Hertford council approves bridge contract, smart-meter project and commits $60,000 toward EDA waterfront grant

The Town of Hertford Council on March 14 unanimously approved a series of contracts, event permits and grant actions that officials said will support waterfront planning, utilities modernization and community events.

The most consequential financial action was the council's commitment of $60,000 in unencumbered funds as the town's share of a required 20 percent match for a planned $600,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to cover construction drawings for a waterfront retaining wall. Interim Town Manager Janice McKenzie Cole told the council that Perquimans County has agreed to commit $60,000 and that the town budget contains the remaining match; Councilman Jerry Mimlitsch moved to commit the town funds and Councilwoman Connie Brothers seconded the motion, which passed 4-0 (Mayor Earnell Brown was absent).

Council members also authorized staff to proceed with an application to the Golden Leaf Foundation for potential flood-mitigation funding after the town's engineering firm, Withers Ravenel, advised the town of possible eligibility. Councilwoman Brothers moved to proceed with the Golden Leaf application; Councilwoman Sandra Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

On infrastructure and vendor contracts, the council approved a DOT construction/contingency agreement for the S-Bridge truss (motion by Mimlitsch, seconded by Anderson) and approved vendor contracts described in the minutes as Nexgrid/Nex Gen/Edmunds for purchase, installation and software to implement electric smart meters (motion by Councilwoman Connie Brothers, seconded by Anderson). Both votes were unanimous (4-0).

The council also approved a resolution asking Perquimans County to expand the Perquimans River no-wake zone and unanimously approved a resolution permitting three Friday Night Stroll events (June 10, July 8 and Aug. 12) with specified Church Street closures and times, as requested of DOT.

As part of hurricane-season preparations, the council authorized the Town Manager to sign a Notice to Proceed for debris management and removal as needed and authorized Perquimans Emergency Management to sign Letters of Intent with primary contractors to support preplanning; that authorization passed 4-0.

Council members adopted a set of budget amendments intended to balance fiscal-year 2021–22 line items. The minutes record a Budget Ordinance Amendment (Amendment #1, dated March 14, 2022) with detailed decreases and increases across multiple general-fund accounts; the ordinance pages are appended to the official minutes.

All recorded motions passed by unanimous voice vote of the four members present: Councilwoman Sandra Anderson (aye), Councilman Jerry Mimlitsch (aye), Councilwoman Connie Brothers (aye) and Mayor Pro Tem Ashley Hodges (aye). Mayor Earnell Brown was listed as absent on the meeting roll call.

Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will proceed with the EDA and Golden Leaf applications, finalize vendor contracts and move forward with procurement and scheduling for smart-meter installation and waterfront engineering work. The minutes show no additional debate or amendments to the approved motions.

The council adjourned the regular session at approximately 7:15 p.m.