The new board of Hope Mills Commissioners and mayor-elect Jessie Bellflowers are set to be sworn in at the board’s 7 p.m. meeting Monday at Town Hall.
Before the new board and mayor get sworn in, the current board will hear a presentation from the police department about the “Suffering in Silence” phone collection. The “Suffering in Silence” program is a new town initiative to support local victims of domestic violence by giving them donated cell phones.
The current board will also consider approving a bid proposal for door upgrades at town hall for ADA compliance. According to interim Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin, the contract from M&E Contracting Inc. will be $40,883, which is currently budgeted.
The board will also seek to approve minutes from three closed session meetings from Sept. 18, Oct. 2 and Oct. 8.
The other item on the consent agenda is the acceptance of the election results as certified by the Cumberland County Board of Elections during their Nov. 17 canvass meeting.
The Oath of Office will be administered to Mayor-Elect Jessie Bellflowers by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Floyd Ammons Jr.
Elyse Craver, the new board commissioner, will also be sworn in by Ammons.
Commissioners Jerry Legge and Joanne Scarola will be sworn in by Ashley Wyatt, the town clerk. Tracie Marley, a notary public, will swear in Commissioner Bryan Marley. Laticia Daniels Black, a notary public, will swear in Commissioner Kenjuana McCray, who serves as current mayor pro tem.
After the new board is sworn in, a mayor pro tem will be elected.
The board’s first actions will be the consideration of setting the meeting schedule for next year, re-approval of existing board rules of procedure, consideration of board committee liaison appointments, consideration of appointment of commissioners to ex-officio seats, and consideration of approval of code of conduct for elected officials.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, in the Bill Luther Boardroom at the Hope Mills Town Hall.
Contact Hannah Lee at hannahleenews@gmail.com.
