Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-06Minutes of the April 4, 2006 Council meeting held at 7:00 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 Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others: Larry Clevinger, II Elizabeth Garter E. B. Garter Debbie Linkous Susan R. Strong Patrick Lambert Isaac Carver Shane Price Mark Taylor Billy Viars Carol Wade Pam Whitesell Brett Whitesell Tony Neislo John Saul Larry Friend Stacey Friend Timothy Gravely Kelly Barker, Press Paul Dellinger, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Talbert led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Burchett gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Penn moved to add a Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-7), Consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel to the agenda. Additionally, he added item d under Old Business regarding budget contributions and item e, Ordinance 2006-14. The motion was 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 asked staff to work on the following items: Amending the Town leash ordinance to coincide with the County’s leash law so that Animal Control can provide enforcement in the Town. Amend the sex oriented business ordinance. Work on Hogan’s dam conditional use appropriation The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Debbie Linkous addressed Council inquiring whether fishing licenses could be sold at Gatewood. She advised that she had had several customers ask if they sold the licenses, and thought it would be a nice service to provide. Staff advised that they would look into the requirements for selling the licenses and return to Council. Ms. Linkous also asked whether a chair or bench could be placed in the dressing area at Gatewood? Mr. Hart, Parks and Facilities Director, advised that they were supposed to be in the dressing area and that he would see that they were placed. Next, Elizabeth Garter addressed Council advising that she lived in the County, but bordered the Pulaski Business Park on two sides. She complained of dust, noise, and debris from the Conrock facility at the Pulaski Business Park. She advised that there was no cover over their materials. She presented some photos for Council’s review. She added that there was a covenant with the Town to protect the landowners surrounding the Park. She commented that she did not wish to take legal action, but might be forced to do just that. She asked that the Conrock facility be relocated to another part of the Business Park. Councilman Bolen advised that he had visited the Garter property and supported Mrs. Garter’s complaints. Staff advised that they would look into the problem and return to Council. Next, Larry Friend addressed Council advising that he and some friends had been cleaning some of the parks and streets in the Town. He added that they have had difficulty finding the Dora Highway Drop site open to drop off the debris that they picked up. They asked that the Town provide a dumpster in the Loving Field area for their use. Additionally, they advised that they wanted to adopt Dora Highway, Alum Spring Road and Route 99. He also advised that they had been taking donations to help needy people paint and repair their houses. He donated a bible to the Town. Mayor Wade advised that the Drop site was run by the County and they would have to speak to them about their problems with the site. He advised that the Town was in the process of reviewing the Adopt A Street program and rewriting the rules, so no further adoptions would be processed until that process was complete. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt the minutes of March 7, 2006 as written, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Project Updates. The first item was Virginia Logos – I-81 signs. Mr. Hawley advised that staff was still trying to reach the Virginia Logos representative regarding an interstate sign for Gatewood. Once that contact has been made, he advised that he would provide an update to Council. The next item was MacGill Skateboard park 04-05 expenditures. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had received a print out of all the expenditures. He suggested that Council review the print out and address any questions to him next week and answers would be provided at the April 18, 06 Council Work Session. Mayor Wade moved on to Maple Shade project time line. Mr. Hawley advised that the façade work on the Maple Shade had been started; the sidewalk replacement would begin in early May; the lights that were out in the parking lot had been replaced; and the driveway paving project immediately in front of the building had gone out to bid along with the street paving projects. He added that some repair work on the remainder of the parking lot would be done by Town staff. Additionally, he advised that staff was reviewing options for the exterior and will return to Council with their recommendation. He advised that the landscape plan was to be provided by a volunteer. Mayor Wade added that Tammy Parks was going to paint a collage/mural on the Washington Avenue end of the Maple Shade building. He was going to view the sketch on Friday, the 7th. He invited anyone who wished to view the sketch to meet them. The next item for discussion was the Trail easements. Mr. Hawley advised that staff felt that they would have all the easements signed by the end of the week. Once that was completed, he would resubmit the right of way to Salem VDOT and resubmit the construction drawings to Richmond for approval to go to bid. Mayor Wade moved on to Pulaski Business Park land acquisitions. Mr. Hawley advised that all the paperwork for the swap between the Rhudy farm and the Town had been completed at the Business Park. Additionally, the deed had been sent to Conmat for their final approval. The Town was waiting for a response from Hardie on their deed. Mayor Wade moved on to Old Business: The first item was Committee vacancies/ad. Mayor Wade advised that Betty Montgomery had volunteered to fill a committee vacancy. He asked staff to contact her. Mr. Hawley advised that an ad had run in the newspaper asking for volunteers to fill some of the committee vacancies. Several citizens had responded and would be considered to fill a vacancy. He advised that Mr. Glenn had indicated that he would serve on the Planning Commission if he were reappointed. Additionally, he advised that Mr. Bolen had volunteered to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Following discussion, Mayor Wade suggested that Betty Montgomery be appointed to the Housing and Re-Development Authority. Mr. Hawley advised that Council could make appointments at the next Council work session. The next item on the agenda was “All in a Day’s Drive” promotion. Mr. Hawley advised that staff reviewed the option and felt that direct newspaper advertisements might be better for the Town. Following discussion, Mayor Wade commented that the sense of Council was not to do it. The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2006-13, Rezoning Property on Medallion Drive. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had drawn up the Ordinance as directed at the last Council meeting. He added that all the legal advertisements and required public hearings had been held. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Ordinance 2006-13, Rezoning Property on Medallion Drive, 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 next item on the agenda was the Contribution projected budget compared to 2004-05. Mayor Wade summarized his suggestions for the proposed Contribution budget. He asked Council to consider the recommendations in preparation for the next Council Work Session. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had reviewed the Contribution budget and had commented that they hoped that Council would really look hard at this budget to determine if this was the best use of the money or whether it was better to try to help the employees with salary and benefits. Councilman Bolen asked the Finance Director how much money had been collected in delinquent taxes this year? Mr. Hawley responded that staff would gather the information and return it to Council at the next meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to Ordinance 2006-14. Mr. Hawley advised that the Ordinance needed to be adopted to allow staff to sign the agreement with Securegrants of America, Inc., to seek the homeland security money for the breathing apparatus for the fire department. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2006-14, Grant Contract Between Town of Pulaski, Virginia Fire Department and Securegrant of America. 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 Under New Business, the first item was a Sewer Pump Technician. Mr. Hawley advised that the Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority had declined to renew the maintenance agreement on Pump Stations 4A and 4B. Consequently, the Town will be responsible for the maintenance of these facilities. Staff recommended that one full time person be hired for Equipment Maintenance Technician and that the existing Pump Technician be promoted to a new position called Equipment Maintenance Technician Senior. The consensus of Council was to go forward. The next item on the agenda was a request from the After Prom Party committee at Pulaski County High School. Mr. Hawley advised that a letter had been received requesting a donation from Council for the After Prom Party. Mayor Wade asked the high school students who were present to give their opinion on the request. Patrick Lambert spoke up, commenting that he thought Council should approve the request. He advised that it was a fun night and provided students with something fun to do that kept them off the streets and away from drugs and alcohol. Councilwoman Steger moved to donate at least $100. Councilman Bolen commented that Council had always followed the policy to not donate taxpayer money to these types of activities. Mayor Wade rebutted that it’s tax dollars that put them in school and he felt it would be good to spend a few dollars once a year to keep them off the street and do something safe. Councilman Talbert made a substitute motion to donate $500 to the After Prom Party. Councilman Worrell commented that he felt it was definitely a good cause, however, he did not feel it was appropriate to spend tax payer dollars for this activity. He added that he could probably support a minimum contribution, but could not support $500. Councilman Burchett seconded the motion to donate $500 to the After Prom Party and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - No Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - No Bettye H. Steger - No Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade – Aye Next, Mr. Hawley advised that a carnival was coming to the Maple Shade. He asked Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director to comment. Mr. Hart advised that the Cole Brothers carnival was coming to Town on April 26-29th, 2006. It would be set up at the Maple Shade parking lot. He advised that the Town would receive fifteen percent of the ride gross. He advised that he would like to use any net proceeds to begin a fund to go towards improvements of local playgrounds. Additionally, he advised that on Saturday, the 29th, the Town was sponsoring a teen band concert in Jackson Park. Next, Council agreed to hold the next budget session with the April 18 Council Work session and to start at 4:00 p.m. Next, Councilwoman Steger moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1, A-3, A-5 and A-7). The motion was 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 At 9:05 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Talbert, 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 Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to advertise in house for a Community Relations Director, 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 There being no further business, Councilman Bolen moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote.