The Town of Hope Mills is recruiting interested residents to join its Veterans Affairs Committee.
According to Commissioner Joanne Scarola, who serves as board liaison for the committee, the group was dissolved in March of this year due to lack of participation.
Scarola told CityView that interest in the committee has since renewed and the board voted to reinstate it on Oct. 6.
In an effort to “scrub the past committee clean and start over,” Scarola said at the Monday Hope Mills commissioners’ meeting, the board voted to remove four former members from the Veterans Affairs Committee:
- Cynthia Hamilton
- Ronnie McCormack
- Vivian Scott
- Ronald Starling
The board then appointed Charlie Grimes as a new member.
Hamilton and Starling are currently running for the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners in this year’s municipal elections. Scarola said the removal of committee members was unrelated to any individuals’ decisions to run for office.
In explaining the changing committee, both Scarola and Mayor Jessie Bellflowers cited Committee Rule 39(g), which states:
“All members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners may in its discretion at any time remove any members of any board or commission when it is determined to be in the best interest of the town.”
Scarola emphasized that the removed members are welcome to reapply. The committee is currently accepting applications from anyone interested in joining. According to the town website, the Veterans Affairs Committee advises commissioners on ways to help veterans in Hope Mills through economic development, recognition and awareness, and resources and social support.
“Let everyone know we’re accepting applications,” Scarola said.
Budget amendments for police department
Commissioners unanimously approved a correction to a budget amendment totaling $28,775. The line item funds necessary improvements and equipment for the police department. Absent from the vote was Commissioner Jerry Legge and Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray joined the meeting via phone while recovering from surgery.
The board had previously approved this funding at their last meeting, designating asset forfeiture funds as the source. However, after the vote, Town Finance Director Drew Holland identified a communication error: The amendment should instead be funded from the general fund balance.
“These are additional items needed for the station’s server system,” Holland explained to the board. “It’s still budget amendment #6, but we’ll use the general fund balance instead of asset forfeitures.”
The board also unanimously approved a $3,800 budget amendment for the police department to cover the cost of bulletproof vests. Funds for the vests were allocated from the asset forfeiture funds.
Under old business, the board unanimously approved an additional $2,600 for the Historic Preservation Committee’s budget to cover several annual expenses. Commissioner Bryan Marley, who acts as liaison for the committee, verified the funds were needed for annual upkeep for events like the holiday open house, Charter Day and its advertising, and tuning the Thomas Oakman’s chapel’s piano.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3 at Town Hall.
