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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-83~~ November 15, 1983 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held November 15, 1983 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliffe, presiding Councilmembers: John A. Johnston, Pauline G. Mitchell, James M. Neblett, C. E. Boyd, Jr., Andrew L. Graham, Jr., Ira S. Crawford, Alma H. Holston, Glen K. Aust. Also present: Garnett Moore, Town Attorney D. E. McKeever, Acting Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Dee Lindsey, Eric Randall, WDBJ of the news media Vickie Futrell Ann Hager Tom Custer The invocation was given by Councilman Neblett. The minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 1, 1983, were approved as recorded. The minutes of the Special Meeting of November 4, 1983, were approved after 1ST ST. GUARDRAIL REQUESTED 3rd ST. RESERVED PARKING REQUESTED correction. Mayor Ratcliffe advised that the unsafe runway condition at the New River Valley Airport has now been corrected at a cost of $3,000. FAA in Washington has been notified to determine if they will bear this expense, and Mayor Ratcliffe will bring back to Council once this determination is made. Mrs. Ann Hager, owner of a Child Care Center on First Street, addressed Council with two requests regarding the safety of children in her care; one being a guardrail on First St. on bank as playground is between her home and the play school, and the second request was for the installation of speed limit signs in alley. Councilman Graham moved that a report from the Acting Town Manager on this item be put on the agenda for next council meeting, seconded by Councilman Boyd and carried. Tom Custer addressed Council stating he had recently purchased a house at 150 3rd Street across from the County Administration Building. He requested reserved parking signs be placed in front of his house due to the County Admin- iituation employees parking in this area and he has no place to park. He further stated a written request was made to the Town and had been advised that work order had been turned in. He has also requested cooperation from the County Administra- tion on this parking situation. Mayor Ratcliffe had previously advised Mr. Custer that unless you. have a driveway, the Town cannot put signs up. Mayor Ratcliffe advised if you have a driveway going into the front of your home, then driveway will be protected, but the rest of the parking on the street if for the public. Mr. Moore stated the Town has no authority to provide parking places in front of individuals home. Suggestions were offered by Council on alternate parking. As there were no further comments from the public, Mayor Ratcliffe called for Council Committee Reports. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE UTILITIES COMMITTEE Chairman Johnston stated Council was ready to consider Personnel Policy Manual after Mr. Moore reviews this policy with changes that have been made. PEPPERS FERRY Chairman Johnston also advised that the Utilities Committee has looked at ACCELERATION peppers Ferry situation again and the Authority has requested that Council con- sider the accelerating of the project. EPA and State Water Control Board have stated they are prepared to release funding from 1981, 1984, and 1985 to be used ~~ ~J 1 November. l5, 1983 ~~~)~ as soon as Pepper's Ferry can arrange projects to be worked on. The accelerated J schedule would move things up about six months in order that we could have projects underway in 1984, amounting to about ten projects under construction. We would save some money in terms of putting contracts out to bid early, however, we would need money earlier to pay our 25~ share. The Town is faced with approximately 3/4 million dollars in need revenue to pay for the completion of the Pepper's Ferry project. The Utilities Committee recommended that we reply to Pepper's Ferry that we do want to participate in the acceleration of the project and acceptance of the money from EPA to get further projects underway. Also, we need to investigate means of financing. Councilman Graham stated we needed to know if the County was a customer or are they going to be a participant of the sewer line. Chairman Johnston advised that meetings would hopefully be held with the County prior to the next council meeting. PEPPERS Chairman Johnston moved that a letter be sent to Peppers. Ferry on Council's FERRY intention and referred the financing to the Finance Committee, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M.Neblett - Aye C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Andrew L. Graham,Jr. -Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye Alma H. Holston - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye Mayor Ratcliffe advised the news media that they had been provided with a copy of the Attorney General's opinion on the proposed loan from the Town of Pulaski to PULASKI Pulaski Furniture, and Council has not had time to consider this opinion. He further FURNITURE stated Council would immediately evaluate the report and some action will be forth- coming, but as of tonight, we will probably have to defer any action until such time as Council has evaluated this report. Councilman Boyd made a motion that Council go into Executive Session at end of meeting under section 2.1-344 of the Code of Virginia, for the purpose of a legal matter (the Attorney General Baliles' opinion) and a personnel matter, seconded by Councilman Graham and carried. POLLUTION AND SANITATION COMMITTEE Chairperson Mitchell advised that a movie from a garbage concern on garbage pick-up and equipment was available to be shown, and a Pollution and Sanitation Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, November 30, 1983, at 5:00 p.m. with all of Council invited to attend. Chairperson Mitchell also questioned roof repairs as listed on Mr. Bane's activity report. Mr. McKeever is to advise which building had the repairs. Chairperson Mitchell further stated that according to the Fire Department activity report, one-third of all calls to date were in the county. To date, we have collected $4500 for the 20 calls that have been made. Chairperson Mitchell moved that this be referred to the Finance Committee for review and a report brought back to Council, seconded by Councilman Graham and carried. Chairperson Mitchell advised the road was giving way where the pipeline was installed on Alum Spring Road and needs repairing. Acting Town Manager McKeever to check into this matter. Chairperson Mitchell felt the Chamber of Commerce lease renewal in the Municipal Building for three rooms (588 sq. ft.), at the present rate of $75.00 per month, should be raised and made a motion to refer this to the Land and Building Committee, seconded by Councilperson Holston. Mr. McKeever advised that current lease expires December 31, 1983, and his recommendation was based on the cooperation the Staff has had in promoting economic /~ J~ November 15, 1983 development over the past few months, and the service the Chamber provides the Town. CHAMBER OF Councilman Aust made a substitute motion that Town Manager be authorized COMMERCE to renew current lease for the Chamber of Commerce from January 1, 1984, to LEASE RE- NEWED December 31, 1984, at the rate of $75.00 per month, seconded by Councilman Crawford and carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston - Aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - No Ira S. Crawford - Aye James M. Neblett - Aye Alma H. Holston - No C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye Chairperson Mitchell stated the railroad crossing above Hercules Plant RAILROAD is dangerous and made a motion that this be referred to the Land and Building CROSSING Committee, working with railroad company to see what can be done for a new ABOVE HERCULES crossing with gates, with a report being brought back to Council, seconded by DANGEROUS Councilperson Holston. Councilman Aust stated he felt the cost of this was prohibitive. Mr. McKeever stated the biggest expense would be the crossing, as the equipment cost between $50,000 and $60,000. Motion carried on voice vote. RECREATION COMMITTEE Chairman Neblett advised that the Recreation Committee had not met, but according to Mr. Bane's report, he felt a very successful fall program had been completed, and the ratio of sign-ups was higher than it had been in the last six years. The winter program will be starting. soon.. Councilperson Mitchell requested Councilman Neblett to find out what each section of the Recreation has made this year, to be put back into the budget, and a report brought back to Council. Mr. McKeever is to include these figures in his next Administrative Report. LAND AND BUILDING COMMITTEE Chairman Boyd had no report, however, reported the Planning Commission had met and will have information coming in the near future on a survey that will be part of their comprehensive plan. Councilman Aust advised that the new street of Mr. Barker's looks very good. Chairman Boyd also questioned schedule of installing Christmas lights. Lights are usually turned on on Thanksgiving Day. FINANCE COMMITTEE Chairman Graham had no report. STREET COMMITTEE Chairman Crawford had no report, but called for a Street Committee Meeting on Monday, November 21, 1983, at 5:00 p.m. ORDINANCE COMMITTEE Chairperson Holston had no report. Mr. Moore will review the Zoning Ordinance as time permits. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Chairman Aust had no report. REPORT OF TOWN MANAGER Mr. McKeever advised that Mr. Alley, owner of the property adjacent to WARD LANE Ward Lane, has agreed to allow Appalachian Power Co. to locate their pole onto his property in order that the Town can widen the street. Mr. Alley has request- ed that the wires continue to remain over the Town's right of way. Appalachian November 15, 1983 ~~UM~ Power will provide an alley arm that would allow the pole to be placed on Mr. Alley's property while the wires remain over the Town's right of way. Appalachian would also like to move some poles up onto School Board property. C & P and Cable Television will have to be notified since their lines run over these poles also. COLEMAN FURN. Mr. McKeever stated that Coleman property taxes in the amount of $36,627.18 TAXES had been received and this is the full tax payment plus some interest. Because of an earlier agreement where the Town waived some interest and penalty, the North Carolina National Bank still owes the Town $1,571.43. We are proceeding to recover this balance. Mr. McKeever reminded Council of the Virginia Municipal League Fall Legislative Meeting to be held Wednesday, December 7, 1983, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Roanoke. Council requested to turn their registration forms in. FLOOD INSUR. PROG. 1 Mr. McKeever further advised that on November 9, 1983, a meeting was held in Richmond with HUD officials concerning our UDAG application. We received favorable continents on the project we are applying for funds. HUD officials advised that the question as to whether they wa_11 accept our application while not participating in the flood insurance program will have to be answered by the Washington office of Hud but they did encourage us to apply while simultaneously reviewing the process of the flood insurance program. Mr. McKeever stated we could probably begin to design an ordinance, but what we need to do now, if we are interested in getting back on the flood insurance program, in order to shorten the period; beginning November 10, there is a 90 day appeal period in reference to the maps provided to us from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's consulting engineer, Dewberry and Davis. If we are in agreement with maps, we can go right to preparing an ordinance, if we disagree we have a 90 day appeal period, but that 90 day period has to remain intact. This can be shortened if we request what is known as early conversion to the program. We send them a letter requesting early conversion, and this shortens the time down to whatever time frame we begin to work within. Then we send them a copy of the ordinance that is prepared for their approval. They have to approve the ordinance in order to be accepted back into the program. They need four things from us: 1) Maintenance Agreement to maintain the channel (already presented in the form of a resolution; 2) Flood Plain Ordinance; 3) complete description of all flood plain structural and non-structural development (already prepared); and 4) letter requesting early conversion. Mr. Moore stated we should give some publicity as to where the flood plains are under the most favorable map, possibly using flags. Councilman Graham made a motion that Town Manager be authorized. to send letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting early conversion to the Federal Flood Insurance Program, seconded by Councilman Boyd. After considerable discussion by Council, motion carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - No James M. Neblett - Aye C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Andrew L.. Graham, Jr. - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye Alma H. Holston - No Glen K. Aust - Aye Mr. McKeever distributed to Mr. Moore and Council a copy of a model Virginia Ordinance explaining what developments can and cannot occur for their review. Mayor Ratcliffe distributed a letter from VML on Restrictions on the Local Public Works, advising that was an attempt on part of some contractors to prevent the Town and Cities from using their own forces to build buildings costing more than $3000, other than all non-highway activity. It was recommended that letter be written to the members of the sub-committee opposing State intervention into this area of local government. ~~~~ November 15, 1983 Councilman Boyd moved that Mayor Ratcliffe write letter to those who represent us stating we are opposed to this, seconded by Councilperson Mitchell and carried. At 8:30 p.m. Council went into Executive Session. At 9:50 p.m. Council returned to Regular Session. PULASKI FURN. LOAN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION Councilman Aust made a motion th+ Thursday at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose Pulaski, seconded by Councilman Boyd, Councilman Graham moved that the Attorney General's opinion forthwith, on the following recorded vote: 3t a Special Council Meeting be called for of appointing a Town Manager for the Town of and carried. Town of Pulaski pursue item 3 of the seconded by Councilman Boyd, and carried John A. Johnston - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye James M. Neblett - Aye C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. -Aye Ira S. Crawford - Abstain Alma H. Holston - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye (Councilman Crawford abstained as he is a member of Management of Pulaski Furniture). PEDDLERS ITINERANT MERCHANTS LICENSE Ms. Vickie Futrell, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, addressed Council regarding a request from the Merchant's Council for study to be given to the new regulations by the State of Virginia concerning the peddlers itinerant mer- chants license. A joint study is requested of the County, and the Towns of Dublin and Pulaski. Mayor Ratcliffe recommended having one member from the Pulaski Town Council, the Dublin Town Council and the Board of Supervisors and one citizen member from each body make up this ad hoc committee. Councilman Graham moved this be referred to the Personnel Committee with a report being brought back to Council at the Thursday Special Meeting, seconded by Councilperson Holston and carried. At 10:00 p.m. Councilman Neblett made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilperson Mitchll, and carried. APP VED: ayor Attest: .~ ~ • ~-'-~e- C erk of Council