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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-99Minutes of the regular Town Council meeting held July 6, 1999 at 7:00 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, W. Edgar Hale, Pauline G. Mitchell Charles W. Stewart Absent/Excused: Joseph L. Weddle Also Present: Thomas M. Combiths, Town Manager David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Pendergrast, Clerk John J. Hawley, Town Engineer Michael Z. Jenkins, Public Works Director Visitors: Gil Barker Margaret Barker Muriel C. Flynn Marlis Ryssel-Flynn Rebecca English Sandy Lackey Emily Lackey Jean Macy Ed Lafon Vera Carter Vivian T. Cox Edward O. King III Mary Jane Hall Gary C. Hall E. L. Belcher Mike Fleenor Yvette Fleenor Rodney Gravley Annie Gravley Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wade Paul Dellinger, Press J. R. Schrader, Press Rob Eastwood, Press The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Neblett led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt certification resolution for items discussed in Closed Session prior to the Council meeting regarding 2.1-344 (A7) and 2.1-344 (A1) personnel matter, specific individual – 2 items, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next, agenda was modified by the deletion of #1 under Presentations- Resolution 99-31 and item #1 under Public Comment Period. John Hawley, Town Engineer, summarized the status of the Caseknife Road and Draper Mountain water system improvements. He advised that no approval has been received in regard to the loans for these projects to date. He advised that the tentative timetable for these projects includes a starting date of October, 1999 and completion date of July 31, 2000. Speaking from the Public, Gary Hall inquired into the starting and ending date for this project. Mr. Hawley reiterated that tentative construction starting date for both projects is October, 1999 and ending date is July 31, 2000. Next, Mike Jenkins addressed Council regarding sidewalk/tree replacement on Main Street. His recommendation was to replace 55 grids of sidewalk to match existing sidewalk and to remove the existing street trees and replace them with Ginko trees. The total cost of tree removal and tree installation, as well as to replace damaged sections of the sidewalk with the same type of material is $22,239. Rebecca English, of Downtown Pulaski, Inc, requested permission to pursue period lighting for Main Street to replace the existing lighting and provided Council with cost estimates. Councilman Worrell advised that the lights on Main Street belong to AEP and advised that AEP has a new program to install period lighting and that Mrs. English might like to check with AEP during her research. Staff was requested to schedule a Public Operations Committee meeting to discuss the lighting issue. Next, Mrs. Marlis Ryssel-Flynn presented Council with alternative information regarding Mr. Jenkins report. . Her information indicated that the trees could be controlled with pruning and application of chemicals to slow the growth of the trees. She presented Council with a letter from James C. Clark, Forester for the Virginia Department of Forestry, opining that the trees on Main Street do not need to be replaced; rather more trees should be planted between the existing ones to eventually take the place of existing plants. Mrs. Ryssel-Flynn requested that Council replace the damaged sidewalk to match existing sidewalk and requested that another look be taken at removing the trees. Sandy Lackey, who has a degree in Horticulture, addressed Council and advised that the Ginko tree is a messy tree – constantly dropping debris. She stated that the female tree has a very offensive, disagreeable odor and in her opinion, is not suitable for the downtown area. She thinks the existing trees should be pruned and a chemical applied to the roots to slow the growth of the trees. John Lloyd, a certified Arborist through International Society of Horticulture and the owner of Tech Tree Experts in Blacksburg with 25 years of experience, agreed with Ms. Lackey that the Ginko tree is not advisable for the downtown area and advised that in his opinion, the existing trees should be pruned and chemicals applied to the roots to slow the growth of the trees and do not need replacing. He stated that there is no tree that you can put in as a sidewalk tree that will never need any pruning. He advised that the trees need proper maintenance and pruning on a cyclical basis. After extensive discussion, Councilman Stewart made a motion to authorize staff to design and implement a 5 year plan to take care of the existing trees, including pruning and application of chemicals to slow the growth of the trees and to perform minimal maintenance, using same materials, as needed to the sidewalks, seconded by Councilwoman Mitchell and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next Councilman Worrell made a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of the minutes of June 15, 1999 and Resolution’s 99-28 and 99-29, seconded by Councilman Penn: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Human Resources Chairman Hale announced that a contract has been negotiated with Randolph D. Eley, Jr. to become the Town’s new Attorney and introduced him to all present. Councilman Stewart made a motion to appoint Randy Eley as the new Town Attorney, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Mayor Johnston - Aye Mayor Johnston inquired whether Council wished to participate in the VML Virginians to Virginians program. The Town would be teamed up with other Town’s in Virginia of approximately the same size to facilitate the exchange of information. Councilman Neblett made a motion to join VML’s Virginians to Virginians program, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on voice vote. Mayor Johnston advised that in Council’s packet is a report regarding American Electric Power’s proposed route for the 765kv transmission line. Mr. Combiths advised that the packet is for informational and discussion use only. No action is required. Mr. Combiths advised that staff is preparing a list of volunteers and sponsors for the revitalization of Calfee Park to be recognized at a Council meeting. Next Mr. Combiths advised that the Y2K work is ongoing, specifically with the 911 system and the waste water pumping system. Mr. Combiths advised that there is a 7% cost overrun on Calfee Park, including the parking lot paving. He further advised that staff believes these funds can be found in the FY 98-99 budget, and requested Council’s permission to do so. In addition, funding of approximately $4000 is needed for the landscaping at Calfee and staff requested permission to take these funds from the FY 99-2000 budget. After discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion that if the funds can be found, to pave and landscape Calfee Park seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - No Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Councilman Penn made a motion to go into Closed Session on 2.1-344 (A1), personnel matter regarding specific individual, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At 8:23 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted certification resolution on motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Absent Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye There being no further business, meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman Hale and carried.