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
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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
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Clerk of Council
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Mayor