Selma meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Selma agendas take up data center standards, balloon release ban; minutes for all three meetings not yet published

Selma Town Council met three times in the past two weeks — a special meeting on Oct. 6 and council meetings on Oct. 8 and Oct. 13 — but minutes for all three have not been published. The summaries below come from the meeting agendas, so they describe what was scheduled to be considered, not what was decided. The agenda records provided contain no vote tallies and no dollar amounts.

Data center standards go to a public hearing

The Oct. 6 special meeting included a public hearing on Ordinance 2026-O5, which would establish definitions and standards for data centers. The same agenda listed a Johnston County Tourism Authority recommendation resolution and a Johnston County Moccasin Creek Advisory Board recommendation resolution. It also scheduled a closed session to discuss pending litigation, cited under N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(3).

Balloon and sky lantern release ban on the Oct. 13 agenda

Ordinance 2026-O21 would prohibit the release of balloons and sky lanterns, with the stated aim of protecting electrical infrastructure and public safety. Also listed for Oct. 13 were Budget Amendment #4 for FY 26/27, a Customer Service Policy Amendment, utility relocation agreements for Baugh Road and River Road, and a Voluntary Remediation Agreement for 1315 River Road.

Rules, records and fees on the Oct. 8 agenda

The Oct. 8 meeting listed a Rules of Procedure amendment to establish authority to approve closed session minutes, and Text Amendment 2026-O23 regarding Planning Board meetings (Sec. 2-28). Council members were also set to review a proposed Public Records Request Policy, a proposed Vehicle Take-Home Policy, and a Parks and Recreation fee schedule amendment covering gym fees. A Checkmate Government Relations Agreement also appeared on that agenda.

What the record does and does not show

Each of these items was listed for consideration. Whether any ordinance, amendment, policy, resolution or agreement was adopted is not established by the agendas, and no minutes have been published for the Oct. 6, Oct. 8 or Oct. 13 meetings. The agendas also do not state the amount of Budget Amendment #4, the terms of the utility relocation agreements, or the scope of the litigation discussed in closed session.

Coming up

The Appearance Commission is scheduled to meet on Oct. 19 to take up historic preservation business. The single item on the agenda is a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 113 N. Raiford Street. No other meetings appear in the upcoming schedule provided.

Selma boards weigh lease, speed limits, and fine reductions; no decisions published yet

Selma's town boards and commissions held a series of meetings over the past two weeks, but none of the minutes have been published as of today, so no formal decisions are confirmed. The most significant agenda items include a senior center lease renewal, a speed limit reduction, and 19 code-enforcement fine reductions.

Town Council

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Selma Town Council was scheduled to vote on several items:

• New job descriptions for a Police Safety Support Technician (non-sworn) and a Meter-Billing Technician.
• A 5-year lease renewal with Community & Senior Services of Johnston County for the Harrison Center at 611 W Noble St, at $1,200 per year.
• A resolution to reduce speed limits on US HWY 301 and W Anderson St.
• A stormwater master plan update and a managed print service agreement.

No minutes have been published for this meeting.

The council also held three special meetings (Aug. 17, 18, and 20) with mostly procedural agendas. The Aug. 17 meeting included a joint discussion on the Appearance Commission; the Aug. 18 meeting covered department tours and a Recreation Advisory Board discussion; and the Aug. 20 meeting again discussed department tours and a potential joint meeting on the Board of Adjustment. No action items or dollar amounts were listed for these sessions.

Appearance Commission

On Aug. 17, the Appearance Commission was set to hold a quasi-judicial hearing on four Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior changes in historic districts:

• 100 S. Pollock Street (application 2026-192)
• 110 W. Anderson Street (application 2026-127, revised)
• 208 N. Brevard Street (application 2026-191)
• 312 W. Railroad Street (application 2026-190)

The commission also planned board elections and a possible closed session. Minutes were not published.

Recreation Advisory Board

On Aug. 18, the Recreation Advisory Board met to discuss the Nature Preserve bid, receive parks updates, review the Suber Fund, and meet the new director. The agenda also included approval of minutes from Feb. 17 and May 19, 2026. No formal action items were listed beyond the consent agenda.

Board of Adjustment

On Aug. 20, the Board of Adjustment was scheduled to consider approving 19 code-enforcement fine reductions under the 2026 Grace Period program, which had been tabled from the May meeting. Reductions could go up to 90% — for example, 301 N. Green Street to $50 and 905 W. Anderson Street to $180. The board also planned to hear an appeal from Barnhill Contracting Company (Sec. 17-1400, application 2026-168), hold board elections, and approve minutes from May 21, 2026.

Coming up

Planning Board – Aug. 24 (today)

The Planning Board will review and make recommendations on 17 ordinance text amendments covering golf carts, abandoned vehicles, parking, camping, nuisances, garbage collection, data centers, group homes, and signs. The agenda includes a new Article X regulating golf carts and low-speed vehicles (permits, fees, operational rules), a definition of leaking vehicles as nuisances, and amendments to Chapters 12, 13, and 17. The board will also hold elections and may enter closed session.

All meeting minutes are pending publication; the town's official documents remain the authoritative source for any final decisions.

Selma Roundup: Recent Meeting Outcomes Pending; Council to Tackle Fire Contract and Speed Limits

Selma officials recently convened for special council meetings and board reviews, but minutes have not yet been published, leaving the outcomes of police retirements and historic district requests unconfirmed. The town's upcoming agenda includes consequential decisions on a $928,821 fire protection contract and speed limit reductions.

Recent Meetings (Outcomes Pending)

Because minutes are not yet available for the town's recent meetings, it is unclear what was ultimately decided or discussed in detail. The agendas provide a look at what was scheduled:

Appearance Commission (July 20)

The commission was scheduled to review several Certificate of Appropriateness requests for properties within the historic district. The requests cover exterior color changes, fencing installations, and a parking lot proposal involving alternative materials. Properties listed include 100 S. Pollock Street, 101 E. Railroad Street, 310 N. Massey Street, and 404 N. Massey Street.

Special Council Meetings (July 21 & 23)

The Selma Town Council held two special meetings. The July 21 meeting was scheduled as a Town Code Work Session to discuss updates to the municipal code, with no specific actions or votes listed.

The July 23 meeting included another Town Code Work Session and a Town Event Participation Reimbursement Agreement presented by Town Manager Phillip McDaniel. The council was also scheduled to vote on resolutions to declare surplus and award badges and service weapons to two retiring officers:

• Police Major Jeffrey Bass: Badge and Glock 43X (serial ALNP950), effective July 1, 2026, for $1.
• Police Captain Joshua Layhew: Badge and Glock 43X (serial ALNP951), effective August 1, 2026, for $1.

Planning Board (July 27)

The agenda for this meeting consisted of procedural boilerplate. There were no specific business items, public hearings, or decisions listed.

Coming Up

The Selma Town Council has two upcoming meetings with significant items on the agenda.

Town Council Meeting One (August 6)

The council will decide on several key items, including:

• Renewing the Johnston County Fire Protection Contract for $928,821 for 2026-2027.
• Awarding an engineering contract for the Selma Nature Preserve.
• Approving Water Systems Improvements Phase II with Caldwell Tanks, Inc.
• Amending the sewer rate fee schedule.
• Removing meter tampering from the fee schedule.

The meeting also includes a fire chief swearing-in ceremony and a consent agenda for minutes approval.

Town Council Meeting Two (August 11)

The council will review and vote on several items, including:

• New job descriptions for a Police Safety Support Technician (non-sworn role) and a Meter-Billing Technician.
• A 5-year lease renewal with Community & Senior Services of Johnston County for the Harrison Center at 611 W Noble St, at a rate of $1,200 per year.
• A resolution to reduce speed limits on US HWY 301 and W Anderson St.
• A Stormwater Master Plan update presentation.

Selma council weighs budget, school facility deal, and annexation changes

The Selma Town Council last month considered the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget and a new fee schedule, though official results are pending. The council is also set to vote on a school facility use agreement and a school resource officer contract at its July 9 meeting, followed by a public hearing on annexation procedures on July 14.

Recent meetings

Planning Board (June 22)

The Planning Board met to consider an ordinance text amendment clarifying vested rights procedures (Chapter 17, Article VI, Part 3). The agenda included approval of previous minutes and a closed session. No decisions have been reported.

Special Council Meeting (June 23)

The Town Council met to consider and likely vote on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget and a comprehensive fee schedule covering animal control, electric rates, and other services. Other items included a conveyance agreement for the Richard B. Harrison property, appointment of a new finance officer, an amendment to the current budget, and acceptance of a donation from Advance Tec to the Police Department. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet available.

Upcoming meetings

Town Council Meeting One – July 9

The Town Council will consider FY26/27 Budget Amendment #1, approve an athletic facility use agreement with Johnston County Public Schools for Selma Middle School gym and fields, and decide on a School Resource Officer service contract with JCPS. The council will also consider an audit contract with Mauldin & Jenkins, PLLC for FY 25/26. The mayor will deliver a report and discuss code enforcement. A closed session is scheduled.

Town Council Meeting Two – July 14

The council will hold a public hearing on an ordinance amendment requiring Planning Board review for annexation by petition (Sec 17-622). Other items include a NCDOT utility relocation request for water and sewer lines on River Road, a resolution for a NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program grant for the Police Department, and further discussion on code enforcement.

Coming up

• July 9 – Town Council meeting (closed session scheduled)
• July 14 – Town Council meeting with public hearing on annexation