Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-05-95September 5, 1995 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held September 5, 1995, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Andrew L. Graham, Jr., presiding Council Members: John A. Johnston, John W. Stone, Bettye H. Steger, W. H. Schrader, Jr., W. Edgar Hale, Alma H. Holston, E. G. Black, Jr. Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney Thomas M. Combiths, Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: J. R. Schrader and Paul Dellinger, News Media Barry Matherly • Bob Henderson Claude Newman Bill Manning Kathleen Repass Shirley More6eld Jack Warburton The meeting was called to order by Mayor Graham. Councilman Black led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Johnston gave the Invocation. Following the roll call, Councilwoman Holston so moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of August 15, 1995, be approved as submitted after correction, seconded by Councilman Hale and carried. Vl~ Mr. Bill Manning and Mr. Claude Newman, VFW No. 1184, presented a print of the Pulaski PRES . County War Memorial to the Town of Pulaski. Mayor Graham acc~ted the print on behalf of the TO Town. Mr. Manning stated the prints were available at a cost of $5.00 each. Profits would go TOWN toward maintenance of the Memorial and replacement of flags. Council then set a public hearing regarding the Enterprise Zone for the September 19, 1995, 7:00 PUBLIC p.m. Council Meeting. HEARING ENTERPRI SFProm the public, Mr. Henry Hall addressed Council regarding the trimming of trees in Oakwood ZONE Cemetery. Mr. Combiths, along with Public Works Director Mike Jenkins, will go with Mr. Hall CEMETERY to the cemetery to view these trees in question. TRAIN Mr• Bob Henderson, on behalf of Mrs. Virginia Kelly MacNeal, addressed Council regarding a STATION grant application requesting $10,000 from the C. E. Richardson Foundation for funding the writing of the History of the Pulaski Train Station. Mr. Henderson asked that Town Council endorse this application. Mr. Henderson stated that many hours had been spent collecting data and photographs for this project and that Gibson Worsham had agreed to write the manuscript. Mr. Henderson would design and do the pre-press and Edmonds Printing Co. would produce the books. Mayor Graham advised that Mrs. MacNeal had worked very hard on behalf of the train station. A crnnmittee was to be appointed for the Train Station/Museum/Park Complex and and Mayor Graham felt recommendations should come from the committee being appointed. Councilman Johnston questioned if the history should not be written after the Train Station project has been crnnpleted. A master plan is being prepared by Virginia Tech and after all of this is underway, Mayor Graham felt the book would be a super idea. There being no further comments from the public, Mayor Graham called for Council Committee Reports. UTILITIES COMMITTEE Chairman Johnston had no report, however, he advised that the Utilities Committee would be meeting prior to the next Council meeting. They are still working on trying to come up with some parameters for issuing a permit to Magnox for inclusion in our sewer system. Peppers Ferry will meet on Thursday. 9616 9617 September 5, 1995 FINANCE COlVIlb1ITTEE Chairman Schrader advised that the Finance Committee had met briefly just prior to the Council Meeting regarding the Errterprise Zone. HUMAN RESOURCES COMIVIlTTEE PERSONNEL In the absence of Chairman D'Ardenne, Vice Chairman Hale reported that the Human Resources POLICIES Committee had met August 22 and August 29. At the August 22 meeting, two sets of draft personnel policies were distributed for the committee's review. The third set has also been completed by the Town Attorney. In order to keep the review manageable, the committee will be reviewing a couple of policies at a time. The following policies were discussed: Purpose and Disclaimers; Americans with Disabilities Ad and Compliant Procedure; Court-Ordered Volunteers; and Employee Identification Cards. Since the Town does not have a centralized personnel system, many of the policies refer to Personnel Officer, ADA Coordinator or designation other than common job titles; therefore, the committee requested the Town Manager to clarify the designation of positions responsible for individual policies. Additional policies related to the use of cellular phones, computer software and computer security are also currently being developed. The Human Resources Committee errtered an executive session on a personnel matter to discuss two specifically named individuals. Co-Chairman Hale reported that the staff is currently analyzing the Board of Economic Development's request for an Administrative Assistant in the Economic Development Departmexrt. After the job description and classification plan analysis are finalized, this will be scheduled for Council's review. COMMITTEE Co-chairman Hale also advised that the Human Resources Committee recommanded that the TRAIN STATION following be appointed to the Pulaski Train Station/Museum/Park Complex: MUSEUM/PARK COMPLEX Mr. John Wampler, Dr. Milton Brookmeyer, Mr. Thornton G. Wampler, Mrs. Jean Whitman, Mr. Beverly Ratcliffe Holtz, Mrs. Betty Kirkner, Mrs. Bettye Steger, Council representative, Mr. Hugh Huff. Mayor Graham will be ex-offico member, Mr. Mark Hufeisen, who is coordinating the New River Trail, will act as advisor, and Mr. Barry Matherly will be the staff member. This committee will come under the direction of the Board of Economic Development. Mayor Graham stated that this Committee will be charged with coming up with a Master Plan for the development of this complex. Human Resources recommendation carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr. -Abserrt John W. Stone -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT COMPREHENSIVE Mr. Combiths reported that the Town Council and Planning Commission held a joint worksession PLAN on August 29, 1995, to discuss the Town's Comprehensive Plan. Under Virginia law, every five years this Plan must be reviewed. It was the recommendation from this meeting that the Planning Commission and staff will primarily complete this project in-house. However, staffwill be discussing the resources of Virginia Tech and the Planning District Commission as to what support and/or assistance could be rendered to the Town in this effort. PUBLIC OPERATIONS DRAINAGE Chairwoman Holston reported that the Public Operations Committee met September 1. From the public, Ms. Kathleen Repass (12 4th Street S.E.) and Ms. Shirley Morefield (9 4th Street S.E.) addressed Council with their concerns with drainage problems. Ms. Morefield lives at the bottom of 4th Street. By the time the water gets to the bottom of the street there is a lot of force and a lot September 5, 1995 DRAINAGE, continued of pressure. A petition was presented from residents to the Town for improvemerrt/repair to drain system on Fourth Street, S.E. This drainage problem has been reviewed by Town staff and discussed with Ms. More6eld. Ms. Morefield is now disabled and unable to share in the cost of improvements. Mr. Combiths was asked to look into this problem. Mayor Graham advised that the Town has a policy whereby the developer would pay 100% for curb and gutter or citizens on the block who want curb or guttering would go 50/50 on the cost if all of them would sign up. Mayor Graham reported that the people above Ms. Morefield had grassed out to the asphalt and due to the steep grade, the water washes down. Mayor Graham felt this drainage problem repair was a management decision and he did not feel a need for committee to look into this. Chairwoman Holston advised that the Public Operations Committee had reviewed the Drainage Policy/Report which was before Town Council, and gave total culverts needed along with the total cost. Chairwoman Holston stated she was very proud of the report that the Director of Public Works, Mike Jenkins, prepared on the Drainage Report and Policy. Suggested changes to the Town's current ordinance regarding curb, gutter, sidewalks and curb cuts were: 1) the implementation of a driveway permit program; 2) clarify language on driveway and curb cuts making the property owner 100% responsible for cost; and 3) implement relief program for elderly and handicapped residents or special assessments. A Public Operations Committee meeting will be scheduled with full Council to go over the suggested changes with the Director of Public Works and to view a video of drainage problems in Town. Also, the Town Attorney investigated the Town's legal obligation and liabilities. Mr. Combiths reported that at the last joint government's meeting with Town Council along with EMS the Board of Supervisors and the Town of Dublin, they were briefed by Finch & Associates who have completed the County-wide emergency medical services study. The County Board of Supervisors accepted the recommendations of Finch and Associates. The two rescue squad organizations would stay two organizations, however, they would be governed by a Board. The transition committee would consist of representative from Town of Pulaski, Town of Dublin and Pulaski County, which evolved to be the County Administrator and two Town Managers. This transition committee, along with representatives from the two hospitals, would work on a six month plan to address: 1) funding on an interim basis, 2) professional EMS services at a cost of about $10,000/month. They would need to know what the hospitals' contribution would be before the Town of Pulaski addresses that issue. The transition committee would have the responsibility during this 6 month period of time to address several issues: 1) billing for services; 2) membership; 3) volunteer appreciation; 4) emergency dispatching, county-wide; and 5) advanced life support would be provided on 90% of our rescue calls. EMS STUDY Chairwoman Holston advised that the Public Operations Committee recommended acceptance of ACCEPTED the Finch & Associates EMS Study recommendations and concurrence with the Board of Supervisors recommendations from August 16, 1995. Motion carved on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye John W. Stone -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr. -Absent W. Edgar Hale -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye Chairwoman Holston advised that the Federal Railroad Administration, pursuant to the Swift Rail Development Act of 1994, will require sounding of train homs at all highway rail crossings within two years, thus preempting local ordinances that silence train homs. The Town Attorney will submit comments to the Federal Railroad Administration regarding possible alternatives to their proposal. Council returned to the discussion of the drainage problems. Recommendations were also requested on the drainage problem at Amolds residence on Pinnacle Street, Bertha Street and at the end of Henry Avenue where it enters Main Street. 9618 ~ 9619 September 5, 1995 I ORDINANCE COMMITTEE ORDINANCE CONIlVIITTEE Chairwoman Steger advised that problems of the Ordinance Committee were the vehicles being covered and dogs barking. Chief Cooley is down to 28 vehicles to be moved. Our preserrt ordinance does not specify how many covered vehicles a residence may have. Mr. Terwilliger stated he thought the State Code stated screened from view. One method to screen is to cover. Council does have the authorization to limit the number of vehicles that any given resident might have at one time. Chairwoman Steger also advised that Chief Cooley had provided her with a listing of complairrts of barking dogs, etc. that he is working on. Mayor Graham advised that the Virginia Municipal League has available a copy of a standard ordinance concerning BPOL. Mr. Combiths is to have the Ordinance Committee review the ordinance as well as the Finance Committee. MAYOR' S REPORT Mayor Graham did not have anything further to report. TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT Mr. Terwilliger had no report. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Combiths stated he had prepared a follow up to Council from last Council meeting regarding items to be checked out, and asked if Council had any questions. Mr. Combiths gave a projects update. Mr. Combiths stated that they hope to have a draft sewer rate study to Council by the end of this month. Regarding the street sweeper, Mr. Jenkins is evaluating the bids and a decision will be reached in about two weeks. Mayor Graham requested that Mr. Combiths look into the storm drain in alley, Main Street and Third Street. There is a possible blockage in the storm drain. Mr. Combiths will also look into the flower barrels on Main Street and remove if necessary. At 5:27 p.m., Council adjourned on motion made by Councilwoman Steger, seconded by Vice ~~ Mayor Schrader and carried. 1 MA OR Attest: ~(. ..%r~ erk of Council 1 fl