Canton Board adopts anti-camping and fire-code ordinances, approves audit and budget amendments
March 28, 2024 | Canton Town, Haywood County, North Carolina
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Town of Canton’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen/women approved several ordinances and fiscal actions at their March 14, 2024 meeting.
Interim Manager Lisa Stinnett presented an ordinance drafted by the Town Attorney to prohibit residing in tents, RVs, boats, storage buildings and similar structures on residential property in response to community complaints. Police Chief Wheeler said the ordinance would give him authority to remove people who take up residency on vacant or rental properties. "This would allow him to enforce the homeless from just showing up and taking up residency on vacant property and rental properties throughout Town," the minutes record. Alderwoman Mull moved to approve the ordinance and Alderman Shepard seconded; the motion carried.
The Board also adopted an ordinance to incorporate technical fire-prevention codes and standards by reference, which Chief Wheeler said would provide "more legal ramifications" to enforce the code. The fire-code ordinance was moved and seconded and the Board approved it.
On finance items, Interim Manager Stinnett presented a proposed contract with Sheila Gahagan, CPA, to conduct the annual audit; Alderwoman Mull moved to approve the contract and Alderman Hamlett seconded. The Board approved budget amendments related to a Bear Country sign, Chestnut Bridge and Special Olympics. The Board set a special called budget work session for April 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. and cancelled the April 11 regular meeting.
The minutes record that the motions on the audit contract, both ordinances and the budget amendments carried; the text records "motion carried" or "all were in favor" but does not provide numeric vote tallies in the meeting minutes. The record does not show extended debate or a roll-call vote for these items in the published minutes.
Legal references noted in the meeting record include N.C.G.S. 143-318.11, cited for the Board’s closed sessions later in the meeting. The minutes show the Board entered closed sessions under subsection (a)(4) (economic development) and (a)(6) during the evening before returning to open session.
Interim Manager Lisa Stinnett presented an ordinance drafted by the Town Attorney to prohibit residing in tents, RVs, boats, storage buildings and similar structures on residential property in response to community complaints. Police Chief Wheeler said the ordinance would give him authority to remove people who take up residency on vacant or rental properties. "This would allow him to enforce the homeless from just showing up and taking up residency on vacant property and rental properties throughout Town," the minutes record. Alderwoman Mull moved to approve the ordinance and Alderman Shepard seconded; the motion carried.
The Board also adopted an ordinance to incorporate technical fire-prevention codes and standards by reference, which Chief Wheeler said would provide "more legal ramifications" to enforce the code. The fire-code ordinance was moved and seconded and the Board approved it.
On finance items, Interim Manager Stinnett presented a proposed contract with Sheila Gahagan, CPA, to conduct the annual audit; Alderwoman Mull moved to approve the contract and Alderman Hamlett seconded. The Board approved budget amendments related to a Bear Country sign, Chestnut Bridge and Special Olympics. The Board set a special called budget work session for April 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. and cancelled the April 11 regular meeting.
The minutes record that the motions on the audit contract, both ordinances and the budget amendments carried; the text records "motion carried" or "all were in favor" but does not provide numeric vote tallies in the meeting minutes. The record does not show extended debate or a roll-call vote for these items in the published minutes.
Legal references noted in the meeting record include N.C.G.S. 143-318.11, cited for the Board’s closed sessions later in the meeting. The minutes show the Board entered closed sessions under subsection (a)(4) (economic development) and (a)(6) during the evening before returning to open session.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
