Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

The following is a staff-prepared summary of key discussion points and decisions from this meeting. For the complete official record, please refer to the approved minutes above.

Agenda Amendment — Committee Appointments Before approving the meeting agenda, the board discussed how to handle appointments to the town's new committees.

• Commissioner Hill proposed that the board hear introductions from all committee applicants at this meeting, but table the actual appointment decisions to a special meeting, allowing commissioners time to review applications and make informed choices.
• The board voted unanimously to amend the agenda accordingly, then voted to approve the amended agenda.

Public Comments Residents had the opportunity to address the board during the public comment period.

• Kelsey Lynch, a new resident on the 1700 block near the firehouse, introduced herself and expressed interest in volunteer opportunities with the town. Staff directed her to fill out a sign-up form for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
• Omar and Ashley Hardy, of 1500 GW Hardy Road, appeared before the board to request annexation into the Town of Ranlo for a family property off Spencer Mountain Road that has been in the family since the early 1900s. They were directed to contact the Town Manager to begin the proper annexation paperwork.

Minutes Adoption The board approved minutes from two previous meetings.

• The January 7, 2026 Special Meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• The January 8, 2026 Regular Meeting minutes were approved unanimously.

Old Business — Tabled Item (Strawberry Road Area) A previously scheduled item related to a Strawberry Road area matter was considered for postponement.

• A commissioner reported receiving a call from a resident affected by the matter who was unable to attend and requested a delay. A motion was made to table the item until next month. The motion passed, with one opposing vote.

2026–2027 Budget Preparation Timeline Town Manager Charlie Hansen presented the proposed budget preparation timeline for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2026.

• Key dates in the timeline include: department head budget requests due February 27; a first budget prioritization meeting with the full board and department heads on March 10 (6–8 p.m.); a second prioritization meeting on April 7; the proposed budget message presented at the May regular board meeting; an optional budget workshop on May 20 if needed; a spending freeze on all non-emergency purchases beginning June 1; and a public hearing on the budget followed by a vote to adopt it at the June 11 regular meeting.
• All budget prioritization meetings are open to the public and will be advertised on the town website and Facebook.
• The board noted that the timeline may need flexibility given the number of upcoming town projects, but confirmed that adjustments can be made if needed.
• A motion to adopt the budget timeline passed unanimously.

"Chats with Council" Community Outreach Schedule The board considered adopting a schedule for informal community outreach sessions, formerly known as "Chats with Charlie," rebranded as "Chats with Council."

• The sessions will be informal, open to all residents, and held at alternating times (morning and evening) and locations to accommodate different schedules. At least one commissioner will attend each session, keeping attendance below a quorum to comply with open meetings laws.
• Corrected dates noted for the schedule include March 17 (not March 10), May 12 (not May 14), and November 10.
• The schedule will be posted on the town website, Facebook, and included in the town newsletter. A motion to adopt the schedule passed unanimously.

Resolution to Establish New Town Committees The board voted to formally create two new advisory committees to support town operations and community engagement.

• The Ranlo Experience will serve as the town's special events committee, helping plan and coordinate community events such as the Christmas parade and Miltown Nights.
• The Ranlo Resource Network will focus on connecting residents with community resources such as healthcare, rent assistance, dental services, and similar needs.
• The existing Planning Board continues to operate under town ordinance. Minor ordinance clean-up items related to the Planning Board are being addressed with the town attorney.
• A motion to adopt the resolution establishing the two new committees passed unanimously.

New Committee Policies and Procedures The board adopted governing policies and procedures for the two newly created committees.

• Each committee will have seven members appointed by the board. Committee members may only serve on one committee at a time, in order to maximize community participation.
• Each committee will have a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. The chair is responsible for presenting a monthly report to the full board of commissioners.
• All committee meetings will be subject to the same open meetings and public records requirements as the board of commissioners.
• Committee terms are two years. Vacancy procedures are written into each committee's policies, including a chair-approved waitlist process to fill open seats between board meetings.
• Policies and procedures for the Ranlo Resource Network were adopted unanimously. Policies and procedures for the Ranlo Experience were adopted unanimously.

Public Committee Interest Comments — Ranlo Experience Residents interested in serving on the Ranlo Experience (special events) committee introduced themselves to the board. Formal appointments were not made at this meeting; a special meeting will be scheduled for that purpose.

• Drew Ryan, 1616 Allegany Drive (Woodside community), cited a professional background in public-facing communications, digital strategy, and community engagement, including work with Savannah, Georgia's visitor and convention bureau and serving as chairperson of the Gastonia Concert Series in 2022.
• Zion McKenzie, 4278 Edwards Drive, expressed enthusiasm for community building and a desire to help bring meaningful experiences to Ranlo residents of all ages.
• Amber Kendall Spicer, 329 Ranlo Avenue, highlighted 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, over 2,000 community service hours, and a strong commitment to neighbor engagement since relocating to Ranlo from Baltimore, Maryland in 2019.