Council

Council

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to submit a plan (under a provision of the law designed to correct violations).”

“There seem to be two intents here,” Mr. Thomasson continued. “To go into business for a long time, and to get the sign up while he can. This particular business is compatible with the spirit of the comprehensive plan. ”

Mrs. Willis noted that “the ARB acts only on the sign itself — the dimensions and design,” apparently alluding to the fact that the council might have to decide whether Mr. Foster’s woodworking business would be an allowed use under the new zoning ordinances. “I wanted to put the matter before the council.”

Mayor Morehouse, addressing only the question of the sign, said that “it’s a legal decision to consider — because of the timing of the application — whether it should be under the old or the new ordinance.”

Mary Jenkins complained to the council that she had received a bill for $300 for installation of a new water meter and service at her office property on Main Street. Miss Jenkins said that she was never notified that there would be a charge for the installation.

Mayor Morehouse replied that the Water Authority had indeed erred in not notifying her in advance of the charge — but that the Authority had also erred in her billing. “The actual tap fee is $1,500, and you pay for labor and materials. We just inspect the installation.” He agreed that it would be a good practice in the future to obtain written authorization from the property 1 owner before any work is done.

Mr. Fisher told Miss Jenkins that because of the situation there would be no interest accumulated on the charge. He explained that the $300 could" be paid off over an unspecified period of time, “perhaps pro-rated into the rental fee for the office space.” He agreed that the Authority was responsi■ ble for .fixing the meter box, which Miss Jenkins complained was sitting so far above the ground that it was being run over by car tires.

In other action, the council:

• Authorized Mr. Fisher to spend up to $1,500 to purchase a word processor to be used for town business.

• Requested that each member submit a written list of needed projects, and solicit input on the ideas from residents.

• Suggested that a tentative agenda for each council meeting be published the week before the meeting to encourage citizen participation.

• Agreed to a request from Mrs. Willis that the possibility of obtaining liability insurance for council members be explored.

• Approved a request from the ARB to purchase several reference books on architecture and renovation to be donated to the county library.