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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-08 Minutes of the Town Council meeting held November 4, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: David L. Clark, Larry G. Clevinger, II, H. M. Kidd, Joel S. Burchett, Jr., Robert A. Bopp, Morgan P. Welker Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager John White, Economic Development Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director Tom Compton, Building Inspector Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Anthony Meredith, Police Department Others: Robert Hiss Charles R. Bopp Glenn Baublitz Tamara Farmer G. Juanita Richardson F. W. Richardson Janie Hurd Akers James Babb James Holliday Bill Warden P. Sean O'Neal Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Welker led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Bopp gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Clark moved to modify the agenda by deleting an IDA presentation and adding a Proclamation. Councilman Clevinger seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Next, Mayor Worrell introduced the November 2008 Employee of the Month, David Quesenberry. He read a press release aloud and presented a plaque. He noted that Mr. Quesenberry would receive an extra paid day off and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award. Next, Mayor Worrell read a Proclamation For Cougar Pride Day in the Town of Pulaski. He urged all citizens of the Town to demonstrate their support for the Pulaski County Cougar varsity football team as they seek to bring another district title to Pulaski County. He noted that Don Stowers, Superintendent of Schools for Pulaski County, sent a note thanking Council for the Proclamation and advising that he had a conflicting meeting and would not be able to attend the Council meeting. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Councilman Burchett advised of some ornamental trees on the east side of South Washington that had grown up into the power lines. They needed to be cut down or trimmed. He suggested removing them and replacing them with small trees. ayor Worrell interjected that AEP would be working in the area soon and would either trim the trees or replace them. r. Hawley advised that staff had planned to allow AEP to cut them back and then look at the trees to decide whether hey could be salvaged by trimming them up or replacing them. 1 ~-~-C Following discussion, the consensus of Council was to allow AEP to cut them back and then look at the trees to decide whether to trim them up or replace them. Next, Councilman Burchett asked whether Christmas lights could be hung along South Washington at least to the 3`d or 4`h Street intersection. Mr. Hawley advised that staff would review their decorations and try to fulfill that request. Next, Councilman Burchett asked whether a rolling work session could be scheduled to ride around Town and discuss the assets and areas of need in the Town. Mayor Worrell commented that he and the Town Manager had already discussed this idea and hoped to have a suggestion for the date by the next Council Work Session. Next, Councilman Bopp suggested putting the trolley in the Pulaski and the Dublin Christmas parade and inviting the Board of Supervisors to ride with Council in the trolley in the parade. Council was in agreement with the suggestion and staff advised that they would issue the invitation and register for the Dublin parade. Councilman Bopp then inquired how leaf collection time is determined? Mr. Hawley advised that each season the staff tries to determine when the majority of the leaves will have fallen and sets the schedule accordingly. Next, Councilman Burchett inquired how the County assesses the value of rental property versus a personal residence? Mr. Hawley advised that he did not know the answer, but would forward the question to the County. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of October 7, 2008. He advised that on page eight, near the bottom of the page, it should read that Mr. Warburton's daughter worked for Wachovia Financial Services. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the minutes of the October 7, 2008 as amended, seconded by Councilman Bopp and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Project Updates. The first item was meter installation. Bill Pedigo provided an update on the meter installation advising that approximately one hundred meters had been installed and they were progressing well. Next, Mr. Pedigo advised that staff had not begun work on the Peppers Ferry Water line. Staff had been tied up with several water line breaks. It was hoped to begin work on the lines by the end of the week. Councilman Welker inquired when the water billing would be changed to one hundred gallon increments? Mr. Hawley advised that staff planned to begin the one hundred gallon increment billing in January, 09. The next item on the agenda was Loving Field transfers. Mr. Hawley advised that the surveys on the Loving Field land had been completed. A closing had been scheduled for the land sale to Mrs. Akers. The deed to the County would be completed in the next few weeks. Mayor Worrell moved on to Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum update. 2 ~ 1-y.~ ~ Mr. Hawley advised that staff was making progress on the paperwork for this project. Staff had filed the forms to in~iate the project with VDOT and the right of way certificate had been requested. He added that Dave Hart was working on the request for a project review for the Department of Historic Resources. The next item on the agenda was Old Business. Mayor Worrell advised that Ordinance 2008-20, Granting a Special Exception for a Day Care Center and an After School Program completed the action of Council. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2008-20, seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Next, Mayor Worrell advised that Ordinance 2008-21, Closing An Undeveloped Alley Between 8~' Street, NW and 9`~ Street, NW completed the action of Council. Councilman Burchett moved to adopt Ordinance 2008-21, Closing An Undeveloped Alley Between 8`h Street, NW and 9`" Street, NW, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell advised that Resolution 2008-33, Command Vehicle For Fire Department also completed the action of Council. Councilman Clevinger moved to adopt Resolution 2008-33, Command Vehicle For Fire Department. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was Memorandum of Understanding with Pulaski Baseball, Inc. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had an updated copy of the Memorandum of Understanding. Additionally, they hsd costs for three variations of the batting cage under discussion. He asked Mr. Hawley to elaborate. Mr. Hawley summarized the changes between the last document and the updated copy. He reviewed three options for the construction of the batting facility. Mayor Worrell asked Mr. Hawley to review funding sources for this project. Mr. Hawley advised that monies were available from the sale of Loving Field. Additionally, funds were available from extra ticket sales at the ball park. Councilman Burchett inquired whether the School Board had been approached about funding a portion of the batting facility? ~ ~- y_O ~ Mr. Hawley advised that the School Board had not been approached. It was felt that the booster clubs for the baseball and softball teams would probably try to help. He advised that he could send a letter to the School Board. Mayor Worrell commented that if Council was agreeable to the project, he would like to see the construction begin right away. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to accept the Memorandum of Understanding and to build the wood frame and siding version of the batting facility. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevenger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevenger, II, -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority sulfate allocation & surcharge program. Mr. Hawley advised that the Authority was offering a new program whereby the Town could pay a surcharge to have their sulfate poundage increased. Since, the Town previously allocated it's poundage to James Hardie Building Products, this means James Hardie's poundage could be increased. The Town and James Hardie sent a letter to the Authority indicating their desire to participate in the program. The Town will be billed for any overage and this surcharge would be passed to James Hardie Building Products in their monthly bill. Councilman Welker moved to approve the sulfate allocation and surcharge program seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevenger, II, -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. The first item was Resolution 2008-30, Nominating Citizens for Appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals. He advised that Danny Underwood and Phillip Madison had agreed to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2008-30, Nominating Citizens for Appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevenger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevenger, II, -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Next, Councilman Kidd moved to direct the Town Attorney to file the appropriate paperwork in court for the appointment of Danny Underwood and Phillip Madison to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a five year term. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevenger, II, -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was to establish a grade for the Human Resource Manager. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had funded a new position for Human Resource Manager for the Town. The position was filled in July. However, the Classification Plan did not include a Human Resource Manager. Staff reviewed the criteria and determined that the position would be a Grade 10. 4 ! i-~-~ Councilman Clevinger moved to add the Human Resource Manager to the Classification Plan at Grade 10. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to a request from the New River Valley Fine Arts Center for assistance with sign repair on I-81. He advised that the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley exit 94B sign on southbound 81 was blown down during a windstorm. They were requesting assistance in reinstalling the sign. Mr. Hawley added that after the County had checked with VDOT, the only option is to hire the contractor that VDOT contracts with to reinstall the sign. The suggestion was made that the County, the Town and the Fine Arts Center each pay 1/3 of the cost ($854.02 each). Councilman Welker asked why the Town couldn't reinstall the sign? Mr. Hawley advised that VDOT would not allow that. Councilman Clark moved to share the 1/3 cost for the Fine Arts Center sign replacement. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker - No Mr. Welker noted that he voted no because he felt it was wrong that they had to hire the VDOT contractor to reinstall 1~-e sign, when Town staff could do the job. Mayor Worrell advised that the first Council meeting in December falls the Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday. The packet would have to be prepared on the short Thanksgiving week. He suggested consolidating the two December Council meetings to one meeting on December 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Clark moved to consolidate the December Council meetings into one meeting on December 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II, -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clevinger, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. ~.