Woodfin – The Woodfin Town Council convened on September 17th, with the Vice Mayor stepping in for Mayor Mallister, who was absent. The meeting commenced promptly at 5:00 PM, and despite Council Member Johanna Young’s absence due to a family emergency, the agenda was set to proceed.
Agenda Approval and Consent Agenda
After confirming that all members had reviewed the agenda, a motion was made to approve it, which passed unanimously. The consent agenda followed, and Town Manager Shannon provided a brief overview. “It’s a pretty slim consent agenda this month,” she noted, indicating that no further explanations were necessary unless there were questions. With no inquiries from the council, the consent agenda was also approved without opposition.
Public Comment and Presentations
The public comment section was notably quiet, with no residents signed up to speak. This led directly into presentations and reports from Town Manager Shannon. She expressed initial concerns about having little to report but quickly realized there were several updates worth sharing.
Shannon highlighted two new contracts: one with AmeriCorps for a volunteer coordinator and another with the YMCA to subsidize staff memberships. “We think that’s money well spent,” she said, emphasizing the importance of employee wellness.
Additionally, she shared exciting news regarding Riverside Park. The Buncombe County Passive Recreation Subcommittee recommended awarding Woodfin nearly $2.2 million for the park’s unfunded portion, bringing the project closer to completion.
Police Chief Recruitment and Community Engagement
The recruitment process for a new police chief has been robust, with around 50 applications received. Shannon mentioned that interviews would begin soon, aiming for an in-person assessment process by mid-October. “We had a really good response,” she said, indicating optimism about finding a suitable candidate.
The summer newsletter is also in the works, with hopes of distribution within the next week. “It’s technically still summer,” Shannon joked, acknowledging the delay in its release.
Zoning Text Amendment Discussion
As the meeting progressed, Ricky Hurley, the planning director, led a discussion on a significant zoning text amendment. This amendment aims to update the table of permitted uses and definitions within the town’s zoning code. Ricky explained that this process had been ongoing since earlier in the year and involved extensive collaboration with the Planning Board.
“This has been a long time coming,” he stated, noting that the amendment would streamline existing regulations and eliminate outdated terms. The council was presented with a new table that reduced complexity while ensuring clarity in definitions.
Ricky also addressed concerns about potential errors in large documents like this one. “Whenever you make changes to complex documents, you inadvertently create areas and issues,” he acknowledged. However, he reassured council members that further refinements could be made as needed.
Public Hearing on Text Amendment
A public hearing regarding the text amendment was opened at 5:40 PM but closed shortly after at 5:42 PM due to a lack of public participation. Following this, a motion was made to approve the proposed text amendment with specific changes regarding definitions and the removal of group development as a use. The motion passed unanimously.
Performance Evaluation Process for Town Manager
The council then shifted focus to discussing the performance evaluation process for Town Manager Shannon. A subcommittee had prepared documents outlining an evaluation tool based on feedback from various municipalities. The goal was to implement a structured evaluation process for Shannon’s third year in her role.
Council members expressed their support for the proposed evaluation process, emphasizing its importance in ensuring accountability and transparency within town management.
Emergency Home Repair Grant Program
Finally, Shannon provided an update on the community partner grant program aimed at emergency home repairs. The council had previously set aside $25,000 for this initiative, which would support local nonprofits in providing essential repairs for low-income homeowners.
Shannon detailed her discussions with various providers already engaged in emergency home repair work in Woodfin. “We want to leverage our funds effectively,” she said, highlighting plans to establish a review committee to oversee grant applications and ensure funds are used efficiently.
The council agreed on the importance of this program and authorized Shannon to move forward with posting the grant application and forming a review committee.
Conclusion of Meeting
With no further business on the agenda and no need for a closed session, the Vice Mayor called for a motion to adjourn. The meeting concluded with unanimous approval from all present members.
As Woodfin continues to grow and evolve, these meetings serve as crucial platforms for community engagement and decision-making, ensuring that residents’ needs are met while fostering collaboration among local leaders.