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Smithfield council approves contracts, invoices and a historic-district change; tables policy manual
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting, Smithfield Town Council approved several staff-recommended contracts and invoices, unanimously adopted a text amendment to the historic-preservation overlay, reappointed two BHAR members, and voted to table the council’s Policy & Procedure Manual for further committee review.
Smithfield — The Smithfield Town Council on Jan. 6 approved multiple routine items recommended by staff, unanimously adopted a change to the town’s historic-preservation overlay and reappointed two members to the Board of Historic and Architectural Review, then tabled a proposed Policy and Procedure Manual after extended debate.
Council approved a consent agenda that included awarding a concrete-services contract to Dan White Concrete LLC and the right-of-way and drainage-easement maintenance contract to Goodrich and Son Tree Service. Finance Chair Jeff Brooks brought forward the consent items and moved their approval; Councilman Bowman seconded and roll-call voting recorded all present members voting in the affirmative.
The council also approved two invoices requiring council authorization: Vortech Services (two invoices totaling $31,896.90 for camera and utility work in Grimes Land) and Epps Building Inc. ($48,500 for a public-works break room and safety meeting room). Councilman Cutler moved approval; the motion passed by roll call.
At a public hearing, Ms. Clary presented a text amendment to Article 3 of the town code to reduce certain BHAR term lengths from five years to four so they align with bylaws adopted in January 2025; Councilman Bowman moved to approve the amendment and Councilman Cutler seconded. The council voted to adopt the amendment.
The council’s nominating committee recommended reappointments for Justin Hornbeck and Julia Hilligas to the Board of Historic and Architectural Review; council approved the recommendations. Michael (staff) explained that Julia Hilligas’s appointment date was being aligned with her planning-commission term to keep the board seats in sync.
After extensive discussion about a proposed Town Council Policy and Procedure Manual — including concerns about conflict-of-interest language, closed-session confidentiality, and whether the draft went beyond state FOIA/COIA guidance — Councilman Cutler made a substitute motion to table the manual to the February meeting and refer detailed line-by-line review to committee work sessions. The motion to table was approved by roll call.
The meeting adjourned shortly afterward. No formal deadlines or implementation dates were set for the tabling of the manual; council members said they would circulate suggested edits and hold committee-level sessions before the February meeting.
