The Mayor and Board of Commissioners for the Town of Blowing Rock met in special session on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. Present were Mayor J. B. Lawrence, Terry Lentz, Keith Tester, Rita Wiseman, and David Wray. Also present was Town Clerk Barbara Beach. Commissioner Barbara Ball was traveling and arrived at the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor Lawrence called the meeting to order and Council considered the first item of business.

1. Resolution to Authorize Financing for Property Purchase

   Ms. Wiseman made motion that Council ratify a resolution to authorize financing for the purchase of a 1.19 acre parcel of property located at 135 Chestnut Drive with all references to the use of the property shown as "for green space or park lands." Mr. Tester seconded the motion, and all members voted to ratify. Resolution No. 2002-08 is attached as Exhibit A.

2. Clean Water Management Trust Grant

   Council discussed the status of the 192-acre tract of land above China Creek that the Town would like to purchase for the purpose of transferring the land to the Blue Ridge Parkway in exchange for the Town’s reservoir site that is owned by the Park Service. Mr. Lawrence agreed to contact the attorney for the Conservation Trust of North Carolina to gain additional information about whether the Park Service intends to purchase the tract of land from the Conservation Trust.

3. NC Highway Patrol Antenna Request

   Mrs. Beach advised Council that the State Highway Patrol has requested consideration of their petition for placement of an antenna at Town’s Green Hill radio site before the November meeting. They must proceed with the installation of the antenna and equipment cabinet before the end of October, because their grant for this communications system is expiring soon.

   Mrs. Beach explained that the antenna would serve only as the mobile data communications link for Highway Patrol cars and our Town police cars. This technology would provide instant criminal justice data to the NCSHP via a wireless communications network. The cost of electricity would be approximately $114.00 per year. Mr. Wray moved that the Council approve the request. Mr. Lentz seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

    

    

   October 22, 2002

   Page two

    

4. Replacement of Bronze Plate on Park Memorial

   Council was advised that the estimated cost to replace the plaque on the Veterans Monument in the Park would be $2,000 to $2,500. Members agreed that further research should be done in an effort to find a company that could repair the existing plaque at a lower cost.

5. Review of Applications for the Position of Town Manager

   Council members discussed the resumes that have been received and their selections for applicants to be interviewed. After discussion, members narrowed the list to eleven candidates that will be called for interviews on Tuesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 14. Members also discussed topics for interview questions.

6. Authorization for Additional Position in Finance Department

Mrs. Beach requested Council consideration of funding for an additional employee in the Finance Department. She asked that the temporary employee added during the fall be funded with permanent part time status to assist with duties of the Clerk/Finance Officer and to perform additional tasks in the absence of other Town Hall employees. Council members concurred with the request, authorizing Mrs. Beach to hire Laura Brown to fill a thirty-hour permanent part time position.

There was no further business, and Mayor Lawrence adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.