Roanoke Rapids City Council will begin using its first meeting of the month as a work session and move that meeting to city hall located at 1040 Roanoke Avenue.

The time for the work session as well as the regular city council meeting on the third Tuesday of the month will both be held at 5:30 p.m. instead of 5:15 p.m. The regular council meeting will continue to be held at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall on Jackson Street.

City Manager Joseph Scherer presented the proposed ordinance change at council’s meeting Tuesday night.

“In an effort to build the city council’s capacity to address major issues more effectively, focus on long-term decisions and to allow city council and administration to have more informal and in-depth discussions, (Scherer) has proposed holding a work session the first Tuesday of each month in lieu of the regular city council meeting,” the action request form contained in the agenda packet for the meeting, said.

Work sessions will be open to the public but a public comment period will not be on the agenda. The public comment session would be held during the regular meeting.

During his regular report to council, Scherer reported the following:

The city’s liability insurance carrier cut a check for the repair of the lightning-damaged communications tower behind city hall. The check was for $6,100. A 150-foot lift will be needed to repair the tower. Part of the back parking lot will be closed when the lift arrives.

The rating for the worker compensation charge was reduced over the past week, meaning the city will pay less for coverage. “This is due to our employees making the extra effort to accomplish their duties in a safe and effective manner.”