Warrenton commissioners approve Main Street coordinator position

The Warrenton Board Commissioners, during its Monday night meeting, unanimously approved the addition of a part-time permanent Main Street coordinator’s position.

Initially, the position would run from Jan. 1 through June 30 at a rate of $20 per hour for 20 hours per week. The total expense for that time period would be $10,400, which is expected to be covered by revenue from town festivals.

Information provided by Town Administrator Robert Davie in the board’s agenda packet indicates that the Main Street coordinator “will lead and coordinate downtown revitalization, community engagement, marketing, special events, and business development initiatives for the Town of Warrenton. Working with the Town Administrator, Revitalization Committee, downtown businesses, property owners, volunteers, and community partners, the Coordinator will help implement the Town’s vision for a vibrant, attractive, and economically healthy downtown using the Main Street approach.

The Main Street program is a statewide downtown revitalization initiative administered by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center under the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

According to its website, the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center is the Main Street America coordinating program for the state. NC Main Street staff are challenged by the NC Department of Commerce to facilitate downtown economic development, using the Main Street America Four Point Approach, in designated communities.

Among the coordinator’s responsibilities are the following:

• Coordinate the Warrenton Revitalization committee and subcommittees around the Main Street 4-point approach

• Recruit, organize, and maintain an active network of community volunteers

• Coordinate town- and Revitalization-sponsored festivals, parades, and special events, including the Eastern Bluebird Festival and Harvest Moon festival

• Promote Warrenton, downtown businesses, events, and tourism

• Build relationships with downtown businesses and property owners and assist with efforts to encourage business development, investment, and downtown activity

• Develop partnerships with tourism, economic development, historic preservation, business, and community organizations

Traditionally, many of Warrenton’s committees, including Revitalization and Beautification, have been chaired by town commissioners. However, it was noted during a recent town commissioners’ meeting that both of these committees — and their chairs from the Town Board of Commissioners — are charged with many more responsibilities than when they were formed. Recently, the Revitalization Committee was tasked with working in partnership with the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center to develop a strategic plan for Warrenton. Commissioners discussed the need for a new position designated to lead this work, and planning for town festivals and other special events.

With the implementation of the Main Street coordinator’s position, the Warrenton Revitalization Committee will become known as the Warrenton Main Street Committee.

Town commissioner resigns

The board voted to accept the resignation of Commissioner Dian Sourelis, effective in January, due to her upcoming move to Durham.

Warrenton Mayor Walter Gardner said that the town will be accepting letters of interest from persons who wish to fill the remain of her current term: one year. Sourellis’ seat for the board will be included in the next municipal election.

Town siren usage

Town commissioners reached consensus for the town siren to sound for two cycles for structure fire calls.

Commissioners indicated that the town siren had been sounding not only at 5:30 p.m., but also every time Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department was called out, no matter the nature of the call. The siren sounded for three cycles for emergency calls, and would go off at all hours of the day.

Commissioners discussed whether the siren needed to sound for emergency calls or if the siren helped by alerting motorists that emergency vehicles would be coming by.

With the compromise, the siren will sound for two cycles for structure fire calls between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Conference room use

Commissioners also discussed a request from Preservation Warrenton for use of the Town Hall conference room for the speaking engagement portion of its annual Partners Event held on the second Saturday in September.

Information provided by Town Administrator Robert Davie indicated that Preservation Warrenton has proposed a tour of the Plummer Hook & Ladder Fire Museum, and food and drinks will be served at the Jacob Holt House.

Davie indicated that the Town Hall conference room has space for a maximum of 75 people, and typical attendance at Partners events is around 80. He also noted that Preservation Warrenton has assisted the town in the past in ways that include contributing funds for historic sign toppers, saving properties such as the Reynolds Tavern, and paying for and developing park space at Macon and Main Streets. Davie added that in the past, “no groups have been allowed to use the conference room; however, no other groups have contributed so much to the Town.”

Opinions expressed during board discussion were divided along the lines of whether allowing one group to use the conference room would set a new precedent and whether Preservation Warrenton should be allowed to use the conference room anyway because the organization has assisted the town in many ways over the years.

When the initial vote was taken, it appeared that the request was denied by a narrow margin. However, board members were reminded that abstaining from voting counts as a “yes” vote. When votes were re-tallied based upon commissioners’ stated intentions, there was a 3-3 tie. Commissioner Sourelis did not attend. Mayor Walter Gardner broke the tie in favor of allowing Preservation Warrenton to use the conference room, citing the organization’s ongoing partnership with the town.

Warrenton commissioners approve Main Street coordinator position

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