Aberdeen Board approves veterans banner program, opens 15-foot right-of-way, accepts $100,000 library grant and OKs retention bonuses

The Aberdeen Town Board on March 10 approved a series of measures that will place commemorative banners along Main Street, open a 15-foot public right-of-way off Thomas Avenue, accept a $100,000 grant for the town library renovation and authorize retention bonus payments for eligible staff.

Planner Lindy Lamielle presented a sample for the American Legion Post 72 "Hometown Heroes" banner program and described plans to mount banners at locations on Main Street. A meeting participant identified as Mr. Palmer said the banners are intended to honor living and deceased active-duty service members and first responders from Aberdeen. Lamielle said banners would be displayed on Memorial Day, July 4 and Veterans Day; the American Legion will maintain the banners and store them when not on display. The Board approved the program by motion from Mayor Pro-tem Bryan Bowles, seconded by Commissioner Wilma Laney; the minutes record the motion as carrying unanimously, 5-0. The initial order for five banners is $450.75 plus tax and future banners would be sponsored as needed.

Planning Director Pam Graham asked the Board to approve Resolution #25-05 to officially open a 15-foot public right-of-way shown on a 1928 Fearrington Heights plat to provide access to a 0.349-acre, otherwise landlocked parcel north of Aberdeen Lake. Graham said the right-of-way has never been improved and staff negotiated a Right-of-Way Maintenance Agreement with the property owners, Lester Arthur McNeill and Cathy Ann Dixon-McNeill, that gives them a nonexclusive easement for ingress and egress and allows them to construct and maintain a driveway at their expense while relieving the Town of maintenance responsibility. Commissioner Wilma Laney moved to adopt Resolution #25-05 and authorize the Town Manager to execute the maintenance agreement; Commissioner Teressa Beavers seconded and the motion passed, recorded as 5-0.

Graham also noted a request from Fabio Lemos to amend the list of permitted uses for the previously approved Aberdeen Station planned development; the Board voted to schedule a public hearing on March 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. on the proposed amendments (motion by Commissioner Teressa Beavers, seconded by Commissioner Elease Goodwin, motion carried 5-0).

Town Manager Paul Sabiston said the Town had received official notice of a $100,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation to support the New Library–Historic Building Renovation project and that the Friends of the Library will be responsible for the required quarterly reports. The Board voted to accept the grant and to approve the Grant Agreement; both motions carried unanimously, 5-0.

Sabiston also presented the request for retention bonuses for all eligible full-time employees and some specified part-time employees, to be funded from dollars saved in salaries and benefits line items during the current fiscal year. The Board approved the retention bonus payments for employees employed as of April 1, 2025 and approved a related budget amendment reallocating existing appropriations to cover the bonuses. The budget amendment shows a net internal reallocation of $32,100 across several salary lines to fund the bonuses; both the payment approval and the budget amendment were recorded as 5-0 votes.

In other business Commissioner Teressa Beavers raised concerns about speeding on Main Street. Assistant Town Manager Phillip Richardson said forthcoming NCDOT improvements will remove direct access from U.S. 211 to Main Street, which staff expects will reduce speeding. Beavers also asked about the old Page Memorial Library. Mayor Robert A. Farrell asked about additional security measures at Public Works; Public Works Director Joe Wood said staff is investigating options including motion-detection systems. The Board adjourned by motion of Commissioner Wilma Laney, seconded by Commissioner Elease Goodwin; the minutes record the adjournment motion as carried 5-0.

Votes at a glance: • Hometown Heroes Banner Program — Approved (motion: Bryan Bowles; second: Wilma Laney). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Resolution #25-05 (open 15-foot right-of-way off Thomas Avenue) — Adopted (motion: Wilma Laney; second: Teressa Beavers). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Aberdeen Station planned development amendments — Public hearing scheduled for March 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (motion: Teressa Beavers; second: Elease Goodwin). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Acceptance of $100,000 Cannon Foundation grant — Approved (motion: Teressa Beavers; second: Bryan Bowles). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Grant Agreement with The Cannon Foundation — Approved (motion: Teressa Beavers; second: Elease Goodwin). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Retention bonus payments — Approved (motion: Bryan Bowles; second: Wilma Laney). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Budget amendment to fund retention bonuses (net reallocation $32,100) — Approved (motion: Bryan Bowles; second: Tim Helms). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0. • Adjournment — Approved (motion: Wilma Laney; second: Elease Goodwin). Recorded vote: unanimously carried, 5-0.

The Board’s next scheduled meeting for action on public hearings is March 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., when the Aberdeen Station amendments will be considered; several items approved at the March 10 work session require ministerial follow-up (execution of the maintenance agreement and Grant Agreement) before project work begins.