Hertford retreat reviews five‑year financial plan, backs SOS support and asks staff to plan emergency shelter

At the Town of Hertford retreat on Feb. 25, 2023, facilitator Leamon Brice and representatives from First Tryon presented a multi‑year financial review and a planning tool intended to help the council model revenues, rates and projects for future budgeting and infrastructure decisions.

Mayor Earnell Brown introduced the facilitator and Finance Director Ashley Eure before Brice outlined the retreat’s purpose: receive First Tryon’s financial plan, review and update the strategic plan, discuss SOS and emergency shelter options, and take action on several business items. First Tryon reviewed the town’s financial results for the past five years across all funds and demonstrated a tool staff and council can use to test budget and project scenarios.

During the strategic plan review the council examined action items and agreed to amend the plan; an amended copy was attached to the retreat record. On the topic of SOS, the council agreed to continue supporting the organization’s current facility, to consider a larger facility if a need and opportunity arise, to sponsor an intern to assist SOS, and to include announcements in the town newsletter to help SOS communicate with the community. The minutes do not state any immediate funding commitments or timelines for those supports.

Council members also discussed the need for a local emergency shelter to serve residents during extreme cold nights, hurricanes, power outages and similar emergencies. The council directed staff to contact the county emergency management director and to work on a plan for a shelter in Hertford during emergencies.

The retreat record shows the council took business actions and then adjourned. The minutes attach the amended strategic plan and note First Tryon’s presentation as informational; they do not contain the underlying financial spreadsheets or the specific parameters used in the modeling tool.