Hamlet City Council aligns ABC board terms, reappoints Belinda Whitley and approves 2025 schedule

The Hamlet City Council on a voice vote approved several routine governance items, including aligning terms for the local Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) board so all member terms expire in October.

Assistant City Manager Mackenzie told the council the state ABC board requested the change to move member term expirations into a single month rather than the current staggered schedule. "It's the state ABC board reached out, and they just wanted to realign the board so that all the terms are up in the same month, not in consecutive years," Mackenzie said. The council moved and approved the change by voice vote.

The council also reappointed Belinda Whitley to the planning board and filled another seat after considering a letter of interest from an applicant identified in the transcript as Mr. Latimer. The council moved to reappoint Whitley and to appoint Latimer; both motions were approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

On the calendar, the council approved the 2025 meeting schedule, keeping regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month and noting one November meeting was moved because of a Veterans Day conflict. Council member (name on record) moved to accept the schedule and the motion carried by voice vote.

City Manager Sellers thanked staff for recent events — including the tree lighting and parade — and announced administrative closures: offices will close at noon Friday for the employee holiday party, will be closed Dec. 24–26 for Christmas and will be closed Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.

The session ended when the council voted to go into a closed session after a motion and second; the council indicated support and prepared to recess into closed session. No additional public business or formal decisions were recorded after the motion.