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Stanley council reinstates most public records fees, denies Planning Board appointment and approves audit contract
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the town council reinstated the public records fee schedule (removing only an $18 special-service charge), declined to appoint an alternate to the Planning Board, and approved an amended LGC audit contract that extends the submission deadline and raises fees by about $4,600.
The Stanley Town Council addressed several administrative items on Feb. 10, 2026, voting on public records fees, a Planning Board alternate appointment and an amended audit contract.
On an item under old business, Director Sarah Penley clarified that a prior motion had been intended to remove only a special $18-per-hour service charge for exceptionally time-consuming public records requests rather than rescind the entire fee schedule. Manager Steven Denton noted that complex requests can incur third-party IT charges of $150 per hour and legal-review fees of $175 per hour. Council Member Brendan Sweeney moved to reinstate the fee schedule while excluding the $18 special-service charge; the motion passed 3-2, with Sweeney, Council Member Chase Hannifin and Council Member Corey Kelly voting in favor and Council Members Leigh Anna Helms and Marsha Miskelly opposed.
For a Planning Board/Board of Adjustment alternate seat, Director Penley said the town had three applicants. Council Member Corey Kelly nominated Gerald Mashaw, who applied earlier; the motion to appoint Mashaw failed 2-3, with Hannifin and Kelly voting yes and Helms, Sweeney and Miskelly voting no. Council members discussed postponing appointment to allow broader outreach and to recruit ETJ representatives.
On a contract matter, Manager Denton explained an amended LGC audit contract would extend the audit submission deadline from Dec. 31 to Feb. 12 and increase the audit fee by about $4,600; Denton said he was negotiating to reduce the increase. The council approved the amended contract unanimously (5-0).
Other administrative notes: the council corrected the Jan. 13 minutes to reflect a 4-1 (not 5-0) recorded vote on a prior property-sale resolution and approved the corrected minutes; Public Works Director Daniel Hendrix reported crews worked more than 30 hours responding to recent severe-weather water-main breaks; and the town discussed live-streaming quotes ranging from $4,680 to $12,500, with two council members offering to personally contribute if the cost could be reduced to $1,500 or less. Mayor Kirkland thanked the Fire Department for a rapid response to a neighborhood house fire; no injuries were reported.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried 5-0.
