you choose to work in the town of Huntersville and we are thriving and are so lucky to have you walking alongside us. Thank you to the Huntersville voters for trusting me in 2023 and trusting me again to continue the good work we started two years ago. Thank you for showing up on election day and making your priorities known at the ballot box. I know I sit here because of you. Um, a special thank you to all of the people who helped this team campaign by knocking on doors, putting out signs, showing up to events to be a friendly face. We could not have done this without you. And lastly, I am grateful to my husband, Jacob. Um, you have been my constant companion, not just during campaign season, but through my entire first term. When I had meetings to attend or to prepare for, you picked up the slack and never once complained about it. You are my ride or die. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me. You're my favorite person on the planet and I love you.

Thus concludes my thank you tour. Thanks for listening, [laughter] Commissioner Corals. being the quiet one on the board. Um, [laughter] first I want to give give thanks to God because he heard my cry and he answered my prayers. Um, secondly, uh, to my beautiful wife. Um, I want to make sure that I put some notes down to thank my supporters. So, mine's a little different than my colleagues. I take this moment to sincerely thank the voters who who voted for me as well as each supporter of my successful campaign. Your support confirmed that you did not want me to be a one one and done commissioner. You agreed with my platform. You witnessed that everything that I said I would do in my first term, I delivered on them. You wanted to finish what we started together. I humbly thank you for seeing my dedication to the great town of Huntersville. You saw that I did not show up in the community when it was election time just to get your support. You saw that I take government intergovernmental relationships very serious. I thank you for the words that you gave me when we talked in the community. Your support means more to me than the words I have prepared to say. Your support means I will continue to serve each constituent each constituent with dignity and with honor. Your support means I will continue to keep our public safety as a top priority. Being fully committed to our honorable first responders is why Huntersville is a safe place to live. In my first term, I remain committed to balanced growth, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and above all, listening. In my first term, our police heroes receive across the board pay increase. And our department now offers the highest starting pay salary of any police department in Charlotte Metro. Crime decreased in Huntersville by 17%.

And our fire department is full-time staff and new trucks have been purchased. In my first term, funding was approved for our new town hall. In my first term, more than $2.4 million in annual tax revenue was added. In my first term, I championed the Veteran Service Office that is scheduled to open on January 5th of 2026. In my first term, Consumer Affairs noted Huntersville as the fourth best place in the state to live. That being said, your support was confirmation that you wanted me to continue my the forward trajectory with my incumbent colleagues and my new colleagues. Your support means I will be the voice for our veterans and their dependents. Your support means I will continue to support our notfor-profit organizations. You know when our not for-profit organizations do well, Huntersville does well. Your support means when an inspiring young politician or a future Eagle Scout reaches out to me, I will continue to be there for guidance and mentoring. Your support means that you want Huntersville to remain the lowest personal property tax uh municipality of the top 25 in the state. Your support means we will continue to shape Huntersville together. I humbly and sincerely thank you for your support. Let's finish what we've started together.

Thank you, Commissioner Cruz. [applause] Commissioner Smallwood.

Well, I didn't have anything prepared, but sometimes that's uh best. Uh thank you all for welcoming welcoming me. Um, I'm very much looking forward to the next two years serving with you all and thank you for the citizens of Huntersville for entrusting me and electing me into this position. Um, I'm very humbled. I wanted to also thank uh Dan Boon, Frank Gammon, Jamie Weidman, and Amy Halman for their expertise uh throughout this process. And Linda Bost, thank you very much for your support. And thank you to my husband and my children who uh sadly could not be here this evening. And to my mom, I love you. And our dad is looking down on me tonight, too. Sorry, y'all. Anyway, thank you very much. So, yeah, [clears throat] give her a plug. [applause] Commissioner Slwood and I have not had the most wonderful 2025. Um, and we shared we have a shared experience there. Um, as my dad passed away earlier this year as well. Um, but I want to get start off by giving a thanks to my husband Chris who um, carried me through the longest and hardest summer of my life and then through an election season and now here today to help me get sworn in. Can't look at you. And thank you to this beautiful board of people including Heather and Scott who are now here with us. Um they helped me along the way as well. Even during election season, we might have not all been on the same team at the time, but now we are and we're a family and I hope it stays that way. I want to give a big thanks to the staff of this town. Um mayors always say that their town has the best staff in the whole state. Um they are liars. We do. [laughter] We have the best staff. And um I am so proud to serve with them and excited to

serve another two years with them. Again, when we all got elected, I told the staff, "Let's do as much as we possibly can in two years to make Huntersville be the best place that it can be." And that is exactly what we did. And so now we have another two years to do some more things. And I'm looking forward to it. I also want to give a big thanks to our police and fire. um they are out there every day working hard for our town and they are some of the best people in the whole world and we love them and respect them and hope that they know how much they mean to this town. And lastly to the voters and volunteers who got us here again um we hear you and we see you and we appreciate your message to us and we will continue to dream big for the town of Huntersville and I hope that you will continue to dream with us as well. So thank you very much. And lastly, is there a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjurnn. And is there a second? [laughter]

I'll second. [applause] Any discussion? We're having so much fun. I think we should just sit here for another 30 [laughter] minutes. Edwin Corals. Mr. Corals. I have personal privilege. [laughter] All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Eddie opposed. And the motion carries unanously. Thank you all for