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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-06Minutes of the Town Council meeting held August 1, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Lane R. Penn, Vice-Mayor Council: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Dan Talbert, Jr., Joel B. Burchett, Jr., David L. Clark, Larry Clevinger, II Absent: Charles L. Wade Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney John White, Economic Development Director Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Bill Webb, Fire Chief Gary Roche, Police Chief Tom Compton, Building Inspector Others: Mike Smith Pam Whitesell Brett Whitesell Adam Doolittle Janet Compton Jeff Jones Betty Quesenberry James Prescott, Jr. Jennifer White Anastasia Anderson Vice Mayor Penn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Clevinger led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Burchett gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Vice Mayor Penn called for a moment of silence in honor of a Town of Pulaski former Town Manager, Dan McKeever. Next Councilman Burchett requested to modify the agenda by the addition of one item F., under Project Updates, item D, under New Business, and two additional Closed Session items under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-7). The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry Clevinger, II - Aye Vice Mayor Penn moved on to the Employee of the Month award. He introduced Tom Compton, Building Inspector for the Town. He read aloud a press release and congratulated Mr. Compton and presented him with an award. He noted that in addition to this honor, Mr. Compton would receive an additional paid day off from the Town and be considered for the Employee of the Year award in December. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment Period. Mike Smith addressed Council and presented a petition for the following: 1. Asking for a pro-active position as to consideration of ATV/Dirt bike ordinance within the Town limits. This would consist of the officials of the Town government approaching our local state representatives to seek additional language to the Code of Virginia. 2. Request for amendment to existing Noise Ordinance to include loud motorcycles, ATV’s, dirt Bikes. 3. Request adoption of crime prevention strategies called problem oriented policing and community oriented policing. 4. Requesting adoption of a Mosquito Ordinance and also a Slumlord Ordinance. Additionally, Mr. Smith donated a Sound Meter to the Police Department as a gesture of education and willingness to play a team member role in making Pulaski a better place to live for all its citizenry. Next, Councilman Worrell moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of June 6 and July 11, 2006. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry Clevinger, II - Aye Vice Mayor Penn moved on to Project Updates. Mr. Hawley advised that no response had bee received to the Town’s email inquiry on the status of the right of way certification of the Trail. Regarding downtown sidewalks and grates, Mr. Hawley advised that the tree planting, installation of tree grates and the concrete work would begin once the supplies were received by the Town. He added that staff planned to use a brick stencil for the sidewalk, as was used at the Maple Shade building, unless Council disapproved. The consensus of Council was to use the brick stencils for the sidewalks. The next item on the agenda was the Cingular lease. Mr. Hawley advised that staff was continuing to work with the representatives of Cingular on their lease. He advised that Cingular was adamant that they will not share collocation leases with the Town. The Town staff was equally insistent that all lease holders be treated the same. Staff was waiting for a response from Cingular. Next, Mr. Hawley advised that a flyer for Transportation and Cultural Heritage Days had been included in the packet. He noted the event was scheduled for August 4-6 and he encouraged Council and Town citizens to attend. The next item on the agenda was Hogan’s Dam RFP. Mr. Hawley advised that the RFP was advertised on 7-23-06. He added that eleven proposals had been requested to date and advised that the proposals were due October 20, with the last two weeks in August reserved for site visits. He added that when the proposals started coming in, it was obvious that the wording of the ad had misled proposers as to the Towns need. The ad stated proposals for development. Most of the requests for the rfp’s have come from engineering and architecture firms, not from developing companies and real estate companies. He noted that the ads are quite costly, however, he felt that the rfp might have to be re-advertised, changing some of the wording for clarity for the proposers. He added that the ad had also been posted on Loopnet, a commercial site recommended by a realtor and responses had already been received in response to that ad. Vice Mayor Penn moved on to CDBG update. Mr. White provided a summary of the status of the check list for the grant, advising that they were ahead of schedule and ready to move on to Phase II. He expressed great satisfaction at the enormous amount of work being done by the private sector in cleaning up the downtown area. The next item on the agenda was Old Business. Mr. Hawley advised that Ordinance 2006-23, regarding the Smith Lane rezoning was ready for adoption. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Ordinance 2006-23, Rezoning Properties at the Intersection of Smith Lane and 17th Street NW, to R-2. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry Clevinger, II - Aye Vice Mayor Penn moved on to New Business. Mr. Hawley advised that the Town asked the General Assembly last year to grant the Town the authority to require vacant building registration in the Town’s Conservation and Redevelopment districts. A draft Ordinance has been drawn up for review which would allow the Town to require any building that is vacant to be registered and that the Town could charge a $25 administrative fee for processing. This will allow the Town to maintain a register of all the building owners with contact name, address and phone number. The consensus of Council was for staff to proceed with preparing the Ordinance. The next item on the agenda was smoking restrictions. Mr. Hawley advised that staff was asked to research what option the Town had in restricting smoking on public property. He advised that following research, it appeared that the Town could not regulate smoking outdoors on public property. He also advised that Council could opt prohibit smoking in Town vehicles. He added that the question had arisen in the past and at that time, the decision was made that the Department Heads could monitor and control the issue in their departments. Following discussion, the consensus of Council was to continue to allow the Department Heads to monitor and control the smoking in Town vehicles in their departments. Next, Mr. Hawley moved on to a suggestion to change Main Street to a two way street. He advised that a map had been included in the packet. He explained some of the obstacles and options involved in changing the street to a two way street. The consensus of Council was to continue the discussion at the August 15 Council Work Session. The next item on the agenda was a sixty day temporary lease for Cavalier Supply. Mr. Hawley advised that after the collapse of the building housing Cavalier Supply and recognizing the dire need for a temporary home for the business, he signed a sixty day temporary lease with Cavalier Supply to use the Wades building in the Maple Shade Shopping Center. The next item on the agenda was the Round Table Discussion.