Council to hold public hearing on referendum
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on July 31, 2016 1:45 AM
The Goldsboro City Council will hold a public hearing Monday for a proposed $10 million bond referendum and consider an agreement with the county to hire a shared communication director.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, at 214 N. Center St. Prior to the meeting, the council will have a 5 p.m. work session, in the City Hall annex, at 204 N. Center St., to discuss city business, including stormwater and unpaved city streets.
The public hearing for a proposed $10 million bond referendum is the final step before the city submits information to the Wayne County Board of Elections for the Nov. 8 voting proposal.
If the council approves the bond, voters will be able to decide whether to support a $7 million general obligation bond for the construction, repair and installation of streets, sidewalks, streetscapes and related utility infrastructure.
Goldsboro residents will also be able to vote on a $3 million general obligation bond that will go toward construction costs for a new multi-sports complex near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The council's decision on a communication director will involve an intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County to share oversight, salary and benefit costs associated with the position.
The council will consider the agreement Monday night, and the Wayne County Board of Commissioners will consider the item Tuesday.
The director is planned to become a county employee and will be covered under the county's benefit package. The employee will be supervised by the city and county manager and will split the position duties equally between city and county government.
The intergovernmental agreement would last for two years, with annual renewals unless city or county officials object. The agreement also includes a 90-day termination clause, allowing the city or county the option to back out of the deal, as long as the decision is presented in writing.
City and county officials are seeking a director with a bachelor's degree and five years of related and supervisory experience. A job description draft lists the salary hiring range between $57,683 to $89,965.
Also during the meeting, the council will consider:
* A site plan for a new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins, on North Berkeley Boulevard near Cashwell Drive, which includes closing one of two entrances from North Berkeley Boulevard.
* Replacing 2,500 city street lights with LED lights at a $125,150 cost. The five to nine month project is expected to save the city $30,000 each year.
* A $274,400 contract with Moseley Architects for design and planning services related to a future police evidence room expansion.
* A $37,593 contract with North State Resurfacing Co. to convert tennis courts into eight pickleball courts at the Goldsboro Event Center.
* A cost-sharing agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation for work related to replacing the Union Station roof. The project, which would take place in phases, includes an agreement to hire an engineer, at a $40,000 cost, to complete design work. The cost would be equally shared, with the city paying $20,000.
* A fire department automatic aid agreement with the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department.
* Allowing a Goldsboro Police Department to apply for a $41,723 U.S. Department of Justice grant that would be evenly split with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The Goldsboro Police Department would use $20,861 to pay for 27 body cameras, and the sheriff's office would use its half to pay for license plate reader equipment.
* A conditional use permit for the addition of a game room inside Big Jim's Pizza, on U.S. 117 South, and a conditional use permit for a nearby laser tag center in the former Longhorn Sweepstakes.
* A subdivision plan on Belfast Road that allows for the sale of property where a new Dollar General store will locate; and site plan approval for a six-unit apartment complex on Olivia Lane.