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Home My WebLink About2023-05-18 MinutesNew Hanover County ABC Board Meeting Minutes May 18, 2023 I. Call to order Chairman Bruce Shell called to order the regular meeting of the New Hanover County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board at 9:00am on May 18, 2023 at the General Office, 6009 Market Street, Wilmington, NC. IL Chairman confirms quorum The followinsz Members of the Board were oresent: Bruce Shell, Chairman Cedric Dickerson, Vice -Chair Thomas Wolfe, Member Angela Barr, Member William Rivenbark, Member Others in attendance were: Charles Hill, General Manager James Casteen, Assistant General Manager Kathy Clark, Finance Officer/Board Secretary Wanda Copley, Legal Counsel Lt. Joe Jewell, NHC Sheriff Department Captain Bishop, Wrightsville Beach Police Department Sgt. McNeil, Carolina Beach Police Department Sonya Stephenson, Police Grant Coordinator, Wilmington Police Department Brandon Shope, Communications Specialist, Wilmington Police Department I11. Conflict of Interest Reminder Mr. Shell verbally confirmed that the Board members had read the following ethics reminder: "In accordance with General Statute I8B-201, it is the duty of every Board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearances of conflicts. Does any member have any known conflict of interest or appearance of conflict with respect to any matters coming before the Board today? Ifso, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrainfrom any undue participation in theparticular matter involved. " Let it be recorded that no conflicts were identified by any Board member regarding this Board meeting. 1�Page IV. Employee Recognition Mr. Hill recognized Mr. Danny Meeks for his 25 years of dedicated service and his upcoming retirement on June 2, 2023. V. Consent Agenda Items of Business Mr. Shell presented the minutes from the Regular Meeting of April 20, 2023. Mr. Wolfe made the motion to approve the minutes as written. Ms. Barr seconded the motion, all approved. Mr. Shell presented the proposed meeting agenda. Mr. Wolfe made the motion to approve the agenda as written. Mr. Dickerson seconded the motion, all approved. VI. Reeular AL-enda Items of Interest • FY 2023 Law Enforcement Annual Grant Presentations In the Proposed Budget for FY 2023/2024 Law Enforcement Annual Grant Program in the amount of $150,000. These are available to the five Law Enforcement Agencies in New Hanover County (New Hanover County Sheriffs Department, City of Wilmington Police Department, Carolina Beach Police Department, Wrightsville Beach Police Department and the Kure Beach Police Department). Four of these agencies applied for a grant, they are as follows: Wrightsville Beach Police Department — Captain Bishop presented the grant proposal to the Board, for $28,500. This grant would fund two e-bikes and associated equipment necessary to deploy them to aid in patrolling the nightlife district. It would also support surge staffing of officers and deputies in line with best practices. Purchase a trailer that would assist with the storage and transportation of the gear necessary to set up checking stations. Carolina Beach Police Department --- Sgt. McNeil presented the grant proposal to the Board, for $24,354.10. This grant would fund continued development and implementation of selective traffic enforcement program to target impaired driving, and illegal drug use. Program to include community outreach, sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and a proactive traffic component. It would include a school -based instructional programs to teach teens about the dangers of underage drinking and alcohol abuse as well as the dangers of riding with alcohol -impaired drivers. Wilmington Police Department — Sonya Stephenson, Police Grant Coordinator and Brandon Shope, Communications Specialist, Wilmington Police Department presented the grant proposal to the Board, for $49,998.69. This grant would fund 5 e-bikes for use in the Downtown/Riverwalk area program intended to deter alcohol related offenses by increasing the visibility of the Community Engagement Officers This would reduce exertion from traditional bikes, increasing accessibility to the Riverwalk that would not be 2 1 P a 9 e possible for vehicles. With the Wilmington Police Department Museum & Education Center opened to the public on May 29, 2023, this space helps bridge the gap between the police department and community. The museum features the history of policing and interactive education opportunities. The program would also add 3 interactive kiosks to this museum for purpose of alcohol related educational issues such as underage drinking and drinking and.driving. New Hanover County Sheriff's Department — Lieutenant Joe Jewell presented the grant proposal to the Board, for $50,000. This grant would fund the purchase of a new, replacement vehicle for the Sheriff's ABC Unit in an effort to contain Alcohol related violations and promote the safety of the citizens by spending more time investigating Alcohol and Beverage Control matters. After hearing all of the proposals the Board requested that the Finance Committee view the requested proposals and come back with the recommendations of funding of the four requests at the next board meeting. Community Outreach Committee Grants FY 2024 — Ms. Clark provided to the Board the recommendations from the Community Outreach Evaluation Team and Committee to award the following Grants for the FY 2023/2024. • The Healing Place of New Hanover County • Coastal Horizons • Tide, Inc. • Peer Recovery Resources • Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern NC • The Centre of Redemption, DBA A Safe Place • Leading into New Communities, Inc. • First Fruit Ministries • The Carousel Center Total of Grants $50,000 $75,000 $90,000 $50,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $85,000 $75,000 $725,000 Mr. Dickerson made a motion to approve the above Grants for FY 2023/2024 in the total amount of $725,000. Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, all approved. Pro used Budget FY 2022/2023 — Ms. Clark presented the Proposed Budget for FY 2023/2024. Any changes will be revised at the meeting held on June 15, 2023, before approval. The Public Hearing will be held prior to the next regular meeting of the Board on June 15, 2023 at 9:00am. Once approved, the Board will adopt the Budget for FY 2023/2024. VII, Closed Session Mr. Wolfe made the motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to NC GS 143-318.11 (a) (6) 3 1 P a g e VIII. IX. X. XI. to discuss a personnel issue. Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, and all approved. The Board requested to excuse all staff for the Closed Session. Return to Open Session: Mr. Wolfe made the motion to return to Open Session; Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, and all approved. Action coming out of Closed Session Mr. Dickerson made motion to provide a bonus for Charles Hill in the amount of $6,000 to be paid on May 30, 2023. Ms. Barr seconded the motion, and all approved. Regular Agenda Items of Interest Continued • Finance Committee Agenda Item The Finance Committee presented a proposed Calendar Year End Bonus for staff. It is as follows: General Manager $1,800 Assistant General Manager $1,250 Office Staff $1,000 Store Manager $900 Assistant Store Manager $750 Full -Time Store/Warehouse Employees $500 Part -Time Store/Warehouse Employees $250 Mr. Wolfe made the motion from the Finance Committee to accrue in FY 2023 the calendar year end bonus as stated above at an estimated cost of $54,007 to the Board. These bonuses will be paid the first week of December, 2023 to employees that were employed with the Board as of May 18, 2023 and still employed December 4, 2023. With no need for a second following a motion made from the Finance Committee, all approved. Administrative Reports • ABC Law Enforcement Officers' Unit Monthly — (ALE) Report for April was presented by Joe Jewell, NHC Sheriff's Department. Please see the attached LE Monthly Reporting Numbers from the North Carolina ABC Commission website (Attachment "A" Financial Statements — Mr. Casteen and Ms. Clark presented a copy of the Board Financial Statements for April, 2023. The Financial Statement showed, the Actual - to -Actual comparison Gross Sales more than the prior April by $89k (1.57%), Operating Expenses more than prior April by $55k (11.23%), and Income from Operations was less than prior April by $30k. 4 1 P a g e 0 Generai'Manager Updates: Reguest for 13oard _Chair— Mr. Hill advised the Board that the New Hanover County Commissioners are accepting applications, for the upcoming vacant seat on our Board in July, 2023. The Board agreed to send a letter to the New Hanover County Commissioners, requested that Mr. Shell be appointed as the Board Chair for the upcoming year. Adjournment Mr. Shell advised the Board the next regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 9:00 am at the General Office, 6009 Market Street, Wilmington, NC. Mr. Dickerson made the motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Wolfe seconded the motion, and all approved. Minutes submitted by: I Kathy C aroSecretary Minutes approved by- Date Bruce Shell, Clpan 5 1 P a g e 41-5 /z -3 Law Enforcement Report Report Date: 04/01/2023 .. . .... .... . ................... . . .. . ... 1 Violation Reports Submitted to ABC Commission 1 Total Number of Offenses Conta€ned in Reports 11 — - -- - ---------------- Sell to Uridej'ag(., Campaign Checks 1 !16 Permittee Inspections i29 Compliance Checks 163 . .......... Seller / Server Training ....-- .... . ................... . ...... - ------------- -- .. .. .... .......... . Alcohol Education 13 At Permitted Establishment Away I'lorn Permitted Establishment ....... ... ........ .. .. . .. .. ... .. .. .... .. ........ ........ .. ....... ...... .......... Sell Give to Underage ------ ---- . .......... . -- - ----- ------ ----- 0 AtIlCmipt to Purchase Purchase by Underage !is Underage Possession i 10 4 1 Unauthorized Possession13 .......... Sell Give to Intoxicated ------------------------------------------------ - -- .... .............. . ............ . . ....... I 0 AIIOtherAlcohol Related Charges 14 . ........................ . 43 --- - ----------------- - ------ - --------- --- - ................... - -- - - - - - - ....... .... . ... ... ....... . ...... Assistance Provided to Other Agencies :31 .----------- 1......._._......._.-......—......._._..... - ------------------ - - - --- ------......... ------ Remarks. Store Visits 646, Bank'Deposits 263, Change Deposits 2, Video Investigation, 20, Charges 27, Arrests 14. Searches 4. Repai tinq Officer / Title: New Hanover County ABC Officers Report Date: 05/05/2023