Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-17-08Minutes of the Town Council meeting held June 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm. 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 R.D. Warburton, Town Attorney Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Webb, Fire Chief Chip Hutchinson, Fire Marshal Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Others: Gary Houseman Patricia Aust Weeks Patrick O`Dell Robert Bopp French Miller James Babb Chris Hall Betty Quesenberry Betty Quesenberry Jane Amburn Sabrina Hall Janie Hurd Akers Linda Hall James Holliday Victoria Pedigo Carol Wade H.M. Kidd Clark Payne Elizabeth Chitwood Melinda Williams, Press Kevin Litten, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Councilman Penn moved to add item 10 b to the Agenda: A closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711(A-3), Disposal of property. 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 Next Councilman Penn moved to adopt Resolution 2008-14, Honoring Sabrina Hall. 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 recognized Jamie McCarty, who was Ms. Hall’s coach. Next, Mayor Wade called Sabrina Hall to the front and presented her with Resolution 2008-14, Honoring Sabrina Hall For All State In Track and Cross Country. He read the Resolution aloud, congratulated her and also presented her with a t-shirt from the Town. The next item on the agenda was Public Hearings. Mr. Hawley advised that the first hearing was in regard to the 08-09 budget. The Hearing was required by law and then the budget could not be adopted for another 7 days according to the Charter. Council would have to call a special meeting to adopt the budget next week. Mayor Wade opened the Public Hearing at 5:06 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. The next hearing was for the CIP. Mr. Hawley advised that there were few items included in the 08/09 budget under CIP. This was due to the large debt service due on the site preparation for James Hardie, so the Town had to limit capital improvements for the coming year. He stated that the new Council would need to review several items for the CIP for the next fiscal year and the next five years. Mayor Wade opened the Public Hearing at 5:09 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the hearing was closed. Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to schedule a Called meeting to adopt the budget and CIP after 7 days, 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 the Consent Agenda, consisting of the minutes of the May 20, 2008 Council Work Session. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the minutes of May 20, 2008 as written. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Public Operations. Mr. Hawley advised that included in the packet was information regarding the use of golf carts on streets. Additionally, staff had gathered some information that had not been provided to Council until the extent of Council’s interest was determined. He called on Mrs. Patricia Aust Weeks to give her presentation. Mrs. Weeks told Council that she had been planning to ask Council to allow golf carts to drive on the roads and the paperwork that she had provided for the packet supported that request. However, she had just learned that afternoon of a legal, road ready electric golf cart that was available and she asked Gary Houseman, the representative from Huff Ford Motors in Wytheville to explain. Mr. Houseman advised that their dealership sold road ready electric automobiles. He advised that they look like golf carts but were actually electric automobiles. He stated that the vehicles are already DMV recognized and are listed in the DMV code. They have a VIN number; they have to be titled in the state of Virginia; they have to have insurance and they must be tagged. They can operate on any street under 45 miles per hour. They can cross intersections of 45 or 55 miles per hour. He advised that he had a display model of the vehicle in the Town parking lot if anyone wished to view it. Following Mr. Houseman`s presentation, Mr. Hawley asked Council if they wanted staff to continue to research golf carts on Town roads, or since the electric automobiles were already available, was it a moot point? Mayor Wade commented that certainly the golf carts were less expensive, but there were a lot more issues surrounding using a golf cart versus something that is already street legal. Councilman Burchett said that he saw several references to other Towns who were using the golf carts. He thought it would be good to continue gathering information for a future Council meeting and report back to Council at a later date. The next issue the Town needed to deal with was a request from a person who had an ADA permit to drive a golf cart on the New River Trail. Would they also be allowed to drive on the Pulaski extension of the Trail? Would any handicapped person be allowed to do the same? Following discussion, Councilman Worrell moved to direct staff to prepare an Ordinance for the Town to honor the state trail permit for the use of golf carts on the New River Trail. Councilman Talbert seconded the motion and it 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 discussion regarding a youth center. Mr. Hawley advised that French Miller wished to speak with Council regarding establishing a youth center in Town. Mr. Miller advised that they hoped to establish a youth center in a building on Main Street. He asked for Council’s assistance in applying for a grant to cover the monthly bills, including the mortgage, insurance, and utility bills. Additionally, he asked whether something could be worked out with the transit system for the teens to have a bus pass to travel to and from the youth center. Following discussion, Mayor Wade suggested that Council discuss this with the Board of Supervisors to join together to help with this effort. Additionally, Council felt they needed more specific information on paper from Mr. Miller including a business plan. The next item on the agenda was a request from the Friends of the Theatre to include a flyer in the water bill. Mr. Hawley advised that the Friends of the Theatre had requested that a flyer be mailed with the water bill. The group would provide the copies. There would be no additional cost to the Town because the flyer was only one page. Mayor Wade commented that Council needed to develop some criteria for this type of request. Councilman Talbert moved to allow the Friends of the Theatre brochure to be mailed with the water bill. Councilman Worrell 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 Mayor Wade moved on to Legislative. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had drafted an Ordinance amending the zoning regulations to add screening requirements for the Business District. This completed the action of Council. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2008-11, Amending the Zoning regulations to add screening requirements for the Business District. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and it 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 Ordinance 2008-12. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had determined that the meals tax needed to be increased to help balance the budget. This Ordinance completed the action of Council. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Ordinance 2008-12, Amending the Meals Tax, 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 The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2008-13, Amending the Cigarette Tax. Mr. Hawley advised that this Ordinance had to be adopted prior to the adoption of the 08/09 budget. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2008-13, Amending the Cigarette Tax, 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 compensation plan. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had composed an eight step compensation plan for Council’s consideration. He added that a longevity step would also need to be considered. Following discussion, Councilman Penn moved to direct staff to amend the current compensation plan to include the eight step compensation plan, seconded by Councilman Burchett 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 budget was electrical code review. Mr. Hawley advised of the receipt of a letter from a local electrician requesting that council review the current electrical code. He complained of unlicensed people wiring buildings incorrectly, which could result in fires. He hoped that an Ordinance could be prepared to address safety violations. Mr. Hawley advised that the Town had adopted the International Building Code and there may not be a method for the Town to make any significant changes. He felt that perhaps some education to notify the citizens of what the code requires and when a building permit is required might be helpful. Mr. Penn commented that this problem exists every where. He sympathized with the contractor, but commented that we’re not policemen. Mayor Wade asked whether it would be appropriate to put an article in the paper from time to time informing the public of when you need a building permit and why? Staff agreed with the suggestion. Mayor Wade moved on to Deputy Fire Marshal. Mr. Hawley advised that a part time position to help the Fire Marshal had been included in the budget. It was felt that the position should hold the title of Deputy Fire Marshal and begin the certification process needed to assure a smooth transition should the current Fire Marshal decide to retire. The consensus of Council was that this was a decision for the Town Manager. Mayor Wade commented that since this was his last official Council meeting, he wanted to commend Lane Penn, Dan Talbert, Jeff Worrell, Joel Burchett, Dave Clark and Larry Clevinger for the execution of their duties as an elected official. He added “but most importantly, I want to thank each of you for working as a team. I know that there have been some that have indicated that there has been some occasional breach in this team work, but I’ve not seen it and I think it’s one of the strongest things I’ve seen you do in the last four years of working together. And I personally appreciate that and wish you all a lot of luck in the coming years”. At 5:56 p.m., Councilman Penn moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), Discussion, consideration or interview of prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officer, appointees or employees of any public body and (A-3), Disposal of property. 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 At 6:10 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 Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Next, Councilman Worrell moved to adopt the contract with Roy David Warburton, 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 announced that there would be a called meeting on June 24 at 5:30 p.m. to adopt the 2008-2009 budget and Capital Improvement Plan. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Talbert and so carried.