City Council - Regular Meeting

It's just a couple minutes after six o'clock. This is Tuesday, December the 9th. This is the uh regular meeting for the month of December for the board of alderman for the town of Spencer. Thank you all for being here. We are called to order. We have all of our current sitting board members present this evening. and we will begin with an invocation um followed by the pledge of allegiance and Alderwoman Sledge will be giving our invocation this evening.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is a reading from a book called The Promise of a New Day. The first star in the evening sky shines with a special brightness because it is the first. We see it as a signal, the first sign that afternoon has turned evening. The first of anything is touched with special glamour. First love, a baby's first words or steps. First day of school, first job. Their signals of change, profound and irreversible. When day turns to evening, that day will never come again. Tomorrow is a new day, unique and never to be repeated. If we could meet each new day, each new person, each new experience, as though it were the first, our lives could be touched by the excitement and discovery of adventure. We're not the same as we were yesterday. Each moment we change, each new event in our lives can be a cusp between two different states. Today, let's give ourselves that special gift. Lord, give us the grace to perform what the the jobs that we need to do for the citizens of our of our town and our community. Um, thank you for the opportunity to work with the with the staff and the management here and bless everything that we do and give us the discernment to know the way the path we should follow. Amen.

Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

All right, so a little bit different agenda for us this evening which is exciting. Um, we uh have our organization and procedure of the mayor and board of alderman as we welcome our newly elected members to the board of alderman. But before we do that, we want to take a moment to recognize our outgoing board member, Mr. Andrew How. Andrew, thank you very, very much for all that you have done over the last several years. Uh, you have been instrumental in the things that have happened here in our town and positive progress that we have made. Um, it's been a pleasure working alongside you. I'll speak for the rest of the board as well. Um we've enjoyed our time with you and uh hope that at some point in time you'll come back and uh run again and be with us again. Um we really appreciate all your contributions. We understand that family calls and work calls um and can totally relate to that. So we wish you the best in everything that you do. Thank you for your time here. We do have a uh a little token of our appreciation for you. Cool. Thank you. All right. And so I will show this to everyone. Picture of our current board along with our new town park pavilion. And then uh we have some uh notes from our outdoor or our current board members to Mr. How so he can remember his time with us. So Andrew, thank you very very much. Thank you.

And with that, if there's anything that you would like to say, uh you are more than welcome to.

I will be very brief. I I just want to thank uh I promise I'd just like to say thank you, Mr. Mayor, to the board, to staff, uh to the citizens of the town, to everyone who has uh been involved with what we're doing. Um it has been a true honor and privilege. I've really enjoyed um serving on behalf of Counter Spencer. Um I I don't know it was in my bingo card five or ten years ago, but it's definitely been something I've enjoyed doing and I I think at some point I'll do it again. We'll see. We'll see what how how things turn out. But um you know, I think the the biggest thing is is that this town's kind of like the engine that could. Um and and I think the biggest thing is all the folks who sat at this seat either here or in the other building or in buildings past. Um, you know, Spencer's kind of having a moment and and I really, like I said a couple meetings ago, really appreciate being a part of that. Some some very small part of that and um and I hope and wish and and feel quite confident you guys can keep this rolling. And um and I'm just down the street if you guys ever have a want to pick my brain or just come down play shoot some basketball or watch some football or we'll go look in the woods and see what was like back there. But I really appreciate it and u and thank you guys again. Really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Uh I will say that uh stepping up to serve in a elected capacity as a public official is not an easy decision to make, not one that's taken lightly. It takes a toll on uh your personal life and your family as well and even your work life. And so Andrew, we're very very grateful for that. We're also very very grateful for our other uh board members, our folks that have been reelected, Mr. Rasheed Muhammad and Miss Aaron Moody for stepping on running again and for your uh congratulations on your election. We're excited to serve alongside you again now for the next four years. Um and we also welcome Mrs. Pamela Stanley. We're thrilled that she is uh joining us. And uh with that, we will move into our oath of office to be administered to our newly elected members of the board of alderman. And with that, I'll invite our clerk of court, Mr. Todd Hyrick, forward as he'll be administering the oath. And what I would do is like to invite Miss Pamela Stanley to come forward first so that we can uh give you your oath of office and seat you in your seat uh here alongside me. And if you're you're welcome any of your family members that you would like to join We all

be truly authority and authority. I never I never

my faithful to you. Right, one down, we've got two to go. Miss Moody, you can go ahead and keep standing. We'll invite Erin Moody forward for her oath of office. Without

the United States,

the government people. Thank you. Erin, I would shake your hands, but uh

Thank you, sir. I'll do that in a minute. All right, Mr. Mohammed, you're next. and United States power and authority. Sorry. maintain all the constitution of all of this

unit. The beauty of my office. Go ahead. Congratulations.

Mr. Robert, thank you very much. We appreciate you helping us.

All right, new board. The uh first order of business for our new board is to establish the time of place for our regular meetings in 2026. So, I'm going to uh to read the uh explanation to you so that we're aware and then we'll entertain a motion to adopt the time in place. The board of alderman currently holds its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesdays of each month and its pre-agenda meeting at 5:30 on the Thursday preceding the regular meeting. Both meetings are held here in the Hill to Palmer boardroom. Per North Carolina General Statutes section 160A-71A, the governing board shall fix a time and place for regular meetings. If they do not choose a time, then it shall be held at least once a month at 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday of the month. Per general statute 143 article 33C, meetings of public bodies, also known as open meetings law, any meeting in person or electronic of at least a quorum of members of a governing body constitutes an official meeting except closed sessions and specific meetings at the state level. This article also specifies legal requirements for notification of meeting dates, times, and topics. Per general statute section 143-318.12, the schedule shall be filed with the town clerk and posted to the town website. All right. So board again the second Tuesday of each month at 6 pm here in the boardroom at town hall with a pre uh agenda meeting proceed on the Thursday preceding the meeting to be held at 5:30. Is there a motion to adopt the time and place for our regular meetings and pre-aggenda meetings in 2026 as presented?

I make a motion that we accept the time and place as stated. Thank you, Mr. Miller. There's a motion by Mr. Miller. Is there a second? Second by Mayor Proin. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor?

Right. All opposed. And that is set. All right. Next is to elect the mayor prompor for June for January 2026 through November of 2027 board. We mentioned this at our pre-agenda meeting. Um, traditionally, uh, prior to our updated election cycle, uh, traditionally when we were electing all of the board at one time for two-year terms, the mayor prom um was historically selected based on the individual that received the highest number of votes in the general election. We have a little bit of a different situation now in that we have uh two different cycles of election. And so, um, we have three sitting board members that are in the that will be starting the third year of their four-year term. And then, of course, we have the three new board members, uh, that will be, uh, serving the first year of their four-year term, which means we now need to decide our path forward for how we will select the mayor prom. Uh, Miss Patty Secret has done a wonderful job serving as mayor prom um for the past two years of this most recent cycle. And so with that, I will open it to the board for discussion on how you would like to handle uh selecting the mayor prom going forward. There are several uh potential options that I'll put on the table for you to consider. Uh the first is to um to reappoint the existing uh mayor promp to serve that two-year term. The second is to um take nominations from the floor and vote on those. And the third would be to consider um basically well actually there are four. The third would be to consider selecting the highest um vote getter from this current election to serve a two-year term um and re-evaluate that. Then the other option would be for the board to

vote and select a mayor prom on an annual basis so that every year uh giving uh different members of the group an opportunity to cycle through as mayor prom. So, with that, we'll open up it for discussions uh and thoughts that you may have. All right, I'll start it. I think that last is pretty interesting. I think it'd be interesting to have one person every year. Okay, that's my thoughts. Any other input? I think it'd be wonderful. I don't want to speak for Miss Patty, but I don't believe she would like to be reelected if possible. So maybe scratch that option.

I like the one person a year idea. It's an interesting thought. Yeah. Yeah. The last the last the last one the last one is I should say very interesting. I mean all of the options that you put up there are pretty interesting but that one there I mean it's pretty good as well. But I think either way, you know, we would, you know, give some give some others an experience to serve in the different capacity with on this board. Well, and um traditionally it always has been the highest focus and I have no problem with that either because I think he would be a wonderful mayor pro

and I think and then if something happens and he can't be there see cat stepped in and helped me and he's helped me a lot when I sat here and done mayor prom. So I don't have a problem with that either. I I mean I kind of like to do that tradition every two years. Maybe that way we wind up might wind up with one a new mayor program every time shared well. The only thing to consider with that is that it would mean that only half of the board would be eligible every two years because of the election. So just keep that in mind. Other thoughts? Are we going to vote on that as a issue or

we do need to vote on it tonight? We basically need to uh by consensus determine what our path forward is going to be and then actually have a motion vote for who that mayor prom will be um either for the next two years or for the next year. Okay. I had given some thought to um the fact that in addition to Miss Secrets, Mr. Miller is one of is a long a lifelong member of the town of Spencer and I would like to see us nominate him to be the the mayor pro team if he will accept that duty.

There is a nomination for Mr. Miller heard Mr. Muhammad as well as a consult. So let's do this. Let's uh first consider a motion for the process by which we want to identify um and then we can um move from there to determining who that I'd like to make a motion that we nominate the uh vice chair or a yearly basis on a yearly basis each year that's what the mayor will be elected every year this

so there is a motion from Mr. Miller that the mayor prom would be nominated and voted on on an annual basis. Is there a second to that motion? I'll second that. There's a second by Miss Sledge. Is there further discussion on that motion? All right. Hearing none. All in favor. We're just voting now on on the process. All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Got one, two. Okay. All right. Indecisive. Yeah. It's okay if you don't raise your hand. It's okay if you raise your hand. But if it's a yes, please raise your hand right now. Hold it up. Don't take it down. All right. Or one neither.

All right. Correct. All right. So, that is uh all six board members uh all those uh opposing like sign. Seeing none, it is passed that we will go to a one-year cycle voting each year. And so with that now we will open it up for nominations from the floor. I'd like to nominate Mr. Steve Muhammed. All right. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. There's a nomination for Mr. Muhammad. Are there other nominations? I'm fine. I'm fine.

Okay. Well, then we officially need to uh designate Mr. Muhammad. So, I will entertain a motion to officially name Mr. Muhammad the mayor prom for January of 2026 through November of 2026. So, move for the count for the calendar year would it probably be January through December and then the next time it would be the next January. The only question would be once we get to the next election cycle, how does that impact that? I if I believe if you're going to do it each year on annual, you know, so it's for the full calendar year, then you'll have an election. Okay. Uh and when you get to the next

the election cycle, unless unless you have it, you could have it coincide with the terms December to December, I suppose, but yeah. Well, yeah, it should be December to December, right? or probably probably the cleanest way. Yeah. Okay. All right. So then is there a motion from the December meeting of this year to the December meeting of next year to for Mr. Muhammad as mayor prom? I move that we appoint Rasheed Muhammad to serve as our mayor prom December of 2025 until December of 2026. All right. Thank you, Miss Sledge. Is there a second?

Second. Got a second here. Very good. Thank you, Miss Stan. All right. All in favor? All right. Yes, you can. All right. All opposed. All right. That is unanimous. Congratulations, Mr. Muhammad. All right. Very good. Well, I I did ask if he was willing to serve. Well, thank you for doing that. and Miss Miss Crisis, thank you so very very much for uh for being my right-hand uh assistant and filling in for me. You have done a wonderful job of that. It's been a pleasure serving alongside you in that capacity.

It's been a pleasure learning everything that I've learned. And I mean that really because there is a lot to learn, but he's been here a while so he's he's going to do fine. There you go. All right. So, what we will do at this time, yes, we're going to do a receding at this point. And so, Patty is going to be near Pat, which is a dangerous competition. We just ate her over here. All three. That's right. For those uh for those listening, we have determined that we are now outnumbered by the uh the PS initials. We have Pamela Stanley, Patty Secrets, and Pat Sledge.

There you go, buddy. Mr. Muhammad, you are in trouble now. Congratulations, sir. Thank you. And you still get to vote. That's right. Oh, let me get my bag there and my phone. My phone. Okay. Yeah. something else, but I'll get it. Okay, we get

All right, board. The next order of business is to consider appointments and reappointment of various representatives on our board uh to a number of uh organizations and liaison assignment positions uh that we have traditionally uh been involved with. And so I will uh we'll go through those items specifically. Um so right now um we currently have appointments uh formal appointments to the Cabaris Rowand Metropolitan Planning Organization or the CRMPO um to both the transportation advisory the TAC and the coordinating committees which is the TCC and also to the Central Council of Government or the COG Board of Delegates. And our current appointments are as follows. To the uh CRMPO TAC, that is Alderman Steve Miller and Andrew How served as the alternate for the CRM TCC. That is a staff held position and that was planning and zoning administrator Mr. Steve Blunt and public works director Joel Taylor was the alternate. And then for the Central Cog, Alderwoman Patricia Sledge was the representative and Alderman Andrew How was the secondary representative. And so, as you'll see, we definitely need to replace Mr. How to those uh his position on those boards. Uh I want to ask Mr. Miller if he is still interested in continuing in the TAC position.

I'll be glad to serve if anybody else wants to take the place. Thank you. Is there anyone else interested in serving on that board? Somebody's going to have to do it as an alter to the uh Cabaras Regional Metropolitan organ the planning organization. How often do they meet? Was there anything else that you want to meet once a month? Okay. Now, would that be all to me? Uh, it would be it' be okay. All right. So, Mr. Miller is interested in serving in that capacity with Mr. Muhammad as alternate. Um, is everyone in general agreement with that? Yes.

We'll take an official motion here in a little bit. Just want to make sure that we're good. Okay. Um, for the TCC, is the board good with uh Mr. Blunt continuing in the primary position and Mr. Taylor in the alternate position? Yes. Is Mr. Blunt and Mr. Taylor, are they okay with that? All right. Very good. All right. And so then for the COG for the board of delegates, um, Miss Sledge, are you interested in continuing in that capacity? I would like to. Okay. And then we need someone that is willing to serve as the alternate in that position. It's okay if you don't have to.

Um, let me just let me tell you what that entails. Um the um council of government meets on um the full board meets every month, once a month. Um there's a representative who represents the county that goes to their executive committee meetings and that's every that's on the off months that the full board doesn't meet. So the full board meets four times a year, alternating months, and then the executive board meets each month. I've served as one of the regulars on a quarterly basis. Um, and our one of our fellow folks from East Spencer has served on the executive board to meet at those other months.

Thank you, Miss Sledge. So, is there anyone interested in the alternate position for that board? And if not, since that their offices are in the same building that my work office is, I'll be happy to serve in that capacity if no one else wants to. But I do not want to take that opportunity.

All right. Very good, Miss Stanley. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. It's a great way to it's a great way to network with other leaders and other towns and be good. All right. Okay. So, what we'll do um since those are formally uh assigned positions, I am also noting another position that we need to identify as well, Mr. transis and that is the um that is the uh transportation advisory board for the city of Salsbury's transit system. We need to identify that.

I have traditionally served on that. I would love if someone else were willing to serve on that sir. All right, Mr. Muhammad, is there someone that is willing to serve as an alternate to that? They only meet quarterly as well and it's typically virtual. I'll be the alternate.

All right. Thank you, Miss Moody. All right, so let me summarize these uh appointment positions before we receive a motion. Um so Mr. Miller as the primary representative for the CRMPO TAC. Um and then Mr. Muhammad as the alternate, Mr. Blunt as the primary and Mr. Taylor as the alternate for the CRMPO TCC. Miss Sledge as the primary and Mrs. Stanley as the alternate for the council of government's board of directors or delegates and then for the city of Salsbury Transportation Advisory Board, Mr. Muhammad as the primary and m Miss Moody as the alternate. Did I get that right?

All right, we will entertain a motion to make those appointments. So move. All right. Motion by Mr. Muhammad. Is there a second? Second.

Second by Miss Secret. All in favor? All right. All opposed. And those appointments are approved unanimously. Thank you all. Thanks for volunteering to do that. All right. The next items um if you those uh current board members will recall every um every election cycle we have traditionally assigned uh board members as liaison to various uh committees or various focus areas within our community and um and so those are in your board packet. I want to review those with you and then this will give us an opportunity um we have uh obviously Mr. house vacancy to fill. Um but it also gives us an opportunity if we want to shift gears and um take on different assignments for our uh leaison areas. Um this is the opportunity to do so. All right. And so I will begin. Um so I have served in the uh primary my primary focus has been a liazison for community partnerships. That would include uh organizations within our um community like the North Carolina Transportation Museum, but then also uh partnerships outside like the Rowan um uh like the uh Chamber of Commerce as well as the Tourism Authority and some of those uh some of those items as well. and then I have been the alternate for community development. Miss Secret has served as a primary role for community schools and an alternate for community nonprofits. Mr. Miller has served as a in a primary role as a liaison for community nonprofits and an alternate for community businesses. Mr. How had served in a primary role of

community businesses and an alternate for community housing. Mr. Muhammad has served in a primary role for community housing and an alternate for community partnerships. Miss Moody has served in a primary role of community parks, recreation, and tourism and in an alternate role for community schools. Miss Sledge has served in a primary role for community development uh and with a focus with our uh Rowand Economic Development Corporation and then in an alternate uh role for community parks, recreation and tourism. Okay. So with that, is there anyone that is interested in switching their primary role at this point? Okay. Hearing none, then the question then is, Mrs. Stanley, is there a preference that you have for a primary role? Mr. House was community businesses, but I don't know if that's what your interest is.

Okay. Are you sure? I'm Yeah. Are you sure? Okay. I want I want everybody So the the purpose of this is to be able to connect with those different um organizations, different businesses and things like that. Um and so we want our um board members to be passionate about that particular area. That's their primary area. And so if there's something that's more that you're more passionate about, uh we definitely want to hear it. I want the school. Yeah. School is passion. Okay. Okay.

Okay. Very good. All right. So, um and of course Patty has been doing that. Patty, you obviously have a close connection with the schools as well. My suggestion would be um that we consider either you can serve in a primary role, continue to serve in a primary role since you've been serving in that capacity or serve in an alternate role and and I would I would suggest we'll we will serve together. That's what I was going to say. What I was going to suggest, Patty, is that if you serve in the primary role and have Mrs. Stanley serves in the alternate role and then starting to engage her with that. I think that's a very powerful.

You should have had eyes in the back of your head because there was a lot of signaling going on behind you.

I'm sure there was. All right. Very good. Okay. So, all right. So, that is an alternate then role. And then is there also a primary role? Was there anything else that you were super interested in? Absolutely. I will I will I will take on that challenge of of business. Okay. Because I know that was a platform item of yours. So, all right. I will be happy to Thank you. help guide on that.

Thank you. Okay. Very good. All right. So, with that then, Miss Moody Your alternate is currently community schools. Yes. Are you interested in being an alternate for community housing? And if not, we can look for something else as an alternate for you. Um, I don't know that I have any contacts or or um expertise. Okay. I'm the school backup because that's my work during the day.

So, I don't really know. I don't know that I would be an effective uh contact for our Okay. Is there anyone else that's inter that would be interested in serving as an alternate community housing?

Um okay. Is that um is that working with the um grant? Yes, that's what that is. Yeah. Okay. All right. Then that means that now we have an alternate position for community parks, recreation, and tourism. Miss Moody, is that something that you would be interested in? I'm sure, but I'm already in primary. Well, you could do both.

I could back myself up. Little communication required. Okay, how about we do this? How about I take the primary for community parks, recreation, and tourism? And I give you This has gotten really confusing. All right, I'll see you one and help me out here. So, I know we've got So, Pat has given up community parks, recreation, and tourism alternate. All right. To become the community house.

Correct. Okay. All right. And then that means there is an alternate position for community parks, recreation, and tourism that Miss Moody cannot do. But Miss Moody needs an alternate. Well, there's a community. No. So, why? Let me let let me butt in. Let me let me do the alternate for parks. Okay. And that way somebody could do u my alternate is community business. I'd do that. Alternate for community business. Okay. Perfect. That made it easy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The voice of reason. Okay. So Anna, do you have all that?

You really?

All right, we'll go through it and all right. So, uh, my roles will be primary community partnerships and community development. Patty's role will be community schools and still community nonprofits. Steve's role will be community nonprofits and an alternate of parks, recreation, and tourism. Miss Stanley's uh primary will be community businesses and an alternate of community schools. Mr. Muhammed's will continue to be community housing and community partnerships. Miss Moody's will primary will be community parks, recreation, and tourism and an alternate of

what? Community business. community business and Miss Sledge will be continue to be a primary of community development and an alternate for community housing. Community housing. I love it when a plan comes together. All right. And I mayor, I I do want to point out there in the packet that the following page has some helpful more specifics there on those focus areas. Right. Just to help folks.

Yeah. And so for those of you that have agreed to serve in those roles, it does your agenda packet does outline some of the um specific organizations and that maybe not may not be an all-incclusive list, but it gives you an idea of the folks that we you should be connecting with and uh building relationships with. Uh the other thing I would say is we also need to make sure with our community housing folks uh that we're including uh coordinating with our uh HPC on that as well. Um Miss I know Miss um Talbet has expressed an interest in making sure that we have uh representation from the board that's connected with that group as well. Okay. All right. We do not need a formal motion on those since they're informal assignments. Um, but I do need general consensus that everyone's agreeable about. Okay. Thank you all very much. The next item that we will move on to is to additions or deletions of our agenda and the adoption of it. Are there any additions or deletions need to be made tonight? Okay. Hearing none. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda set before you?

So move. All right. The motion by Mr. Muhammad. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Miller. All in favor? All right. Opposed. The agenda is set for this evening. All right. I will turn the floor over towoman Sledge for recognition for Spencer's Holiday Caravan Parade volunteers. Mayor, this is about the cuff, but I didn't write anything down. Um even though I made that recommendation at our at our pre-agenda meeting, but don't worry about that's okay. Um

one option would be, you know, we're going to also recognize Winterfest volunteers in January. And so one option would be to recognize both our parade and Winterfest um folks uh with our reception and everything that we do in January if the board would like. Mr. Mayor, I think that's an excellent idea. Okay. Um, I I would like to say though that uh we had a wonderful parade. We had 76 units in that parade and uh

I got to ride on the top of a fire truck and uh it was it was really special and I I do want to commend those u the committee members who work so hard to put that together. Um in two years time they have done an excellent job of of making that a parade that we can be proud of. Sure. So, we will recognize them formally in our January meeting. Thank you. Mayor, I know you had participated in several parades with your your uh colleague mayors. Yes. And I actually tal talked to one of them over the weekend who who said that Spencer was was the favorite. So, that's good.

What was so neat is every single one of them is so unique, right? And so, it shows there's a place for each of them. Um but yeah, I am a little partial to uh to RPA. All right, very good board. We will move on to public comment this evening. We do have one individual signed up for public comment. And so with that, we will invite Miss Leslie Anne Talbot forward. Oh, did I use my full name? Yes, you did. Sorry, that's actually my first name is Leslie Anne. All right, but we're southern so there's a space so nobody can straight. Mrs. Talbot, you have uh three minutes and we do have a timer for uh to help help you with that. Go ahead.

Okay, on your mark, get set, go. Hi, ladies and gentlemen, and I want to thank you for the support and work you've done this whole year, which has nothing to do with my what I have to talk about, but I want to thank you all for the hard work you put in because I know you're working to make our town better. Um, I also want to share that we're on track this for 2026 for the history of uh Spencer class. We're planning it in March and we're going to tell you to look for your details in your upcoming Spencer newsletter where we will publish the dates, the times, and we have a guest speaker coming in and we'll surprise you who that is. Uh we're working to develop a process to identify additional historic homes in Spencer. Don't get excited. It's not going to cost you anything. If we develop a process and present it to the National Park Services and the Preservation Oversight Committee, if they approve it, that takes us one step closer to becoming a certified local government, which makes us eligible for 1966 preservation grant money to preserve the homes that need preserving in our historic district and possibly even outside depending on what the parameters are. Um, the other thing that we're going to do in 2026 is to make the use of the standards easier. Um, we're going to find a way that if you're looking for doors, look at the chapter, click, click, and it'll take you right to that chapter. You don't have to scroll through 92 pages, which is boring as the devil. I get bored doing it and I wrote it. So, and we're trying to make them easier. And I'm we're going to add a section for acceptable substitutes when original materials are not available. There will be some parameters and requirements that you have to meet up front in order to use them, but we're going to keep it as simple as possible. We're trying to be more efficient in approving and in

timeliness so you don't have to wait monthto month. Um we were supposed to be off this year this month, but we're not. we're going to be approving or reviewing in the a new roofing issue in the historic district. And I again I want to thank you for all your help because we've got a special town. We're even recognized at the national level as a very special and unique character as a small town and we're one of a kind. I'd like to see us stay that way and grow. So I want to thank you all for your work. Thank you. Thank you very much.

All right. for that is all that we have signed up for public comment this evening and so we will move forward to our consent agenda. Consent agenda is before you and was determined at our meeting last Thursday. Is there any need to pull any items from the consent agenda for further discussion? And if not, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion by Mrs. Moody. Is there a second? Second.

Second by Miss Sledge. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? All right. All oppose. All right. And that is approved. All right. The next item, we are going to receive an annual audit update from our finance officer. This is Cam. Good evening, board. Welcome, Miss Stanley.

Hey. Um, so I spoke to Nick this morning. We have an updated audit contract in the packet moving the um, due date from 12:31 to 1:31. And I know that on the November agenda um in my board report I stated that the audit ant the auditor anticipated us not needing a single audit but in talking with him this morning because of the um OM I these acronyms get me sorry. Um the office of management and budget compliance settlement for 2025 was not released until November 25th of 25. So that pushed everybody's CIFFA, which stands for the um I have it right here, schedule of expenditures for federal awards. And what that does is that basically puts all of our information into um a document that shows whether we would need a single audit or whether we don't. And single audits basically they audit our our use of federal funds or state funds that flow federal funds that both flow through the state. So that is in the SEIFA is in the works. It has not been completed this because of the late um OM um release. So he still anticipates us to have a his goal is to have us a draft of our audit by the deadline of 12:31 and then if need be that single audit will push if we have to have that single audit it will push our deadline to February the 12th which is the deadline of um 1231 plus the 43 days that our government was shut down. Does that make sense?

So, we're still on track. It's just that we're waiting for the SEIFA to be completed before we know about that single audit. You have any questions? One question. Obviously, we were waiting on the material from Office of Management and Budget. State of North Carolina typically requires our audits completed by the end of October. So, how is that impacting new deadlines since they just didn't release? Our new deadline or the deadline for this year was actually December 31st. It was moved from October 31st to December 31st for our audit.

Okay. Why did they do that? Because they knew they weren't going to have that material. I honestly don't remember to be honest with you, but um I will get that for you to the reason why they moved it. But um that decision was made a year ago. Okay. Okay. Thanks. The why I don't know but they did they did change. Okay.

Which probably explains why they then waited to release the guidance. Actually what I just I'm live breaking what what it says uh from the LGC here beginning with fiscal year 25 audit the due date will be December 31st 6 months after fiscal year end instead of the current due date of October 31st four months after fiscal year end. So it seems like they're just trying to allow for more than four months to get get it done after the end of the fiscal year. But the reality is they don't issue the guidance until two months before. So it's difficult to actually it is still difficult to actually Yeah. Okay. We're playing by their rules, right? You know, that's what we do. It's a moving target, isn't it?

Pretty much. Yep. Thank you. If you have any questions about any of it, just email me and I will answer them and if I don't have the answer, we'll find it from Okay. And then the question then is do we need uh to make an approval for the extension? Do you need a motion for the I feel more comfortable having that per Nick. He said that he doesn't feel that we need it but in my eyes I would rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it. And so you are asking for an extension to January 31st. Correct. And it should be 2026 instead of 2025. Yes. Yes. I have

records. So, board just note that in that amendment to contract 013126, not 25. Thank you. Okay. Board, any questions or discussion on that item? Is this going to mean us to have another meeting at the end of December for any kind of approval? Not if we're extending. Oh, to re to actually receive the audit. We will receive a draft by then and he will present that at the January January meeting. Yes. Okay. Good questions. Okay.

All right. Hearing no other discussion. Board, is there a motion to amend our audit contract for a modified date of 13126? I move that we modify that date 1316. All right. Thank you, Mr. Muhammad. Is there a second? Second.

Second by Miss Sledge. Any discussion? All in favor? All right. All opposed. All right. And that is amended. Thank you very much. All right. We will move uh forward to our departmental reports and I will invite Mr. Blunt forward. It's shocking that we're this far into the meeting tonight and you have yet to talk. Welcome. Well, we are glad to hear you. Thank you. Appreciate you having me up here. Uh, just a little comment before I give you my normal spiel. Uh, all woman Sledge had some questions about the NCRR grant having some discrepancies between the two grants and basically it was a definition of what sufficed to be a railerve client. And I answered that question to you in an email today. So for public record, the the definition that is in the grant you approved or that you discussed and approved the manager negotiating tonight was the correct number for that that grant. So

and that is one rail car.

One rail car. It doesn't even say one rail car per year. So it could be one rail car per decade. I guess it is still qualify. As I pointed out in that email, any company that's going to go to the trouble of building a half million dollar rail spur is obviously going to have more than one rail car per year. They're going to do an active business to spend that kind of money on a rail spur. And I think NCRR came to that recognition by the time they got to the second grant. So, they made it a little simpler in that language. And as you stated, I hadn't been up here the last two months. I really hadn't had much to give you. I don't want you to think that we've just been partying in the back room and not not doing our work. U I have on my desk applications for permits for nine duplexes out on Lincoln Avenue. Uh we're working through some water issues on two different subdivisions, small subdivisions, but subdivisions. Um we're also working on two annexations, two new annexations into the town, one big, one not so big. And I think you've all been appraise apprised of the 30,000 square foot three-story medical office building.

Yeah. That the state government has given an economic development grant to and that project seems to be on track going through our permitting process and should start construction this spring. So exciting stuff is still happening. I will definitely be presenting something to you in January if I have to make it up. With that, you have my written planning report. I'll be glad to answer any questions. All right. Thank you, Mr. Blunt. Board, any questions for planning department? All right. Keep up the good work. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. All right. Code enforcement. We'll invite Chief P forward.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the board. Good evening.

I really am going to try to keep it quiet and short and sweet tonight. So, I submitted the uh monthly code enforcement report. Um, obviously, you'll see the numbers are a little bit low. A multitude of reasons for this month's code enforcement where our code officer was out for two weeks. We have a week that we were pulled for uh parade duty and uh all the associated uh items of getting that ready. Um, and then obviously holiday time. So, you'll see that pick back up next month. And then next month obviously we'll have a uh we'll have an end of the year kind of synopsis report. But overall for 2025 we are still seeing just under 400 cases and still uh 87% voluntary bait. So we are very happy that we're still getting 87% voluntary compliance. So um I do have one photo pop that up. I'm sure hopefully everybody's seen this but this is the big one. Uh we've been working on this uh for over a year now. So 804 South Salsbury Avenue. um they are actively tearing it down. So hopefully we will see a much nicer uh lot as you come into town. So we're certainly happy that we've been able to work with the uh with new owners on getting that taken down soon. But I can try to answer any questions you may have for it.

What are they going to do about parking there? Are they going to try to do put a driveway in there or um to my knowledge as of right now I believe they're just going to leave it as a vacant lot. Okay. Uh Chief, for public record, could you give us a reminder on the happy ending that came for the family that was in that house?

Yes. So that that goes back a number of years. So we u we actually responded to a law call there. I believe it was about three years ago when an individual ran into the house. Um so that was unfortunate situation where the uh individual that hit the house was in a barred car and the owner of the car passed away before the insurance claim was resolved. So they have been fighting for about three years I believe on resolving that situation. So we kind of worked with them multiple extensions. So I know that we we typically don't extend uh extend out code violations that long. But um the owners did not have the funds to fix it that were elderly um with some health issues. So we worked with them and then a uh a good owner uh came came upon uh upon the property and decided they wanted to make an offer on it. So, I'm definitely happy that the family was able to sell the property and then we're going to have uh this house that was in dilapidated state tore down. So,

thank y'all for taking the time to work through that. I know it was a drawn out but difficult difficult process to make it happen, but all is well that ends well. All right. Any other questions on code enforcement? Okay. Thank you, sir. We'll move on to the police report.

All right. Again, I'll try to keep this one short and sweet. Uh we had 2,17 events this month. Obviously, we have had a lot of special events that's had the officers pulled. Um so, I would anticipate uh again these numbers will rise back up. This is a few hundred numbers short, but it's because of all the uh extracurricular activities that we've had them pulled um doing uh off duty security and 5K race and parade duty and such. Um so, certainly uh the numbers still look good. I'm very happy with the uh with the activities officers have done this month and and definitely want to publicly thank all those that assisted us at the parade. So we had multiple outside agencies assisted us and then uh if anybody asked they probably saw Spencer cars all over the county. So we have been uh we've been in Granite Corore and Faith we've been in uh we've been in Atlantis we've been in Cleveland. So we have assisted them as much as they have assisted us. So, we certainly like to uh thank each one of the agencies that came and uh assisted on the parade and no law enforcement issues that evening. So, that's what we like.

But if you have any questions about this month's police department report, I will certainly try to answer those. Do we have someone who lives in Davidson County? Um there are a few. They're all within our take-home policy. Um so, anybody anybody within 30 miles, but we do have a few officers that live live out of counties. The reason I asked that is that there was a hundred PE at 100 park checks and that at the Davidson County Park and 98 at the at the row. Yeah, some of that some of that probably is where they uh they that's their whenever they key it in. They typically check both of them at the same time. Um so yeah, that's kind of they were coming from checking theirs before they came to work.

Oh no. Yeah. Yeah. For the most part, I think they always check both of them at the same time. So now every now and then we'll encounter um there there is individual instances where we may encounter a vehicle at one park, right? So they will bypass the other one and go to one. So sometimes you may see one park higher than the other and that's because they specifically stopped to encounter an individual that was either out on foot or a vehicle after hours. So all right, any other questions? Shortest report I believe I've ever had. Thank you very much. Stay safe out there. All right, our fire department report. Chief Lanning Mayor Board, how are you this afternoon? Good. Congratulations and welcome, Miss Hanley.

Thank you.

Um, two things I wanted to highlight. One is a positive. One will be a positive. It's just a small hurdle. Um, we have extended a full-time offer to our vacant firefighter position. um kind of in a stalemate right now with the changing in the requirements where their fingerprints have to be ran through the SBI. Um she goes, I believe next week to get that. Fingers crossed it takes a couple weeks to get back. Um but she's our first true employee that we're doing that with. So we'll see how this process goes and hopefully it'll improve as time goes on. Um our reserve engine is currently out of service. Crews were checking it off. Our fire trucks have door sensors. That way, if you start the truck, put it in drive, it'll alert there's a door open. Certain sensor on it has caught fire. And every time we turn the master on and energize the system, start smoking again. So, waiting on some repairs there. Um, but again, hopefully that will be a small repair bill and won't be anything worth really sweating. I did tell them we do have insurance on the truck. So, you know, may be a possibility to get a new truck out, but and I'll answer any questions you guys may have.

Oh, the irony. Right. Right. Be something at the fire truck. All right. Any questions for Chief Lanning? All right. Thank you. Thank you. Again, thanks to to you and to Chief File and your departments as well as Mr. Taylor who's coming up here for public works for all the great work y'all done uh with our holiday festivities. Thank you, Mr. Taylor Public Works. That's good. He's still upright. Still upright. We're still We're still making Good evening, mayor me. Welcome, Miss Stanley. Thank you.

I'll try to keep mine short and sweet as possible. Also, I can kind of define our since the last time we were together with uh leaves, lights, and um events. That pretty much takes care of the whole the whole shebang. But uh so um but all of our regular services, they're on schedule. Um just a reminder that the leaveback will run probably until the week after New Year's. So that depending on weather. Now, if we have some real bad weather and people aren't available, you know, can't get it out, then we'll extend it. But that's kind of our target is the week after New Year's. That'll get a full week after our holidays are over to get everything done. Um, also the week of Christmas, um, it falls on Thursday. So we will be off Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We will pull four days of trash in two. So Monday and Tuesday will be on Monday and Wednesday and Thursday will be on Tuesday. That way everybody gets picked up before the holidays so that we know it'll be heavy the week after the holidays. But we want to make sure we try to get everyone done. Any questions about that? Everybody good? Okay. Excellent.

So, other than that, uh I have put an order in for the um live stakes. Um I just have to wait for them to acknowledge it and then fill it. So, when they harvest enough of them and we get them, then I'll have them and the engineers going to meet me out there, lay it out. We'll get that in so we can get reimbured for the last portion of that. So, I just have to wait for the nursery to let me know when I can expect it and then we can stake it off.

And for Mrs. Stanley's benefit, that's for the project on 17th Street uh right there near your neighborhood um where uh they did the grading work for drainage. Um and so those live stakes will be the plants that they plant to help reduce erosion and everything like that. I will take any questions tonight. All right, board. Any questions for Mr. Taylor? All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Next, we'll invite uh Mrs. K back forward for our financial report.

Hello again. So for our um our finance um update, we are still in the process of our conversion from Southern Software Black Mountain. I took training Monday about getting um bank reconciliations called up um and I'm on October today. So by Thursday I will be called up through November. And um on Thursday I have training for budget prep and getting our bud our budget finalized. The numbers are in Black Mountain software, but they are going to train you on that whenever on Thursday. Um you'll see our update for sales and use tax and how that's going. We're up about 4.84. We're at 4.84% for that for the year as of right now compared to 25. Um, and you have my revenues and expenditures report and if there's any questions there or if you guys want any further detail on that, let me know and I can get back to you for any questions uh on the financial report.

All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. And Mrs. Ward, active living.

Good evening, mayor and board. Um, so this month there was no parks and recreation advisory board meeting. Um, they'll be meeting the first Wednesday in January the 7th. Um, as has already been mentioned this month during the meeting, um, the Spencer's Holiday Caravan Parade uh, and Winterfest have already occurred. Um and uh the parade, at least from my standpoint, um they saw an increased turnout from last year. Um and the town park was lively before and during the event with children playing and families socializing. Um Winterfest was very successful with many noting that the new town park setting made it especially picturesque. Um, and the upcoming event, which will be tomorrow, actually, the Spencer Senior Christmas lunchon, uh, is at 12:00 at Oakdale Baptist Church. Uh, the library had a program on November 18th that featured photos of Paris museums, landmarks, libraries, and bookstores along with children's books and artwork by noted French artists. The freshments were provided by a local patron. Um Cindy Sip will share holiday themed quilting pieces including practical quilts used in crisis response with an exhibit on December 16th at 400 p.m. Uh preparations are underway for upcoming author visits and school group activities. Um and we are also still working on the um libraries with heart initiative with the American Heart Association and um more information will come in the coming months for that.

Okay. Thank you very much. Board, any questions on the active living report? I just wanted to say I appreciate your report has grown quite a bit this year and I appreciate how thorough it always is and how much we appreciate how much extra work they um I I would like to ask um a question. You may not be able to answer this, but uh I was told that um the librarian is soliciting purchases of books throughout the community and saying that she doesn't have budget to buy books. Are you familiar with that? Are you aware of that? Um, I'll look into that.

Thank you.

And I I could I mean in general what I would say to that is uh we have asked for um we're not familiar with the solicitations per se, but the uh the limited budget we are familiar with. As you know, we've have HVAC issues. Uh we are still looking to figure out the solution for how to fund the replacement uh so that when it's time for the air conditioning to come back on, we'll have it. U but we we believe that uh being frugal with the this year's budget will allow us to put together some sort of down payment towards that. So there have been conversations about the use of the budget and being limited. Uh we you know we acknowledge there are at times people who have u come to the library and expressed interest in a maybe books that aren't in our collection. We with our very small budget we have to be uh careful about that. We're we're not a bookstore. We can't just order books for uh to you know it's a really nice customer service thing but we we have to work within our budget. So, um, let me say one other thing. Beverly U has a lot of friends that go to our church, the Methodist church, and they have undertaken the responsibility of helping her with buying some of these books. So, they are doing their part. And I did check because I wanted to make sure. I think the budget is still around $2,000 for her in the library as far as that goes, expenses and everything. But uh we I say we I'm shouldly say and some of the ladies at the Central Methodist Church are helping her out by buying some books and I think that's great.

Yeah. And I'd like to encourage people in the community to do the same thing. She's got a list of books that she'd like to see purchased. So, if you'd like to help uh her out, she need she does a wonderful job and uh I I think she needs help and that's that's a great way to, you know, celebrate Christmas by by buying a book for the library. Of course, some some libraries have a formal Friends of the Library uh type thing set up that we don't here, but maybe maybe this is the start of something like that. uh you know

yeah I you know I had to speak for our library because everybody sometimes people think that we're so associated with rowing county we're not uh and we have a limited budget and like I said we do a I think she does an outstanding job and

during the summertime she puts on a lot of programs for a lot of kids that are out of school and uh it's unfortunate unfortunately she her budget was cut just like every department a little bit. So, this is one way we can as the public we can help her out and if you'd like to see some books, talk to me down at the library and she she'll give you a list of books to buy. Thanks. Any other uh questions on active living? All right. Thank you, Mrs. Ward. We'll turn it over to Mr. Franis for the town manager report. Well, thank you very much, mayor, and members of the board, and certainly uh repeat the congratulations to uh all of our uh board and our and but in particular, our newest member, uh Pam Stanley. Thank you for uh stepping up into community leadership in this way and joining the rest of our board. And uh we have a great team. I'm glad you're uh joining joining the group. So, uh we certainly have talked a little bit about the events. Uh but uh to me it goes without mentioning that all the fun we've had in Spencer also means a lot of work for a lot of people and that goes uh for our community that what what we've been able to accomplish over the last years and see the the events grow especially this time of year is because we have a lot of people who come together as a community to make it happen. We have an amazing group of volunteers that are really the the driving force behind it. our staff steps in to uh supplement as we can to make sure things are happening in a in a safe way. And uh but staff from across our organization are involved in these events whether it be on duty or offduty roles and um of course even our elected officials get involved as volunteers um in various ways. So really appreciate u all of that coming together to make such

an enjoyable result for our community and for all the visitors that are coming to our community this time of year. We're really fortunate to be the small town we are to have the attractions we have here and the businesses we have here. Um and it's several months of a lot of momentum and it it almost feels like it's time uh to catch our breath with that. It's not quite through the season. We know we still have as I'm particularly looking towards our police staff. They they I think Chief File said there's over 200 uh offduty shifts that get filled during this time of year. So that of course that's beneficial to the folks working the shifts, but it it just adds up to a lot of time away from uh home and and uh they're probably very tired by the end of it. So uh but at the end again we have the result of a really enjoyable uh community and uh place to visit and that sort of thing. So thanks to everybody involved in that. And the other thing I wanted to mention of course as we're closing out on 2025 it's uh now time to start thinking about budget season that's just around the corner. Uh I have suggested in the uh monthly report uh three potential dates that uh we could think about for a planning session uh going into our next budget cycle. And those would be either February 20th, February 27th or March 6th, somewhere in that range. And we we don't have to pick it tonight, but you can think about it. And maybe by the time of our January meeting, we can establish when we'll have that annual planning session. And um so yeah, any any board feedback or preferences on those dates would be helpful. Be happy to answer any questions.

All right, board. Any questions for Mr. Granis on the manager report?

All right, hearing none, we will move on to our request and comments by the mayor and board members. And we will start with Mr. Miller. Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. On behalf of Linda and myself, we would like to express our appreciation this past year from all the people that make Spencer a great little town. I'm speaking about the dedicated board members that are sitting up here. Thank you for what you've done. I'm also talking about the hardworking town staff that puts in extra hours and make all these events, holiday events special. All the volunteer groups and individuals that and to the people of Spencer who try to do what they can to make Spencer a great little community. And like our mayor always says, Spencer is the greatest little town in North Carolina. I quote from you.

And last it was that we're trying to be, but I will take it. If you think we are, I I say let's just say we are tonight. How about that? The model of Stalton, the model small. That's right. That's right. But we are we are the greatest little town in North Carolina. How about that tonight? I like it. And last but not least, merry Christmas to everybody. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Moody.

Um I just wanted to say again, I'm very grateful to be um elected for another term. I'm looking forward to four more years. Um, I'm really excited about everyone sitting up here. I'm really excited to have Mrs. Stanley with us now. Um, I think that we've had so many wonderful um, community events recently and it was just really great to see everyone and all the hard work, all the dedication and so many smiling faces for our residents. So, I'm just going to sum it up with that because I think I could go on and on, but it's just a it's a wonderful place to live, but it's been a particularly great couple of weeks visiting and seeing so many people. So, thanks to everyone who was involved in that.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Moody. understanding.

I would like to say thank you for embracing me on board and and and and Spencer um for this new chapter that I'm ready to embark on. I um I I'm excited that uh about this this this transition that I've done that I've taken on in this Uh, I just want to say I am proud of the town in which I live in. Um, from the parade to the winner. So, I'm just excited about what's going to take place. So, I'm excited about embarking this new endeavor and I thank you guys for welcoming me and embracing me. So, I look forward to the future. It's a great team of people.

Thank you. You certainly are a team and we are thrilled that you're a part of it. Miss Sledge,

thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I I want to um echo some of Steve's comments u about the wonderful staff and and all the people in this community that make this a great place to live. Um I want to thank the volunteers who came forward to work with us at Winterfest because we couldn't do it without the village, believe me. Um, I I would like to take a personal point of privilege to thank our um public works director because my car was stalled because of a battery that wouldn't function. And uh I was headed to a training session in Canapapolis with the intent of driving a couple of people down there. And thanks to the mayor, he had some room to let us ride, but my car wouldn't go any further. But while I was gone, uh, it was taken care of and I had came back to find a new battery in my car and I have an invoice that I would be paying as soon as I talked to um, Triple A who failed to come to my aid when I needed them. But I want to uh to say a big thank you to to that for you going beyond the call of duty. Um, I am also, um, on the advisory board for the Civic Credit credit union, uh, which is what used to be the local government credit union. Um, I was asked to let you know that, uh, they're doing a winter coat drive, keeping our communities warm in conjunction with the Salvation Army. Um, I have a flyer. Bring new or gently used coats to any of our civic branch locations. uh these November 17th through December 19th. Um if you have an interest, if you have have a newly um new or gently worn coat that you would like to donate, if you'll get back with me, I will be sure that we get it to the right place. Um we have

the closest branches that we have here are either in Greensboro and Hickory but um if we have a collection our um representative for this area will be glad to make arrangements to help pick those up. Um in addition to that um I want to wish each and every one of you a happy holiday, a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza, whatever you celebrate. Happy best of us, right?

Best of us for the rest of us. the fest fest of us for the rest of us. Yes. Okay, that works. Um, but thank you all for giving me the opportunity to work with you all another year. So, um, I look forward to working with Miss Stanley and our new board members. They reminded us at training session in Canapapolis that we are all a new board because we have a dynamic change. So, we're all working together as a new board. So, thank you. Thank you, Miss Sledge. the secrets.

Okay. Um, one thing that I want to mention tonight are some opportunities for giving during this holiday season. Don't forget the uh community garden pantry on the corner of Second Street and Salsbury Avenue. You can place non-p perishable items in there anytime. And you can also go get anything that's that you need from there. So, please try to keep it full and it's very hard uh to do at this particular time of the year. There's a lot of needs and so if you can add a few things that would be wonderful. Um also, Pinocchios and Cool Noggins are sponsoring families and Christmas um suggestions for nonwrap items. So, you can stop by there if you would like to help with that. uh if that's at both of those businesses and I know Quint's probably got something going on too, but she's always doing something for the community. Uh I want to give out a special shout out to our volunteers for Winterfest, especially our young people. We had so many students who showed up and they really did an outstanding job and anytime I get a chance to brag on kids, I'm going to do it. They came from basically all over the county. Uh we had a whole Yeah. So it was a a countywide contribution. Cosby scholars came. A lot of North Rowan students came. Tomorrow six football players will be coming with their coaches to help finish taking down all of this stuff. So they just keep in mind that our kids do give back to the community and the teachers came too this year. that was kind of a first. So, we're hoping we get more of them. So, a big shout out to all the volunteers and of course to the adults who volunteer every year, too. We really appreciate

it. We couldn't do Winterfest without the volunteers. And I want to welcome Miss Pamela forward and so glad to have you here to work with. And without further ado, I want to pass the baton to Rashid. Now I no longer have to be the last one to speak. I'm happy. Mr. Muhammad.

Wow. First and foremost, I want to thank the most high God for allowing me the opportunity to continue to serve in this town in the capacity in which I serve and the new capacity. looking forward to the greatness that's about to be achieved with my constituents beside me as a new team. Miss Pamela Stanley, congratulations. Any questions, anything we can help you with, we are here for you. All the Moody, congratulations again.

Thank you, sir. Congratulations to all the woman sledge. So that that resonated in reference to what was stated at training in reference to the shift of the paradigm of a new board every time there's an election even there standing members that are still present still a new board. So fresh ideas

and you know that is very exciting. But that being said, I wanted to just make mention of the chief battalion Al Carile who was with Rowan County Emergency Services who have done a resilient job throughout the years. has passed on. We appreciate the service that he provided to our county and abroad and blessings and prayers to his family and every service member that may know him or may not know him. But one thing about our departments that do service, they go above and beyond. So, we want to always make time to recognize them. And with that being said, I'm thankful for the police department, the fire department, public works for helping make the holiday parade, winterfest a success, as well as throughout the year. You know, it's very important that these people are recognized, be it the staff, the department heads, because without them, the residents would not receive the proper amount of services that need to be provided. Um, also too, I want to thank the volunteers that were utilized for not just Winterfest, but for the parade. And you know, also too, it's good to see that the students are getting more involved because it's important that we as adults continue to teach and mold our young people so that they

understand that giving back is not an option. It's something that they must do in order for us to continue to make this town, this world a better place. And again, I'm thankful for the residents that have came out to support this evening. Residents that have been watching, you know, live online, feel free to come to any of us if you have questions, comments, concerns, and if you want to volunteer, we'll take that as well.

And again, I want everyone to have a safe, prosperous holiday season. Stay warm and love on your loved ones. God bless. Thank you, Mr. Muhammad. All right. Um, we all have said it all. I just I don't need to say anything. Uh, I do want to make just a couple remarks. So, uh, as we head into this time of year, obviously with Thanksgiving holiday and now the holidays we're headed into, um, it's a time of, uh, thankfulness and gratitude. Um, and as we reflect on all that we're thankful for and what we're grateful for, um, I just want to let each of you as board members and each of our staff members and our community know how thankful I am to be able to serve alongside you and serve for you. Um, this is a a town that I am just so proud of what we are, what we've been, what we are now, and what we are becoming. Um, and so grateful for that. Um it's an exciting time to be in Spencer. Um and I'm just thankful for all that uh everyone um contributes to to make our town the best town small town in North Carolina. Right.

Sounds good. All right. Um and also as we look forward um you know to the new year and a season of new beginnings is excited to uh be a part of this new board and each of our members that are here. Um I am so thrilled to get the chance to work with each of you um and look forward to the exciting things that are in store for this board and our staff and our town uh in 2026. So with that, thank you all very much. Uh we have reached the end of our agenda unless there is a need to go into executive session and it doesn't appear so. Mr. D is saying we don't need to. So with that I will entertain a motion to adjurnn.

So moved. Motion by Mayor Proim. Is there a second? Second. Second by former mayor proim. All in favor? All right. All opposed. We stand adjourned. Thank you all.