HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-86~~ ~ o January 17, 1986
Minutes of the Public Hearing and Special Meeting of the Pulaski
Town Council-held`January l7, 1986, at 4:00 ~.m. in the Council Chambers
in the Municipal Building.
There were present:. Mayor Gary C. Hancock, presiding
Counci].members: John A. Johnston, Robert N. Glenn, James M. Neblett,
C. E. Boyd, Jr., James R. Neighbors, Ira S. Crawford,
Mary Lou Copenhaver, Glen K. Aust
Also present: Frank Terwilliger, Town Attorney
D. E. McKeever, Town Manager
Anne Burgess, Assistant to the Town Manager
Kith A. Harrell, Clerk
Visitors: Dee Lindsey, Pierre Thomas and Mike Dunn (Channel
7) of the news media
Bill Hager, Dora Highway
Milton Brockmeyer
Jack Bane
Clarence Gallimore
Jay Cox
The imnocation was given by Councilman Boyd.
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 4:00 p.m. on the 17th day of January, 19$6, for the
purpose of a public hearing on the proposed changes in the Town Charter
and other business as listed on the agenda.
WITNESS our signatures this 17th day of January, 19$6.
Mayor Hancock welcomed citizens to meeting and advised that the first
order of business was the public hearing on the proposed changes to the
PUBLIC
HEARING T~ of Pulaski Charter.
TOWN CHARTER Mr. Bill Hager, Dora Highway, addressed Council, advising he also
represented his wife and several neighbors. He stated he did not want Charter
changed to delete wards as they wanted their area represented on Council in
the future.
['
r~ h'f
January 17, 1986 / x 1
Mr. Hager was informed that the ward system was chances' a'~~aut the time that
Town Manager form of government came into effect around 1971, and that should
he have a problem, he could cane to any member of Council~aith his concerns.
Charter changes were made to up date and clarify the CiZ~'ter.
Council had before them a copy of resolution redu~~r~ting the 1986 General
Assembly to grant a new Charter to the Town of Pulaski, '•irgiiria.
Councilperson Copenhaver so moved that reading of the resolution be waived,
and that resolution be adopted as presented, seconded by Councilman rdeblett and
carried on the following recorded vote:
John A. Johnston -Aye James R. Neighbors °- Aye
Robert N. Glenn - Aye Ira S. Crawford. - Aye
James M. Neblett -Aye Mary Lou Copenhaver - Aye
C. E. Boyd - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE 1986 GE[~tERAL ASSEMBLY TO
GRANT A NEW CE-iARTER TO
THE TOWN OF PULASKI, VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Pulaski, Virginia, had
determuzed that the existing Charter of the Town of Pulaski Virginia,
contained language which was obsolete, superflouous, and in some places,
self-contradictory; and,
WHEREAS, the said Council did determine that to amend said Charter
would be an inefficienland time-consuming process and that the more efficient
and proper method of providing for the orderly government of ~t~ze Tom would
be to request the General Assembly to grant to it a new Charter in place of
the existing Charter; and,
WHEREAS, said Town Council did publish a Notice of a Public Hearing at
least ten (10) days in advance of said hearing in a newspaper of general
circulation in the rrnznicipal corporation, and did include in said publication
an informative summary of the changes proposed to be ms.de; any'.,
WHEREAS, a public hearinq in accordance with Section 15.1-835 of the 1950
Code of Virginia, as amended, was in fact held, and the public was given an
opportunity to express its views on the proposed new Charter; and,
WHEREAS, said public hearing has been concluded-and the members of the
Town Council have given due deliberation to the proposed new Charter;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED by the Council of the Tcnan of Pulaski,
Virginia, sitting in Special Session of January 17, 1986, that said Council
should, and hereby does, request that the 1986 General Assembly grant to the
Town of Pulaski, Virginia, a new Charter in the form att~-~ched hereto.
Be it further RESOLVID by the Council of the Tawn of Pulaski, Virginia,
that three (3) copies of the proposed new Charter in the form attached hereto
be transmitted by the Town Manager to the Honorable J. roberl~ Dobyns, together
with such other documentation as he may request, so that a Bill incorporating
such Charter may be considered in the 1986 Session of the General Assembly.
This Resolution is effective upon adoption, and is adopted this 17th day of
.January, 1986, by recorded vote of the Town Council of the Town of Pulaski,
Virginia, as follows:
John A. Johnston Aye James R. Neighbors Aye
lambert N. Glenn ~ Ira S. Crawford Awe
James M. Neblett Aye Ma_n~ Lou Coper~Yia~~er
C. E. Boyd, Jr. Abe Glen K. Aust Aye
Town of laski, Vir_ra~nia
By : lNi~~~
Gary Hancock, N3ayor
ATTEST:
Ru Harrell
Clerk of Council
N~
A ~
January 17, 1986
Mr. McKeever advised that for informational purposes, proposed Charter
is now labeled as House Bill No. 37.
Mayor Hancock advised that the next item on the agenda was the Norfolk and
Western Railway closing of the Pulaski office.
Dr. r'lilton Brookmeyer, representing railroad club, addressed Council stating
N & w they were interested in the railroad station, as they felt it would be a good
RAILWAY location for the museum if Norfolk and [~lestern would consider giving it to Pulaski.
STATION
He felt we would be doing the Town of Pulaski a disservice if we made an appeal
to keep the station opened and then asked them to consider giving the property
to the Town.
Dr. Brookmeyer further stated the people he has talked with felt it
would not make any difference whatsoever as far as industry coming here or the
industry that would be served. He had been assured that we would not get poor
service from the railroad. He felt it important that the Town of Pulaski hold
the station as it has been designated a historic landmark. He requested Council,
that if Norfolk and Western made the proposition to donate the station, that
Council would accept it for the Town for a possible museum. Further, Dr. Brookmeyer
introduced other representatives fran the railroad club, Messrs. Jack Bane,
Clarence Gallimore and Jay Cox. Mr. Gallimore, former employee of Norfolk and
[~7estern stated that a phone call was all that was necessary to obtain service from
them.
Mr. Terwilliger advised that he had talked with Mr. Blevins of Pulaski
Furniture and they would like to proceed to appeal the decision to close the
Pulaski Station but he did not believe they were going to retain any independent
counsel to do it and preferred to have the Town do it on their behalf. He had
also talked with Harold Crosier, Brotherhood of Railroads, Airlines, and
Steamship Clerks and Director of the State Legislative Committee who pointed
out soire things that were erroneous in the examiner's report. We would have to
file a response or comment to the hearing examiner's report by next Tuesday.
The full camm_ission will either have additional hearings or just proceed to take
the hearing examiner's recommendation. It is discretionary with the commission
and it was Mr. Terwilliger's understanding that they did not intend to have any
additional public hearings unless a particular reason is given for it. 'T'hey will
issue an order and the order is what we will actually appeal.
Mayor Hancock advised that he and his firm were involved in representing
Norfolk and Southern now is a separate case and requested Vice Mayor Neighbors
to preside over this portion of meeting.
Mr. McKeever advised he had talked with several industries and they were
interested in seeing an appeal filed as it was in their economic interest, and
also for future economic development. Mr. McKeever and staff recommended Council
to authorize an appeal.
Council discussed this appeal at length with Counci]man Glenn stating
his reasons for not making an appeal, and Councilmen Crawford and Boyd
expressing desire for an appeal. Counci]man Aust stated he did not think we
had a chance to win an appeal.
Dr. Broclaneyer stated to let the industry get the railroad to stay and leave
the Council out of it. He did not want to see Pulaski fight the railroad.
Mr. Terwilliger stated we should go on record on some of the inaccuracies
in the report, and we will be responding to the examiner's report. Mr. McKeever
will ta}:e a survey of local industry.
1
January 17, 1986 "JQ+"~3
COMMENTS Councilman Boyd so moved that 'l'awn Attorney be authorized to forward comments
ON REPORT
TO BE on hearing officer's report, seconded by Councilman Crawford and carried.
MADE Finance Committee Chap ran Crawford advised corrtnittc-~ had met and discussed
BY TOWN
ATTORN. electrical power for pump station 4A. Under option A, pe:r*r~arYerit power cost
$3,150 and under option B, if we wait until September to install permanent power
the cost would be $2,950.
PEPPERS Councilman Johnston so moved that we accept option A and install permanent
FERRY
power now at a cost of $3,150, seconded by Councilman Glenn and carried on the
following recorded vote:
John A. Johnston -Aye James R. Neighbors -Aye
Robert N. Glenn - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye
James M. Neblett -Aye Mary Lau Copenhaver - Aye
C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye
MUSEUM Finance Committee Chairman also advised that committee had discussed the
additional building costs for the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Meseum. An
estimate for the materials is $4,769. Council has already appropriated $1,000,
and approximately another $1,000 has been received in donations.
Councilman Neighbors moved that $2,769.08 be appropriated to account No.
1101-5804, Town Council Miscellaneous Other from General Fund unappropriated
surplus and be approved for expenditure, seconded by Councilman Glenn and carried
on the following recorded vote:
John A. Johnston -Aye James R. Neighbors -Aye
Robert N. Glenn - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye
James M. Neblett -Aye Mary Lou Copenhaver - Aye
C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye
At 5:07 p.m., on motion of Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman
Boyd, and carried, Council adjourned.
APPR ED:
Mayor
ATTEST:
~.~ ~! .
Ql~erk of Council