Kernersville aldermen approve budget amendments, set annexation hearing, form pool group; table garden staffing

At a regular meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, the Kernersville Board of Aldermen handled a series of routine and project-related items: the board unanimously adopted a budget amendment to purchase police equipment and cover e911 transfers, set a public hearing for a voluntary annexation, formed an initial community pool meeting team, reappointed the nominations committee, adopted previously omitted closed-session minutes, and tabled a staffing request for the Senior Botanical Garden until next month.

Budget amendment

The board approved a budget amendment that the town manager said funds several police-related purchases and e911 transfers. Town staff described the amendment covering roughly $47,000 for upgraded interview-room camera hardware and software, a traffic-display trailer repair, $54,000 in e911-related transfers, approximately $55,000 in law-enforcement forfeiture funds toward a replacement vehicle and $95,100 for SWAT headsets and patrol-vehicle outfitting (radios, in-vehicle laptop, lights, and related equipment). The manager said much of the funding for some items came from law-enforcement forfeiture accounts, which receive a share of seized funds from drug enforcement work.

The motion to adopt the budget amendment passed unanimously (motion by Bill Appel; second by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Thompson). The board did not record a roll-call vote in the meeting transcript; members present voiced approval.

Senior Botanical Garden staffing (tabled)

The board considered a request to add one full-time employee to maintain the outdoor areas of the Senior Botanical Garden (not the event center building). Staff said contract labor is currently helping with seasonal cleanup and that the proposed new hire would focus on outside garden work. Several aldermen asked for more information. The board voted to table the staffing request until the February meeting so staff could provide additional details (motion to table by Alderman Pinnocks; second not specified in the transcript). The motion passed unanimously.

Mayor pro tem election and nominations committee

By unanimous vote, the board re-elected Chris Thompson to serve as mayor pro tem for 2025. The motion to elect Thompson was moved by Bill Appel and seconded by Minister Penix; all members voted in favor. The board also reappointed Bill Apple (listed in the packet) and John Barrow to the nominations committee for the current term; that reappointment passed unanimously.

Consent agenda and minutes

The board adopted the consent agenda, which included minutes from Nov. 12 and Dec. 3 and several Chamber of Commerce event requests to use town facilities and roads, by unanimous vote. The board also adopted a closed-session minutes set from June 28, 2023 that had been inadvertently left off a prior agenda.

Voluntary annexation public hearing

The board set a public hearing for a voluntary annexation (PIN 6885-92-2945) for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2025; that date was chosen to coincide with the developer's zoning public hearing for the same project (the project is on or near Medical Parkway). The motion to set the hearing passed unanimously.

Community pool initial meeting and steering committee plan

The board agreed to begin pool discussions with a small initial meeting involving staff (Town Manager Curtis Swisher and Parks staff) plus the mayor and two aldermen. The board named Chris Thompson and John Barrow and the mayor as the initial board representatives; staff indicated the meeting will determine whether a broader steering committee (including citizens and advisory-board members) will be formed depending on direction and funding scope. Board members emphasized that any larger committee's recommendation would still come to the full board and that budgeted funding limits affect design options.

Closed session and extension of employment agreement

The board entered a closed session under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. a7 143-318.11) to consult with legal counsel and to discuss personnel matters. After returning to open session, the board voted to extend an employment agreement for Mr. Powell (legal services) through the end of January at his current rate; the extension was unanimous. Staff said the matter will return to the Feb. 4 agenda to set a new salary and retroactive pay beginning in January.

Final actions

The meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript were unanimous on every formal motion noted above; the transcript records votes as "all in favor? It's unanimous" for each motion.