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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-18-969593 June 18, 1996 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held June 18, 1996, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Andrew L. Graham, Jr., presiding Council Members: John A. Johnston, Lane R. Penn, Bettye H. Steger, W. H. Schrader, Jr., Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr., W. Edgar Hale, Alma H. Holston, E. G. Black, Jr. Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney Thomas M. Combiths, Town Manager Robert J. Lyons, Assistant Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: J. R. Schrader and Paul Dellinger, News Media Patricia Lucas Mary Lee Duncan Syd Kibodeaux Wade Bartlett Jim Neblett Pauline Mitchell Dave Hart Charles Stewart The meeting was called to order by Mayor Graham. Councilman E. G. Black led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman D'Ardenne gave the invocation. Following the roll call, Councilwoman Holston so moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of June 4, 1996, be approved as submitted, seconded by Councilman D'Ardenne and carried. First on the agenda was consideration of Resolution No. 96-20 Proclaiming June 25, 1996 - RF~OLITITON August 8, 1996 as Pride Season. N0. 96-20 ~~ ~ Mr. Syd Kobodeaux, Southwest Times, presented bumper stickers and poster to Town Council regarding "Pride Season" and stated he appreciated Council's support. Mayor Graham stated that many individuals and businesses supported the "Pride Season" and he was very proud of our community. Councilman D'Ardenne read Resolution No. 96-20 and so moved that resolution be adopted, seconded by Councilwoman Holston and carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye Roy H. D' Ardenne, Jr. -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye Next on agenda was consideration of Resolution No. 96-19 New River Valley Intermodal pN Transportation Center. N0. 9F~19 NRV IlDAL Mr. Combiths stated that we were not able to confirm the attendance of Mr. Nicely at this meeting, 'TRANSP. but this item originated from discussions of the Pulaski Encouraging Progress Committee that the ~'~ Council supports and also the New River Valley Planning District Commission has worked in this area. Also, our Assistant Town Manager has been working with the Planning District Commission. Councilman D'Ardenne advised that PEP and the Town Council would be supporting the developmerrt of the concept of an "Intermodal Transportation Facility" in the New River Valley. Councilwoman Holston stated that the Town would support PEP in their efforts to organize a Transportation Summit in September with Federal, State and local political leaders and other transportation experts. June 18, 1996 Councilwoman Holston made a motion that Resolution No. 96-19 be adopted, seconded by Councilman D'Ardenne and carried on the following recorded vote: 9594 John A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D' Ardenne, Jr. -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye Councilman D'Ardenne stated if more information is needed on this matter, Dave Rundgren, NRVPD should be contacted. Mr. Lyons attended a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting and they talked briefly about the Irrtennodal facility and will try to coordinate their efforts with PEP. The New Century Council has also expresser) an interest in this. Mr. Lyons will keep Town Council updated on this endeavor. As there were no comments from the public, Mayor Graham called for Council Committee Reports. UTILITIES COMMITTEE: Chairman Johnston had no report, however, he requested that a Utilities Committee meeting be scheduled. FINANCE COMNIlTTEE: Chairman Schrader reported that the Finance committee met prior to the Council Meeting and VRS discussed VRS benefits and changes in the State laws; two House Bills, HB 901 and HB 1407. ~ ACIZON We must notify the VRS by July if the Town has any opposition to these bills. It was the TAIL consensus of Council that no action betaken. Chairman Schrader stated that staff had informed them that our property/casualty insurance bids were in and we were very fortunate that the bids were lower than budgeted. Chairman Schrader advised that the committee had discussed the July 4th evern and wished the hospital and PSK every success in this event. RECIZFATT~i Chairman Schrader reported that we had been notified that State Parks and Recreation Assessment would beheld June 25 and June 26. Members of Council would be interviewed by Members of this committee. Chairman Schrader stated that the committee had discussed the Senior Center, and the fact that we ~~ have one employee that is no longer with us. Chairman Schrader made a motion that the Town ~~ Manager be authorized to meet Senior Center staffing needs for the remainder of the calendar year by utilizing previously budgeted funds to provide temporary staffmg in cooperation with the Agency on Aging. He urged the administration to start recruitment process for new Director and hopefully there can be some overlap and start January 1st on a good note, move forward and keep the program going. Motion seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorder) vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D' Ardenne, Jr. -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye HUMAN RESOURCES: Chairman D'Ardenne advised the Human Resources Committee had met June 4 and June 12 in executive sessions on personnel matters regarding specifically named individuals. The committee also met earlier in the day in conjunction with the Finance Committee regarding the Agency on Aging. Chairman D'Ardenne requested an executive session to discuss three personnel matters, specifically named individuals. NEW CENTURY COUNCIL COMNIITTEE: 2 -=9595 Jury 18, 1996 Councilman D'Ardenne advised this committee had met June 6 to review a letter that the New CE~IILIRY River Planning District Commission has spent a large part of their last three meetings discussing ~~' related to the New Century Council. It has been expressed the NCC would listen to the Planning Commission's recommendations very carefully and give them serious consideration. The Leadership Committee of the New Century Council has acted on some of the recommendations. The Planning Commission does see very strong benefits with the group speaking as a whole for the entire region in obtaining state assistance and conveying regional concerns. A final draft of the Planning Commissions letter was reviewed and they will meet on the 27th of June to act on this letter. It is anticipated that the letter will be approved at the meeting. The Commission's letter suggested three major areas of concern: 1) committee structure and responsibilities; 2) specific strategies versus universal policy, and 3) the lack of organizational and membership accountability Each of these concerns were reviewed with the committee concurring with the planning commission's recommendation. Councilman D'Ardenne stated the New Cerrtury Council had already completed a needs analysis and received $600,000 from the New River Valley with the 251eading businesses from Roanoke Valley. The New Century Council plans to link 251eading businesses from the New River Valley with 25 leading businesses from the Roanoke Valley. ' The committee recommended a special Council Meeting be held June 28, 1996, at 7:30 a.m. to QOt1~1(,IL adopt the letter the Planning Commission will act on the night before and to ask the Planning ~~ Commission to represent the Town of Pulaski in regard to the New Century Council. Motion carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr. -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Alma. H. Holston -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye Mayor Graham stated the Town appreciates Councilman D'Ardenne spending time on the New Century Council committee. PLANNING COMMISSION: Councilman D'Ardenne advised the Planning Commission held a work session on the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission reviewed the Housing Element, Utilities Element, Economic Development Element and Recreation and Open Space Element. PUBLIC OPERATIONS COMNIlTTEE: Chairwoman Holston advised that at the last meeting, Reverend Covey talked to Council regarding PF~HII~ND DRIVE Peakland Drive. Mr. Jenkins had indicated that the Peakland sewer project is scheduled to begin week of July 8, after the completion of the Pierce Avenue project. Paving will not be done until after the sewer project with late August completion date. ORDINANCE COMIVIlTTEE: Chairwoman Steger advised the Ordinance Committee had met on June 17 reviewing in detail the ordinances they were trying to bring to Council. Some language changes will be made to bring some questions up to date. Mr. Terwilliger has consolidated and edited some different sections of the provisions dealing with trash, weeds, inoperable vehicles, buildings, and nuisances, Chapter 7. If adopted, this ordinance would be effective July 1, 1996, and includes State code amendmerrts. Mr. Terwilliger suggested that since we will have a special Council Meeting on June 28, 1996, to go ahead and put this item on the agenda. After careful reading, if anyone has any changes or comments, they can get them to Mr. Terwilliger before the special meeting. Chairwoman Steger advised that they wanted to be very fair and give the citizens time to make any corrections that they could before July 1st. Mr. Terwilliger advised that changes had been well publicized. 1 June 18, 1996 959x6 Chairwoman Steger so moved that Ordinance No. 96-23 be placed on the June 28, 1996, special Council Meeting agenda, seconded by Councilman D'Ardenne, and carried on the following recorded vote: Nuisance ~d~ceJohn A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D' Ardenne, Jr. -Aye to be considered atLane R. Penn -Aye W. Edgar Hale A e Spec. Meeting 6/28 - Y Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye Chairwoman Steger stated she appreciated all the hard work by the Town Attorney and Assistant Town Manager in their study of this ordinance. CRIME CONTROL REPORT: Councilwoman Steger was absent at the Crime Control meeting held June 11 as she was in the CR~'IE hospital. The committee felt that for the past six months they had "planned", and now it was time OOMROL to take action on the he part of the committee as a whole and on the part of the newly formed sub- committees. Each sub-committee to initiate meetings for the election of chairpersons and to plan strategies for what needs to be done. Councilwoman Steger stated that Michael Dowell is preparing a press release to inform everyone of the committee's Mission Statement and the formation of the sub-committees. The committee is trying to deal with crime as it reaches down into our young people and almost down to our children to see if we can do anything about programs for recreation and activities that would keep our children out of trouble. The figures for the crime for youth are very great right now. MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Graham stated we had three retiring members of Council and advised he had enjoyed working with Alma, Roy and E. G. We will miss them and asked that they come back and visit with us. Resolutions honoring these three members will be presented the first meeting in July. Vice Mayor Schrader also stated he appreciated all their hard work and wished them all the very best. Mayor Graham advised that on July 4, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion are planning a "Let Freedom Ring Ceremony" on the Courthouse lawn beginning at VFW Post at 10:00 a.m. and they will have a ringing of the bells at 11:00 a.m. The 1995 Comparative Report of Local Government Revenues and Expenditures was distributed to Council. Mayor Graham requested that Council compare our Town with other towns listed. SIREEI' Mayor Graham advised that Mrs. Patricia Lucas, 1015 Jackson Avenue, had a complaint regarding her street. The Public Operations Committee was requested to review this matter. TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Mr. Terwilliger had no report. TOWN MANAGER' S REPORT: Mr. Combiths gave a projects update and mentioned in particular that a change order is being issued to the Wurno contractor for replacement of a portion of the Pulaski Community Hospital sewer line. Mr. Combiths also reported that the New River Trail Cooperative Agreement between Virginia Department of Transportation and Division of Conservation and Recreation has been drafted and reviewed by the Town Attomey and staff. Councilwoman Holston advised that an updated status of the New River Trail was needed and she suggested a letter be sent to Senator Trumbo, Senator Marye, and Delegate Baker with this status as they are very interested in the trail. Mayor Graham stated that Council should be included in receiving this status also. 4 :8597 June 18, 1996 Mr. Combiths was requested to provide a synopsis of the Town services survey that was recently taken. Councilman D'Ardenne advised that training on customer services should be for all Town employees. PUBLIC WORKS ~~ Vice Mayor Schrader asked administration to make a report in 90-120 days on work bid out and work in house to see if seasonal manpower could perform more projects in house for cost savings. At 7:43 p.m. Councilman D'Ardenne made a motion that Council go into Executive Session under 2.1-344 AS personnel matters regarding three specifically named individuals and A7 consult with legal counsel regarding an existing UDAG loan, Mr. S. Hoops. Motion seconded by ~~ Councilwoman Steger and carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D' Ardenne, Jr. -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye At 8:23 p.m. Council returned to regular session and adopted Certification Resolution on motion made by Vice Mayor Schrader, seconded by Councilman D'Ardenne and carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr. -Aye W. Edgar Hale -Aye Alma H. Holston -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. -Aye At 8:25 p.m. Council adjourned on motion made by Councilwoman Steger, seconded by Councilwoman Holston and carried. Attest: Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk of Council Andrew L. Gr m, Jr., Mayor ~I