SUMMERFIELD town council
Oct. 13 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by CHRIS BURRITT Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly council meeting to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker present. The council limited attendance to the meeting in Summerfield Community Center due to public gathering restrictions related to COVID-19, but the meeting was live-recorded on the town’s Facebook page.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Summerfield Fire District. The district ran 98 calls in September, including 29 fire-related calls, 47 emergencyrelated calls and 22 other calls. Firefighters also installed 19 child safety seats.
COMMITTEE REPORT Historical Committee. A report by Chair Gary Brown said three contractors have submitted bids to repair the
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Summerfield Farms Village More than 30 people commented by email and in person about developer David Couch’s proposal to extend water and sewer lines from the city of Greensboro to Summerfield Farms on Pleasant Ridge Road. Those expressing opposition to Couch’s plan to develop 650 acres around Summerfield Farm with a mix of residential and commercial development outnumbered those expressing support for it by more than three to one.
Board volunteers. Town Manager Scott Whitaker said the Trails and Open Space Committee, Finance Committee and the Board of Adjustment are seeking volunteers to serve as members.
WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:
No Christmas tree lighting. The town will not be holding its annual Christmas tree lighting next month because of coronavirus restrictions, Whitaker said. He added that the tree in front of Summerfield Athletic Park on U.S. 220 will be decorated.
4 1: Authorize (Pegram opposed) Barnes and Town Manager Scott
RECOGNITION
The council presented plaques of appreciation to five volunteers who recently completed service on town committees: Scott Henson (nine-and-a-half years on the Zoning Board); Christine Henson (five years on the Finance Committee); Patricia Juszczak (12 years on the Historical Committee); Lewis Nash (10 years on the Board of Adjustment) and John Plybon (six years on the Historical Committee).
PUBLIC SAFETY Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office reported deputies responded to
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114 calls in Summerfield in September; the calls included three incidents of larceny and a business burglary.
old Atlantic and Yadkin railyard toolshed. Earlier this year, a crew relocated the wooden structure from private property in Summerfield to the corner of Summerfield and Rhondan roads as the first step in salvaging the building.
OCT. 29 - NOV. 4, 2020
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members John O’Day, Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa Pegram and Reece Walker voted on the following issues during the council’s Oct. 13 meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie. Whitaker to meet with developer David Couch and city of Greensboro and Guilford County officials to learn more about Couch’s proposal to expand residential and commercial development on 650 acres around Summerfield Farms
4 1: Appoint (Pegram opposed) Jessica Haverland to the Historical
Committee
4 1: Appoint (Pegram opposed) Clark Doggett to the Zoning Board 5 0: Consider during its Nov. 10 meeting the possibility of increasing
membership on the Zoning Board from five to seven members
5 0: Pursue taking ownership of the Summerfield Community Center and the surrounding 16.8 acres
5 0: Adopt a five-year capital improvement plan 5 0: Table until the Nov. 10 meeting discussion of a proposed Summerfield Tomorrow Committee
5 0: Instruct Whitaker and town planner Chris York to recommend a
process for creating a land use plan for the town
5 0: Unseal the closed-session minutes of four council meetings in 2019 and 2020
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