Town of Vandemere

The Vandemere Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 focuses on honoring history, supporting the community, and working towards a resilient future. Key areas include economic growth and development, ensuring a safe and healthy environment, and enhancing infrastructure. The plan aims to preserve the town's small-town charm, promote economic stability, and improve the quality of living through various departmental goals and community engagement strategies.

The open town hall meeting covered various topics related to the town's development and improvement. Discussions included the town's organizational plan, the need for volunteers for park cleanup and maintenance, plans to renovate the Morton Building into a wedding venue, emergency management preparedness, infrastructure projects such as paving roads and addressing drainage issues, environmental concerns like trash cleanup and water quality, and addressing blight and mosquito problems. The meeting also included a review of past land use plans and a discussion of resident concerns regarding property conditions and the status of land sales.

The meeting will include an auditor review, approval of minutes and agenda, a financial review covering software, budget, and various grants (ARPA, RCCP, FEMA, and others), mayor's comments, a citizen's forum, ongoing business (ethics training, meeting times, barricades, and department updates across infrastructure, parks and recreation, emergency management, environmental public health, and economic growth and development), and new business (leash law updates, Anna's Zumba class, and actionable work session material). A closed session is also scheduled, followed by adjournment and scheduling of the next meeting.

The work session meeting focused on the reorganization of the Town Board and the assignment of departments. A four-phase plan was presented, and the proposal to maintain the Mayor-Council governance structure with the addition of a planning committee and ambassadors was discussed. Key topics included clarifying the administrative financial cap for the manager, the roles and responsibilities of the Commissioners, and the establishment of new departments with department heads and volunteers. Discussions also covered the need for improved public communication, the selection of a finance officer, and the scheduling of future board meetings. The board meeting addressed financial reports, including a negative net income for November 2023 and updates on various grant projects. Discussions included the Pamlico County Christmas Parade win, zoning ordinances, the sale of town lots, and a loose dog issue, leading to a review of the town's leash law and the Pamlico County's dangerous animal ordinance. Public comments addressed concerns about road repairs, lighting, and community activities. Department reports covered progress on park bathroom renovations, trash collection, road repairs, and drainage work. New business included approving a resolution for ethics training and setting a new meeting time for February 2024.

The meeting will include a financial review covering topics such as Black Mountain Software, the budget, and various grants (ARPA, RCCP, FEMA, and others). Discussions will also cover repairing and maintaining Shell Castle Road, repairing soft terrain at the Waterfront Park, barricades, department updates (sanitation, drainage, streets, roads, regulations, public safety, maintenance, decorations, and public relations), a resolution for ethics training, and actionable work session material.