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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-03-04Minutes of the Town Council meeting held August 3, 2004 at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Charles L. Wade, Mayor Council: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Dan Talbert, Jr., Bettye H. Steger, Lane R. Penn, John T. Bolen, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager John White, Economic Development Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others: Raiven Patterson Hunter Matusevich Shaniqua Banks Chelsea Sutphin Tamar Smith Nikki Shay Jordan Chrisley Kelli Duncan Gayle Duncan Shammra Arnold Julie Shay Craif Shay Tina Arnold Ronda Chrisley Henry Cook Nancy Strasser Timothy M. Smith Esther Morrison Amy Shay Chris Shay Jearline G. Smith Gladys Ingram Kathy Denny Pastor Randy Lawrence JoBeth Wampler, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt the Certification Resolution for the Closed Session held prior to the Council meeting under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), Discussion & consideration of employee(s) of the Town of Pulaski. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The first item of business was to adopt Resolution 2004-27, To revise Town Council Rules and Procedures. Councilman Worrell inquired whether the work session meeting scheduled for each month should be included in the Resolution? The Town Manager advised that the second work session becomes a called meeting of the Mayor. He preferred not to restrict it to a set day of each month to allow for more flexibility. In response to a question from Councilwoman Steger, Mr. Hawley advised that the Council Standing Committees stay on the book in case there is a need for a meeting, but generally, the work session meetings will be committees of the whole. Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt Resolution 2004-27, to revise Town Council Rules and Procedures, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Resolution 2004-28, Honoring the Pulaski Wolves 10 and Under AAU Girls Basketball Team. He congratulated the team and the parents and staff for their accomplishments. Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt Resolution 2004-28, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade read the Resolution aloud and presented each team member and their staff with a framed copy of the Resolution. Mayor Wade advised that the Public Hearings listed on the agenda would be held at the September 7, 2004 Council meeting. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Council minutes of July 6, 2004, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Project Updates. Bill Pedigo provided an update on the Pulaski Business Park advising that the new tenants and the Town switched lots. He continued that the design plans are back for the pond; the E&S plan has been approved; a DEQ permit has been applied for; Gregory Construction will build a portion of the road bed and will construct the large pond; and the Town will construct the small pond. Discussion then ensued regarding the details involved in grading the area and the time line involved; searching for alternative sources of income; and the establishment of measurable goals. In response to Mayor Wades query, Mr. Hawley opined that Council, the Economic Development department and the Town Manager needed to work together to establish goals. He offered to compile a draft list of goals for discussion at the next Work Session. Additionally, he advised that staff was prepared to issue a purchase order for an upgraded AutoCAD program. He expressed hope that the budget money for the program would be able to be found through operating costs without the need for an appropriation from Council. Continuing with the project updates, Mr. Hawley discussed the N. R. Trail extension advising that the last clearance to proceed with the Trail had been received. He hoped to be able to go out to bid in approximately 60 days. He recommended that the grant money be used to pay for sandblasting the bridge. In response to the Mayor’s question, Mr. Hawley advised that he hoped to have the project completed except for the bridge, by the end of the year. Next, Chief Roche addressed security on the T rail. He advised that three juveniles would be charged with vandalism on the Trail. He suggested some options for added security that could be added including additional lighting, alarms and that a sign could be posted specifying the trail hours. Following discussion regarding security on the trail, staff was asked to investigate what is done in other areas of the Trail regarding operating hours. Mayor Wade moved on to the area transit update. Mr. Hawley advised that he had a letter regarding the Pulaski Area Transit. One of the items addressed in the letter was the name of the transit system. It was tentatively named Pulaski Area Transit (PAT). He advised that October 1, 2004 is the projected start date for the transit system. Additionally, he advised that a public meeting would be held to request input on the route that the transit system will take. Regarding dilapidated structures, Mr. Hawley advised that a court date had been set for September 17th, 2004 for 9 dilapidated structure cases. He advised that the Town employees demolished one building and commented that the Town employees may demolish other buildings as well. Mr. Eley gave his projects update including reviewing the new statute to recover money from dilapidated structures; work on the airport deed; revision of the Nextel lease and that staff was waiting for a response from Nextel. In his report, Mr. White advised that the Town was awarded one million dollars from CBDG. This grant money is to be used in the downtown area to remove 1 severely blighted building; stabilize 2 historic foundry buildings; the rear facades on all of the buildings on West Main Street will be improved either through cooperation of the owner or intervention by RHA’s Redevelopment and Conservation plan; have installed 700 linear feet of storm drain inlets; installed concrete sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and signage improvements along north and south sides of Peak Creek; have improved public parking spaces and provided ample spaces strategically downtown for residents, employees and visitors; will have rehabbed or adapted the use of 25 apartments creating housing for 38 low to middle income households; reduced the amount of vacant and underutilized space downtown by 50%; improved the facades of 16 commercial storefronts; the Pulaski Theatre will be completed and restored. Additionally, the New River Trail extension will have been completed, which will fulfill one of the requirements of the project. Mayor Wade inquired whether a management plan had been instituted to articulate how the grant is going to be managed and the legal issues that may occur. Mr. White advised that a meeting would be held in August to draw up a plan. Mayor Wade moved on to Old Business. The first item was Ordinance 2004-23, to prepare an option for purchase of 3 lots fronting Maple Street. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Ordinance 2004-23, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item for consideration was consideration of the Pretreatment Agreement between PFRWTA and the Town of Pulaski. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt the PFRWTA Pretreatment Agreement, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Resolution 2004-25, Amending Resolution appointing members to the Planning Commission. He advised that the Resolution changed the number of members on the Commission from 7 to 6 and specifies that the Chairman only votes in case of a tie. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Resolution 2004-25, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item on the agenda was consideration of slate of citizens for Council appointments. Councilwoman Steger moved to appoint the following: Terri Fitzwater-Palmore to NRVPDC as citizen representative Mayor Charles L. Wade to Pulaski Telecommunications Committee Councilman John T. Bolen to NRV Development Corporation as government representative Bill Norris to Cemetery Board E. G. Black, Jr. to Grievance Committee Nancy Strasser, Roy Buzzelli and Donald Clark to Redevelopment and Housing Authority Glen Aust to Agency on Aging Councilman Talbert seconded the motion and it carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Ordinance 2004-25, Contract with Gregory General Contracting and G round Vibration. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Ordinance 2004-25, seconded by Councilman Penn. Following discussion, Councilman Worrell amended his motion to adopt Ordinance 2004-25, changing the amount for improvements from $625,000 to $652,000, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Next, Mayor Wade addressed the Town Manager’s contract. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt the Town Manager’s contract, seconded by Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item on the agenda was consideration of including the state holidays in the Town’s revised Personnel Policies manual. Councilman Penn moved to adopt the holiday and leave policy amendment to include the state holidays, seconded by Councilman Burchett and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to citizen appointments to the Pulaski County Committee for Study of the Use of Schools and Space Needs. He advised that the County had suggested one appointment, but that he would suggest two. Councilman Bolen nominated Ed Belcher to the Committee, seconded by Councilwoman Steger. From the public, Mrs. Nancy Strasser volunteered to serve on the Committee. Both candidates were approved by Council on a voice vote. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilwoman Steger, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote.