Last night's meeting of the Town's Planning Board considered a number of issues that, to long-time residents, would have seemed "old hat."
One such issue was a request by Town Manager Wyatt Cutler for the Planning Board to revisit the issue of the Growth Management Ordinance limitation on overall building footprint. Section 77 of the GMO contains a number of limits on lot coverage. What got Mr. Cutler's interest is the provision limiting the maximum footprint for a building to 5,000 square feet in zone R-2, 6,000 square feet in R-3, 6,000 square feet for residential buildings and 8,000 square feet for non-residential or mixed use buildings in MU and MU-1. Wyatt pointed out that, curiously, there is no footprint limit in our most restrictive residential area, R-1.
These numbers were hammered out about six years ago with great acrimony in a series of meetings involving many members of the public. Like every such agreement, the GMO represents a carefully-balanced set of compromises among residents with differing views.
The present Planning Board showed no great enthusiasm to take on the issue of amending this part of the GMO. In fact, when Wyatt repeated his observation that there is no limit in R-1, Board member David White suggested that maybe there should be one.
Another old issue was raised during public comment period when local resident Pat Herlands asked the Board if they were considering reexamining the desirability of conditional zoning. All five members responded that they were not planning to reconsider that.
Here is an earlier post of mine from three years ago on the conditional zoning issue.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Oriental, NC Water Board
Yesterday (Friday, August 16), the Oriental Town Board held a special meeting to discuss the state of the Town's water treatment plant and the related issue of whether to adopt an ordinance officially establishing a town water board.
One of the mysteries to me is why that should even be at issue. The state of the Town's water treatment plant is atrocious, as a number of us learned during an official tour of the plant last May 21st. There can be no doubt that the Town Board of Commissioners needs to receive independent advice on the needs of the plant. All other standing advisory boards are established by ordinance. We know how many members there are, what qualifications are sought, how long the terms of appointment, what are the functions and responsibilities of the board. Why not do the same with the Water Board?
When I sought that information five years ago, I found no ordinance at all. Only rumors that such a board once existed. That is not acceptable.
At Friday's meeting, Captain Jim Barton, United States Navy, (retired) and Oriental resident, provided a well-organized, lucid presentation on what our water plant requires and what it doesn't have. He made it abundantly clear that the plant is not operating the way it was designed, and that these deficiencies have existed for years.
Maintaining water chemistry requirements for the Town's system presented no mysteries to someone who has been responsible for boiler water chemistry of a 1200 psi steam plant. Deviations from those requirements can cause catastrophic boiler failures and loss of life. Compared to that, the challenges of operating the Town's water plant are comparatively small, but nevertheless important.
The Town Board has had in its hands for months an ordinance drafted by Commissioner Summers that would have formalized an advisory board. Some board members argued that the ordinance wasn't perfect, and board member Venturi insisted that the Town Board should meet with the apparently nonexistent water board to discuss the ordinance.
At this stage, it appears that Captain Barton will be an essential member of any Water Board that is established.
Barton explained that under present Town Manager Wyatt Cutler, improvements have already been made. Other planned near term improvements include replacing inoperative control panels with more modern and reliable equipment, as well as replacing and repairing failed control valves.
These failures would not, in my view, have happened with a proper valve maintenance program and an effective Operation and Maintenance manual.
At Friday's meeting, the Town Board appointed a drafting committee of perhaps a half dozen members.
Good way to get nothing done.
One of the mysteries to me is why that should even be at issue. The state of the Town's water treatment plant is atrocious, as a number of us learned during an official tour of the plant last May 21st. There can be no doubt that the Town Board of Commissioners needs to receive independent advice on the needs of the plant. All other standing advisory boards are established by ordinance. We know how many members there are, what qualifications are sought, how long the terms of appointment, what are the functions and responsibilities of the board. Why not do the same with the Water Board?
When I sought that information five years ago, I found no ordinance at all. Only rumors that such a board once existed. That is not acceptable.
At Friday's meeting, Captain Jim Barton, United States Navy, (retired) and Oriental resident, provided a well-organized, lucid presentation on what our water plant requires and what it doesn't have. He made it abundantly clear that the plant is not operating the way it was designed, and that these deficiencies have existed for years.
Maintaining water chemistry requirements for the Town's system presented no mysteries to someone who has been responsible for boiler water chemistry of a 1200 psi steam plant. Deviations from those requirements can cause catastrophic boiler failures and loss of life. Compared to that, the challenges of operating the Town's water plant are comparatively small, but nevertheless important.
The Town Board has had in its hands for months an ordinance drafted by Commissioner Summers that would have formalized an advisory board. Some board members argued that the ordinance wasn't perfect, and board member Venturi insisted that the Town Board should meet with the apparently nonexistent water board to discuss the ordinance.
At this stage, it appears that Captain Barton will be an essential member of any Water Board that is established.
Barton explained that under present Town Manager Wyatt Cutler, improvements have already been made. Other planned near term improvements include replacing inoperative control panels with more modern and reliable equipment, as well as replacing and repairing failed control valves.
These failures would not, in my view, have happened with a proper valve maintenance program and an effective Operation and Maintenance manual.
At Friday's meeting, the Town Board appointed a drafting committee of perhaps a half dozen members.
Good way to get nothing done.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: Invasion Of Vella Lavella
Third Amphibious Force (Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson) lands Navy,
Marine, and Army personnel at Vella Lavella, Solomons, thus by-passing
enemy positions on Kolombangara, Solomons.This advanced the Solomons campaign considerably, but many naval battles were to follow.
Meanwhile, to the north, Naval task force under Commander North Pacific Force (Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) lands U.S. Army and Canadian troops at Kiska, Aleutians. They find Kiska had been evacuated by the Japanese on 28 July 1943. Only casualties in the operation occur because of accidents or friendly fire incidents.
Meanwhile, to the north, Naval task force under Commander North Pacific Force (Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid) lands U.S. Army and Canadian troops at Kiska, Aleutians. They find Kiska had been evacuated by the Japanese on 28 July 1943. Only casualties in the operation occur because of accidents or friendly fire incidents.
Vegetative Waste: A Case Study
Early last week, at Oriental's Town Board meeting, Commissioner Warren Johnson presented a "show and tell" demonstration of the vegetative waste bags the Town had procured, at a cost of about $4,000.
The "show part" was to demonstrate the enormous size of the reusable bags. Johnson called on the acting Town Manager, Wyatt Cutler, to assist him in spreading one of the bags out. The bag looked to have a capacity of about 100 cubic feet. It presented a rare dramatic photo opportunity, and newspaperman Jeff Aydelette of County Compass took full advantage. Jeff's photo graced one of County Compasses' inside pages. Pamlico News also reported the story.
The "tell" part was when Commissioner Johnson described the process and the cost to the Town. He related in amazement his discovery that Town Public Works employees were delivering bags to residents on request (tying up the employee for the time it takes for delivery) and then returning to pick up the bags full of waste, including branches as large as three inches in diameter.
Since a full bag could weigh hundreds of pounds, it might require a front loader to retrieve the bag. Once retrieved, the Town would have to pay for disposal of the waste.
Members of the public had a big laugh at the description, and the Board quickly voted to suspend the program while the Acting Town Manager examined options.
While both local newspapers reported what happened during the meeting, neither reported the rest of the story - or what might be called the "back story."
The idea of vegetative waste bags was first broached by Town Manager Bob Maxbauer at the Town Board's first retreat at River Dunes in January, 2012. Only three members of the public attended that session. As presented, the bags would be obtained at very little cost, and the vegetative debris would be deposited in a Town compost heap.
The "very little cost" turned out to be around $4,000 and the compost heap was never created.
Occasionally during meetings of the current Board, Town Manager Maxbauer made seemingly hostile remarks directed at Commissioner Johnson. Perhaps he apologized afterwards. I have no way of knowing.
I don't know if there is any connection between these events and Commissioner Johnson's pointed criticism of the vegetative waste project.
Investigative journalists might want to check it out.
The "show part" was to demonstrate the enormous size of the reusable bags. Johnson called on the acting Town Manager, Wyatt Cutler, to assist him in spreading one of the bags out. The bag looked to have a capacity of about 100 cubic feet. It presented a rare dramatic photo opportunity, and newspaperman Jeff Aydelette of County Compass took full advantage. Jeff's photo graced one of County Compasses' inside pages. Pamlico News also reported the story.
The "tell" part was when Commissioner Johnson described the process and the cost to the Town. He related in amazement his discovery that Town Public Works employees were delivering bags to residents on request (tying up the employee for the time it takes for delivery) and then returning to pick up the bags full of waste, including branches as large as three inches in diameter.
Since a full bag could weigh hundreds of pounds, it might require a front loader to retrieve the bag. Once retrieved, the Town would have to pay for disposal of the waste.
Members of the public had a big laugh at the description, and the Board quickly voted to suspend the program while the Acting Town Manager examined options.
While both local newspapers reported what happened during the meeting, neither reported the rest of the story - or what might be called the "back story."
The idea of vegetative waste bags was first broached by Town Manager Bob Maxbauer at the Town Board's first retreat at River Dunes in January, 2012. Only three members of the public attended that session. As presented, the bags would be obtained at very little cost, and the vegetative debris would be deposited in a Town compost heap.
The "very little cost" turned out to be around $4,000 and the compost heap was never created.
Occasionally during meetings of the current Board, Town Manager Maxbauer made seemingly hostile remarks directed at Commissioner Johnson. Perhaps he apologized afterwards. I have no way of knowing.
I don't know if there is any connection between these events and Commissioner Johnson's pointed criticism of the vegetative waste project.
Investigative journalists might want to check it out.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: WWII In The Pacific - Bombing Kiska August 12, 1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): From Adak B-24's and B-25's fly 26 bombing,
strafing, and radar and photo reconnaissance sorties over Kiska. From
Amchitka P-40's, P-38's, B-24's, B-25's, and A-24s fly 70 bombing
sorties over the island and are joined by B-24's, P-40's, and F-5A's
flying 6 reconnaissance and photo sorties. Targets included the runway,
harbor and shipping installations, army barracks, and the Rose Hill
area. Lost is B-24D 42-40309.
My friend Ray Rundle, a Navy Communications Technician expert in communications intelligence then stationed on Adak, told the Army there were no more Japanese troops on the island. The Army didn't believe him. Army pilots insisted that Japanese troops remained and had fired anti aircraft weapons against Army bombing missions.
In fact, the Japanese troops had evacuated the island under cover of fog on July 28, two weeks earlier.
When the US Army invasion force stormed ashore on August fifteenth, the invaders found three dogs. US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Earnest King reported to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox that all they found were some dogs and freshly brewed coffee. When Knox questioned the report, King responded that Japanese dogs were very clever and knew how to make coffee.
Descendants of the Japanese dogs still lived on Adak when I was stationed there twenty years later. And Ray Rundle, who had been commissioned and promoted to the rank of Navy Lieutenant, had also returned to Adak.
My friend Ray Rundle, a Navy Communications Technician expert in communications intelligence then stationed on Adak, told the Army there were no more Japanese troops on the island. The Army didn't believe him. Army pilots insisted that Japanese troops remained and had fired anti aircraft weapons against Army bombing missions.
In fact, the Japanese troops had evacuated the island under cover of fog on July 28, two weeks earlier.
When the US Army invasion force stormed ashore on August fifteenth, the invaders found three dogs. US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Earnest King reported to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox that all they found were some dogs and freshly brewed coffee. When Knox questioned the report, King responded that Japanese dogs were very clever and knew how to make coffee.
Descendants of the Japanese dogs still lived on Adak when I was stationed there twenty years later. And Ray Rundle, who had been commissioned and promoted to the rank of Navy Lieutenant, had also returned to Adak.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tony's Back
There is always a bit of an empty spot in public discourse when Tony Tharp's blog disappears, as it did a week or so ago.
I don't read him because I agree with him, though I often do. I read him because he makes me think.
That's a good thing.
Today he says he has made his last comment on Oriental politics for awhile.
I hope that isn't true.
Nevertheless, there are bigger and perhaps more interesting fish to fry in North Carolina politics.
What is happening in this state is worthy of Tony's analytic talents.
What do you suppose he means by "worth plowing through?"
I don't read him because I agree with him, though I often do. I read him because he makes me think.
That's a good thing.
Today he says he has made his last comment on Oriental politics for awhile.
I hope that isn't true.
Nevertheless, there are bigger and perhaps more interesting fish to fry in North Carolina politics.
What is happening in this state is worthy of Tony's analytic talents.
What do you suppose he means by "worth plowing through?"
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Town Of Oriental Board Meeting August 6, 2013
NCGS Section 160A-81.1:
"The council shall provide at least one period for public comment per month at a regular meeting of the council. The council may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing. The council is not required to provide a public comment period under this section if no regular meeting is held during the month. (2005‑170, s. 3.)
Sections: Previous 160A-75 160A-76 160A-77 160A-78 160A-79 160A-80 160A-81 160A-81.1 160A-82 160A-86 160A-87 160A-101 160A-102 160A-103 160A-104"
At the beginning of last night's Town Board meeting, Mayor Bill Sage announced that he wants to try scheduling public comment at the monthly agenda meeting, held the Thursday prior to the regular (monthly) meeting. He explained this would afford more time for such comments.
A reading of NCGS 160A-81.1, which establishes the statutory requirement for public comments, reveals some interesting things:
1. The public comment period must be during a regular meeting of the council. It isn't clear that the agenda workshop, at which no business is conducted, meets the statutory requirement. Of course, nothing prevents the council from providing more than the minimum requirements for public comment;
2. It is the council, not the mayor, who may adopt "reasonable rules" for the conduct of the public comment period. I don't remember the council ever doing this.
Board members may assume that setting the rules is part of the mayor's duties as presiding officer, but that seems not to be the case. Another of those pesky technicalities.
Probably easily fixed.
"The council shall provide at least one period for public comment per month at a regular meeting of the council. The council may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing. The council is not required to provide a public comment period under this section if no regular meeting is held during the month. (2005‑170, s. 3.)
Sections: Previous 160A-75 160A-76 160A-77 160A-78 160A-79 160A-80 160A-81 160A-81.1 160A-82 160A-86 160A-87 160A-101 160A-102 160A-103 160A-104"
At the beginning of last night's Town Board meeting, Mayor Bill Sage announced that he wants to try scheduling public comment at the monthly agenda meeting, held the Thursday prior to the regular (monthly) meeting. He explained this would afford more time for such comments.
A reading of NCGS 160A-81.1, which establishes the statutory requirement for public comments, reveals some interesting things:
1. The public comment period must be during a regular meeting of the council. It isn't clear that the agenda workshop, at which no business is conducted, meets the statutory requirement. Of course, nothing prevents the council from providing more than the minimum requirements for public comment;
2. It is the council, not the mayor, who may adopt "reasonable rules" for the conduct of the public comment period. I don't remember the council ever doing this.
Board members may assume that setting the rules is part of the mayor's duties as presiding officer, but that seems not to be the case. Another of those pesky technicalities.
Probably easily fixed.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
July 3 2012: Minutes And Transcript Compared
A week or so ago, I posted a transcript of the Town's audio recording of the Board's deliberation on July 3 of 2012 concerning street closings: here.
The accepted standard for complete minutes of public meetings is that the minutes should record what was DONE, (that is, motions and resolutions made, seconded, votes recorded, etc.) rather than what was SAID. By that standard, the Town's minutes for July 3 are not acceptable. Compare the audio recording above with the published minutes on the Town's web site here.
The minutes change the order of events and misrepresent the wording of the motions voted on and adopted.
I must say, the only commissioner in recent years who has compared the minutes with the audio and insisted on accuracy was Jennifer Roe. These particular minutes, on a matter of great importance and significance to the Town, are NOT accurate.
As we start thinking about forthcoming municipal elections, we should remember to keep the handling of public records in mind.
The accepted standard for complete minutes of public meetings is that the minutes should record what was DONE, (that is, motions and resolutions made, seconded, votes recorded, etc.) rather than what was SAID. By that standard, the Town's minutes for July 3 are not acceptable. Compare the audio recording above with the published minutes on the Town's web site here.
The minutes change the order of events and misrepresent the wording of the motions voted on and adopted.
I must say, the only commissioner in recent years who has compared the minutes with the audio and insisted on accuracy was Jennifer Roe. These particular minutes, on a matter of great importance and significance to the Town, are NOT accurate.
As we start thinking about forthcoming municipal elections, we should remember to keep the handling of public records in mind.
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