Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-97April 1, 1997 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held April 1, 1997, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor John A. Johnston, presiding Council Members: James M. Neblett, Lane R. Penn, Bettye H. Steger, Charles W. Stewart, W. Edgar Hale, Joseph L. Weddle, Pauline G. Mitchell, Gerald E. Bolen Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney Thomas M. Combiths, Town Manager David N. Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: J. R. Schrader and Paul Dellinger, News Media Kenneth Wyatt Jeff Worrell Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Schrader, Jr. Glenwood Lockabill HOLIIV APR~INT OOiJNCIL RF~OL. HONORING W. H. SCHRADER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Johnston. Councilman Neblett led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Stewart gave the Invocation. The roll call was taken. Mayor Johnston requested the agenda be changed to hear a report from our Human Resources Committee. Chairman Hale reported the Human Resources met March 28, 1997, at 7:00 a.m. to discuss the appointment to Town Council. The Human Resources Committee recommended that Gerald E. Bolen be appointed to Town Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of W. H. (Rocky) Schrader, Jr. Motion carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Mr. Bolen was welcomed to Town Council. Statement of Economic Irrterest has been received and filed. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, Honorable R. Glenwood Lookabill, then administered the Oath of Office to Councilman Bolen. Councilman Bolen then took his seat as Council Member. Councilman Neblett made a motion that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 18, 1997,. be approved as submitted, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried. Mayor Johnston advised that next on agenda, Council would honor one of their former members. Mayor Johnston read Resolution No. 97-7 Honoring W. H. (Rocky) Schrader, Jr. Councilman Neblett so moved that Resolution No. 97-7 be adopted, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye Mayor Johnston then read and presented a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Schrader for his 12 years of dedicated service to the Town. QOND 'L. Mayor Johnston advised that next on agenda, as advertised, was a public hearing to consider a t1SE request by the Town of Pulaski for a conditional use to construct a finished water booster pump FIN•WATER station on Pierce Avenue. PUMP STATION 9684 9685 ORDINANCE 97-5 ADOFTID April 1, 1997 Mr. Quesenberry reported that the Planning Commission approved this request. This request for construction of a finished water booster pump station falls under the permitted conditional use for property zoned R-2. Mr. Quesenberry stated there has been no opposition received regarding this construction. Councilman Stewart advised that the Town's Engineering Department had considered all the wishes of the Planning Commission in the development of this project, including parking availability, scenery, etc. From the public, Mr. Kenneth Wyatt, Route 1, Box 96, Draper, VA, who owns rental real estate at 142 Pierce Avenue, questioned the size of the building, distance from road, and noise of machinery. Mr. John Hawley, Town Engineer, advised the size of building was 18 ft. x 20 ft., is 25 ft. from the edge of the sidewalk, and there is no noticeable sound of machinery outside the building as the motors are very quiet running. There is also insulation on the inside of the building. Mr. Hawley offered to take property owners to Ridge Avenue station should they wish to visit this site. Mr. Hawley stated the main purpose of this project is to replace the existing pump station on Madison and First Street. Replacement parts for the pump, which has been operating since 1949, could not be found, and water pressure will be better. Councilman Neblett made a motion that Ordinance No. 97-8 Approving a Conditional Use on Pierce Avenue to Allow the Construction of a Finished Water Booster Pump Station be adopted, seconded by Councilman Hale and carved on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye BEAUl'IF~ICATION RF~OLUTION Councilwoman Mitchell stated she had visited the old pump station and it is in poor condition At 4:20 p.m., the public hearing was closed. As there were no comments from the public, Mayor Johnston called for Council Committee Reports. UTILITIES CONIl~IlTTEE: Chairman Neblett had no report. PUBLIC OPERATIONS CONIl~IITTEE: Chairman Penn had no report. ORDINANCE CO1~Il~IITTEE: Chairwoman Steger stated that the Community Crime Committee had not met. Chairwoman Steger read Resolution No. 97-12 "Operation Spruce Up the Town". Councilman Stewart so moved that Resolution No. 97-12 be adopted, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye Chairwoman Steger advised that on Sunday the Dora Highway facility was so filled with debris SANITATION that the trash trucks could not get in. A fence is currerrtly being built. Comments are being DORA may, received from citizens that they are very pleased that they have somewhere to take this debris. 1 ~i April 1, 1997 9686 April 1, 1997 Chairwoman Steger reported that she had attended the United Way banquet and a plaque was presented to the Town of Pulaski for our participation. HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Chairman Hale reported the Human Resources Committee met March 28, entering in executive session concerning Town Council appointment, Planning Commission appointment and Board of Zoning Appeals appointment. ~, Tp Chairman Hale advised that the Human Resources Committee recommends that Kan Fleenor be BD. 71JNING appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals and that the Town Attorney prepare the proper order to APPEALS be entered by the Judge of the Pulaski County Circuit Court for the appointment of Mr. Eleanor for a five year term. Motion carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye APPT. PLAN. Further, the Human Resources Committee recommends that Charles Bird be appointed to the Town ~'M. Planning Commission to replace Joseph Weddle with term to expire August 16, 2002. Motion carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Gerald E. Bolan -Aye Chairman Hale reported that the Human Resources Committee recommended approval of the Town's Travel Policy, with the following modifications: ~~' ~~~ -That the Department Heads certify as to the availability of funds. - That the mileage reimbursement rate will be set annually by Town Council as part of the budget adoption process. - That with review and approval by department head, an employee, dependent upon extenuating circumstances may be allowed to use rental car transportation as a means of travel to destination. - That the mileage reimbursement be sex at 26 cants until adoption of the 97/98 budget. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Steger and tamed on the following recorded vote: ~~' ~~ James M. Neblett -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye ADOPTED Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye Chairman Hale reported that the Town Attorney gave committee a status report regarding the update of personnel policies. The Town Manager had requested that the department heads review the policies for their comments prior to bringing to the Council for their final consideration. BASEBALL Chairman Hale stated the committee had received amendment language to the preamble of the ~' baseball agreement with Pulaski Baseball. Chairman Hale so moved that Town Council approve the agreement with Pulaski Baseball with the amended language to the preamble of the approved agreement. Mr. Terwilliger advised that there was no change to the terms of the agreement. The added language was in the form of a preamble which recited the Town's history of supporting baseball and expressed the Town's desire to work with professional baseball in hopes of getting a permanent team here as opposed to simply a year. We understand this is a commitment for only one year. Mr. Terwilliger advised that $30,000 would be required this season for improvemerrts and this was contingent upon the team getting waivers from the league because there are some things that still do not meet their standards. If the Town were to get a permanent team, there would be significant 3 9687 April 1, 1997 costs involved in renovating Calfee Park or a new facility and this would be something that Council would have to approve. Motion seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: B~~' James M. Neblett -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye ~~~ Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye Gerald EBolen -Aye Chairman Hale reported that the Town Manager briefed Council regarding the amendment to the BURET 97/98 budget calendar indicating a date of May 6 as the deadline for submittal of the budget and budget message to Council as established by the Town Charter. The Manager indicated that the preparation of the budget is behind schedule but that he would definitely meet requirements under the Town Charter for submission by May 6. Chairman Hale advised that the Town Manager reviewed with Council the 1997 street paving eligible and ineligible streets and indicated there could be some minor changes to streets to be included depending upon the use of funds for curb, gutter and sidewalk improvemerrts in addition to street paving. FINANCE COMIVIITTEE: Chairman Stewart had no report. MAYOR' S REPORT: Mayor Johnston distributed correspondence regarding Virginia Municipal League Policy VNII, Committees and requested that Council Members review and if they wished to sign up for one of the committees, to let him know and he will forward to VML. Mayor Johnston advised that the Town was pleased to be recognized by the Governor as 11~1ATE ~K participarrts in the Inmate Work Project, the non-violent prison labor that has helped in cleaning ~ up the Town. Mayor Johnston stated we have notified the Governor that we appreciate the project and it has meant a great deal to the Town of Pulaski because it has saved us several thousand dollars in terms of labor. TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Mr. Terwilliger advised that for informational purposes, the Town Manager and Town Attorney UDAG were directed to begin collection action on the Hoopes UDAG loan. The joint foreclosure with NationsBank is scheduled for Apri14 and a joint suit has been filed against Miller's Mutual Insurance trying to get proceeds of a policy that was paid directly to the Hoopes without any notice being given to the Town nor to NationsBank. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Mr. Combiths gave a projects update, and informed Council that Pulaski County, along with the NRRA Town of Dublin, did make a proposal that they approve back to the New River Resource Authority regarding the membership, specific of Morrtgomery County. There will be a special meeting Wednesday night in Radford to discuss this proposal. Council Members were invited to attend. Mr. Combiths reported that Pulaski County did approve participating, in some manner, with the S~ Town regarding the sewer extension in the Thornspring area regarding Gulf Investments. We still E~IFSISION arrticipate receiving a letter with more details which will be forwarded to the Utilities Committee. Mr. Combiths stated we expect to hear soon from Norfolk Southern regarding the latest proposal concerning the New River Trail Route. Councilman Steward had requested an executive session regarding the New River Trail. Mr. Combiths requested executive session on consultation with legal counsel regarding a specific taxpayer matter. Mr. Terwilliger requested an executive session regarding discussion of acquisition of real estate, namely the Hoopes foreclosure sale Councilman Stewart so moved that Council enter executive session under 2.1-344 (A3) acquisition of real estate regarding the Trail,(3) acquisition of real estate namely in consultation with Council regarding the Hoopes foreclosure, and (A7) consult with legal counsel regarding collection efforts ~] C' 4 April 1, 1997 9(gg involving a specific taxpayer account. Motion seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye B~tye H. Steger -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye At 4:40 p.m. Mayor Johnston called for a recess. At 5:09 p.m. Council entered Executive Session. At 5:58 p.m. Council returned to regular session and adopted Certification Resolution on motion made by Councilman Hale, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph L. Weddle -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye Charles W. Stewart -Aye Gerald E. Bolen -Aye At 5:59 p.m. Councilman Neblett made a motion that Council adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Mitchell and so carried. APPROVID: Mayor Attest: Clerk of Council 5