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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-918894 February 19, 1991 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held February 19, 1991, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Gary C. Hancock, presiding Council Members: Charles D. Crispin, J. R. Schrader, Jr., James R. Neighbors, Andrew L. Graham, W. H. Schrader, Jr., Alma H. Holston, Robert N. Glenn Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney Don E. Holycross, Town Manager Robert J. Lyons, Asst. to the Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Dee Lindsey and Paul Dellinger, News Media Mrs. Polly Mitchell Mrs. Mary L. Duncan Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Warner Mr. and Mrs. Claud Kirkland Mr. Kermit Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Grubb Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Montgomery Mr. Bill Martin Mrs. Beverly Ratcliffe 11 area citizens The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman W. H. Schrader. The Invocation was given by Councilman Graham. After the roll call was taken, on motion made by Councilwoman Holston, seconded by Councilman Crispin, and carried, the minutes of the regular meeting of February 5, 1991, were approved as recorded. PUBLIC The first item on agenda was a public hearing regarding the HEARING requested closing of undeveloped alley located in Blocks 173 and 172 of ALLEY the Town of Pulaski and a portion of C. N. Tester Subdivision. Mr. Holycross reported this was an undeveloped alley located in the southeast section of Town near Calfee Park. The undeveloped alley is generally bounded by Stuart Avenue, Graham Street, 5th Street, and Pierce Avenue. The Public Operations Committee has viewed the area and supports the requested closing. Messrs. George R. McPeak and Elzie Turman spoke in favor of closing the alley. Councilman Crispin made a motion that recommendation of the Public Operation's Committee be accepted and the alley be closed. Town Attorney is to prepare the appropriate ordinance. Motion seconded by Councilman W. H. Schrader and carried on the following recorded vote: February 19, 1991 8895 Charles D. Crispin - Aye Andrew L. Graham - Aye J. R. Schrader, Jr. - Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. - Aye Mary Lou Copenhaver - Absent Alma H. Holston - Aye James R. Neighbors - Aye Robert N. Glenn - Aye PtiBLIC HEARING The second public hearing on the agenda regarded a Community Development Block Grant - application for improvements in the Cool Springs area. Mr. Lyons reported that the application would be in the approximate amount of $400,000 which would extend the sanitary sewer service, drainage improvements, street paving and street lighting. The sanitary sewer would extend 6,600 linear feet of sanitary sewer along Bridge Street, Oak Lane Extension, Bryant Circle, Bentley Hollow Road, Bentley Hollow Lane and Cedar Lane and would serve approximately 33 residences. The storm drainage problem will be improved by the Town's Public Works Department. The street improvements would include paving portions of Tower Street, Oak Lane Extension, Bridge Street, Bentley Hollow Lane and Cedar Lane. Also, Appalachian Power Company would install 25 street lights in the neighborhood. A survey of the area by the Engineering Department of 45 residences show 38 of those respondents were low and moderate income. There are 73 residences in the project area and an attempt will be made to survey the remaining residences. The State will require some local funding and the Town's share will consist of general fund revenue and expenditures directly related to the CDBG. The Town's funding share includes the drainage improvements performed by the Public Works Department, sanitary sewer laterals and connections for LMI residences, and Town staff administrative costs related to the CDBG. At the Council Meeting of March 5, 1991, the staff will request that Council consider a resolution identifying the local funds required as part of the CDBG application. The application deadline is March 8, 1991. The public or Council did not have any comments regarding this application and at 7:10 p.m. the hearing was adjourned. WAR Mayor Hancock stated that Council Members and administration were wearing Desert Storm shirts in support of our troops in the Persian Gulf. He further commended Councilwoman Holston for obtaining these shirts for Council. In hearing from the public, Messrs. Claud Kirkland and J. B. Warner deferred until after the report from the Ordinance Committee. Mayor Hancock called for Council Committee Reports. PUBLIC & PERSONNEL RELATIONS, NOMINATING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Chairwoman Copenhaver was absent. Councilwoman Holston so moved to reappoint Mr. Claud Kirkland, Mrs. Maria Penn, and Mr. Roy T. Rives to the Pulaski Re-Development and Housing Authority for a term of four years, with term to expire February 15, 1995. Motion seconded by Councilman Glenn and carried. 8896 February 19, 19.91 FINANCE FINANCE COMMITTEE Chairman Neighbors reported the Finance Committee had met on February 14, 1991. They reviewed the revenue and expenditure graphs which illustrated the monthly revenue does fluctuate. The peak revenue months are December and June (Real Estate Taxes) and April (Business Licenses). Expenditures are higher in July due to General Liability Insurance and Automobile Insurance, and June (Accounts Payable). A six-month general fund financial review was given by Mr. Holycross. After six months, the Town received 50 percent of its revenue, a 6 percent increase over last fiscal year. The general fund expenditures during the first six months appear favorable. Chairman Neighbors stated that through January, we have expended only 49°s of our budgeted expenditures. Chairman Neighbors and Councilman Graham expressed that expenses are down and felt this was due to management control by Mr. Holycross. Chairman Neighbors also advised that A&L Construction is purchasing LANDFI1s~ale from the Town's landfill for use at the Renfro project which has experienced a settling problem. The Town is receiving a fair market value for the shale. UTILITIES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE Chairman Graham had no report. ORDINANCE COMMITTEE Chairman W. H. Schrader stated the Ordinance Committee had met February 12, 1991, and continued their review of Council rules and procedures. At the request of the Mayor, the Town Manager had drafted a set of Council Council rules and procedures addressing Council meetings, procedures, :Rules & protocol and Council committees. The rules and procedures codify ,procedure~xisting sections of the Town Charter, Town Code, and Robert's Rules of Order. The Ordinance Committee recommended approval of the Council rules and procedures with revisions. Councilman Crispin requested that the document be read aloud. Councilman J. R. Schrader made a motion that reading of the rules and procedures be waived as it had been in the local newspaper, seconded by Councilwoman Holston. Mr. Holycross gave an assiduous summary of the Council rules and procedures which covered Council Meetings, Council Procedure, Protocol, and Council Committees. Motion to waive reading of document then carried. In receiving comments from the public, Mr. Claud Kirkland addressed Council and stated it was sad that Council felt this document was necessary and it would discourage people from coming before Council. It would have an adverse effect on our Town in the New River Valley. He felt the Council seemed not to want to hear from the public. February 19, 1991 8897 COUNCIL RULES & PROCEDURES, CONT. Mr. Kirkland stated he felt the epistle is primarily directed to a group or organization that is legally incorporated and known as the Concerned Citizens for Planned Progress whose purpose was to assist Council in assuring that progress was indeed planned. He stated that if "you can't stand the pressure, maybe you should consider retiring from the boiler room." Mr. J. B. Warner addressed Council as a citizen and not as president of the Concerned Citizens. He stated that after reading the document, Council must feel theatened to be compelled to bring this document before the taxpayers of the Town. He further stated he felt threatened by what is in the document. He felt that Council should let the people speak. He quoted "Congress shall make no law prohibiting the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances." Mr. Warner felt they were being deprived of their freedom of speech. He also stated that perhaps all of us are guilty of some acts or commissions of sins, perhaps being overly anxious to make their point. He asked that the proposed procedures be tabled for a couple of weeks and let people speak. Councilman W. H. Schrader stated the Ordinance Committee recommended, and he so moved, approval of the Council Rules and Procedures as revised, seconded by Councilwoman Holston. 1 ~~ J Councilman Crispin felt as Mr. Warner did; that this document is totally redundant and it is a copy of things already on the books. To generate another document did not seem to be necessary. Councilman Glenn felt that Council had two committee meetings thus far on this matter and he felt Council would prefer to go ahead and vote. Councilman J. R. Schrader felt this document was a guideline to look at instead of going to the Charter. Councilman Graham agreed with the Ordinance Committee and same information is in the Charter, Code, and Roberts Rules of Order, in simple terms. It will be an aid to citizens and to Council. It does not prevent citizens from speaking. Councilwoman Holston stated the document simplifies what is in the Charter, with Vice Mayor Neighbors stated it was a compilation of existing rules and regulations. Councilman W. H. Schrader stated it was not directed to any one group and felt the Mayor runs a good meeting. He further stated that our new Town Manager brought professionalism to the Town. Mayor Hancock stated that for several years we had needed a document for conduct of Council. We can go to one place and get information. Mayor Hancock and Council Members felt we must respect the right of citizens to come before Council and to listen to them. Councilman Crispin stated that Robert's Rules of Order contained rising point of order and felt this should be included in rules. Motion then carried on the following recorded vote: RULES ADOPTED Charles D. Crispin - No Andrew L. Graham J. R. Schrader, Jr. - Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. Mary Lou Copenhaver - Absent Alma H. Holston James R. Neighbors - Aye Robert N. Glenn Aye Aye Aye No 8898 February 19, 1991 PUBLIC OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TOWN NEWSLETTER Co-Chairwoman Holston and Co-Chairman J. R. Schrader had no report. Councilwoman Holston reported that she had received many favorable comments regarding the newsletter. She felt Mr. Holycross and staff should be commended for the newsletter. In answering inquiry from Councilman Crispin, Mr. Holycross stated that the letter was mailed to Postal Customer - Local. In some cases, there may be a few County residents where the corporation limits do not totally coincide with postal boundaries and postal routes. Also, all box holders received a copy. Mr. Holycross advised Council we had received three suggestions thus far. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Hancock had no report TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT Mr. Terwilliger had no report. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT LANDFILL Mr. Holycross gave Council an update on the proposed Wythe/Bland County landfill. Site #39, was initially selected last summer, as the preferred site for the landfill. We objected to this site because some of the surface water drained into Bear Wallow Hollow which eventually drained into Peak Creek. The engineers redesigned the proposed site so that the area draining into Peak Creek would remain undeveloped. We still had concerns about movement of sub-surface ground water. They might be able to design it so that the only surface water that we would receive would be part of the undeveloped part of the site but they could not tell us the direction of ground water under the site. They are now offering site #40 for consideration. The site is located adjacent to site #39 but further away from the Town of Pulaski. Test borings have been done on the site and consulting engineers have now suggested that site #40 is somewhat preferable to site #39. There is a slightly lower total development cost for site #40; there is more usable acreage and there is also a lower cost per ton. They also feel it might be easier to obtain a permit on site #40 because it is slightly farther away from the Pulaski fault. Management and staff will continue to monitor the proposed landfill and keep Council informed. At 8:25 p.m. Vice Mayor Neighbors made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Graham, and so carried. APPROVED: ATTEST ~~ ~ ~~~ Clerk of Council ~' ~~~ ~~~ Mayor