Two road projects were addressed by the Hampton City Council at its May 14 regular meeting.

  The council voted to move forward with the planned widening of West Main Street which has been in the works for a few years. It consists of the replacement of a water main and the addition of sidewalks, according to a city staff report.

  A recent community meeting revealed that residents along the streets are opposed to the idea of it remaining a two-way street with this project because the sidewalks would be very close to their homes. A conceptual drawing has been produced which shows a one-way street, and a meeting will be scheduled with the community to show that proposal. City staff told the council that for the project to move forward, a request for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds would have to be made.

  The council also set a June 11 public hearing for consideration of a speed hump at 8 Hillside Drive. A petition has been completed and submitted to the city, and the public hearing is the next step in the process, according to officials.

  In other business, the council voted to accept the recommendation of the city’s ethics committee of a public reprimand against council member Elton Brown. The complaints by three local residents were heard in March but no action was taken by the council last month.

  The committee found Brown in violation of a city code section for “making statements and comments that were contrary to promoting courtesy, impartiality and equality for all Hampton citizens.” The complaints were in response to Brown’s actions and statements at the Oct. 9, 2018 council meeting.

  Separate ethics complaints filed by Brown against Mayor Steve Hutchison and council members Stephanie Bodie, Henry Byrd and Errol Mitchell were heard April 23 by the committee and on the May council agenda as well, but no violations were found, meaning no council action was required.

  A first reading of a resolution to expand the ethics committee from five members to seven failed by a 2-4 vote.   The council approved the second reading of an ordinance regarding peddlers and solicitors. The purpose of the ordinance is “to address complaints that solicitors and peddlers have approached residents at obscene hours creating alarm for safety,” according to city staff documents. The ordinance sets various requirements for permitting, hours during which solicitation is allowed, and other regulations.