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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-29-83'7`~,~i V March 29 , 1983 Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held March 29, 1983, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Andrew L. Graham, Jr., Vice Mayor, presiding Councilmembers: John A. Johnston, Pauline G. Mitchell, Earl D. Alma H. Holston, Glen K. Aust, Cabaniss, C. E. Boyd, Jr., Ira S. Crawford, Also present: Garnett Moore, Town Attorney H. R. Coake, Town Manager Ruth A. Harrell, Clerk Visitors: Dee Lindsey, George Shadroui, WDBJ Television- news media William L. Tate Robert A. Hudson C. W. Hickam, Jr. Approximately 51 area citizens The invocation was given by Councilman Aust. CONSOLIDATION Vice Mayor Graham stated the purpose of 'this Council Meeting is the continuation of the Council Meeting held March 26, 1983. Public notice was properly given for the March 26 Council Meeting and the vote was given to continue this meeting for the specific business of deliberating and acting on the Consolidation Agreement as drawn up by the Advisory Committee. At the last session, the Pepper's Ferry Regional Wastewater Authority brought up some concerns. Councilman Johnston advised that the Pepper's Ferry Authority reviewed the concerns and how they were to be handled and it was the opinion of the Authority that they had been handled in a satisf actory manner. Mr. Bill Tate advised that the attorney for the Town, the attorney for Pepper's Ferry Regional Wastewater Authority and Consolidation Advisory Committee legal counsel met and discussed at length the changes that would be required to address the concerns that the Pepper's Ferry had sent to the Advi- sory Committee's legal counsel. As a result of this meeting, they have come up with some recommendations. In a regular meeting of the Advisory Committee, the amendments that had been recommended by Council were accepted. Mr. Tate further stated they had a letter from the legal counsel of Pepper's Ferry saying that they meet the concerns of Pepper's Ferry and they have been presented to Town Council for their consideration ONE question that has been asked that Mr. Tate did not see addressed in the recommendations had to do with the 75/25% funding. In his judgment, the chances of changing the formula were very slim. He would not say it was im- possible, but the staff of the State Water Control Board is a dedicated, com- petent staff and they have the best interest of the people of this area at heart. He further stated they were not going to let it happen and the Pepper's Ferry Board is not going to let it happen. ,His one concern is there are certain changes in Richmond. He is afraid they are replacing professional, dedicated c March 29 , 1983 ty~9 people with politicians and when this happens, nobody really knows that may happen. He felt that changing the funding formula was one worry he would not be concerned about. Councilman Boyd asked if consolidation passes, then the new consolidated county would stand for the contingent. liabilities, future expansions or anything, the way it is presently presented. In answering, Mr. Tate stated that he felt that no one completely knows the answer to this question, but with their legal counsel opinion that they would be. There is a question about what counties can do without referendum as far as guarantees are concerned. In their judgment, it is going through a refer- endum and it is in the contract. Vice Mayor Graham asked Mr. Moore if he was satisfied that everything was in order now, with Mr. Moore replying that he thought everything was in order prior to this. He stated they took the general statements in the contract and applied specific language. Mr. Moore presented and read to Council a Resolution approving the Consolidation Agreement. Councilman Boyd so moved adoption of said Resolution as read, seconded by Councilman Crawford. Councilman Johnston stated in preparing to vote on the Resolution, he is in full 1 accord with the Resolution, but requested a small note to be made in the minutes of this meeting that his yes vote should be interpreted as an intention of giving the citizens of the Town of Pulaski a public vote on the issue of consolidation and does not mean an endorsement by hij of the Consolidation Agreement as presented. Councilmembers Andrew Graham, Alma Holston and Pauline Mitchell requested their names by added to Councilman Johnston's statement. Councilman Boyd stated that Pulaski County, Town of Dublin, and Town of Pulaski stands on the threashold of a new era. Each community will now have the opportunity to create something good for our citizens and our descendants if they so wish on the date of the election. Our citizens will have the opportunity to serve as a model for progressive and responsible local government in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We must all work together and lay aside the old differences. He further stated we must succeed, and this will be the greatest ~~aye~~ he has ever cast while serving on the Town of Pulaski Town Council. Councilman Crawford stated he wholeheartedly supported consolidation. Council- RESOLU- TION ADOPTED men Cabaniss and Boyd stated-they too supported consolidation. Motion to adopt said Resolution carried on the following recorded vote: John A. Johnston - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell Aye Earl D. Cabaniss - Aye C. E. Boyd, Jr. - Aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - Aye Ira S. Crawford - Aye Alma H. Holston - Aye Glen K. Aust - Aye -~`~s ~ t~ ~ March 29 , 1983 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, pursuant to the findings of the Study of the Joint Committee on Consolidation, Annexation and City Status, the Board of Supervisors and the Town Councils of Dublin and Pulaski each appointed three representatives to an Advisory Committee for the purpose of formulating a consolidation agreement for the present County of Pulaski and The Towns of Dublin and Pulaski into a conso- lidated County of Pulaski. The advisory committee began its work on the agree- ment in October, 1982, and completed and filed its proposed consolidation agreement with the three governing bodies in early March, 1983, and formally presented it to the public on March 15, 1983; and WHEREAS, the agreement provides the terms and procedure for the present County of Pulaski and the Towns of Dublin and Pulaski becoming a consolidated County; the said agreement is now before the three governmental bodies for their consideration; and WHEREAS, the governing bodies of the two Towns and the County, after the execution of the consolidation agreement, shall file with either of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Pulaski County the original of the consolidated agreement together with a petition on behalf of such governing bodies, properly executed, requesting that a ref erendum on the question of consolidation as provided in the consolidation agreement be ordered held within the Town of Dublin only for the eligible voters within the Town of Dublin, the Town of Pulaski only for the eligible voters within the Town of Pulaski, and the County. of Pulaski only for the eligible voters residing outside the boundaries of the Towns of Dublin and Pulaski, on a date or dates fixed by the Court. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Pulaski, meeting in Special Session on this 29th day of March, 1983, that: (1) The Council, after due consideration, does hereby approve the consoli- dation agreement presented to it by the Advisory Committee and authorizes the Mayor to execute said agreement and the Clerk of the Council to attest same. (2) The Town of Pulaski join with the Town of Dublin and the County of Pulaski, the other two governmental units, and cause the consolidation agreement to be published as required by law, and file the necessary petition with one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of .Pulaski County requesting the Court to call a referendum as stated of oresaid. (3) The Town take any and all other steps necessary on its part or in conjunc- tion with the Board of Supervisors of Pulaski County and the Town of Dublin to held a ref erendum .and to carry out the terms of the consolidation agreement in reference thereto. ADOPTED THIS 29th day of March, 1983, by recorded vote of Council. Councilman Boyd made a motion that our legal counselor, Mr. Moore, be authorized to see that the County is presented this Resolution, also the Town of Dublin, and anything that pertained to the Town that must be printed in the proper newspapers. After discussion of this motion, Councilman Boyd withdrew his motion. Councilman Graham stated that Council had had a lot of pressure to move on this contract and he felt that this Council knows more about the agreement than the other two governing bodies. He also stated that the citizens should know what is behind this contract and what the things are they are going to vote on. Once a vote is cast, and it goes to consolidation, there is no turning back. He felt this had been a good Town for 97 years and had built up many assets. He hopes that all citizens will give very serious thought in casting their vote. March 29 , 19 83 ~4 ~1 L ~~'i Councilman Graham further stated there are some good things in the contract, but he also finds some things he does not consider good for the citizens of the Town of Pulaski. At 7:35 p.m. Councilman Johnston made motion to adjourn, seconded by Council- person Holston, and carried. APPROVED: 9 -~ , ~ ~ s-' 'Vice Mayor, An ew L. Graham, Jr. ATTEST: Clerk of the Council