LAKE VIEW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
February 19, 2015
Presiding: Mayor Boston Page, Jr.
Present: Council Members: Layton Townsend, Billy Sanderson, Matthew Elvington and Bruce McNeil
Also Present: Clerk/Treasurer Allison J. Page, Terry Norton, Ramona McKoy-Cummings, Megan Shelley, Chad Bullock, Johnny Wheeler, Gary Turner, John Smith, Eric Fogle, Sr. and Kenny Bethea
Mayor Page opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. He noted for the record that the following Town Council members were present, making a quorum:
1. Layton Townsend
2. Billy Sanderson
3. Matthew Elvington
4. Bruce McNeil
Mayor Page called the meeting to order and asked Council member Billy Sanderson to begin with prayer. The minutes from January 15, 2015 were read. Council member Matthew Elvington made the motion to accept the minutes as presented. Council member Billy Sanderson seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
The next item on the agenda was Mrs. Ramona McKoy-Cummings for the Lake View High School STAT Team. Mrs. McKoy-Cummings thanked the Mayor and Council for allowing her to come speak and stated she was interested in having a Mother/Son dance for the community, much like the Father/Daughter dance in Dillon, in order to raise funds for the STAT Team (Technical Assistance Team). She stated they were planning on having the dance the Friday before Mother’s Day and asked if they could use the Community Center as their location for the event every year. After a period of discussion, Council member Billy Sanderson made the motion to allow the Lake View High School to use the Community Center free of charge for the Mother/Son dance in order to raise funds for the STAT Team and other projects. Council member Matthew Elvington seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
Item #4 on the agenda was Terry Norton. Mr. Norton thanked the Mayor and Council for allowing him to come speak. Mr. Norton stated he was informed by Kenny Bethea about a month ago that he had been fired from the Lake View Recreation Department after helping and volunteering for 34 years. Mr. Norton stated he wished the Mayor and Council would have called a meeting with him and Mr. Bethea to discuss the issues that had been brought to their attention instead of having Mr. Bethea tell him his services were no longer needed. Mr. Norton also stated that he was never given a reason and would like to know why he was let go when he has always followed the rules issued by Dixie Youth and the Town of Lake View. Mayor Page stated the Town did not fire Mr. Norton because he was never formally hired by the Town that he was aware of. Mr. Norton stated that after the former Recreation Director left, the Town took applications for the position of Recreation Director and he was interviewed by two former Council members who were appointed to oversee the Rec. Dept. by then Mayor Robert Smith. Kenny Bethea was appointed the Recreation Director and Kenny asked Terry Norton to help him as Assistant Rec. Director. Mayor Page stated that both he and Council had discussed the issue and they felt it was in the best interest of the Town of Lake View to inform Mr. Norton that his services at the Recreation Dept. were no longer needed.
Mr. Norton asked Mayor and Council if a few of the citizens that were in attendance could speak on his behalf. Mayor and Council agreed. One person stated that Mr. Norton had coached both of his children and is a good person, and he did not understand why Mr. Norton was asked to leave the Recreation Dept. because he hasn’t ever seen any behavior that would result in Mr. Norton’s dismissal.
Another citizen stated that she felt like it was very unprofessional as Councilmen to have a meeting amongst themselves and decide that Mr. Norton’s services were no longer needed without even calling Mr. Norton in to discuss any issues beforehand. She asked the Mayor and Council if in fact Mr. Norton was never formally hired, then how do they have the authority to let him go. She also stated that Mr. Norton is the one who does all of the manual labor at the ball park and is the person to call whenever any questions concerning recreation arise. She stated he has been there for a lot of children over the years in a lot of different ways.
A third citizen stated that he moved to Lake View several years ago and Terry Norton was one of the first people he met. He stated that both of his children have played ball for Lake View Recreation and he himself has even coached one year. He said that throughout the entire season Terry Norton was always at the ball park and has always been very devoted to the park and all of the children. He also stated that during his first year in Lake View, Mr. Norton took him under his wing, told him everything he needed to know, was always very helpful and he formed an outstanding opinion of Mr. Norton as a result. He stated that in his opinion none of this was fair to Mr. Norton or the Town of Lake View.
Another citizen stated that he has coached for several years under Terry Norton and he has never seen him mistreat anyone, and he has always done a lot of work at the ball park.
Council member Matthew Elvington stated that he has never questioned Mr. Norton’s devotion to the Lake View Recreation Dept. or his love for being out there, or his love for all of the children there. However, they have had several complaints. Mr. Norton stated that he understands that there are going to be complaints because you cannot please everyone all the time. He just wanted the Mayor and Council to give him an opportunity to come in and discuss the complaints and accusations before making any decisions, and in his opinion, the way things were handled was unfair and very hurtful. Mayor Page stated that he appreciated everyone coming and stating their opinions.
The next item on the agenda was health insurance for Town employees. Mayor Page stated that he was asked if retired employees could keep their insurance coverage through the Town. Council member Matthew Elvington stated that we should contact the Town’s insurance provider who currently handles the Town’s insurance policies.
Item #6 on the agenda was the Lake View Fire Department and no one was present.
The next item on the agenda was Council Concerns. Council member Matthew Elvington stated that the road was sinking in front of Harry Abraham’s residence and wanted to know who the Town needed to contact to repair this. Council member Bruce McNeil stated he and Council member Billy Sanderson looked at the road and someone had already repaired it.
Council member Matthew Elvington stated that this year all coaches and assistant coaches would have to sign a consent form to have a background check completed for the Lake View Recreation Department.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
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LAKE VIEW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
March 19, 2015
Presiding: Mayor Boston Page, Jr.
Present: Council Members: Layton Townsend, Billy Sanderson, Matthew Elvington and Bruce McNeil
Also Present: Mertis Barnett
Mayor Page opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. He noted for the record that the following Town Council members were present, making a quorum:
1. Layton Townsend
2. Billy Sanderson
3. Matthew Elvington
4. Bruce McNeil
Mayor Page called the meeting to order and began with prayer. The minutes from February 19, 2015 were read. After a period of discussion, Mayor and Council had several amendments to the minutes from February 19, 2015 and agreed to review the minutes again at the next Council meeting in April.
The next item on the agenda was the Lake View Fire Department and no one was present.
Item #4 on the agenda was Council Concerns. Council member Layton Townsend stated he was concerned that AWS was charging the Town for C&D items (mattresses, televisions, refrigerators, etc.) and this charge was not covered in the 2014-2015 Budget. Mayor Page stated he would review the contract and look into the issue. Council member Matthew Elvington stated that the computers and server in the office have been imaged and copied so they are now saved on file as a backup in the event they ever crash. The new Microsoft Windows program has been installed or updated on each computer and server. Council member Matthew Elvington also stated that the reason it was taking longer than anticipated is because a SLED course had to be taken first to determine what upgrades and updates had to be made before any IT personnel would be qualified to install them on the computers and server.
Council member Matthew Elvington stated the Lake View Recreation ball park repairs would be completed in time for Opening Ceremonies. Mr. Elvington asked for Mayor and Council’s opinion to hold a 50/50 raffle in lieu of an admission fee on the first day only to support the ball park. Mr. Elvington stated that he had spoken with several people who wanted to donate to the ball park and this would be a way for them to show their support. Mr. Elvington also stated there has been an increase in sponsor participation this year compared to years past, which will also benefit the recreation department.
Council member Billy Sanderson stated he had read a letter from the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault where the Dillon County chapter was requesting a $1,000.00 donation from the Town of Lake View. Council member Matthew Elvington made a motion to donate $1,000.00 from the Victims Rights Fund to the Pee Dee Coalition. Council member Layton Townsend seconded the motion and all those present voted in favor.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
