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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-786144 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held February 7, 1978 at 7:00 P. M. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliff, presiding. Councilmen: Bob J. Clark, C. William Hickam, Jr., John A.,Johnston, Blair B. Brockmeyer, James M. Neblett, Jr „ William A. House, Andrew L. Graham, Jr., Arthur L. Meadows Also present: Town Managers J. E. Marshall Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Garnett S. Moore Visitors: J. R. Schrader, The Sots hwest Times Jan Ackerman, Roanoke Times Approximately 25 citizens The invocation was given by Councilman Johnston. Mayor Ratcliff welcomed the visitors. The minutes of the regular meeting of January 17, 1978 and special meeting of January 26, 1978 were approved as recorded. Mayor Ratcliff stated for the benefit of those who might be present on a matter other than the public hearing for the purpose of considering a proposal to increase the minimum water and sewer rates, Council would be glad to hear those at that time. No one spoke. Mayor Ratcliff declared the meeting to be a public hearing PUBLIC HEARING ON INCREASE IN WATER & SEWER RATES COUNCILMAN HOUS E REPORTS and asked if any one wished to make a comment as to why this Council felt that the increase in the minimum water and sewer rates was necess- ary. As Chairman of the Finance Committee, Councilman House gave a lengthy explanation as to why it was necessary for the Town to raise the water and sewer rates in order to find the matching funds of $176,000 in the ARC Grant of $220,000 to the Town for its infiltration/inflow program for improvements to the Town's Sewer System. Mr. House also touched on the more recent necessity of the Town having to secure short-term loans from local banks in order to continue services to the public and carry on the operations of the Town, and commented that for the past seven or eight years the Town had not been able to adequately create a surplus because of inflation and salary increases. He further stated that it was the consensus of Council that by the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 1978, Council will have to find more revenue for the Town's operations. February 7, 1978 6145 Councilman Graham stated that to provide the citizens of the Town with the present services, it would be necessary to have more income. Councilman Brockmeyer stated Council needed to re-examine the Mayor Ratcliff stated the Council would be glad to hear any Mayor Ratcliff told the citizens present that this was not a PUBLIC and supplies, and salary increases, and that Council had tried to keep the HEARING costs down as much as possible. Mayor Ratcliff also stated there had not CONTINUED has caught up with the Town. town's services to the public and at July 1 look at the budget and if there are items which need to be cut, then do it. pleasurable thing for the Town to do, and he was sure they had been reading where other towns were having to do the same thing. He stated this has been brought about by inflation, the increased cost of materials been an increase in real estate taxes for many years, and that all of which one who wished to speak. Nine (9) citizens - C. E. Boyd; Annie Lou Chandler; Rosa 1 CITIZEN REMARKS Collins; Polly Gatewood Mitchell; Margaret Ritter; Talph Grubb; J. B. Warner; Tad Steger and James Mabe questioned the Council on many phases of operation of the Town, and offered suggestions as a means of helping solve the financial situation, as well as criticism on some operations. Mayor Ratcliff called for Committee reports. Councilman Hickam stated, the Nominating Committee would like to present to Council for its consideration a list of people to be considered for the Advisory Board of the Senior Citizen Center Progran. Mr. Hickam stated the Nominating Committee had not contacted any of these persons named, but he understood that Mr. Bane and Gail Murphy had contacted each person and each had agreed to serve if so elected: Recommendations for Advisory Board PULASKI SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER INTERIM ADVISORY GROUP NAMED TO SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER PROGRAM TOWN REPRESENTATIVES Name' Mr. Obel Ratcliff Mrs. Frances Mack Mr. Mason Vaughan Mrs. Virginia Kelly Mrs. Ethyl Flippin Mr. I. D. Long Mr. Joe Williams Address' 117 - 9th St..NW 316 Northwood Dr. 2125 Pleasant Hill Dr. 37 Northwood Place 1517 Claremont Court Longview Court 1705 East Gate Road Phone 980-1868 980-6454 (Bus) 980-3188 980-6944 980-1202 980-7547 980-3443 980-1233 614 INTERIM ADVISORY GROUP NAMED February 7, 1978 SENIOR ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES Name: Mrs. Hazel Elkins Mrs. Delma Jennings Mrs. I1er ~111en Mrs. Thelms March Mrs. Gkadys McMikle Mrs, Mary Baker Address: RFD 1, Pulaski Box 783, Pulaski 308 Maple St. Rt. 3, Box 10, Case Knife Rd . Phone: Organization: 980-5980 Agency on Aging 980-4808 AARP 980-5918 Title VII Nutrition 980-4235 RSVP 980-1244 Salvation Army-Audit Day Care 980-3707 Retired Teachers Assoc. NON-VOTING MEMBERS: P.O.Box 722 Mrs. Mary Elyn Lauth County Officers 980-8888 Agency on Aging Ms. Gail Murphy Town of Pulaski 980-1000 Recreation Dept. Councilman House moved that the list as presented by the Nominating Committee be made an interim advisory group until a permanent Advisory Board is named for the Senior Citizen Center program. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, and carded. Councilman House moved that the Recreation Committee be RECREATION COMMITTEE TO REPORT TO COUNCIL designated as the Committee to report to the Council the organizational functions of the Advisory Group. Motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, and carried. Councilman Graham had no report. Councilman Brockmeyer had no report. Mr. Brockmeyer inquired CROSSWALKS MUNICIP. BLDG & SENIOR CENTER relative to the status of the laidfill, and his suggestions several meetings ago relati~te to a cross walk in front of the Municipal Building. He also suggested at this time, that a cross walk on Washing- ton Avenue in front of the Senior Center would be helpful. Councilman Johnston had no report. Reporting as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Councilman $4,000 APPROP . FOR REPAIRS TO FIRE STA. ROOF House moved that the amount of $4,000 be appropriated from Revenue Sharing Funds to Revenue Sharing Expenditure Account ~k4073 for the purpose of repairing the roof at the Fire Station. Motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, 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,Jr.-aye Councilman Clark had no report. Mr. Clark stated those REPORT ON SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER members of Council who had not seen the Senior Center would be greatly surprised with the outcomerof the renovation. He also stated at least forty people visited the Center on Monday, February 6th. February 7, 1978 614' Councilman Meadows had no report. Mr. Meadows stated he was COMMENTS moved by the comments made by the citizens relative to the proposed increase OF VISITORS in water and sewer rates and hoped Council could find ways to help those groups on fixed and low incomes. Councilman Neblett had no report. Mayor Ratcliff had no report. Town Attorney Moore presented a Resolution for Council's consideration endorsing Thomas J. McCarthy, Jr. for the Judgeship of the 27th Judicial Circuit. On motion of Councilman Brockmeyer, seconded by Council~a,n Meadows, and carries on the following vote, the following Resolution was adopted: C. William Hickam, Jr. - No William A. House - aye RESOLUTION Andrew L. Graham, Jr. - aye Bob J. Clark - aye ADOPTED Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye ENDORSING John A. Johnston - No James M. Neblett, Jr. - aye T.J.MCCARTHY,JR. FOR JUDGESHIP RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Thomas J. McCarthy, Jr., Attorney at Law of Pulaski, Virginia, has heretofore been endorsed for the vacancy in the Judgeship for the 27th Judicial Circuit, and the Council desires to go on record as endorsing him for this position. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Pulaski, Virginia, meeting in Regular Session on this 7th day of February, 1978, that the Council does hereby endorse Thomas J. McCarthy, Jr. Attorney aw Law, for the General District Judgeship vacancy in the 27th Judicial Circuit. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Town Council send a copy of this Resolution to the Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committees of the House and of the Senate of the General Assembly of Virginia. Town Manager Marshall reported that at the request of Council information has been received from two of the local Insurance Agencies, indicating there are a total of thirty-six (36) in-town properties FLOOD INS . PROGRAM covered under the Flood Insurance Program. Mr. Marshall stated that it REPORT appears there are more people taking advantage of the flood insurance program than had been anticipated, and therefore the situation is considerably different with regard to the flood plain program that is presently under consideration. Mr. Marshall further stated that should the Town drop the flood insurance program, considerably more properties than had been anticipated would be subjected to non-coverage. ~~'ZV February 7, 19778 Councilman Graham moved that the Land and Buildings Committee, INDEPTH Town Attorney Moore and Town Manager Marshall review this in depth and STUDY BE MADE report back to the Council. Motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried. On motion of Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman MARSHALL Meadows, and carried, it was resolved that Town Manager Marshall be TO REP.TOWN POLICE the Town's representative on the Police Academy Board of Directors. ACADEMY BD. Town Town Manager Marshall gave a detailed report, as was carried in his Administrative Report of February 7, 1978, regarding the HOUSING RENOVATION developments in the Housing Renovation Project, under a HUD Grant GRANT REPORT in the amount of $250,000 to the Town. Town Manager Marshall advised an application had been received from Brenda S. Quesenberry to place a house trailer at the TRAILER APPLICAT- corner of 5th Street, SE and Herron Street, and suggested it follow ION -PUBLIC HEARING the usual procedures for trailer applications, and that a public hearing be scheduled for the March 7th meeting. Councilman Graham so moved, seconded by Councilman House, and carried. At 9:35 P. M. Councilman Neblett moved that Council adjourn. ADJOURNMENT Motion was seconded by Councilman Clark, and carried. APPROVED: r _ ,, /'~ ~ ~ ; l Mayor Ratc'iff ATTEST: ~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~ Clerk o Council 1