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CLEMMONS — The Clemmons Village Council took steps in Monday night’s meeting to modernize amendments with the language regarding burning and clarifying what is and is not allowed.

Amy Flyte, assistant village manager, led the discussion and highlights of changes, which includes a Clemmons Code of Ordinances Amendment for Chapter 96 – Air Quality Control (Open Burning), and it was unanimously approved by the council.

“The ordinance describes the process and the reasons for applying for an open burn permit, which they can get from the fire marshal’s office,” Flyte added. “It clearly prohibits the burning of leaves, tree branches and yard trimmings and outlines that exterior fireplaces, contained fire pits and outdoor cooking devices are permitted. This helps clarify to residents to what they can and can’t do as far as burning is concerned.”

Flyte said that the ordinance creates a penalty of a fine of $500 and a Class 3 misdemeanor. “These ordinance amendments have been reviewed by Chief (Gary) Styers, the fire marshal’s office and attorney (Al) Benshoff,” she said. “And also because the penalty is a misdemeanor, we’ll do this again at the next meeting. It has to be adopted twice.”

Council member Mike Combest questioned one part of the wording of a section on the types of fires set out in subsection D-1 being confined “in a constructed pit or area not exceeding three square feet in diameter,” saying that was “a bit confusing.”

Flyte said that should have been “three feet in diameter, so we delete the square.”

After approval, council member Mary Cameron said, “May I suggest that we highlight this on the website and put it in a prominent place before we start getting phone calls.”

The item will be back on the council agenda on Monday, Oct. 14, for the second adoption.

Also in Monday night’s meeting, Flyte said that the final Clemmons Farmers Market will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Jerry Long Family YMCA and that this will be the official kickoff to the public input for the Village Transportation Plan.

“We’re going to have two representatives from both the Transportation Plan update and the Safe Streets for All Action Plan will be there and Doug (Moore, the village’s planner),” Flyte said, “starting to get input on these surveys, which will go through October.”

The Village Transportation Plan will consider the conditions and needs of the village and provide recommendations to enhance the area’s transportation network. The plan will included all modes, including driving, walking, biking, transit and freight.

The village also had a public engagement event last Thursday at the Clemmons Branch Library. Moore said at the time that the village is pulling together a stakeholders group, which are developers, but he said it’s important that all businesses or residents that have any questions can have them answered while providing input.

In other business, the council approved an amended remote participation policy and a roof replacement for the Public Works facility.

Steve Gearren, public works director, said that there were three bids presented and that staff recommended the low bid of $57,890 from GMG Roofing.