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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-84August 6, 1984 Minutes of the special meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held August 6, 1984, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliffe, presiding Councilmembers: 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 Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Eric Randall of the news media Vicki Futrell The invocation was given by Councilman Aust. Mayor Ratcliffe advised the purpose of this meeting was to discuss a personnel matter and Council Committees, and any other business that may legally come before the Council. Mr. Terwilliger stated discussion of Council Committees should be held in open session. Mayor Ratcliffe advised the Council should deal with the question of the Committees STANDING and the recommendations offered by two Councilmembers. Records have been researched COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL and in the past, Council has had as low as four committees and as high as 13 committees. Mayor Ratcliffe further advised the committees had been called Standing Committees since 1908, and the Charter calls for four different categories, and these categories do not fit what we are doing today. Councilman Johnston questioned in the past, had Council ever appointed them- selves to various committees, with Mayor Ratcliffe stating the only thing he found, up until 1948, organization meetings say "on motion duly made, seconded and unaminously passed the following Standing Committees were named". After 1948, the Mayor presented the committees. Councilman Neighbors questioned the difference between steering committees and standing committees, with Mr. Terwilliger stating a steering committee was usually delegated for a special function. He further stated that the Charter, Section 12, the word steering committee with the description of what are normally the duties of a standing committee. There is ambiguity in the Charter in that the language of this section was to administer Town's affairs at the time when there was no Town Manager system adopted. Section 19 of the Charter was an optional section that had to be adopted, but there was nothing to repeal the section in conflict with it. Mr. Terwilliger advised this was one of the things they needed to work on in updating the Town Code. 6Md 4 August 6, 1984 Councilman Boyd referred to his memorandum of June 26 wherehis recommendations centered around the Municipal Advisors recommendations of four committees where each member served on two committees. The main purpose is to simplify the decision making process and even up the work load between Councilmembers. Councilman Neighbors advised that at last meeting motion was made that Council study the possibility of tieing four Councilmembers to two committees that could meet at the same time. Mayor Ratcliffe stated if Council wanted to retain the eight committees and gro them into four clusters, and wished him to go back and check with members of each committee, he would re-do the listing. Councilman Boyd so moved that Mayor Ratcliffe re-do listing, with eight committees with individual chairmen, grouped into four clusters, seconded by Councilman Crawford. Councilman Boyd further stated it did not make any difference to him what committees he served on. Motion carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston - Aye Robert N. Glenn - Aye James M. Neblett - Aye C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye James R. Neighbors - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye Mary Lou Copenhaver - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye Councilman Neblett stated Mr. Terwilliger had mentioned looking at our ordinances. Mr. Terwilliger advised they were trying to organize a priority list as to what need to be prepared first. Mayor Ratcliffe advised he had spent the day in Richmond discussing Peppers Ferry funding as there was a slight misunderstanding between the PFWWTA and the funding people. At 5:54 p.m., Councilman Neblett made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Boyd, and carried. APPROVED: ATTEST: ~~ ~' Clerk of Council ,, Mayor August 6, 1984 -~yC ~ C 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 5:00 p.m. on the 6th day of August, 1984, for the purpose of discussing personnel and Council committees, and any other business that may legally come before the Council. WITNESS our signatures this 6th day of August, 1984. 1 1i I