Hamlet council adopts decorum rules, awards water-plant contract and approves fees, appointments and property actions

The Hamlet City Council took a series of administrative and policy actions in its meeting, adopting rules of decorum, awarding an amended contract for the city's water treatment plant, confirming housing-board nominees, authorizing abatement of condemned properties, selling a small parcel, and adopting system development fees for water and sewer.

The council adopted Resolution 26-01, a rules-of-decorum policy staff said was compiled from other municipalities and is supported by state statutory language governing public comment. The policy limits public-comment speakers to three minutes, prohibits personal attacks and disruptive behavior, and gives the presiding officer authority to enforce the rules.

On infrastructure, staff told council that the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality required the addition of a fourth filter to the water-treatment project, increasing the bid. The city reported an amended contract total of $12,378,166; the council voted to amend and award the contract to the contractor identified in meeting materials. (The public transcript spells the contractor's name inconsistently; see audit.)

The council accepted two nominations to the Hamlet Housing Board as presented by the housing board. Staff read the nominees on the record; the motion carried by voice vote.

Council authorized staff to proceed with abatement/demolition and cost assessment for several condemned properties after staff confirmed notices were served and no appeals were filed. Staff discussed demolition options, including public-works removal or a controlled burn used as a fire-department training exercise.

The council accepted an upset-bid of $2,350 from Eric LeGrande for a small city-owned parcel off Front Street; the tax value was read as $2,327. Separately, the council approved a conditional waiver of outstanding code-enforcement fines on a Raleigh Street property to facilitate a potential sale to Domino's, conditioned on commencement of construction on or before July 1, 2026.

The council also adopted FY26 water and sewer system development fees based on a consultant study prepared by Raftelis Financial Consultants (study dated Oct. 23, 2025). Staff said the fees apply to new development and revenues are restricted to capacity-related capital improvements.

Other items discussed included multiple quotes and a proposed scope change for repairing the fence at Buttercup Field (staff said they can lock prices and include the deposit in the upcoming budget) and several community announcements. After public business the council voted to go into closed session.

What to watch next: Staff follow-ups include construction scheduling for the water-treatment project, implementation steps for abatement, publication of the new fee schedule, and final sale and waiver documentation for the Raleigh Street property. The council entered closed session after public comment and the manager's report; any further action will be recorded in future minutes.