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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-17-898547 May 17, 1989 Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held May 17, 1989, at 8:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Gary C. Hancock, presiding Council Members: James M. Neblett, J. R. Schrader, Jr., Mary Lou Copenhaver, James R. Neighbors, Andrew L. Graham, W. H. Schrader, Jr., Alma H. Holston, Ira S. Crawford Also Present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney Daniel E. McKeever, Town Manager Anne Burgess, Assistant Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Dee Lindsey, Bob Thomas of the news media Bill Hall Joe Williams Dave Hart Doug Phelps Jerry Haynes Gary Cutlip Tom Compton Cindy Gannoway The invocation was given by Vice Mayor Neighbors. TOWN MANAGER Mayor Hancock advised the purpose of the special meeting was a personnel matter. EEVER Mr. Daniel McKeever submitted his notice of resignation as Town IGNS Manager of the Town of Pulaski effective June 30, 1989, as he had been named the City Manager for Laconia, New Hampshire. He proceede to read the following letter: I am submitting this letter with some sadness because of my strong sense of loyalty to the Town and its citizens, and my desire to see several projects completed. But I recognize there will always be pro- jects to complete and the timing of a resignation will never be perfect, and I have full confidence in the capabilities of our department mana- gers to see these projects to their completion. But I am also excited about this change as I believe Laconia to be a progressive, growing community which will offer significant personal and professional opportunities. These past six years have been a period of significant progress for Town and I am proud of our accomplishments. We have worked diligently to improve the delivery of services to our community, repair and improve the Town's infrastructure, seek alternative sources of financing (such as grants}, improve the Town's image and to secure the Town's financial position. I believe we have been successful and credit should be given to an effective citizen/elected officials/mono ementMst ff 1989 8548 g partnership. I want to thank the Council for allowing me to serve these past six years, and I appreciate the support I received from Members of the Council and from the community. I am proud of our success, proud of our staff and proud of Pulaski. It is indeed all of these things that makes "Pulaski Count." Mr. McKeever stated he was proud of the significant progress that had been made. Mayor Hancock made the following comments: It is with a deep sense of regret that I have received the resigna- nation of our Town Manager. He has peformed an outstanding job far us in so many ways. He has worked through some difficult and complex issues such as the annexation. He has also provided management leader- ship through some exciting times. Our entry into the Main Street Program, housing project, bond issue, the beginning of the physical revitalization of our downtown, the recognition of the Town's histgric district, and the acquisition of the train station. Perhaps Dan's'°~ management has been strongest in the area of Town finance. I have;~been impressed with Dan's knowledge of finance and the professional manner in which he has prepared and managed our budget. Through Dan's planning, we have obtained and administered various significant grants including the Pulaski Furniture UDAG grant which will provide economic development funding and incentives to Pulaski for years to come. We have taken steps to provide assured quality water and sewer service for the coming decades and we have lastly been able to make these accomplishments'while still maintaining a conservative financial policy and no property tax increases for a number of years. Lastly, Dan has attempted to restore some of the pride that we have here in Pulaski and in our community by organizing the Pulaski Counts undertaking. Our road has not always been an easy one but in the final analysis, we have set our goals and I believe that we have seen Pulaski take significant steps forward in recent years. And that's the very essence of progress. I believe this Council will come to appreciate even more Dan's role and the contribution that he has made to us and each of our citizens as we begin the long undertaking of trying to find a replacement for him. I think it will be very difficult for us to find a replacement for him and I think we will come to appreciate during those stages again the contributions that he has made to our community and the time and the energy that he has invested in our community and the loyalty that he has given not only to this Council but to the Town and each of its citizens. I commend Dan for the new job offer that he has in Laconia, New Hampshire which is a beautiful community. Dan was one of 90 some candidates for that position which included candidates from over 2Q states, including lawyers and Ph.D's. and various other degreed persons and I think it is quite a compliment to Dan that he was selected unanimously as the one choice for the new Town Manager of Laconia,'N.H. I think it is also a compliment to the Town of Pulaski that he was selected because I think it shows that this Council made a wise decision a number of years ago when he was hired as our Town Manager. On behalf of the Council, Dan, let me congratulate you on this wonderful new job opportunity for you and wish you much success. We are all going to miss you on Council and I think the Town as a whole will miss you as well. Bu~= we know that you have a great challenge before you, we know it is a 8549 May 17, 1989 professional advancement for you and we wish you nothing but the best. At 8:15 a.m. Councilman Neblett made a motion that Council adjourn, seconded by Councilman Neighbors and carried. APPROVED: ATTEST: G~ • ~~ C perk of Council ~• .Mayor WAIVER OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING We, the undersigned, duly elected members of the Council of the Town of Pulaski, Virginia, hereby waive notice of a Special Meeting of said Council at 8:00 a.m. on the 17th day of May, 1989, for the purpose of a Personnel Matter. WITNESS our signatures this 17th 1 . ~ .,~