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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-04-07Minutes of the September 4, 2007 Council meeting held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 7:00 p.m. There were present: Charles L. Wade, Mayor Council: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Dan Talbert, Jr., Lane R. Penn, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. David L. Clark, Larry G. Clevinger, II Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director John White, Economic Development Director Others: Pamela Austin Robert Bopp Charles R. Bopp Dan Andrasko Tracey Harriman Gloria Mabe Morgan Welker Sandy Payne Clark Payne Jane Amburn Janie Hurd Akers Betty T. Quesenberry Carol Wade Shawn Utt Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Clevinger led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Worrell gave the Invocation. Councilman Penn moved to amend the agenda by adding Resolution 2007-15 to Old Business. 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade introduced Police Officer Derick D. Waddell, the Employee of the Month for September. He congratulated Officer Waddell, read the press release aloud and presented him with a plaque. In addition, he noted that Officer Waddell would receive an additional paid day off from work and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award at the end of the year. The next item on the agenda was the continuation of a Public Hearing for a Special Exception at 241 Randolph. Mr. Hawley advised that Mr. Rodriguez presented his plans to Council at the May 1, 2007 Council meeting and Council approved the working drawings with the intent to adopt the Resolution on completion of the plans. However, Council failed to open the Public Hearing for comments. Mr. Quesenberry reviewed the drawings for Council and the public. Mayor Wade opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. Mayor Wade moved on to Public Comment Period. Ilu Padilla was scheduled to speak, but he was not present. Mayor Wade advised that a proposal had been made to consider Commerce Park for the Intermodel rail facility. He suggested that Council ask staff to write a Resolution supporting the concept. Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to prepare a Resolution in support of the concept of Intermodel rail facility at Commerce Park. 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade then advised that there was an article in the Southwest Times regarding a letter that went to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade from the Board of the Peppers Ferry Authority. He expressed concern that the letter might have a detrimental effect on the economic assistance given to the Town and to the area in general. He advised that Delegate Crockett-Stark had received a copy of the letter and planned to analyze the situation and get back with Council. Councilman Worrell, a member of the Peppers Ferry Board, advised that he learned of the letter after it had been sent and he assured Council that the letter was sent without the input, knowledge or consent of the Board. Next, Councilman Burchett spoke about the condition of the former sewage treatment plant on Dora Highway. He advised that it was in a poor state of repair. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had been reviewing a different type of covering for the greenhouse rather than replacing the glass. Staff would continue their research and complete the upgrade as soon as possible. Mayor Wade moved on to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Worrell moved to accept the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of August 7, 2007, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Project Updates. Mr. Hawley advised that staff found that the plans for the Trail had not been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration. They were sent to another VDOT division. Once the approval is received, they will be sent to the Federal Highway Administration. He hoped that the project would still be completed by spring of next year. Mayor Wade inquired how the Trail would go under the bridge on Route 99. Mr. Hawley provided an explanation for Council and the public. Next, John White advised that since the Trail seemed close to completion, Council needed to think of marketing the Trail. He advised that ads for next year were being reserved now. He suggested an ad be placed in the Virginia Travel Guide 2008 edition at a cost of approximately $7,000. Following discussion, the consensus of Council was to place the ad. Mayor Wade moved on to Cool Springs Field. Dave Hart advised that the goal posts had been installed and the remainder of the work was on target for the first game. The next item was Train Station flooring. Mr. Hawley advised that new flooring was required for the Train Station. Three requests for quotes were sent out and only one returned a full quote for materials and installation and could install by September 8. Stones Carpet was awarded the contract and would be installing the flooring on the 6th of September. Next, Clark Payne gave a report on the Pulaski Rehabilitation and Housing Committee. He reported that the first meeting was an organizational meeting and the following officers were appointed: Clark Payne, Chairman Mike Crabtree, Vice-Chairman He advised that Matt Hanratty, the Town of Blacksburg’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager, gave an educational presentation on the HOME program and to discuss how other Housing Authority’s were operating. He added that the next meeting would be September 10, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Conference room. Mayor Wade moved on to Old Business. Mr. Hawley advised that the Town had been invited to submit a Planning Grant application for the Nanotechnology Business Park and the development of an Economic Adjustment Assistance strategy. The amount of the grant would be $232,500 and would require a match of $232,500. The County had agreed to provide $116,250 towards the match, which would leave the Town with $116,250 for the remainder of the match. These funds would have to be taken from the UDAG fund. The next item on the agenda was take home police cars. Mr. Hawley advised that per Council’s direction, Chief Roche had modified the draft Police Department Take Home Vehicle Policy previously submitted to Council. The amended version was included in the Council packet for review. Following discussion, Councilman Worrell moved to adopt the Police Department “Take Home Car policy”. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert. Mayor Wade commented that he felt the policy should be reviewed in the future to make sure it was working correctly. Councilman Penn added that it could be reviewed annually. Mr. Hawley commented that it could be reviewed during the budget process. The motion then 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2007-15, Special Exception for 241 Randolph Avenue. Mr. Hawley advised that the Ordinance fulfills the direction given to staff. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2007-15, Special Exception for 241 Randolph Avenue, 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to trespassing Ordinance. Mr. Hawley advised that staff would prepare the Ordinance for Council’s review. The next item on the agenda was Resolution 2007-15. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Resolution 2007-15, Authorizing Urban Development Action Grant Funds to Provide Matching Funds for Economic Development Administration Grant for Nanotechnology Park. The motion was seconded by Councilman Penn 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to New Business. Mr. Hawley advised that the first item was Main Street parking. He advised that staff had received some questions regarding the two hour parking on Main Street. Staff and Council had previously discussed the topic. The way the current Ordinance was written prevents tickets being written to those who move their vehicles a few inches in either direction after the Police Department has marked them. Staff asked which direction Council wanted staff to take. Following extensive discussion, staff was directed to install better signage in the downtown area and see if that corrects the situation. The next item on the agenda was Culpeper County Resolution Mr. Hawley advised that the County of Culpeper sent a letter asking whether the Town would be interested in adopting a Resolution to join with other localities to identify and study the local problems caused by illegal immigration. He asked Council to review the information for discussion at the next Work Session. Mayor Wade moved on to Closed Session. Councilman Burchett moved to enter into Closed Session at 8:02 p.m. under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), Consideration of assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, or resignation of specific public officers or employee of the Town and (A-3) Acquisition of real property and (A-3) Disposition of publicly held real property. The motion was seconded by Councilman Penn 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 G. Clevinger, II - Aye At 8:30 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 Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on voice vote on motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Worrell and so carried.