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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-05-02Minutes of the Town Council meeting held March 5, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Charles W. Stewart, Mayor Council Members: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Pauline G. Mitchell, Daniel Talbert, Jr., E. G. Black, Jr., Bettye H. Steger, Kenneth M. Fleenor, Lane R. Penn Absent/Excused: James M. Neblett, Jr. Staff: Gary C. Elander, Town Manager David N. Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others Present: Claude Newman Douglas Crowder Elizabeth Webb S. Wayne Seagle Dave Cook Chuck Hill Frances Nixon Terri Fitzwater Palmore C. W. Maus Mary Ann Mitchell Rusty Mitchell Linda Buzzeli G. W. Roche Sherry Boyd Karen McConkey, press Mayor Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Black read the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Worrell gave the Invocation. Following roll call, a Resolution honoring former Mayor Andrew L. Graham, Jr. was added to the agenda as well as a presentation by Councilwoman Steger under 14g. Mayor Stewart advised that former Mayor Andrew Graham, Jr. had died. He read Resolution 2002-11, honoring Andrew L. Graham, Jr., and passed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye After recognizing the visitors present, Council addressed the Consent Agenda. Councilwoman Steger made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of February 5, 2002, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried on voice vote. Under Finance Committee report, Chairman Fleenor had no report, but requested an update from Ms. Boyd, the Finance Director. Ms. Boyd advised that auto decals are on sale and response has been strong. She advised that outstanding personal property taxes are required to be paid before the auto decal can be issued. She advised that the deadline for purchase of the decals is Monday April 1, 2002. In addition, she advised that Business Licenses were due March 1, 2002, and sales looked strong. Utilities Committee Chairman Worrell reminded Council that two meetings were held last year with Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority regarding a proposed change in the method of computing debt service payments. This would entail a switch from allocated capacity base cost to proportional use base cost. He advised that Council would address a Resolution later in the meeting regarding that issue. Next, Mayor Stewart advised that Planning Commission had not met, but that they have completed revisions to the zoning ordinance based upon the last public hearing and that Council will address the issue at its next meeting. Human Resources Chairwoman Steger advised that committee met twice in the last month and Human Resources committee recommends re-appointment of Dr. John Johnston to the Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority and passed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Under Mayor’s report, Mayor Stewart requested that Council consider directing the Town Manager to appoint a person in the Public Works department to be in charge of cleaning/picking up the town, in particular, the approaches on all the primary highways and the downtown historic district and that this person be allowed to hire part time help as necessary. Additionally, that they be allowed to contact the New River Corrections and Pre-Trial Service Authority to utilize community service assignees to help with litter pick up. He also asked that they negotiate with PSA to set up a daily pick up in the downtown area Following discussion, Councilman Fleenor moved to direct the Town Manager to appoint a person in the Public Works department to oversee clean up/pick up of the Town, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Next, Town Attorney Eley gave a projects update including further work on delinquent taxes, revision of the AEP contract for DJOTS, served notices on dilapidated cases; continuation of the Summers and Moyers matters, work on the Draper Mountain project and work on the trail easements. Mayor Stewart inquired into the status of the Peak Creek project? Mr. Eley advised that he had not received a promised update from Legal Title Services and that he would contact them again. Under Town Manager’s report, Mr. Elander advised that budget preparation has begun and noted that revenues are down and tax profits may be reduced which will affect budget preparation. He also advised that bids have been received for employee insurance showing a 20.3% increase. Mr. Elander also advised of some industrial prospect activity. The first item under Old Business, was the extension of the AEP contract. Councilwoman Mitchell made a motion to adopt Resolution 2002-07, authorizing electric service contract extension with AEP, seconded by Councilman Black and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Abstain Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Next, Council addressed Resolution 2002-08, regarding user agreement with Pepper’s Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority. Councilman Worrell made a motion to adopt Resolution 2002-08, Regarding User Agreement March 5, 2002, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Under New Business, Council addressed a request by Claude Newman for donation of a puddle jumper. Mr. Newman addressed Council advising that he is a member of the VFW and President of the Korean War Veterans Association. He advised that the Town is in possession of an old 3 quarter ton Dodge truck (aka puddle jumper) that he would like to have donated to the Korean War Veterans Association. The Association wishes to overhaul the vehicle and use it in parades, memorial services etc. Town Manager Elander advised that the Public Works department has no objection to donating the vehicle. Councilman Fleenor made a motion to donate the puddle jumper to the Korean War Veterans Association, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was Resolution 2002-09, tax deferred purchase of prior VRS service credit. Town Manager Elander advised that the state has changed some regulations to allow employees to purchase retirement service for time worked on other jurisdictions or for time served in the military. Resolution 2002-09 will allow the payment to be taken out of the employees gross pay. Following discussion, Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt Resolution 2002-09, authorization to pick up the employee’s contribution to VRS for past service credit under §414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was Draper Mountain water project bids. Town Manager Elander advised that the Draper Mountain southside water project involves construction of new water tank, pump station and water line of over a mile in length. Funding is being provided by the Rural Development Utility Service. Bids were received and staff recommends acceptance of: Project Contractor Amount Storage Tank Mid-Atlantic Storage $104,960.00 Pump Station H. T. Bowling $131,500.00 Water Lines C. R. Meador $158,552.25 Councilwoman Steger made a motion to accept the Draper Mountain water project bids, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Next, Council addressed Ordinance 2002-04, accepting Travis Lane into the road system of the Town of Pulaski. Mayor Stewart advised that the Engineering department has completed their inspections and certify that Travis Lane meets specifications and is ready for acceptance into the Town road system. Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2002-04, accepting Travis Lane into the road system of the Town of Pulaski, seconded by Councilman Black and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was consideration of Local Choice Health Insurance renewal. Town Manager Elander advised that the renewal offer from Local Choice Health insurance has been received and the contract must be renewed by April 1. He recommended that Council approve the renewal. Councilwoman Mitchell made a motion to accept the Local Choice Health insurance renewal offer, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett, Jr. - Absent Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Kenneth M. Fleenor - Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Next, Council considered a request by the Friends of the Pulaski Theatre for the Town to waive building permit fees for the renovation of the Theatre. Following discussion, Councilman Penn made a motion to table this request until receipt of the building permit application, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried on voice vote. Next, Councilwoman Steger presented an information packet that she had compiled to distribute to businesses and/or citizens considering moving to Pulaski. Under Communications, Mayor Stewart advised of receipt of a letter from Mayor Starnes of Radford, Virginia, regarding a resolution of deregulation of electrical energy. The Town Manager was asked to research the topic and return to the next Council meeting with a recommendation. At 7:52 p.m., there being no further business, Councilman Penn made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried on voice vote.