St. Helena Special Council Meeting Minutes

June 22, 2023

6:00 p.m.

Attending were Mayor Pro-Tem William Hunter, Councilman Neil Benton, Councilwoman Nancy Jones, Councilwoman Judy Katalinic, Councilwoman Kaye Knowles, and Village Attorney Nathaniel Coleman.

In the audience were Jimmy English and Gerald Velie

William brought the meeting to order.

Neil read a written statement about a large subdivision in St. Helena

William asked why the council was not informed about the subdivision.

Nathan said that any 10 acres or larger does not need council approval since it is state law.

Nancy pointed out that the council had a right to know. William and Neil said that it will make the council look stupid if we don’t know what is happening in our backyard.

Nathan said he gets about a dozen calls a week with questions about building in St. Helena. He can’t be expected to inform the council on every phone call.

Nathan was asked if he knew this Mr. Andrades (the developer of the subdivision). He said yes, he is one of my best clients.

Neil asked if that was a conflict of interest.

Nathan said no. He usually tells them (clients or not) to get a surveyor first and then Nathan will talk with the surveyor.

Gerald Velie brought up the property that is over the old railroad bed on Front Street. He said that his friend who once owned that land wanted to subdivide his 20 acres into two ten acres but could not  get D.O.T approval to put a road over the railroad bed. Judy said she thought they were logging.

Kaye explained that the house that she lives in has a road leading to her house and they had to get permission from NCDOT to have it. She also said that the NCDOT can take away their permission at any time

William called an executive session. Gerald, Jimmy, and Nathan left.

On motion by Neil, and seconded by Kaye, the executive session was closed and the council went into open meeting again. Nancy said she will call Ms. Bakan on her phone. Neil made a motion a $300 a month raise. Nancy seconded it. On motion by Nancy, and seconded by Judy, the meeting was adjourned unanimously.