State representative seeks one-on-one meeting with Town of Clayton about effects of Senate Bill 1 on small towns

A state representative reached out to Town of Clayton officials to request a one-on-one meeting to hear how Senate Bill 1 has affected small towns, a town official said at a special meeting.

Town officials discussed that the town had expected the bill’s mechanism to allow towns to reclaim some revenue after a state income tax increase, but said the bill narrowed eligibility to towns with populations of 10,000 or more. Officials said that limitation shifts costs to counties for smaller towns and that they want to relay those challenges to the state representative.

Officials also touched on fire-inspection and life-safety standards during the same discussion, noting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and expressing a desire to speak with Wayne Long to clarify local obligations for inspections and equipment. One official described a prior inspection drill in which a tester pushed an exit-time test button and questioned whether all required emergency illumination and extension devices were present and operating.

No formal action or vote was recorded on the outreach request; officials asked whether anyone had feedback to share for the meeting with the state representative. No date was set for the one-on-one meeting during the session.