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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-08Minutes of the Town Council meeting held March 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. 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 R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney Bill Webb, Fire Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities John White, Economic Development Director Ervin Barr, Lieutenant Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Craig Quinn, Project Engineer Others: Elisha Cockeran Alcester Cockeran Richard Smith Robert Smith, Sr. Pastor William Smith Elizabeth Peoples Justin Leeper Iman Peoples Dean Cox Pamela Austin Jane Amburn Clark Payne Betty Quesenberry Dorothy Adams Melinda Williams, Pres Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Councilman Penn moved to adopt Resolution 2008-05, Honoring Dorothy Adams, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade presented Resolution 2008-05 to Dorothy Adams. Ms. Adams was recognized for her service to family, friends and neighbors in the area as well as fifty years of service to the congregation as a musician. Mayor Wade read the Resolution aloud and presented it to Ms. Adams. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the February 19, 2008 Town Council meeting. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and it carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Public Operations, with the first item being cost estimate for Council Chamber ceiling replacement and sound system upgrade. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had provided an estimate for replacement of the ceiling tile in the Council Chambers. He advised that staff could paint the tile instead, but several tiles were in poor condition and no replacement tiles were available. Additionally, he advised that the Mayor and staff had met with a sound system representative regarding a new sound system for the Council Chambers. This quote should be provided within a week or so. Following discussion, staff was directed to bring a full estimate to the next session. Next, Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer, introduced Craig Quinn, the new Project Engineer for the Town. Mr. Pedigo continued that Council had received a spread sheet prioritizing the sidewalk replacement needs for the Town. Staff had been asked to provide the information to Council for discussion. Mr. Hawley advised that the Street Improvement budget covered the drainage improvements, paving, and sidewalk and curb and gutter work needed in Town. Following discussion, staff was directed to look at the paving budget and see how much could be allocated for sidewalks. Additionally, staff was directed to get cost estimates for widening English Forest. Mayor Wade moved on to the Trail update. Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director, provided an overview of the tentative plans for the opening of the Trail, which included a 5k walk/run, a bike ride, a bike safety and maintenance class as well as the dedication. The next item on the agenda was the current condition of the Fire Station. Mr. Hawley advised that information had been provided to Council regarding the condition of the Fire Station. A decision would need to be made soon whether to repair the building or replacing the facility. Following discussion, Mr. Hawley advised that staff would look into costs for a new facility and at rehabbing an existing structure in Town. If that did not work, then they would look into repairing the existing building. Councilman Talbert pointed out that the existing building is not large enough. He felt that staff should keep in mind that the building needed to be larger to account for the prospective growth of the Town. Chief Webb agreed. He suggested that a joint safety complex to house both the fire department and the police department would be best. Mayor Wade moved on to Pulaski Area Transit ridership. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had been provided with information regarding ridership in the transit. It appeared that the bus travels less miles per rider on demand than on a fixed route. Mayor Wade stated that he wished to know how many rode the bus from point a to point b. Following discussion, it was suggested to send a questionnaire regarding more use of the transit buses in the water bills. Additionally, to contact the human resource departments at the plants and make them aware of the opportunity and ask how we might help them Mayor Wade moved on to Cemetery Trustees. Mr. Hawley advised that one person needed to be appointed to the Cemetery Trustees Board. Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to prepare a Resolution appointing Janet Johnson to the Cemetery Trustees Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye The next item on the agenda was opening cemetery sites. Mr. Hawley advised that Mayor Wade had asked staff to research the pros and cons for the Town opening grave spaces. Information had been included in the packet. Mayor Wade commented that another alternative to Town staff opening the sites, would be to contract the work out. Following discussion, staff was directed to bring a draft plan back to Council by the next Work Session. The next item on the agenda was Rental Inspection update. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had been provided a spread sheet summarizing the progress of the rental inspections. Staff was continuing to work on the project. Councilman Burchett inquired whether staff had identified an area to target as the next inspection district? Mr. Hawley advised that staff would look at areas with the largest complaints and make sure they met the criteria required. Mayor Wade moved on to Council Chambers security. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had been provided some data regarding options to upgrade the security of the Chambers. He summarized the options. Following discussion, Council directed staff as to which security measures to take. Next, Mayor Wade read a memo of commendation for Officer C. F. Bond. While Officer Bond was unable to attend the meeting, the Mayor and Council expressed their pleasure with his quality of work. Mayor Wade moved on to Finance. Mr. Hawley advised that at Council’s request, staff had included a list of the RF meter locations in Town. He advised that the meters seem to be working well during the test period. The next item on the agenda was VML/VACo. Mr. Hawley advised that VML/VACo had requested funding for lobbying AEP regarding the power rate. Staff needed direction as to whether to send payment during the current budget year, for which no funds had been allowed or waiting until the next budget year. Following discussion, Councilman Talbert moved to direct staff to send $2,024 to VML/VACo out of the current budget. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to health insurance effective date. Mr. Hawley advised that recent discussions brought to the forefront that employee insurance benefits did not go into effect for new employees after 90 days employment. Staff suggested that Council consider offering this benefit after 30 days. He felt it could help with recruitment of employees. Following discussion, Councilman Talbert moved to make the employee insurance effective immediately upon hire. Councilman Burchett seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye The next item on the agenda was Planning Commission comments on screening. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the Planning Commission needed direction from Council regarding the screening ordinance. The questions were related to how far the Ordinance should go regarding residential and industrial areas. Following discussion, the consensus of Council was that the current Ordinances already in place covered the residential areas in Town. The industrial areas could be handled with site plans. Mayor Wade moved on to the site plan for Cycle Systems. Mr. Hawley advised that information had been provided to Council for their review prior to the Public Hearing to be held April 1, 2008. The next item on the agenda was redevelopment and conservation districts. Mr. Hawley advised that Council needed to adopt the guidelines for the redevelopment and conservation districts. The guidelines had been provided for Council to review prior to their adoption at the April 1, 2008 meeting. Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary documents to adopt the guidelines for the redevelopment and conservation districts. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to the Thompson and Litton contract. Mr. Hawley advised that the County Attorney and the Town Attorney had agreed on the language for the Thompson and Litton contract. He asked Council to authorize him to execute the contract with Thompson and Litton. Councilman Worrell moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the Thompson and Litton contract. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Daniel 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 motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Burchett and carried on voice vote.