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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-07-03Minutes of the Town Council meeting held January 7, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Charles W. Stewart, Jr., Mayor Council Members: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Kenneth M. Fleenor, E. G. Black, Jr., Pauline G. Mitchell, Bettye H. Steger, John T. Bolen, James M. Neblett, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others: Daniel Talbert Erin Frye June Draper Jenna Kinder Sonnie Draper Dean Joel Burchett Doris M. Myers Nick Glenn Dorothy Murphy Donithan Jennifer White Derick Buckner Charles Wade Don Stowers B. J. Bowman Wood, Press Ryan Sypneski Don Simmons, Jr., Press Mayor Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Fleenor led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Stewart added item 16c and 16d to the agenda. Under the Public Comment period, June Draper addressed Council regarding the cost of water bills. He inquired whether the water billing could be changed to allow single citizens on fixed incomes to pay only for the amount of water and sewage that they actually use. He advised that citizens on fixed incomes had a very difficult time paying their bills. Mayor Stewart asked the Town Manager to prepare a response to the citizens explaining the billing system and their options. Mr. Hawley advised that the water bill fees are set by Council, but that he would prepare a letter of explanation for the citizens. There being no further public comments, Council moved on to Committee Reports. Finance Committee Chairman Worrell advised that Committee met and reviewed the Town’s audit with Paul Pickett of Larrowe and Company, learning that the town is fiscally fit. He also advised that the Finance Director, Ms. Boyd, alerted the Committee to an ongoing problem with one delinquent property tax: due to a problem with the previous computer system, all outstanding taxes did not always show up during a search. When this particular piece of property was sold, a property search was completed and outstanding taxes paid. Later it was discovered that delinquent taxes in the amount of $626 had not shown up on the property search and had not been paid. Since all procedures were followed as required, Ms. Boyd asked that the remaining delinquent amount be waived. Committee recommended that Council waive the outstanding balance of $626, and passed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Chairman Worrell continued that Committee reviewed the baseball contract with no action taken. He advised that Committee learned of an agreement requiring the Town to reimburse $5,000 to Virginia’s First for environmental and engineering reports if the DJOTS/AEP building plan did not come to fruition. Since the project was not completed, the money is now due. The money was not included in the budget, so the funds would have to be taken from the unappropriated surplus fund. Committee recommended that Council pay the $5,000 bill to Virginia’s First using the unappropriated surplus fund and passed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Chairman Worrell also advised that the state has notified the Town that the non-state grant to the Town for the Museum has been reduced from $42,556 to $36,173. Next, Ms. Boyd summarized the audit report, which showed the town to be fiscally fit. She then gave a finance report, advising that overall collections are ahead of schedule. Under Planning Commission report, Mayor Stewart advised that Commission met and discussed a timeline and procedure for redrafting the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that the Commission believes it needs at least eleven months to complete the project. Councilman Worrell stated that the motion from Council at the November 5, 2002 meeting was to have the Planning Commission review the Comprehensive Plan and return it to Council in 60 days. He added that Council has not acted on the Zoning Ordinance since May, 2002 because they were waiting on a review of the Comprehensive Plan. He advised that he was not prepared to set the Town back another year with the Zoning Ordinance. Mayor Stewart responded that eleven months is the amount of time that the Planning Commission presumes that it will take them to do a reasonable, accurate and thorough Comprehensive Plan. Following discussion, Councilman Worrell moved to ask the Planning Commission to streamline their schedule for the Comprehensive Plan, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried on voice vote. Next, Human Resources Chairwoman Steger advised that Committee met and discussed a requested change in the Town personnel policy regarding management of accumulated leave time, to allow the department head to schedule and mandate that an employee use accumulated leave; additionally, that holiday leave be required to be taken within one fiscal year. Town Attorney Eley requested that Committee consider tabling the issue until the Personnel Policy is completed. The consensus was to table the issue. Chairwoman Steger continued that Committee also discussed the Virginian’s to Virginian’s program, the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority, a policy allowing employees to share sick leave and the Human Resource manual. Chairwoman Steger advised that the consensus of the Committee was to reactivate the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The Town Manager was directed to place articles in the paper explaining the duties of the Authority and asking for citizens willing to serve on the Authority. Additionally, she advised, the Town Manager was asked to check into hiring a professional to rework the Human Resource policy. Safety Committee Chairman Fleenor advised that Committee met and learned that preliminary contact has been made with the County regarding the fire contract, which is due for renewal this year; reviewed a salary adjustment plan for the Police Department that had been requested by the Committee and decided to include it in the 2003-04 budget planning sessions; learned that the Town Manager has approved a loading zone for a fire lane in front of Rent-A-Center and held a Closed Session with no action taken. Under Mayor’s Report, Mayor Stewart advised of a planning session that will be held with Council and Department Heads and listed several items that he wanted to discuss during that retreat including volunteerism, ½ marathon or 10k Trail run, museum staffing, and technology among other items. Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney, gave a projects update, including work on trail easements, the baseball contract, family cemeteries and state law, UDAG loan, grievance issues, bankruptcy issues and lawsuits. Next, the Town Manager gave a report including a Maple Shade property update, legislative issues, quotes for two Dora Highway demolitions and the Council/staff planning session. Councilman Neblett moved to hold the Council/staff planning session on January 29, 2003 at 4:00 p.m., seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on voice vote. The first item under Old Business was Ordinance 2003-01, regarding the baseball contract. Councilman Black moved to adopt Ordinance 2003-01, regarding the baseball contract, as written, seconded by Councilman Worrell. Mr. Hawley advised that Town employee, Tom Compton, is a 1/5 owner of Pulaski Baseball, Inc. He disclosed that he had a letter from Pulaski Baseball, Inc. stating that Mr. Compton had no involvement with any negotiations for the contract between Pulaski Baseball and the Town. Additionally, he advised that Mr. Compton will be completing a Statement of Economic Interest. The motion to adopt Ordinance 2003-01, regarding the baseball contract, then passed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - No The next item on the agenda was a Trails update. Mr. Hawley advised that per Council’s direction at the December 3, 2002 Council meeting, staff has worked on the easements for the New River Trail. He summarized the progress that had been made. Following discussion, Councilman Fleenor moved to enter into Closed Session before the next Council meeting under 2.2-3711 (A-7) consultation with legal counsel, regarding the land purchases involved with the easements for the New River Trail, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Mr. Hawley also advised that DCR has given permission to start Phase II of the Trail and that work will begin as soon as weather permits. The first item under New Business was Resolution 2003-01, a request by the Pulaski County School Board for a traffic signal. Mr. Hawley advised that the County School Board has requested that a traffic signal be installed at the intersection of Lee Highway and Morehead Lane. The Town’s portion of the cost for this project would be approximately $3,000. Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt Resolution 2003-01, requesting a traffic signal at the intersection of Lee Highway and Morehead Lane, seconded by Councilman Black and carried under the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye The next item under New Business was a Cemetery Report. Mr. Hawley advised that after receiving a comment at the last Council meeting, staff had visited the Cemetery, noted violations and took pictures. He requested that the Public Operations Committee review the flower regulations in conjunction with the cemetery Trustees and also request some funding from the cemetery trust for improvements to the cemetery. Councilwoman Steger moved to refer the cemetery problems to the Public Operations Committee, seconded by Councilman Worrell and carried on voice vote. Next, Council addressed a request from the Friends of the Theatre to defer the cost of the new meter for the Theatre. Following discussion, Councilman Fleenor moved to refer the request to the Finance Committee, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on voice vote. The final item on the agenda was a request by Councilwoman Mitchell regarding Senator Allen. Councilwoman Mitchell praised Senator Allen for the work that he has done on behalf of the Town of Pulaski and southwest Virginia. She moved that the Town Manager be directed to send a letter of thanks to Senator Allen on behalf of the Town of Pulaski, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried on voice vote. There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried.