SPRING LAKE - The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen on Monday is scheduled to hear from the N.C. Department of Public Safety, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Cumberland County Schools as it continues to learn about area resources.
The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Grady Howard conference room at town hall.
The newly elected officials met Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 for orientation with an overview from town departments and to receive financial training from the Local Government Commission, which took over control of the town’s finances in October. Town department heads also were questioned by the board to further understand their roles and to determine their needs in preparation for the upcoming budget retreat.
Mark Sorrells, senior vice president for academic and student services, is expected to give a brief overview of services and resources that FTCC offers.
A partnership with FTCC and a HOPE initiative was brought up at the board orientation. The partnership with FTCC will provide free training opportunities and certification classes to town staff and residents to help build a more educated workforce.
The board also is expected to approve amendments to the Fort Bragg Regional Land Use Advisory Commission bylaws. The town is a member of the commission, which helps coordinate collaboration between Fort Bragg and local government. The revisions update their governance structure and the implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
The board also is expected to discuss committees currently serving the town, including the Board of Adjustment, the Community Appearance Commission, the Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, the Recreation Advisory Committee and the Senior Enrichment Program Advisory Committee.
Alderman Raul Palacios is leading the discussion on the town committees. The town clerk has been asked to get in contact with existing committee members to determine if they have a continued interest in serving since most committees have not met since COVID-19. Palacios said the goal is to help revive public interest in serving on the committees and to discuss training for the members.
“Long term, I’d like to invite the committees to present their ideas, projects and input to the board, and have board members appointed as ex-officios to the committees,” Palacios said.
Palacios said he hopes to invite the committees to present at a work session in February.
A closed session citing personnel, attorney-client privilege and economic development is expected to include an update to the state audit and financial investigation.
The Local Government Commission took control of the town’s finances after warning town leaders about long-standing financial disarray, concerns about potential budget deficits and investigations into missing money.
Jami McLaughlin covers Spring Lake for CityView TODAY. She can be reached at jmclaughlin@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
