Whalen singled out many individual staff members, especially Town Manager Bob Simpson, who, he said, "seldom gets the proper credit for his many contributions for the good of Wrightsville Beach."

The mayor also singled out his fellow alderman, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Blair.

"I have enjoyed serving this community over the last four years," Whalen said. "I’m especially proud of the last two."

Among the accomplishments he listed, the town’s Christmas decorations topped the list, followed by the reopening of Public Beach Access No. 33, the ground-breaking of the new public safety facility, the No Discharge Zone designation (which is still pending) and Town Hall Day 2008.

"I have always tried to do what is in the best interests of Wrightsville Beach and its citizens and represent our community with dignity and integrity," Whalen said.

During the meeting the board approved a conditional use permit to allow Nathan Sanders, principal with Beach Haven LLC to operate an events and conference center at 212 Old Causeway Drive. The property is part of Sanders’ proposed Middle of the Island (MOI) mixed use project that was first approved in 2007. In his appeal to the board, Sanders said, "We’ve got a project that we know in this economic time cannot proceed. We’ve got property that’s being non-productive that’s difficult to maintain without some activity. We know we’ve to tear down the MOI building."

The BOA voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit with the stipulation that it must be terminated prior to application for the building permit for the MOI.

The BOA also unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow Rita’s Ice to increase its employee parking at the Robert’s Grocery store outlet to expand its operation at that location.

Board members discussed the proposed application for Parks and Recreation Trust Fund money in the amount of $112,000. The money would be matched by parks and recreation bond money that has been set aside since the referendum passed in 2007. The combined budget of $223,000 would improve facilities at Wrightsville Beach Park with the construction of a new event stage and an additional three-quarter basketball court, refurbishment of existing tennis courts and improvement of curbing around parking lot islands.

Alderman Lisa Weeks argued that she would rather see the parking lot renovation, estimated at $10,000, funded by the town’s capital improvement plan during the next budget cycle in favor of adding lights to tennis courts, which she estimated at $85,000-$90,000, "given the fact," she said, that "more folks that I’ve talked to are more interested in getting them lit versus the $70,000 to lift them."

Weeks’ repeated attempts were shot down by Mayor Whalen who endorsed the work of the parks and recreation advisory committee and its recommendation to accept the grant proposal as is. The board approved the grant budget in a 4-1 vote with Weeks dissenting.

The board voted to donate $200 to the Harbor Island Garden Club to offset the cost of its special events permit for its 2009 home tour and no progress was reported on the protracted dialogue surrounding the Motts Channel pierhead line review. An additional moratorium was requested; however the board could not act on that request without seeking a recommendation from the planning board. It is likely the planning board will have to reschedule its December meeting which had been previously cancelled.

Alderman Ed Miastkowski, as has been his custom during this 16-year tenure, moved to adjourn the meeting.