Summerfi eld Town Council meeting

SUMMERFIELD town council WHAT they voted on, Aug. 10 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS and HOW they voted:

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

Mayor BJ Barnes called the monthly meeting held at Revolution Academy on Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne Williams DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker present.

Sessoms offered the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by DeVaney.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Summerfield Fire District. Assistant Chief Jenna Daniels said the district responded to 107 calls in July; of these, 68 were medical-related and 27 were fire-related. Firefighters installed 34 child safety seats.

Daniels encouraged people to register to participate in the department’s Stop, Drop and Roll 5K fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 2.

DeVaney, who works at Summerfield Elementary School, thanked the department for providing breakfast to the school’s staff Aug. 10, their first day back to prepare for the new academic year. Sheriff’s Office. The District 1 sheriff’s office said it responded to 119 calls for service in Summerfield in July; 33 were related to burglar alarms, 12 were reports of suspicious activity and three others related to accidents resulting in personal injury.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

„ Janelle Robinson asked voters to support her run for Summerfield Town Council in the Nov. 2 election. A former school teacher, Robinson runs a busiMayor Pro Tem Tim Sessoms and council members Lynne W. DeVaney, Teresa W. Perryman, John O’Day and Reece Walker voted on the following items during the Aug. 10 council meeting. Mayor BJ Barnes was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.  5  0: Accept developer David Couch’s request to withdraw his application for a text amendment to the town’s unified development ordinance  5  0: Instruct town staff to continue investigating how much municipalities elsewhere in North Carolina charge developers for processing rezoning applications  5  0: Instruct town staff to work with a county assistance program to arrange for Summerfield Community Center to be used for preparing tax returns for people with low and moderate income  4  1: Name (Perryman opposed) three trailheads in Summerfield as recommended by the town’s Trails and Open Space Committee  5  0: Appoint Mia Malesovas to the town’s Historical Committee and Jane Doggett to the Founders’ Day Committee  4  1: Revise (Perryman opposed) the town’s ordinance governing committees to allow the town’s parks and recreation director to serve as a voting member of the Founders’ Day Committee

Protect your business and your wealth with legal services from a trusted advisor

• • Estate Planning and Administration, Specializing in Corporate and Business Law including Wills, Trusts, and Probate for LLCs, S-Corps, C-Corps, and Partnerships • Corporate and Business Law• Commercial Real Estate Transactions • LLC’s • Partnerships • Tax Planning, Advice and Preparation • Real Estate • Civil Litigation • Civil Litigation • Tax Planning and Preparation • Estate Planning and Administration including Wills, Trusts, and Probate “I protect my clients, their families, “I help my clients achieve their best and their businesses, now and outcomes in business and personal in the years ahead.”legal matters.”

Scott K. Tippett Attorney at Law

Admitted in Georgia, North Carolina, and U.S. Tax Court. DRC Certified MediatorSuperior Court

Hagan Barrett PLLC | 300 N Greene St, Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27401 336.232.0650 | www.haganbarrett.com ness and serves as a volunteer Summerfield firefighter and EMT. Her three children attend local schools. „ Danny Nelson repeated his opposition to planned development in Summerfield and a proposal by developer David Couch to extend water and sewer services from Greensboro for his proposed residential and commercial expansion of Summerfield Farms. „ Dwayne Crawford repeated Save our Summerfield Committee’s request dating back to 2017 for the council to amend the town’s comprehensive plan. He asked for “equal treatment” for the committee’s request as the council anticipates hearing a request from Couch seeking changes to development regulations related to his proposed development. „ Jolinda Babcock said she was upset and offended by a telephone call from Sessoms asking for her motives to serve on the Founders’ Day Committee, and announced she was withdrawing her application to serve on the committee.

Babcock is an organizer of Stand Up For Summerfield, a group that opposes high density development in town. During a meeting of the group in June, she called for the ouster of council members

Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO During Summerfi eld Town Council’s meeting on Aug. 10, council member Reece Walker (right) suggested that town staff dig deeper into developer David Couch’s view that the town’s rezoning application fees are too high.

finish strong

start here

who favor higher density development, such as Couch’s proposal.

Babcock said she concluded from her conversation with Sessoms that he thought she might try to create conflict on the Founders’ Day Committee because she had expressed views critical of town leaders.

“I also won’t spend my time volunteering for a town whose council member doesn’t want me involved,” Babcock said.

Later in an interview, Sessoms expressed concern about some of Babcock’s comments during public meetings regarding Couch’s request for a text amendment to the town’s unified development ordinance (UDO). He also cited a verbal clash between Babcock and Mayor Barnes during a recent council meeting. „ Gail Dunham said she opposes town leaders’ decision to reduce the length of public comments during meetings from five to three minutes.

When Dunham’s remarks exceeded three minutes, Barnes tapped his gavel.

“Just let me finish this sentence,” Dunham told the mayor.

Shortly afterward, Barnes banged his gavel and said, “That’s it, Ms. Dunham. Your time is up – well past up.” „ Greg Fox, a candidate for Town Council, asked voters for their support in the Nov. 2 election. He said he works in law enforcement and wants Summerfield “to stay as rural as possible” while realizing growth and development is coming. „ John Doggett, who is also running for Town Council, said he understands “the desire to maintain the rural character” of Summerfield. “I also know that change is unavoidable and can be good if done right,” he said. „ Don Wendelken asked why Town Manager Scott Whitaker had not fulfilled his public records request submitted June 16 for some town-related emails.

After speaking for about 20 seconds, Wendelken said he was going to let the remainder of his three minutes expire before leaving the microphone.

“I’ve been waiting and waiting and am going to hear the clock tick,” he said. „ Perryman said she understood Wendelken’s frustration. „ Town Attorney Bob Hornik noted the exact timing of fulfilling public records requests in “a reasonable amount of time” isn’t mandated by state law.

PUBLIC HEARING

 5  0 to accept Couch’s request to withdraw his application for a text amendment to the UDO. (No one offered comments in favor of or opposition to Couch’s request before the public hearing was closed.)

ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

As Official Team Doctors for over 35 pro, collegiate and youth sports organizations, our nationally renowned experts provide leading care for children and adults. Schedule a same- or next-day appointment throughout the area. Saturday hours and walkins welcome at select locations.

888-716-WAKE WakeHealth.edu/SportsMedicine

ACCEPTING MOST MAJOR INSURANCE PROVIDERS.

COVID-19 W AKEFOREST BAPTISTHEAL T H PROTECTED

serving you locally