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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-01-776088 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held November 1, 1977 at 4:00 P. M. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliff, presiding. Councilmen: Andrew L. Graham, Jr., William A. House, John A. Johnston, James M. Neblett, Bob J. Clark, B1 it B. Brockmeyer, Arthur L. Meadows, C. William Hickam, Jr. Also present: H. R. Coake, Town Engineer Gladys R. Dalton, Clerk Garnett S. Moore, Town Attorney Roger Williams, Town Treasurer Visitors: J. R. Schrader, Southwest Times Jane Graham, WPUV Radio Station T. J. McCarthy, Attorney for Dublin Associates William Randles, Manager & Vice President, Dublin Associates INVOCATION The invocation was given by Councilman Graham. The minutes of the regular meeting of October 18, 1977 were MIN~'TES approved as recorded. APPROVED Mayor Ratcliff stated at this time that Council would be glad to hear any one from the public who wished to speak to the Council. Representing his Client, Dublin Associates, Attorney Tom McCarthy advised Council that at a recent meeting of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, Dublin Associates had been requested to furnish a separate public service TV Cable channel MCCARTHY & RANDLES to the County for its agencies and departments. Mr. McCarthy APPEAR RE: USE OF stated that when Mr. Randles advised them there was no channel CHANNEL 9 ; available at the present time, it was suggested by the County Administrator that Channel 9, which has heretof ore been used for weather and time only, be made available to them. Mr. McCarthy stated that because Dublin Associates operates under a Franchise with the Town of Pulaski and because Dublin Associates had stated in a letter to the Town, dated January 7, 1977, that Channel 9 would be operated as had been for weather and time only, it was felt they should come bef ore Council to see what Council's feelings were in the matter. Much discussion followed. Mr. Randles stated the Cable TV Company hoped in the near future to add more channels and that a November 1, 1977 6fl89 minimum of twenty channels would be available as soon as workers could rebuild the Pulaski system, at which time his Company woula be able to grant a private channel to the County, but until that time the Company would control the channel to be used by the town and county governments. Town Attorney Moore expressed an opinion that channel 9 should be for the joint use of the governmental bodies, Town of Pulaski, Town of Dublin and Pulaski County. COUNCIL Councilman Clark moved that as a joint venture, Channel 9 be APPROVED JOINT USE used by the Town, County and educational systems in the County and OF CHANNEL 9 FOR TOWNS Town of Dublin. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, and & COUNTY carried on the following vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - No William A. House - aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye COMMITTEE REPORTS Mayor Ratcliff called for Comm ittee reports. Councilman Hickam advised that the Nominating Committee had not met. Mr. Hickam also advised REPORT tha t the Town now has two leaf ON LEAF machines; one is out working and the other is being put in working MACHINES order. Councilman Graham stated he had no committee report, but since HUMAN he had attended meetings of the New River Planning District Commission, RESOURCES reported that the staff members of the Commission are developing a Human SYSTEMS GUIDE TO Resources System Guide, and that all political subdivisions will be BE AVAILABLE FOR SUB- furnished a copy of the Guide. DIVIS IONS Councilman Graham also stated that under the Federal A-95 Plan, a 4.4 million grant has been approved, of which $600,000 will be CETA monies. Mr. Graham stated, however, there is concern about the workers CONCERN under the CETA program becoming eligible for unemployment compensation. RE: CETA EMPLOYEES He suggested that this concern be reasearched and a report made to Council. BEING ELIGIBLE Attorney Moore stated this has not been determined at this time and any FOR UNEMP. COMP. report would have to wait until the outcome of the NIMLO suit. Addressing the Mayor and members of Council, Councilman Graham stated that again he must say that he is very much concerned about the finances of this Town. He stated that it appeared to him that when he 6090 November 1, 1977 asks a question concerning the financial situation, he doesn't get a satisfactory answer, but gets an answer such as "cash flow is good" or "the money fluctuates from day to day", and he did not consider this a good answer to his question. Mr. Graham stated that Council is aware that about two months ago the town's fiscal budget was passed by the Council and the Town Manager was authorized STATEMENT to borrow $100,000 to meet town expenses, which must be paid back BY COUNCILMAN in the not too distant future. Mr. Graham stated further that it has GRAHAM RE: now come to his attention, and it has been confirmed by Mr. Roger Williams, FINANCIAL that the Town has not paid its portion for funding the Pulaski STATUS OF Employees Retirement Fund for the period of July 1976 through TOWN AND June 1976, which amounts to $34,669.00, and it appeared to him that RETIREMENT this payment is way overdue. Mr. Graham stated this concerns him PLAN greatly, and hoped that the retirement plan the Town has for its employees is not being jeopardized by the delay of the Town in making its proper funding. Mr. Graham said he was very much disturbed that as a Councilman he was not made aware of this previously, and using this as an example, stated that a very serious situation exists in that communications between the Town Manager and Council are very bad. He stated that as a Councilman he wanted to be kept advised of any outstanding obligations the Town owes and that are overdue. He further stated he felt that under the present Council-Manager setup, it MATTER TO was his opinion it is the Manager's responsibility to keep Counci; BE PLACED inf ormed of these matters. ON AGENDA Mr. Graham stated that in addition to the previous fiscal year's retirement funding of $34,669 not being paid, the Town also owes at. lease 1/3 of the $45,000 budgeted for funding the employees' retirement fund for this current year (approximately $12,000), plus the $100,000 bank loan, and it was a matter which he felt some urgent action should be taken by Council. Councilman Graham then moved that the matter be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting and determine how it will be paid, and that a full financial report be made. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brockmeyer, and carried on the following vote: November 1, 1977 C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye John A. Johnston - aye William A. House - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye James M. Neblett - aye x091 Councilman Brockmeyer asked Town Engineer Coake to elaborate on TOWN ENGR. the status of the leachate problem at the landfill. Mr. Coake stated COAKE REPORTS ON Van Note-Harvey Associates had completed their testing and submitted STATUS OF LANDFILL analyses of the samples taken from the landfill as recommended by the LEACHATE State Water Control Board and a report of these findings had been sub- mitted to the State Water Control Board. Councilman Brockmeyer brought to the attention of Council the bad traffic condition existing at the crossover from Pleasant Hill to the STREET COMM. TO Clinic on Route 11 and Hospital Emergency Entrance, and moved that the STUDY BAD TRAFFIC matter be referred to the Street Committee. The motion was seconded CONDITION AT CROSS- by Councilman Clark,and carried on the following vote: OVER AT CLINIC & C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye EMERGENCY Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J, Clark - aye ENTRANCE Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye Councilman Johnston had no report, but stated the Land and LAND & BLDG, Buildings Committee would meet Tuesday, November 8th, at 4:00 P. M. to COMM. TO ` MAKE REPORT discuss the request of Vance Company to use town property, and a report LATER ON VANCE`REQ. would be made to Council at a later date. TO RENT LOT Councilman House reported the Finance Committee recommended, and he so moved that the Town Treasurer be authorized to reimburse the General Fund for actual expenditures previously appropriated from GENERAL Revenue Sharing Funds in the following amounts and accounts: FUND RE- IMBURSEMENTS ~~4014 - Acctg. Billing Equip. $ 2,744.00 FROM REV. ~k4032 - Street Materials 3,023.75 SHARING FUNDS ~k4038 - Sidewalks, Curg & Gutter 1:,788.80 ~~4045 - Radio Equip. Fire Dept. 1,473.86 ~k4047 - Landfill, seeding and drainage 2,696.88 ~~4051 - Office Machines 495.00 ~~4061 - Truck replacement 4,595.00 4F'4071 - Motor Grader 18,200.00 $ 35,012.29 The motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried on the following vote: C. William Hiakam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye Andrew L, Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B, Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye 60n~ November L, 1977 Councilman House moved that the amount of $2,064.73, over- re3.mbursement for Account ~~4041 - Pumping Station Screen - be REV. SH. FD. TO BE RE- returned to Revenue Sharing Funds from the General Fund. The IMBURSED FOR $2,064.73 motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried on the FROM GEN. FUND following vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House.- aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows- aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye Councilman Hours moved that at the end of the business session REQUEST FOR EXECUTIVE of the Council that Council go into executive session to discuss a SESSION personnel matter. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark, and carried. At this time Councilman Hickam stated that with regard to SUGGESTS the recent action taken by Council regarding appropriations and COUNCIL BE trarnsfers, he felt Council should be given more information con- FURNISHED MORE INFORMATION RE• TFRS & cerning the items as listed, stating he thought the billing equip- APPROPRIATIONS went had been paid for; and where are the sidewalks, and questioned the landfill seeding. Councilman Clark had no report. Councilman Meadows had no report, but stated Town Attorney Moore RECREATION May have for Council's consideration the ordinances pertaining to ORDINANCES TURNED OVER TOthe Recreation Department. Town Attorney Moore presented an ordinance CLERK FOR COPIES TO to amend and re-enact Chapter 23 of the Code of the Town of Pulaski as MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Chapter 23.1 - Recreation and Parks, and also an ordinance to establish a "Schedule of Fees" as authorized by Section 23.1-15 of the Town Code for adult Softball and Basketball Teams. These two ordinances were given to the Clerk in order that copies could be made available to the Mayor and members of the Council. No action was taken on either of the ordinances. Councilman Neblett had no report.. On motion of Councilman Hickam, seconded by Councilman HOUSE REAPPOINT Graham, and carried, Councilman House was reappointed_to the Board ED TO AREA AGENCY ON AGING of Directors for the Area Agency on Aging. Mr, House asked that BOARD - REQ. FOR ALTERNATE the Nominating Committee consider the possibility of an alternate on this Board inasmuch as it had been requested by the Agency. Councilman Neblett so moved, seconded by Councilman Meadows, and 1 carried. November 1 , 1977 vOJe3 Mr. Coake stated that Clayton Gregory, Supt. of Plants, will be 65 years of age on November 8, 1977 and had requested that he be allowed to continue working under the Employees Retirement Plan. Mr. Coake stated it was the recommendation that under the provisions of CLAYTON the Plan Clayton Gregory be allowed to continue his employment until GREGORY TO CONTINUE WORKI.Tuly of 1978, at which time all employees over 65 years of age are ING UNTIL JULY '78 considered by the Council for continued employment. Councilman Brockmeyer so moved, seconded by Councilman Johnston, and carried on the following vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye Mr. Coake called Council's attention to the fact that Chief H.B.CHILDRESH. B. Childress recently was elected to the Executive Committee of the TO EXEC. Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and stated this was quite an COMM.OF honor for the Chief and certainly it is an honor for the Town. CHIEFS OF At 5:15 P. M. on motion previously made, Council went into POLICE executive session to discuss a personnel matter. At 5:55P. M. Councilman Graham moved that Council return to EXECUTIVE SESSION regular session. Motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, and carried. Mayor Ratcliff inquired if there was further business to come REGULAR SESSION bef ore the meeting. There being none, it was moved and seconded that ADJOURN- Council adjourn, at 5:56 P. M. MENT APPROVED: / y,1 ~,1 ` yor Ratclif ATTEST ~; %T ftu~/.1r~/./a ~~i~~°~l%~i ,~'` - Clerk f Council