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Spring Lake aldermen to hear about plan to install electric car charging stations

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SPRING LAKE — The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen is expected to hear presentations about the Rape Crisis Center of Cumberland County and how the town can install electric car charging stations when it meets Monday.

The vehicle charging stations were a topic brought up by Mayor Kia Anthony at a meeting on Feb. 3 with state legislators, including Rep. Marvin Lucas.

Anthony said installing charging stations could enable the town fleet to switch to electric-powered vehicles to save money and safeguard the environment.

Deanna Rosario, the stormwater administrator for the town, said that one dual charger would cost the town $12,000 and a five-year subscription would be $2,400. Her recommendation is to start with one charging station at Spring Lake Veterans Park at Ruth and Main streets.

The board is also expected to approve “no littering” signs around town to encourage people to take pride in the town. Alderman Raul Palacios will present a plan for locations for 14 signs that the town purchased last summer.

“Originally, the no-littering signs were requested to be placed at the entrance to the major neighborhoods in Spring Lake by our Appearance Committee. The remaining signs, I’m asking to have placed at high-litter locations around town. I tried to avoid (state) roads, but Main Street certainly needs them,” said Palacios.

The signs also are expected to help the Spring Lake Matters initiative, which conducts monthly cleanups led by Alderman Marvin Lackman and supported by Palacios and Alderwoman Adrian Thompson.

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The board will also look at amending the bylaws for the Spring Lake Community Appearance and Sustainability Committee charter.

The changes, proposed by Palacios, include increasing the membership of the committee to encourage public input and support. The current makeup of the committee is five members, which includes one nonresident. The proposed change would allow for seven committee members including two nonresident seats.

Palacios said the change would allow business owners who have a vested interest in the town to have the opportunity to serve.

When the committee was created in the early 2000s, it had 15 seats. Palacios said the committee members are more comfortable with seven so there are no problems with having a quorum.

Another proposal would add a clarification that committee members, who are appointed by the Board of Aldermen, can also be removed by the town board.

Palacios said he would advocate that addition to all committee charters to address absences and quorum issues in a timely manner.

“The committee is active, engaged and doing well. We are working on our first mural project, repackaging our Adopt-a-Street program, and finalizing Earth Day plans for Spring Lake. The statement about removal of members is meant to clarify that removal can be done by the board. If the time comes that we have members that are frustrating the progress of the committee, because of their absence and lack of quorum or because of conflicts, the future progress doesn't have to be delayed.,” said Palacios.

The community appearance committee is one of four town committees. The other are the Board of Adjustment, the Minimum Housing Appeals board, and the Military and Veterans Advisory Committee. The town dissolved the Recreation Advisory and Senior Enrichment committees last fall when it entered into a partnership with the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Parks & Recreation department to oversee parks and recreation and the senior center.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in Spring Lake Town Hall, 300 Ruth St.

Spring Lake, Board of Aldermen, electric cars

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