# 2025.05.20 Woodfin Town Council Meeting

**Body:** Town of Woodfin — Woodfin Town Council
**Date:** May 20, 2025 4:57 PM EDT (2025-05-20T16:57:57-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169

## Summary

The Woodfin Town Council held its regular meeting on May 20, 2025. The council approved the agenda and the consent agenda, which included minutes from previous meetings, a tax collection report, and a resolution to set a public hearing for the closure of Desperate Lane.

In public comment, resident Lolly Frederick addressed the council regarding the vacant council seat left by the resignation of Council Member Eric Edgerton. She emphasized the importance of filling the seat promptly to maintain effective governance and shared her experiences from other community boards, noting the challenges of operating with a missing member. She also praised the town’s responsiveness during recent crises, including Hurricane Helene.

The council received an update on Tropical Storm Helene recovery efforts from Rachel Sawyer of Buncombe County. Sawyer noted that over 350 homes were destroyed and over 11,000 damaged in the region, with Woodfin experiencing a substantial portion of the overall damage. She explained that the county is transitioning debris removal responsibilities to the state and is developing a long-term recovery plan in collaboration with municipalities. A community survey to gather resident input on recovery priorities is open until May 31.

Town Manager Shannon Tuch provided a report on various municipal operations, including the ongoing FEMA public assistance for road repairs, the reduction of stormwater fees, and the hiring of a new School Resource Officer. Police Chief Boykin recognized Officer Logan Banks with the Excellence in Service Award for saving a gunshot victim’s life.

The council discussed and voted on several key items. First, they approved a new town policy establishing a defined process for board, commission, and committee appointments and reappointments, which passed 4-0. Second, the council voted 4-0 to leave the council seat vacated by Council Member Eric Edgerton vacant until the November 2025 general election. Third, the council directed the town manager to return with a resolution acknowledging a one-year lease extension for the property at 23 Community Rd, extending the lease to June 30, 2027; this motion also passed 4-0.

During a public hearing on Ordinance 2025-07, the council considered a text amendment to Chapter 54 of the Town Code to delete Section 54-213, which contains Floodway District regulations. The amendment aims to eliminate conflicts with the Town's updated Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the council approved the ordinance 4-0.

The council presented the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which projects a general fund budget of $8,214,932 with projected revenue of $8,006,899. The budget does not include approximately $7 million in FEMA grant revenue. The council established a public hearing date of June 17, 2025, for the FY2025-2026 budget. Finally, the council adjourned into executive session to discuss employment contract terms, where they approved the agreement for the Town Manager, including a correction of the date and confirmation of the current salary, by a vote of 4-0.

## Agenda

- [Meeting Call to Order](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19504)
- [Consent Agenda- Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21941)
- [Approval of the Agenda](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19505)
- [Approval of the April 15, 2025, regular and closed session meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21942)
- [Approval of the May 13, 2025, budget work session meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21943)
- [Approval of the March 6, 2025, Performance Plan Subcommittee meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21944)
- [Approval of the May 1, 2025, Landscape Subcommittee meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21945)
- [Approval of the tax collection report for the period ending March 2025. Tax Collection Report, Vehicle Tax Refunds Pending, NCVTS Finance Report.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21946)
- [Approval of Resolution 2025-02 setting a public hearing for a request to close a right-of-way known as Desperate Lane located at 4 Desperate Lane.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19506)
- [Public Comment – The public is invited to attend this meeting in person or view this meeting on YouTube Live: https://youtube.com/@townofwoodfinnc1104? si=JHD6vCmOzTqwfUKx. All documents related to agenda items not published on the website may be viewed in advance of the meetings in person at Town Hall, 90 Elk Mountain Rd, Woodfin. Citizens may address the council concerning various topics after being recognized by the mayor and are limited to 3 (three) minutes speaking time.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19507)
- [Presentations & Reports](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21947)
- [Tropical Storm Helene Recovery & Next Steps – Rachel Sawyer, Buncombe County Recovery Lead & Strategic Partnerships Director](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19508)
- [Manager Report – Shannon Tuch, Town Manager](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19509)
- [Presentation of Proposed Budget for FY 2026 and Establish Public Hearing Date -Sheri Powers, Finance Director and Shannon Tuch, Town Manager. -Recommended Budget Submittal Letter FY2026 - Ordinance 2025-09 FY2025-2026 Budget Ordinance](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19510)
- [New Business](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/21948)
- [Discussion on council role and authority regarding board appointments – John Henning, Town Attorney.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19511)
- [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19517)
- [Discussion regarding new town policy establishing process for Board/Commission/Committee appointments – Shannon Tuch, Town Manager. Staff Report-Appointment- Reappointment Draft Policy](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19512)
- [Discussion regarding the filling of the vacant council seat – Council members Kahn and Thornton.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19513)
- [Discussion regarding a request from a lessee of town-owned property located at 23 Community Rd. to agree to a third lease year, as described in Sec. II of the May 21, 2024, lease agreement-Shannon Tuch, Town Manager. -Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19514)
- [Public Hearing-consideration of Ordinance 2025-07, for review of a text amendment to Chapter 54 of the Town of Woodfin Code of Ordinances, deleting section 54-213 Floodway District regulations-Ricky Hurley, Planning Director. -Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19515)
- [Executive Session - The Town Council may adjourn to private chambers to discuss legal, personnel, contractual or similar matters protected by the NCGS 143-318.11(a) including subsections: (5)(ii) To establish, or to instruct the public body's staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken by or on behalf of the public body in negotiating […] (ii) the amount of compensation and other material terms of an employment contract or proposed employment contract.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169/item/19516)

## Votes

- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the agreement for the Town Manager with the correction of the date and confirmation of the current salary. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the agenda. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the proposed new town policy establishing a defined process for board appointments and reappointments. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Council Member Kahn made a motion to leave the council seat vacated by Council Member Eric Edgerton vacant until the November 2025 general election. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to direct the town manager to return with a Resolution acknowledging the one additional year option extending the lease to June 30, 2027. Council Member Young seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Makes government decision-making accessible and transparent to all residents while updating development standards to minimize risk from new development. (4.4.3, 5.4.2) Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously,4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the agreement for the Town Manager with the correction of the date and confirmation of the current salary. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the agenda. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to approve the proposed new town policy establishing a defined process for board appointments and reappointments. Council Member Kahn seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Council Member Kahn made a motion to leave the council seat vacated by Council Member Eric Edgerton vacant until the November 2025 general election. Council Member Thornton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Vice Mayor Ervin made a motion to direct the town manager to return with a Resolution acknowledging the one additional year option extending the lease to June 30, 2027. Council Member Young seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 4-0. — Passed, 4-0
- Makes government decision-making accessible and transparent to all residents while updating development standards to minimize risk from new development. (4.4.3, 5.4.2) Council Member Kahn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously,4-0. — Passed, 4-0

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OuLjqiBGTs
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/817/segments

## Documents

- [agenda_2025-05-20.html](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169?document=14255)
- [presentation_2025-05-20.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169?document=14256)
- [minutes_2025-05-20.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169?document=14257)
- [minutes_2025-05-20.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1169?document=14383)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OuLjqiBGTs)