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Home My WebLink About02-01-77.~~. o Minutes of the regular meeting aE the Pulaski Town Council held February 1, 1977 at 4:00 P. M. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliff, presiding. Councilmen: James M. Neblett, John A. Johnston, Blair B. Brockmeyer, William A. House, Andrew L. Graham, C. William Hickam, Jr. Arthur L. Meadows Absent: Councilman Bob J. Clark Also present: Town Manager: J. E. Marshall Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Garnett S. Moore .Town Treasurer: Roger A. Williams Visitors: J. R. Schrader, The SouthwestTimes J. D. Hubbard, Virginia Maid Hosiery Mills The invocation was given by Councilman Johnston. The minutes of the regular meeting of January 18th and special meeting of January 20th, were approved as recorded. Mayor Ratcliff advised this was the time and place, as advertised, for a public hearing on the proposed water rate changes and multi-family metering and billing procedures, and asked if there was anyone present who would like to speak PUBLIC HEARING either for or against said proposal. ON WATER J. D. Hubbard of Virginia Maid Hosiery Mills prefaced RATE CHANGES his remarks by stating Virginia Maid did not question the need PUBLIC HEARD for an increase in rates, however, the proposal of 200,000 gallons & ORDINANCE and over changes would mean increase of 200%. He stated that TO BE CONSIDERED using their December consumption, their costs would be increased LATER by 719;. Mr. Hubbard, on behalf of Virginia Maid Hosiery Mills, requested Council to consider something less severe and any increase to be over a longer period of time. Members of Council presented figures obtained from nearby towns and cities relating to industrial users, and in each case these figures were much higher than those proposed by the Council. Mayor Ratcliff brought out the fact that operating costs have increased as well as the fact that some of the town's equipment has become obsolete and new equipment will be necessary, and that it was not feasible to pay 35C to produce a gallons of water and sell it for 12 or 16 cents per gallon. { ;~~.~: February 1, 1977 No one else appeared relative to the proposed water rate changes, and Councilman Graham moved that the Town Attorney be instructed to prepare an ordinance incorporating the changes to be considered by the Council at its next meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brockmeyer, and carried on the following re- corded vote: WATER RATE C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - abstained ORDINANCE TO Andrew L. Graham - aye Bob J. Clark - absent Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur T~. Meadows- aye BE CONSIDERED John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye AT NEXT MEETING; All correspondence having been received relative to the proposed CORRESPONDEN-water rate change was received and filed as a part of the record of the C;E FILED public hearing. Councilman Hickam had no report. However, Mr. Hickam did ask HICKAM ASKS Council to go over their list of Committees of Council for vacancies MEMBERS TO CHECK LIST and make recommendations to the Nominating Committee. OF COMMITTEES FOR VACANCIES Councilman Graham had no report. Councilman Graham moved that Councilman Neblett be named liaison NEBLETT officer for the Town on the Pulaski County Highway Safety Commission. LIAISON OFFICER The motion was seconded by Councilman Brockmeyer,and carried. FOR TOWN ON PULASKI CO. Councilman Graham requested Town Treasurer Williams to furnish HWY SAFETY C OMM. to Council a report on the financial status of the Town, both current TREAS.ASKED and for the remainder of the fiscal year. FOR REPORT ON FINANCES Councilman Graham questioned the town's present plan of lif e insurance as it affects retirees, and moved that Councilman Meadows, who MEADOWS TO is a member of the Town's Retirement Committee, bring in a report to the LOOK INTO INSURANCE Council as to the Town's present insurance policy and how it varies ON EMPLOYEES UNDER PRES. from the old set up. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, PLAN and carried. Councilman Brockmeyer reported the Sanitation & Pollution Committee had met, and hoped to have a report for Council at the first meeting in March. Councilman Brockmeyer stated he had received calls relative CONDITIONS to the conditions existing on Second Street, South, and inquiries as ON 2nd ST. S0. REF. TO to the possibility of opening up this street and making it wider. ST . COMM. t ~,,1" X,..L F ebruary 1, 1977 Councilman Brockmeyer moved that the matter be referred to the Street Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilman Graham, and carried. Councilman Brockmeyer reported he had attended the MERCHANTS Merchants Council meeting recently and they had requested that COUNCIL REQ. METERMAIDS the Town's meter maids patrol the business section and enf orce the PATROL BUSINESS AREA ON SAT. two-hour parking regulation on Saturdays. RE: TWO-HOUR PARKING Councilman Johnston had no report. Reporting on recent activities of the Agency on Aging, Councilman House stated $1,000 had been made available district-wide $1,000 f or purchase of fuel for those out of fuel and money. Mr. House stated SPENT FOR FUEL)F~ NEEDY the funds would be administered by the Salvation Army for those BY AGENCY ON AGING people who need fuel and hardship cases. He further stated primarily the money spent todate has been in Pulaski and Floyd Counties. Councilman House stated he would be willing to serve on the New River Valley Planning District Commission until June 30, 1977. HOUSE TO SERVE _ ON NRVPDC Councilman Graham moved that Councilman House represent the Town FOR REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR on the New River Valley Planning District Commission for the fiscal year 1976-77. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brockmeyer, and carried on the following recorded vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye Andrew L. Graham - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye John A. Johnston - aye Councilman Meadows had no report. Councilman Neblett had no report. William A. House - abstained Bob J. Clark - absent Arthur L. Meadows- aye James M. Neblett - aye Town Manager Marshall reported that inf ormation had been received that Mr. Jack L. Congrove, who was recently appointed to NECESSARY TO the Town's Board of Zoning Appeals, will be moving from Pulaski APPOINT BD. OF ZONING APPEALS and will no longer be eligible to serve on this body. Also, MEMBERS TO REPLACE EDENS due to the death of C. Robert Edens, a replacement will be necessary AND CONC~ROVE and suggested the Nominating Committee develop a list of names of perople to serve on the Board. Mr. Marshall also reported that a letter had been received MRS. WOODYARD from Mrs. Cora B. Woodyard requesting that her resignation be RESIGNS FROM BEAUTIFICATION accepted from the Town Beautification Committee, because of COMMITTEE illness. Mr. Marshall suggested that the Nominating Committee obtain i~ 1 names for recommendation to the Council for this replacement. COUNCIL TO HOLD PUB . HEARING ON V .HOLMES APPLICATION FOR TRAILER PERMIT Town Manager Marshall reported a trailer application from TOWN MGR . REPORTS ON SNOW REMOVAL & FROZEN PIPES & STATES AN APPROPRIATION WILL BE NEC. `'i$~a° -~~~'i~w C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye Andrew L. Graham - aye Bob J. Clark - absent Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye Town Manager Marshall gave a detailed report to Council on 1 STATE FUEL SHORTAGE EMERGENCY At 5:30 P. M. Councilman Neblett moved that Council go into EXECUTIVE SESSION At 6:48 P. M. Councilman Neblett moved, seconded by Councilman REGULAR SESSION February 1, 1977 Virgie Holmes had been received to place a mobile home on Lot ~p30, located on Highland Terrace, and suggested this application follow the usual procedure of holding a public hearing. Councilman Graham moved that the usual procedure be followed for applications to place a mobile home in the Town. The motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried on the following vote: the financial and progress being made on snow removal and thawing of frozen pipes. Mr. Marshall stated there was $11,000 in the current budget to cover this expense, and as of January 28th the Town had spent $23,834. He stated Council would be asked for an appropriation to cover these expenses, and hoped to have a better report bef ore the next meeting of Council. Town Manager Marshall read a mailgram from Governor Mills Godwin dealing with the emergency fuel shortage, and suggested that people comply with the Governor's ultimatum as closely as possible, and that any complaints should be ref erred to the office of Commonwealths Attorney. executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The motion was seconded by Councilman House, and carried. Meadows that Council return to regular session. Motion was carried. At 6:49 P. M. Mayor Ratcliff declared the Council to again be in regular session and inquired if there was other business to come bef ore the Council. There being none, Councilman Meadows moved at ADJOURNMENT 6:51 P. M, that Council adjourn. Motion was seconded by Councilman Hickam, and carried. APPR(1VED: r i ~~ ~ Mayor Ra cliff ATTEST: ~ ~~ ,. ~ ~ _f Clerk of ouncil