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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-07Minutes of the October 2, 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 Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Gary Roche, Police Chief John White, Economic Development Director Elizabeth Chitwood, Economic Development Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director Others: Pam Austin Jane Amburn Sandy Payne Clark Payne Robert Bopp Morgan Welker Tracey Harriman Janie Hurd Akers Elrica Graham Gloria Mabe Colette Hash Gary L. Hash Nick Glenn Shawn Utt Jennifer White Carol Wade Betty Quesenberry Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Talbert led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Wade announced that the Employee of the Month award for October, 2007 was being presented to Barbara Tate. He read a press release aloud and congratulated Mrs. Tate and presented her with an award. The Mayor noted that in addition to this honor, Mrs. Tate would receive an additional paid day off and be considered for the Employee of the Year award in December. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Sandy Payne addressed Council who asked for an update on the proposed cross training between staff. Additionally, she asked whether the Town had been able to obtain the help of the jail personnel to help the Town clean Peak Creek? Mr. Hawley advised that cross training planned between the Fire Department and the Fire Marshal had not begun because the Fire Department had been short handed recently and the cross training had not yet begun. He added that the Police Department attempt at cross training had not worked out and more work would be done in that area. He also advised that he had not yet contacted the jail. Next, Clark Payne addressed Council advising that he had learned from Police Chief Roche that of the thirty one positions in the Police Department, only twenty one were filled. He noted that he understood that the primary reason that Police Department personnel were leaving was because they had a far inferior salary in comparison to the surrounding area. He asked how the Town could get exceptional results from the police department when it was only 2/3 staffed and underpaid. He suggested dividing the police and fire department pay scale into two identical schedules. He opined that would eliminate having to raise one department’s salary if it was raised in another. Mayor Wade responded that in his opinion, the article in the Southwest Times that stated the differential between Christiansburg and Pulaski was incorrect. He felt the article stated a bigger differential than truly exists. He added that there are municipalities around the Town, including Wytheville, whose pay is less than the Town. He added that you also have to compare apples to apples, so you need to look at the benefits at each police department. The Town allows Police Officers to take their automobiles home and pays all of the employee insurance. Additionally, he advised that the cost of living in Pulaski is lower than Wytheville. Mr. Hawley added that the Town has to grow revenue. Once revenues are higher, then raises and other deficiencies can be reviewed. Councilman Burchett asked the representatives of the quadrant group that were present to ask their fellow citizens whether they would support a small tax increase for salaries. Sandy Payne commented that she felt that drugs were a big problem in Pulaski and if it took a tax increase to retain the police force, then so be it. Mayor Wade commented that other places near the Town have worse drug problems than the Town. He felt that the Town has the perception of being rife with drugs and no one talks about the other places. He commented that even the CIA was having difficulty in their hiring process due to drugs. The next speaker was Morgan Welker. Mr. Welker addressed Council about the highway signs in and around the Town. He spoke of missing signs; signs in the wrong location; faded signs; signs shaped incorrectly; and signs reading north/south in one location on a street and east/west in another location on the same street among other things. Additionally, he suggested extending Duncan Avenue to connect to Dora Highway; making 3rd Street a two way street and Main Street a one way street going the opposite direction. Mayor Wade asked Mr. Hawley how difficult it would be to make another crossing across Norfolk Southern tracks? Mr. Hawley responded that staff looked at this with VDOT when reviewing the 2030 highway plan. He was told that the railroad is not going to approve another grade crossing; that an overpass would have to be constructed across the railroad tracks. He added that staff could request information from VDOT if Council wished. Regarding the street signs complaint, Mr. Hawley advised that staff would review the signs. The next speaker was Pam Austin. Ms. Austin revisited the Police Department discussion, advising that she had some topics that had not been brought out in the earlier discussion. She advised that she understood the point about the differences in the cost of living being one explanation for the differences in the pay scale. However, she pointed out that the Town was losing experienced personnel, which impacted the quality of the police force. She wondered if Council had taken into consideration the costs involved with training the new policemen? She suggested that Council and staff reprioritize so that the Police Department was more prominent. Jane Amburn addressed Council inquiring how the youth would be selected for the Youth Council? Mayor Wade advised that staff was discussing options for the selection. Mr. Hawley advised that Council could discuss it in more detail at the next Work Session. Ms. Amburn also inquired about a blight blitz to help clean Peak Creek? Mr. White advised that several blitzes would be needed to clean around Town. He would provide more information later. Next, Nick Glenn addressed Council regarding street signage, advising that he felt there were volunteers available that would assist the Town in reviewing all the signage in the Town. On the issue of streets, he congratulated Council on the updated streetscape. Additionally, he advised that he was the Vice Chairman of the Flood Mitigation Committee and asked that Council reconsider reconvening the Committee to look at the flood potential for Peak Creek. He stated that he would hate to see the damage that could occur to the downtown area if Peak Creek flooded. He volunteered to serve on the Committee again. Next, Councilman Burchett inquired whether the road to Gatewood Park had ever been named and if so, signage needed to be installed. He asked that this item be completed soon. Additionally, he advised that Council had been told in the past that staff would prioritize the sidewalk replacement schedule and provide the list to Council. To date, no schedule had been provided to Council. At the time of the discussion, Councilman Burchett had commented on the poor upkeep of the Pierce Avenue sidewalk. He reiterated that comment and asked that the sidewalk be included in the review. Next, Mayor Wade advised that GPA was meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. and invited Council to attend the meeting. He opined that it was time to decide what the role of GPA should be and then help them get to that goal. Secondly, the Mayor advised that he had been reviewing the sewer rates in the Town and he asked that staff try to find a flexible rate structure to help those who conserve water. Finally, the Mayor commented that recently the catch phrase “We Are” had been used a lot. He commented that “We Are” the County seat of Pulaski and that all should be working together to make the County and Town the best possible place we can. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Penn moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Minutes of September 4, 2007. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burchett and carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Project Updates. Regarding the New River Trail, Mr. Hawley advised that the Engineering Department conducted a pre-bid conference. Thirteen sets of bid documents have been distributed and are due on October 5, 2007. The next item was substandard structures. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had received a current list of structures requiring action. He advised that since the list was so large, staff would prioritize into groups of five or so for legal action. Mayor Wade moved on to rental inspection update. Mr. Quesenberry provided an update advising that staff had completed a listing of property owners in the historic district and also of property owners in all three rental inspection districts. Rental notification forms to the property owners had been mailed. Deadline for return of the forms was November 14. The next item was Downtown revitalization grant update. Mr. White advised that Council had received a summary packet. Additionally, he noted that some storefronts had been completed without public assistance. He added that a blight blitz was scheduled for October 20 or 27th to work on the back of the buildings along Peak Creek. Additionally, funds had been located that might be available to rehab the Dalton Building. Mr. White also advised that a draft of the telecommunications plan had been received along with a map of the potential outlay of fiber in downtown. Mayor Wade inquired whether the Town insurance would cover the volunteers working on the back of the buildings? Mr. Quesenberry advised that normally volunteers are covered by the Town insurance when assisting with a Town sponsored event, however, he would check with the insurance company to verify. Councilman Burchett inquired whether a waiver could be signed by the volunteers? Mr. Hawley answered that anything like that always helps. Mayor Wade inquired how close fiber was coming to Maple Shade? Mr. White advised that the current plan had fiber going to Maple Shade. Mayor Wade moved on to Comcast franchise. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had reviewed the Comcast franchise and the VML model agreement. There are several items that differ between the two agreements. Staff hoped to have the merged document ready for review by the October 16 Work Session and a Public Hearing scheduled for November. The next item on the agenda was the Trespass Ordinance. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had reviewed several sources for the Ordinance and that an example had been included in the packet. Staff planned to have a draft Ordinance for review at the October Work Session, and planned to ask Council to adopt the Ordinance at the November 6 Council meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to reconsideration of Agency on Aging appointment. Mr. Hawley advised that Mrs. Mitchell had reconsidered her decision not to serve on the Agency on Aging Board. She asked that Council reconsider the action they took appointing Mrs. Betty Quesenberry as the Town representative to the Board. Additionally, he advised that staff now had a citizen, Chris Utt, willing to serve as an alternate on the Agency on Aging Board if they wished to appoint him at this time. Mayor Wade suggested also appointing Mr. Utt as a member of the Cemetery Trust Committee. Mr. Hawley advised that he would ask Mr. Utt whether he would serve on the Cemetery Trust Committee as well, but that Mr. Utt had already agreed to serve as the alternate on the Agency on Aging Board. Mayor Wade moved on to Resolution 2007-16, Authorizing Execution of USDA-Rural Housing Service for Police Department Vehicles grant. Mr. Hawley advised that the Town was awarded grant funds for police vehicles. Council only budgeted enough to match one replacement police vehicle. However, there was enough savings from salaries in the department to match another vehicle. Staff asked permission to transfer the funds from the police department salaries line item to Capital Improvements to cover the match for the second car. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2007-16, Authorizing Execution of USDA Rural Housing Service for Police Department Vehicles Grant and to transfer funds from the police department salaries line item to Capital Improvements to cover the match for the second car. 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 The next item on the agenda was New Business. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had received some complaints regarding the restaurant signs located near N. Washington. Mr. Hawley thought that replacing the poles with a white vinyl pole would help the situation. He felt that the poles could be relocated a little to help the complainants. Another option, providing maps with the restaurants marked, as suggested by the Mayor, could be reviewed by staff if Council wished. Councilman Worrell urged staff to speak with the complainants to see if changing the sign poles and minimal relocation of the signs would help. Councilman Burchett urged staff to find a pole that would blend with the new street lights downtown rather than white vinyl. Council was amenable to this suggestion. At 8:10 p.m., Councilman Burchett moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-3), Acquisition of real property for a public use and (A-3), Disposition of real property for a public use. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark 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 Burchett, 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 There being no further business, Councilman Talbert moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Clark and so carried on voice vote.