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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-03Minutes of the Town Council meeting held April 1, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Charles W. Stewart, Jr., Mayor Council: Kenneth M. Fleenor, E. G. Black, Jr., Pauline G. Mitchell, Bettye H. Steger, John T. Bolen, James M. Neblett, Jr. Absent/Excused: Jeffrey S. Worrell Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John J. White, Economic Development Director David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager E. T. Montgomery, Police Captain Others: Jennifer White Emily Cox Brittani Furrow Angela Chan Andrea Harriman Charles Wade Joel Burchett B. J. Bowman-Wood, Press Mayor Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Bolen led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Fleenor moved to adopt the Certification Resolution for the Closed Session held prior to the Council meeting under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-5), 2 items and (A-3) Acquisition of property, seconded by Councilman Black and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Absent 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 Mayor Stewart added an item under New Business: Motion for the Attorney to Prepare a Contract. Next, Mayor Stewart welcomed the following students to the Council Meeting: Emily Cox, Brittani Furrow, Angela Chan, Andrea Harriman Under Public Comment Period, Joel Burchett addressed Council inquiring how he could get debris that he had gathered, picked up by the Public Service Authority. He advised that he had picked up quite a bit of trash and debris in the last few weeks and placed it in orange bags on the side of the road as directed by P.S.A. and that most of it was still where he placed it. He also advised that some of the bags were now torn and the contents spilling out. He inquired whether someone in the Town organization could contact the County for him and have the debris picked up. Mr. Hawley advised that he would speak with the County Administrator about the problem as soon as possible and relay the information to Mr. Burchett. Next, Councilman Neblett moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Council minutes of March 4 and 18, 2003, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Committee Reports. In Chairman Worrell’s absence, Mr. Hawley gave the Finance Report. He advised that the Committee met and discussed a budget amendment public hearing. The hearing had been planned for the April 1, 2003 Council meeting, however, the deadline for advertising was missed and the hearing was to be held on May 6, 2003. Mr. Hawley advised that the Committee also discussed the refinancing of the UDAG loan for the Bob White Building (Renfro), with the recommendation of the Committee being that the Town Attorney and the Town Manager would work together with the County on the proper documents and return to Council. Additionally, the Committee also discussed the Town share of the Community Development Block Grant budget and the Town’s baseball box. The consensus of the Committee was not to give up the baseball box. Mr. Hawley also advised that the Committee had a Closed Session under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-3), acquisition of property. After the Closed Session, a motion was made to proceed with the easement for the Warden property. Motion died for lack of a second. Next, Mayor Stewart advised that the Planning Commission met in a joint session with the Town Council to consider amendments to the zoning ordinances, defining and regulating the placement of cemeteries within the Town. The Commission recommended that the definition and placement regulations for cemeteries be adopted. Mayor Stewart also advised that the Commission met for a work session on the Comprehensive Plan and decided upon a course of action to follow in writing the Comprehensive Plan. Human Resources Chairwoman Steger advised that the Committee is looking for volunteers to serve on the Cemetery Board. She asked for any volunteers to contact her. Additionally, she inquired what the rules were for the absence of Council members from meetings. Mr. Hawley advised that he would gather the information regarding the Council meetings and distribute it to Council. During the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Stewart advised that he had been scheduled to travel to Washington with the Chamber of Commerce to visit the Senators and Representative Boucher. The meeting was cancelled due to the ongoing war. Under Town Attorney’s report, Mr. Eley advised of rendering opinions on several matters, preparation and participation in a Board of Zoning Appeals court matter, participation in a Virginia Employment Commission hearing, and work on several personnel matters among other things. Mr. Hawley gave the Town Manager’s Report which included scheduling of the Town employee clean up day for April 24, 2003, submittal of the Community Improvement grant, receipt of Notification of Award of two Virginia Municipal League safety grants, that work had begun on the RFQ for the personnel policy manual and compensation plan and that the budget work session would begin in mid-April. He advised that he would speak to the County Administrator, Peter Huber, about clean up of the tree damage to the Town from the last snow storm and would offer the Town’s assistance in cleaning up debris and damaged or downed trees. He also advised that he had advised the Pulaski Baseball representatives about the Finance Committee’s decision to retain the baseball box at Calfee Park. A suggestion was made to invite representatives from businesses in the area, or who are considering moving to the area to the games and seat them with a few Town representatives in the box. And finally, he advised that a considerable amount of work has been done by staff regarding the Joint Dispatch Study and that it was ready for Finance Committee review. Under Old Business was Resolution 2003-08, Modification of the Town Attorney Contract. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt Resolution 2003-08, Modification of the Town Attorney contract, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Absent 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 for discussion was New Business. Councilman Neblett moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare a contract with Kurt and Threasa Copeland regarding a Town lien, seconded by Councilman Black and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Absent 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 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman Fleenor and carried.