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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-99Minutes of the regular Town Council meeting held July 20, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center Women’s Club Annex. There were present: John A. Johnston, Mayor Council Members: James M. Neblett, Lane R. Penn, Jeffrey S. Worrell, Bettye H. Steger, W. Edgar Hale, Joseph L. Weddle, Pauline G. Mitchell, Charles W. Stewart Also Present: Chip Hutchinson Diane Hutchinson Mike Hall Bill Pedigo Sgt. Bill Webb Andy McCready Judy Ison Michael Dowell Elvis Gahon Douglas L. Brown C.L. Haymore J. T. Hoback Brian Cole Jeff Hall Jeff Doyle Jimmy White Eddie Whitaker Kenneth Epperly Robbie Cecil Rebecca English Judy Flemming Rolend E. Cole Jimmy Ward Jerry Hughes Mark Dalton Dean Jackson Carol Wade Charles Stoots Sherry Boyd-Neidigh Herb Cooley, Police Chief Commander Irvin Barr Ernest L. Taylor Robert Dye Dee Lindsey Heather Fetrow, Press J. R. Schrader, Press Councilman Weddle led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Neblett gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Council added 1 item under Human Resources Committee to the agenda. First item on agenda was presentation of Resolution 99-31, honoring retiring Police Commander Ernest L. “Ernie” Taylor. Mayor Johnston presented Commander Taylor with his Resolution and thanked him for his years of service. Councilman Hale made a motion to adopt Resolution 99-31, honoring retiring Police Commander Ernest L. “Ernie” Taylor, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on voice vote. Next, Mayor Johnston presented Resolution 99-32, honoring volunteers for “Historic Calfee Park” renovations to Council. Councilman Weddle made a motion to adopt Resolution 99-32, honoring volunteers for “Historic Calfee Park” renovations, seconded by Councilman Steger and carried on voice vote. Mayor Johnston advised that the volunteers will receive letters from the Town requesting their presence at a Council meeting so Council can acknowledge their participation in the renovation. Police Chief Herb Cooley thanked Council for recognizing Commander Taylor. In addition, Mr. Cooley thanked Council for their recent consideration and approval of the LEOS retirement program. He also presented Council with the newly designed Police Department shoulder pads, advising that the department feels the patch is more representative of the Town of Pulaski. Council thanked Mr. Cooley for his presentation. Next, Rebecca English presented a DPI (Downtown Pulaski Inc.), quarterly report. Ms. English advised that the newly elected DPI president is Tom McRay and the new Vice-President is Marlis Ryssell-Flynn and that she (Ms. English) is to fill the new part-time Program Manager position. She also advised Council that DPI is in the process of acquiring more information for period lighting for Main Street and will report to Council at the next meeting Council thanked Ms. English for her presentation. Next, Dean Jackson spoke to Council on behalf of the volunteer Fire Department to support the personnel budget proposal that Chief Hall presented to the Town Manager a few weeks ago and also to ask that Council address a list of concerns that the volunteer department has regarding the future of the department. Mayor Johnston advised that Council has done much research into the budget and specifically, the fire department. He advised that the Town’s present budget does not allow the proposed personnel budget change at this time. He stated that he felt sure that the Town’s volunteers could and would fill in during this time while the Town and the Fire Department continue to address this issue. Councilman Hale suggested that Council reconvene the Public Safety Committee to work with the Fire Department to address these questions and return to Council with suggestions. Councilwoman Mitchell agreed with Councilman Hale. After extensive discussion, Mayor Johnston asked that Human Resources Committee reconvene the Safety Committee and return to Council with recommendation. Next item on agenda was a Public Hearing on Zoning regulation regarding yard sale. David Quesenberry, Asst to the Town Manager, advised Council that part of the process of changing the yard sale ordinance approved previously by Council involves changing the Zoning regulations to accomodate this ordinance. These changes must be adopted by Ordinance. After discussion, Mayor Johnston closed the public hearing. Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt Ordinance 99-8, amending the zoning regulations’ provisions pertaining to yard sales, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and passed on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart - Aye Next item on agenda was the Public Comment Period. Mr. Andy McCready addressed Council and spoke in support of the Fire Department. He also inquired why certain Town departments do not allow their volunteer firefighter employees to leave work to fight fires during the day and asked that this matter also be referred to the Public Safety Committee. Mr. Combiths advised that he understood that all of the departments cooperated with the fire department. Mayor Johnston commented that he thought it might just be a matter of communication and could be addressed. Next, Councilman Worrell made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the minutes of July 6, 1999, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Next, Chairman Neblett advised that before Council were several Ordinances for Council’s consideration. The first Ordinance discussed was 99-9, establishing time for receipt of payment for delinquent utility accounts. Ms. Boyd-Neidigh, Finance Director, advised that currently, according to the Town Code, payments must be received by the 5th day, which has been interpreted to be until 12:00 p.m. midnight. This forces staff in Finance Department to work after normal hours recording those payments received in the night drop after the close of business. This also delays the Public Works department from the disconnection process and then forces them to work overtime to complete reconnections within a reasonable time frame. She requested that the Ordinance be changed to reflect that payments not received by close of the business due date shall be considered delinquent and will be posted with the next day’s business. After extensive discussion, Councilman Weddle made the motion that Ordinance 99-9 be referred to Utilities Committee for further discussion, seconded by Councilwoman Mitchell and carried on voice vote. Next, Ms. Boyd-Neidigh presented Ordinance 99-10, which sets forth fixed charges for a 1 ¼ inch water meter. She advised Council that when fixed charges based upon the meter size for water and sewer were approved, the 1 ¼ inch meter size was inadvertently left out. She requested that this size be added. After discussion, Councilman Neblett made a motion to adopt Ordinance 99-10, establishing fixed charges for 1 ¼-inch meter, seconded by Councilman Worrell. Councilman Hale made a substitute motion to refer the matter to the Utilities Committee, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - 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 Next, Ms. Boyd-Neidigh presented Ordinance 99-11, establishing fees for the administrative charges for reading meters. She advised that Council adopted an ordinance on August 21, 1990 reserving the right to assess administrative charges for reading meters or for separately computing the account of any customer applying for a credit or for processing any application. At the time of the adoption of that ordinance, no rates or fees were established. She requested that fees be established for this purpose. After discussion, Councilman Neblett made a motion to adopt Ordinance 99-11 establishing fees as provided for by the Ordinance adopted August 21, 1990, seconded by Councilman Worrell and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - 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 Next item on agenda was a Public Operations Committee report by Councilman Penn. He advised that several items had been discussed: 1. A request by Mr. Kyle Surratt for encroachment to place a fence at his residence at 128 S. Madison, S.W was denied because the fence would enclose the water meter causing problems during meter reading. 2. The discussion of decorative lighting was cancelled at the request of D.P.I. (Downtown Pulaski Inc.) 3. A request by Rev. Ed Livradras concerning rental of old Renfro Sock shop in Maple Shade Center for religious worship. No action was taken until receipt of additional information. 4. Field visit to residence of Mr. Glenn Bryant at 623 Franklin Ave. Staff was directed to advise Mr. Bryant in writing that it was the consensus of committee that water problem was due to run off concentration from the roof of a recently constructed workshop and requesting him to install guttering and down spouts on the structure and pipe run off water to the ditch line on Seventh St. If problem persists, committee will be open to future requests. Next Chairman Penn advised that Council had been provided with a new ordinance regarding rental inspections from Blacksburg to review. After discussion, Councilman Neblett made a motion to refer this item back to Operations Committee, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - 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 Next item on agenda was a report from Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Steger. She advised that Committee would meet as soon as research had been completed on several issues. Next, Councilman Stewart advised that Planning Commission held a work session on July 12, 1999 and reviewed the definitions of the Regulations with New River Valley Planning District Director Dave Rundgren. Another work session is planned for August 9, 1999. Human Resources Chairman Hale advised that several people have come forward offering to serve on committees as a result of the Town’s recent advertising effort. Councilman Penn made a motion to schedule a Human Resource meeting to discuss these candidates, 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 - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Mayor Johnston suggested that Council might like to appoint alternate members to the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Authority and requested input from Council. Mayor Johnston advised that Culpepper has already been assigned a sister city in the Virginian’s to Virginian’s program and requested that the Town Manager coordinate with VML to locate a partner for the Town. He also advised that in the past, the Town has made a donation to the Chamber of Commerce Annual auction. He requested that staff locate a suitable item for that donation. Mayor Johnston advised that the committee for expanding the museum has decided to call itself the Museum Expansion Committee. He advised that after much discussion by the Committee, it was decided that John Hawley, Tom Combiths and Michael Dowell will re-write the RFP for the Museum to reflect some concerns of the committee. Mayor Johnston also advised that the C.E. Richardson Foundation is due to advertise for its grant in the near future. He requested that Council give consideration to which project they would like to attempt to fund and advise him at the next Council meeting. Staff advised that they would give Council a copy of the guidelines at the next meeting. Next, Council discussed relocating Cecil H. Hutchinson, Fire Marshall, to the Engineering department effective August 1, 1999. Mr. Hutchinson will inspect rental property as well as his duties as Fire Marshall. Councilwoman Steger made a motion to relocate Cecil H. Hutchinson, Fire Marshall, to the Engineering department effective August 1, 1999, 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 - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye At 6:30 p.m., Councilwoman Steger made a motion to enter into Closed Session on: 2.1-344 (A1), personnel matter, specific individual 2.1-344 (A3) acquisition or use of real property for public purpose – 2 items 2.1-344 (A5) prospective business or industry – 2 items Seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - 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 8:00 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted certification resolution on motion by Councilman Neblett, 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 - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Mr. Combiths summarized the status of the asbestos problem at the Town Municipal Building including clean up and testing by HICO, the Town’s certified contractor of the asbestos material, who is in compliance with all the Virginia Dept. of Labor & Industry OSHA rules.. Councilman Penn advised that the Head Start program started yesterday, and Mashburn Ave. and the roads going into Claremont School were closed. Buses had to be diverted, children were lost, and parents upset because they did not know where to go to get their children. He requested that in the future, when roads are to be closed near or around the schools for routine work, that staff advise the school board in advance so that they can schedule accordingly. There being no further business, Councilman Neblett made a motion to adjourn the Council meeting, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote.