SUMMERFIELD town council May 9 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Mayor Tim Sessoms called the monthly meeting in Summerfield Community Center to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Williams DeVaney and council members Jeff Davis, Janelle Robinson, Reece Walker and John Doggett present.

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

Consent Agenda

 5  0 to approve the consent agenda after the council agreed with Walker’s request to delay approval of the closed session minutes from the council’s March 30 meeting. After that, the consent agenda included the meeting agenda and approval of open session minutes of the March 21,

March 30 and April 11 meetings, as well as closed session minutes of the March 21 and April 11 meetings.

Announcements

Founders’ Day. The Founders’ Day celebration is scheduled for this coming Friday and Saturday, May 19-20; the parade on Saturday morning starts at 10 a.m. and will wind down Summerfield Road; all other Founders’ Day activities will take place beside the fire department on Summerfield Road.

Town Hall to be closed. Town Hall will be closed Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day, Town Manager Scott Whitaker said.

Budget meeting. The council will hold a special called meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, to review the town’s draft budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Wedding anniversary. Sessoms recalled performing the wedding ceremony for Councilman Walker and his wife, Sierra, eight years ago, and congratulated the couple on their anniversary.

Public Safety

Summerfield Fire District. The district reported it ran 129 calls in April; 17 were fire-related calls, 60 were EMS-related calls and 52 were miscellaneous calls. Firefighters installed 18 child safety seats and two smoke detector alarms.

Now that the weather has warmed up, the district urged motorists to be especially mindful of cyclists and motorcyclists on the roads. Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s District 1 office said it responded to 260 calls in

WHAT they voted on, and HOW they voted:

Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Williams DeVaney and council members Jeff Davis, Janelle Robinson, Reece Walker and John Doggett voted on the following items during the May 9 meeting. Mayor Tim Sessoms was present, but in Summerfield the mayor votes only to break a tie.

 5  0: Approve the consent agenda including the meeting agenda and approval of the open and closed session minutes of previous meetings

 5  0: Approve a request by Trotter Ridge homeowner Joanne Bond to amend the town’s unified development ordinance regulating short-term rentals

 5  0: Approve a code of ethics for the Planning Board

 5  0: Appoint Jonathan Hamilton to the Finance Committee

Summerfield last month, resulting in 19 formal case reports. Roughly 25% of the calls involved traffic incidents and burglar alarms being set off, along with reports of four thefts, four weapons offenses and one motor vehicle theft.

The sheriff’s office also noted there has been an increase in smash-andgrab thefts from parked vehicles, and urged park visitors to “bring only the bare essentials” and put valuables out of sight. While there were no reports of vehicle break-ins at Summerfield parks last month, thefts occurred at Triad Park in Kernersville.

The District 1 office also reported a rise in social media extortion in which victims are duped into sharing explicit photos online with strangers. Scammers then attempt to blackmail the victims by demanding money in exchange for not sharing the photos with friends and family.

The office reminded people, especially teenagers, to refrain from talking to strangers online and sharing information.

Committee Report

Historical Committee. Chair Bruce Petersen reported the committee dedicated the railroad depot that served Summerfield for 65 years during a ceremony May 7.

Built in 1887 to serve the Atlantic and Yadkin Railway, the depot handled passengers, freight and mail until it fell into disservice and was torn down in 1952. Rail service continued for another half century, with a wooden shed providing storage for freight.

Relocated from nearby in 2020, the shed is located on Summerfield Road at Rhondan Road, near the historical marker that was dedicated earlier this month.

Public Comments

 Gail Dunham said if the town proceeds with construction of an elevated water storage tank, it should be located next to the fire department on Summerfield Road, not on the tract of land owned by the town on U.S. 220 at N.C. 150. Drawing groundwater to fill the tank on the Highway 220 property may take water from the wells of people who live nearby, Dunham said.

 Adrian Williamson told the council it was “wasting a lot of money” on improvements to trails and parks and the purchase of a “high-dollar” pickup truck for town staff.

He then complimented the council for fighting efforts by landowner/developer David Couch to convince the state legislature to de-annex 973 acres ...continued on p. 8

✯ RIDES + ACTIVITIES: tickets/wristbands available at event for $20 either day (unlimited rides); inflatables, lawn games, rock-climbing, facepainting, caricature drawing, and balloon-twisting

✯ FOOD TRUCKS + 40 CRAFT/BUSINESS VENDORS

✯ TENTS: history and trails/greenways

✯ LIVE MUSIC: Greensboro Performing Arts, Repertory 336, Summerfield Charter Academy, Revolution Academy, Highland North, Northern Guilford Jazz Band

Friday, May 19 (6p–10p) +

Saturday, May 20 (10a–4p)

✯ FESTIVITIES at 7300–7400 Summerfield Road near fire station #9

✯ SATURDAY PARADE at 10a on Summerfield Rd. (Centerfield Rd. to Oak St.)

✯ EXTRA PARKING and SATURDAY SHUTTLES from Laughlin Prof. Development Center (7911 Summerfield Rd.)

✯ sorry, no pets or alcohol free, family-friendly entertainment | parade food | live music | vendors & exhibits | rides

Summerfield Town Council

...continued from p. 6

Couch owns in Summerfield.

Public Hearing

 5  0 to approve a request by Trotter Ridge homeowner Joanne Bond to amend the town’s unified development ordinance (UDO) regulating short-term rentals.

The vote by the council removed the requirement that short-term rentals be located within the principal dwelling on the property, not in any other structure. Bond plans to convert a two-story barn behind her house into a short-term rental.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Planning Board code of ethics

 5  0 to approve a code of ethics for the Planning Board stating that board members “should not allow family, social, or other relationships to unduly influence their conduct or judgment” on board matters.

If a board member has “an interest in any official act or action” before the board, the member is required to disclose the nature and extent of the interest publicly on the record of the board, according to the code of ethics. If required by law and excused by the board, the member must withdraw from any consideration of the matter.

The code of ethics recommended by the board and approved by the council “substantially mirrors” the council’s own code of ethics, according to Whitaker.

In 2022, the council changed the UDO to instruct the board to adopt its own code of ethics. A separate code of ethics for the board “could be modified in the future with less formality than a UDO amendment,” Whitaker explained in a memo to the council.

Voluntary annexation update. As the council prepares a timeline for considering voluntary annexation petitions, planning manager Brad Rentz said he learned two dates from the Guilford County Board of Elections.

Anyone wanting to run for a Town Council seat in the Nov. 7 general election would need to be annexed into Summerfield by July 7, Rentz said. People who want to vote in the town’s election would need to be annexed by Aug. 15.

Dog park opening. Whitaker reported the grand opening of Summerfield’s Paw Park May 6 went well. “So far, so good,” he said.

Council members applauded efforts by town staff, the Trails and Open Space Committee and other volunteers who helped plan and build the park, located behind the amphitheater at Summerfield Community Park.

Council Business

De-annexation update. Sessoms said the town received a letter on May 9