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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-77c,.~,~ 4 ~..~ Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held May 3, 1977 at 4:00 P. M. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliff, presiding. Councilmen: Bob J. Clark, John A. Johnston, William A. House, Andrew L. Graham, Arthur L. Meadows, James M. Neblett, Blair B. Brookmeyer, C. William Hickam, Jr. Also present: Town Manager: J. E. Marshall Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Garnett S. Moore Visitors: J. R.Schrader, Dan Rooker, Ned Bane of the Southwest Times Jane Graham, WPW Radio Station Paul Dellinger, The Roanoke Times & World News Howard G. Sadler Barry D. Akers Approximately 35 citizens The invocation was given by Councilman Neblett. The minutes of tiie regular meeting of April 19, 1977 were approved as recorded. At this time Mayor Ratcliff welcomed the visitors and stated Council would hear any member of the public who would like to make a statement. Howard G. Sadler addressed the Mayor and Council and said he was speaking entirely on his own and not as a representative of any one. Mr. Sadler stated that he had served two years on the HOWARD SADLER Law Enf orcement Committee of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce SPEAKS ON POLICE and during that time several members of the Town Police Department INVESTIGATION were interviewed by the Committee and as a result of which certain information was obtained by the Committee which could not be dis- closed at a public meeting. Mr. Sadler stated that during the past two years various members of the Town Police Department had contacted him regarding their concern about matters in the Police Department - because .they felt they could not vent their feelings or find answers to their questions without fear of repraisal by their supervisors. Mr. Sadler went into detail relative to the legal steps a citizen could take if he believes he has knowledge of a criminal activity. t ~"-~ ~ ~ May 3, 1977 Mr. Sadler stated the concerns about the Town Police Departmenr are now public concerns and urged the Council to assume leadership and to act now with fairness. Barry Akers, a f ormer police officer, presented a petition containing some five hundred names of citizens and merchants, BARRY AKERS INDICATES to Council requesting that due to irregularities in the administra- PETITION ON POLICE tion of the Town of Pulaski Police Department, a full investigation MATTER WILL BE FORTH of the Police Department be conducted by the Virginia State Police. COMING Mayor Ratcliff asked Council their pleasure in the matter. Councilman Neblett moved that Council take the matter under strong advisement and report back to the public in two weeks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows. A discussion followed relative to the proper legal procedure of an investigation of this nature and Councilman Brockmeyer suggested a Citizens Committee be appointed by the Mayor. Mayor Ratcliff stated he felt Council had the responsibility to make its own investigation. The motion was then carried on the following recorded vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye Andrew L. Graham - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - no Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye BROCKMEYER ` SUGGESTS Councilman Brockmeyer moved that the Town Council CITIZEN"S COMMITTEE TO appoint a Citizens Committee to investigate the Town Police Department INVESTIGATE POLICE MATTER, and to investigate any irregularities that have been talked about for the past two years. The motion was seconded by Councilman Graham. There was discussion about the Citizens Committee working with the Public Saf ety Committee on the matter, to which there was opposition by some members of Council. The motion carried on the following recorded vote: C. William Hickam, Jr. - no William A. House - no Andrew L. Graham - aye Bob J. Clark - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye HOWARD SADLER John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - no DECLINED TO SERVE ON Councilman Graham moved that Howard Sadler be appointed CITIZEN"S COMM. Chairman of the Citizens Committee, together with three other citizens, to work with the Public Safety Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows. Mr. Sadler stated he could not serve because he couldn't be entirely objective on this subject and declined to serve. The motion and second was then withdrawn. CITIZEN"S appoint a Citizens Committee at that time or at a later date, and it COMM. TO BE APPOINTEDwas the consensus of Council that it be done later. LATER Mayor Ratcliff asked Council if it was their desire to Mayor Ratcliff asked if there were other comments which May 3, 1977 `- ~ , the public would like to make at that time. There were several remarks from the public relative to the appointment of the Citizens Committee. Councilman Graham moved that the Mayor appoint a f our- member Citizens Committee to work with the Safety Committee to study MAYOR TO the Police System and report back in two weeks. The motion was APPOINT A FOUR-MEMBER seconded by Councilman Clark, and carried on the following recorded CITIZEN COMMITTEE vote: ON POLICE M4TTFR C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye Andrew L. Graham - aye Blair B. Brockmeyer - aye John A. Johnston - aye William A. House - aye Bob J . Clark - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye James M. Newblett - aye Mayor Ratcliff stated the floor was open if any one wished met and he then presented the recommendation of the Committee to the 'COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS,Council. Because the Town had been experiencing over the Last several $100.00 PER TEAM years excessive costs as a direct result of vandalism at town owned PER YEAR FEE FOR recreation facilities, it was the recommendation of the Committee that ADULT A couple of concerned citizens questioned a proposed entry ~~~'I ~l.__J SOFTBALL the Council establish a $100..00 per team per year entry fee for all Councilman Clark reported that the Recreation Committee had TEAMS AND to address the Council on any subject. fee of $100.00 for softball teams and $200.00 a day rental fee for tournaments to be held at Loving Field. adult softball teams to include both male and female, in an eff ort to offset some of the excessive cost to the Town. In addition it was the recommendation of the Committee that have been ironed out months ago. The following recorded vote was taken on the motion: a tournament fee of $200.00 per day for each field and each organization $200.00 conducting the tournaments must furnish at their own expense the necessary PER DAY FOR FIELD officials and umpires, plus required police protection. FOR TOURNAMENTS There was discussion to the effect that this matter should HELD C. ,William Hickam, Jr. - no Andrew L. Graham - no Blair B. Brockmeyer - no John A. Johnston - no William A. House - no Bob J. Clark - aye Arthur L. Mead ows - no James M. Neblett - no ~_. V~ AF ~A~S5 t..f~;~ ~ al May 3, 1977 Councilman Neblett moved that there be established a charge of $200.00 per day for each field for each tournament held. The COUNCIL ESTABLISHES motion wa s seconded by Councilman Johnston, and carried on the f olLowing $200.per day FOR FIELD recorded vote: FOR TOURNAMENTS ; $100.ENTRY FEE C. William Hickam, Jr. - aye William A. House - aye TO BE CONSIDERED Andrew L. Graham - aye Bob J. Clark - aye NEXT SEASON Blair B. Brookmeyer - aye Arthur L. Meadows - aye John A. Johnston - aye James M. Neblett - aye It was the consensus of the Council that the $100.00 entry fee for each team be considered by Council for the next season. Councilman Hickam reported that the Street Committee met and considered the request of Clyde McMillan relative to an additional COMMITTEE entrance to his property as well as the fact that storm drainage RECOMMENDS DRAINAGE from the alley is crossing his mobile home park. Mr. Hickam PROBLEM OF CLYDE reported that from an inspection made by the Committee, it appears MCMILLAN BE TAKEN the alley is part in the Town and part in the County as far as the CARE OF , ,. NOT ANOTHER Town is involved, needs only a drainage basin to correct this and ENTRANCE TO PROPERTY the Town should take care of this problem, but not the grading of another entrance to his property which actually would benefit County residents. Councilman Hickam stated that with regard to Council- man Brockmeyer's suggestion that Main Street be closed between Jefferson and Washington Avenues for the Arts and Crafts Festival ARTS & June 25th and 26th, advised this is an administrative matter. Also, CRAFTS FESTIVAL Mr. Brookmeyer had stated a letter from the Chamber of Commerce was FOR JUNE 25 & 26 in the mail requesting this closing, but same had not been received. TOG .WITH CLOSING OF Bob LaLone, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, was STREET TO BE CONSIDE[t- present and stated he had been ill for several weeks and for this ED BY MERCHANTS COUNCIL reason the letter had not been written making the request.. He stated further that there had been no objections from the merchants in that block. It was suggested that the merchants take this up with the Merchants Council. Councilman Graham reported that at the last meeting of Council the possibility of securing Appalachian Regional Commission MATTER OF ARC FUNDS funds for the Town's infiltration/inflow study, and from the TO BE CARRIED ON Administrative Report it appears that Town Manager Marshall is in AGENDA the process of preparing the proper application and narrative May 3, 1977 ~_~~~''~^~ ~~ ~~ statements necessary for submission and asked for a meeting of the Utility and Finance Committees on this matter. Councilman Graham suggested this be carried on the agenda of Council. Councilman Graham also reported that Town Manager Marshall's report indicated that the Twin Oaks water project would be completed twin oaks TO BE in six weeks, with the North Randolph to follow upon the completion COMPLETED IN 6 WKS of the Twin Oaks project and should be completed within two or three & RANDOLPH PROJ.TO weeks. FOLLOW Also from the report, Mr. Graham stated, it appears the BUDGET 1977-78 budget will be presented during the week. of May 9, 1977. TO BE PRESENTED Councilman Brockmeyer had no report. WK OF MAY9TH Councilman Johnston had no report. Councilman House had no report. Councilman Clark had no report. Councilman Meadows had no report. Councilman Neblett had no report. Mayor Ratcliff presented a copy of the Application for Certificate of Compliance for Dublin Associates, Ltd. to the TV CABLE Federal Communications Commission, to be filed with the Franchise CERTIFICATE FILED to Dublin Associates, Ltd., and available for public inspection. Town Manager Marshall reported the petition from residents in the area of North Randolph Avenue for more lighting and referred APPROVED LIGHTING to the Town Engineer during his absence, had been evaluated by ON RANDOLPH AVENUE & the Engineering Department. After a review of the report, Town REFERRED TO APCOMPANY Manager Marshall reported, a request was made to the Appalachian FOR INSTALLA- TION Power Company for improvements in the street lighting system in the areas requested. With regard to a recommendation dated April 11, 1977 from Finance Director Roger Williams regarding delinquent real estate FINANCE COM. and personal property taxes, Town Manager Marshall recommended that TO CONSIDER TREAS"S, it be ref erred to the Finance Committee for a recommendation to the PROPOSAL ON DEL. Council bef ore July 1 of this year. Councilman Neblett so moved, TAXES seconded by Councilman Clark, and carried. Town Manager Marshall reported that a letter had been received from Mr. I. D. Long requesting that his resignation from the I. D.LONG RESIGNS Beautification Committee as of April 1, 1977 be accepted. FR .BEAUTIFI- CATION COM. APRIL 1, '77 r ..~.~~ ~'3 _ "~ May 3 , 19 77 At 5:55 P. M. Councilman Neblett moved that Council go into executive session for a discussion of a personnel matter. EXECUTIVE SESSION The motion was seconded by Councilman House, and carried. At. 6:35 P. M. Councilman Graham moved that Council return to regular session, seconded by Councilman Meadows, REGULAR SESSION and carried. At 6:36 P.M. Mayor Ratcliff declared Council to be again in regular session and inquired if there was other business to come bef ore the Council. There being none, Councilman Graham moved at 6:37 ADJOURNMENT P. M., seconded by Councilman Neblett, that Council adjourn. Motion was carried. APPROVED: ~~~ _~' Mayor atcliff ATTEST: ~ ~ ~C'` ~~L~ /wit-/~; Clerk of-Council 1