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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-00Minutes of the Town Council meeting held January 18, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: John A. Johnston, Mayor Council Members: James M. Neblett, Lane R. Penn, Jeffrey S. Worrell, Bettye H. Steger, Joseph L. Weddle, Pauline G. Mitchell, Charles W. Stewart, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Acting Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Robert L. Dye, Economic Development Director Nikki Shank, Asst. Finance Director Patricia Pendergrast, Clerk Also Present: Shannon Covey Wayne Seagle Michael Dowell Roy D. Warburton Boy Scout Troop 249: Guenter Schlottman, Leader Daniel Warburton John W. Lucas Drew Long Adam Doolittle Drew Kirkner Thomas Doolitle Lee Carter, Southwest Times Paul Dellinger, Roanoke Times Tina Ratliff, WPSK Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilman Weddle led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Stewart gave the Invocation. Following roll call, agenda was modified with the addition of 1 item under Finance Committee report, 1 item - Closed Session, under 2.1-344 (A10), and the deletion of item 6a, Presentation of award recipients from the Parks and Recreation Department. Mayor Johnston advised that Mr. Shannon Covey wished to address Council. Mr. Covey requested that Council look into Pinnacle Street. He said that the Town won’t repair or scrape the road. He says the map shows a Town road up to his property. After discussion, Councilman Weddle made a motion to refer this issue to the Public Operations Committee, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Next, Roy D. Warburton presented Council with the Planning Commission annual report for 1999. He commended the Commission members and Town staff for their work. Councilman Stewart made a motion to accept the 1999 Planning Commission Annual Report, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on voice vote. Next item on agenda was the Board of Zoning Appeals Annual report for 1999. Councilwoman Steger made a motion to accept the 1999 Board of Zoning Appeals annual report, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Next, the Architectural Review Board Annual report for 1999 was presented to Council. Councilman Weddle made a motion to accept the Architectural Review Board Annual report for 1999, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on voice vote. A Public Hearing for Planning Commission Case No. 99-112PH, revision of the Comprehensive Plan began at 5:10 p.m. Mr. Quesenberry advised that Planning Commission has reviewed the Comprehensive Plan and forwarded their recommendation to Council. If Council approves these recommendations, an Ordinance will be drawn up adopting the revised Comprehensive Plan. The draft Ordinance will be ready for Council’s review at the February 15, 2000 meeting. There being no comment from the public, the Public Hearing regarding revision of the Comprehensive Plan closed at 5:20 p.m. At 5:21 p.m., a Public Hearing regarding Planning Commission Case 99-113PH, Drop Site began. Mr. Quesenberry advised that two recommendations have been forwarded to Council from the Planning Commission regarding the drop site: 1.That the drop-site be located on Town owned property on Dora Highway consisting of the present drop site, the 4A pump station, and the entire site of the former Pulaski Treatment Plant. 2.That tires, batteries, paint, solvents and used motor oil be added to the list of items already accepted, which includes tires and batteries. Further research found that the County currently accepts tires from residences only, batteries are not accepted and they do not accept any type of liquid, ie, paints, solvents, oil, barrels. There being no comment from the public, Mayor Johnston closed the Public Hearing at 5:30 p.m. After discussion, Councilman Stewart made a motion for the Town Attorney to draw up an Ordinance for the Drop Site reflecting the changes that Council specified, which included: 1. That batteries not be accepted as they are hazardous waste. 2. That the site may accept 4 tires each year from a single residence. seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye The next Public Hearing was for the TEA-21 grant for the Museum expansion. A condition of the grant application is that Council adopt a Resolution endorsing the project. Michael Dowell, Director of the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley reviewed the criteria for applying for the TEA-21 grant application. He requested that Council adopt a Resolution endorsing the TEA-21 project for the expansion of the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum (Phase II) for transportation enhancement related purposes in the Town of Pulaski. After discussion, Councilman Stewart made a motion to adopt Resolution 2000-01, TEA-21 Project endorsement resolution for the expansion of the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum (Phase II) for transportation enhancement related purposes in the Town of Pulaski, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Mayor Johnston recognized and welcomed Boy Scout Troop 249. Next item on agenda was the consent agenda. Councilman Worrell made a motion to approve the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of December 28, 1999, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye The first item under the Finance Committee report was a request for contribution. Acting Manager Hawley, advised that a request had been received from Wally McGrady for a contribution to fund a trip to Australia in conjunction with the “People to People Student Ambassador” program. After discussion, Council declined to make a donation to the cause, advising that Council can donate as individuals if they choose. Council directed staff to write a letter declining this request and all future requests not already appropriated in the budget rather than bringing them to Council. Next item on agenda was a financial report from the Finance Department. Nikki Shank, Asst. Finance Director, summarized the financial report and fielded questions from Council regarding the reports. Next Robert Dye, Economic Development Director, advised Council of a lease agreement with Renfro for the former Peoples Drug Store building for storage. The lease rate is $1.00 per square foot on an annual basis and will generate $625.00 per month in new revenue for the Town. The lease will begin on or before February 1, 2000 and end June 30, 2000. After the initial lease period, the lease may be extended on a month to month basis. Next, John Hawley, Acting Town Manager, advised that the Town has received a check in the amount of $10,752 from Pulaski Baseball, Inc., for the lease of Calfee Park for the 1999 Appalachian League season. Next, Mr. Hawley advised that the Town has received a letter from Lucas Construction and Development, Inc. advising that they would like to develop some residential lots in the City View Heights area of Pulaski. He proposes possibly jointly installing public utilities to the City View Heights area of the Town. After discussion, staff was directed to gather more information and cost estimates and return to Council. Next item on the agenda was Ordinance Committee report. Chairwoman Steger advised that committee met and discussed the final draft of the new ordinance setting the rates for taxicab service. Committee recommendation is to adopt Ordinance 2000-01, amending Chapter 8, Article VII, Section 8-257 of the Pulaski Town Code regarding vehicles for hire and passed on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Committee also discussed changes to the Town Code as recommended by the Fire Marshall. The Town Attorney is to review the recommendations and report to Council. Committee also discussed complaints regarding bicycle riding on sidewalks and other public property. Committee asked the Town Attorney to prepare an ordinance prohibiting bicycles on sidewalks, in cemeteries, and on tennis courts. Ordinance Committee also discussed the review of the draft Town Code. Committee recommends that each Council member review a portion of the draft Code for errors or questions. Next, Councilman Stewart, advised that Commission held a work session and then a regular meeting on January, 10. During the meeting, Katie Kirk was elected Chairman and Charles Stafford as Vice-Chairman. Mayor Johnston then advised that Katie Kirk’s term on Planning Commission was due to expire. Councilman Stewart made a motion that Katie Kirk be re-appointed to a new 4 year term expiring 1-21-2004, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Councilman Worrell reported that Safety Committee met 1-18-2000. Fire Chief Hall advised Committee of the possibility of new OSHA regulations being implemented, problems with personnel shortages, and difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. Finally, Committee discussed the Fire Department request to use the $2000 appropriated by Council last fall for use in the fire parade, to pay the premium for life insurance for members of the fire department. Committee recommends that the Fire Department be allowed to use this money to pay the premiums on this policy for the remainder of this fiscal year. Any future premiums will need to be included in future budget discussions. During discussion, Councilman Weddle inquired whether this policy was for the entire department or just the volunteer firemen? Councilman Worrell advised that the request was for all of the firemen. After discussion, Councilman Worrell made a motion to allow the money to be used to pay the insurance premiums for the volunteer firemen only, and only for the remainder of this fiscal year, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Under Mayor’s report, Mayor Johnston advised Council that several Veteran’s groups have approached him about renaming the Washington Avenue Bridge after Veteran’s groups. After discussion, Councilman Neblett made a motion to refer this matter to the Public Operations Committee for study, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on voice vote. Town Attorney Eley gave a projects update to Council. He requested direction from Council regarding the Loving Field tentative site for the school board. He has requested that the suggested area be marked off and a plat drawn up. County Attorney McCarthy advised that there is a foot plat already available. Mr. Eley inquired whether Council will be satisfied with a foot plat or if they would prefer a more detailed plat and survey? After discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion to request that a survey be provided to the Town, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Abstain Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At 7:00 p.m., on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilwoman Steger to enter into Closed Session on 2.1-344 (A-10), personnel matter on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At 7:25 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted Certification Resolution for 2.1-344 (A-10), personnel matter, on motion by Councilman Stewart, seconded by Councilman Worrell and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At 7:26 p.m., Councilman Neblett made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Penn and so carried.