Town Council waived the one year waiting period for reapplication for the cell tower at the soccer field. The application will be resubmitted and return to the planning commission before coming back to Town Council for a public hearing and first reading, perhaps as soon as April 16.
Council recognized Jane Hale, our Senior Finance Clerk who will be retiring at the end of March. She started with the Town during the third incorporation and returned soon after the Town started up again in 2012.
The draft 2015-16 budget was presented to Council. The public hearing on the budget and first reading is scheduled for the April 16 meeting.
Council choose the Mayor to Chair the History Committee who asked Mayor Pro-tem to help. Council selected the following members selected for the History Commission were Doug Bostic, Eugene Frazier, Paul Hedden, Ashley Welsh, Inez Brown Crouch, Donald Hollingsworth, William "Cubby" Wilder, and Willis "Skipper" Keith.
Council tabled the resolution regarding representation on the CARTA board. Councilman Stokes spoke with some members of the CARTA board and they suggested that a substantial annual budget commitment would be necessary for the Town to join the board and that would not be for new services. CARTA has a large financial deficit at the current time. I want to do an analysis of the CARTA budget situation before the Town pursues this further.
Council approved a resolution opposing the search for oil off the South Carolina coast.
Council approved second and final reading of the emergency purchases ordinance and the emergency powers ordinance. These ordinances were adopted on the advice of the consultant who is helping the Town review and revise our emergency plan. The ordinances are very similar to those of the Town of Kiawah Island. The first draft of the Hurricane portion of the plan has been completed.