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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-74~~Vt) 1 ., ... .. ~ss~ Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council held September 17, 1974 at 7:00 P. M, in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Raymond F. Ratcliff, presiding. Councilmen: Andrew L. Graham, C. William Hickam, Blair B. Brockmeyer, Bob J. Clark, Arthur L. Meadows, Mason A. Vaughan, William A. House, James M. Neblett, Jr. Also present: Town Manager: J. E. Marshall Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Garnett S. Moore Visitors: J. R. Schrader, Southwest Times reporter Approximately fifty (50) citizens The invocation was given by Councilman Vaughan. Mayor Ratcliff welcomed the visitors,.. The minutes of the regular meeting of September 3rd and special meeting of September 6th were approved as corrected. The Reverend Gary J. Gloster of Christ Episcopal Church brought to the attention of Council the absence of sidewalks to GLOSTER & SCOTT certain school areas, mainly Northwood and Claremont Schools. REQ. FOR SIDEWALKS TO SCHOOLS REF . T~ev. Gloster stated he was concerned about the- safety of the STREET COMM. & PUBLIC SAFETY children walking to these schools, and also stated that having COMMITTEE lived on Northwood Drive, he had observed .the speed of traffic on that street, and also the narrowness of same. He further stated the condition is much worse this school term inasmuch as children of kindergarten age will be walking to school for the first time. Mrs. Grace S.Scott, President of the Pulaski Junior Woman's Club, presented to Council a resolution adopted by the Club to the Council, urging them to consider the proposal that sidewalks be constructed at the elementary schools in the Town; because they felt that without sidewalks the safety of the children is jeopardized. Councilman Brockmeyer moved that the matter be ref erred to the Public Safety and Street Committees for study and report to the Council. The motion was seconded by Councilman Meadows, and carried. REQ. FOR Jacob Blevins, Vice-President of the Dora Highway Community SPEED SIGNS ON DORA HWY Club, asked that speed signs be placed on Dora Highway in an effort to slow down the traffic on that street. Mr. Blevins inquired about r September 17, 1974 sass the possibility of getting two more picnic tables for the Dora Highway Park. He was advised these were administrative matters and would be attended to by the Town Manager. Mr. Blevins also inquired about the change in the creek channel at WPUV Radio Station which, he said, REQ. FOR MORE he understood the Town had stated would be done in an effort to curb PICNIC TABLES AND MATTER flooding of Peak Creek. He was advised a right-of-way, or easement OF WATER BILL FOR was necessary bef ore any such change could be made, and the subject J. BLEVINS REF. TO of removing large rocks from the creek was also discussed by Mr. Blevins TOWN MGR . with the Council. Mr. Blevins also stated he felt he had been overcharged on his water bill, and was advised that this also would be looked into by the Administrative Staff. Councilman Meadows asked that the matter of flooding on Dora FLOODING ON Hi hwa be laced on Council's a enda under DORA HIGHWAY g y p g pending projects. TO BE ON AGENDA The next visitor to be heard was Byron Charlton of the Black Peoples Development Front, who stated the reason for the appearance of the delegation from the black community was in protest of what happened on Friday night, September 6th, on Randolph Avenue in the Town of Pulaski, and that it was their belief it was an over-reaction of the Police Department, as well as of the County Sheriff Officers and State Police, who were called in by the Town Police Department. For VISITORS the next hour and a half, Mayor Ratcliff recognized persons who were HEARD REL . TO SEPT.6TH involved in, or present Friday night ob Randolph Avenue during the DISTURBANCE ON RANDOLPH confrontation which apparently stemmed from the attack on two black AVE. ~ MAIN STREET men by several white men, and later a fight between two black women on Randolph Avenue. During this time Milton Clark, President of the Pulaski County Chapter of the NAACP, and many of those present at the meeting, expressed their views as to what occurred on that Friday night. Mayor Ratcliff stated "nothing could be done about this tonight,. but the matter would be referred to the proper committee; that Mr. Charlton had talked with him about the matter and he was advised that if some small group felt they had been treated badly they should come and make it know, and it seems they have chosen to do so in this manner." V~~~ September 17, 1974 • Mr. Charlton stated that Council is the representative of the people and this was the only way the group could voice their objections to what took place on Friday night, the 6th, as well as other incidents which have taken place, about which several of the group present voiced their charges against the Police Department. Mr. Charlton made three suggestions to the Council for their consideration and vote. (1) That a Citizen's Review Board be appointed, to be composed of two citizens named by the black group and two citizens named by the Council, for a complete investigation of the matter; (2) That there be no trial for MORE ON SEPT. those arrested, because they were arrested because of the over- 6TH DISTURBANCE reaction of the Police Department, and asked that no charges be made; and (3) That the Auxiliary Police Force be eliminated. There was discussion and expressions were made by the various Councilmen. It was the consensus of the Council that a Review Board be approved for the investigation of this matter.. Councilman Brockmeyer moved that a Citizen's Review Board be appointed, consisting of four blacks and four whites, and an ex officio member of the Town Council, to investigate the matter.. There was no second to the motion, and Councilman House made a substitute motion: That the proposal for the Review Board, consisting of four citizens, be accepted for this incident, and CITIZEN'S REVIEW that the Board report to the Public Safety Committee to be presented BOARD APPROVED to the Council. The motion was seconded by Councilman Graham. Further discussion was had and Mr. House withdrew his motion and Mr. Graham withdre w his second. Councilman Brockmeyer than moved that a Citizen's Review Board be created, composed of two citizens to be picked by the black community and two citizens to be picked by the Council, to investigate the incident of September 6, and report back to the Council. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clerk, and carried. September 17, 1974 ~~T"'~ Mrs. Robinson, 829 Jackson Avenue, requested that something MANAGER TO be done about the asphalt in front of her home which is being HANDLE COMPLAINT tracked into her home and ruining her rugs. This was an administra- OF TRACKING ASPHALT tive matter and was turned over to the Town Manager. Councilman Graham stated the Public Utilities Committee had reviewed the two reports submitted by Wiley & Wilson, Engineers, WILEY & WILSON and he felt the Committee should make a report to Council, and moved REPORTS TO BE that it be placed on the agenda and a report brought back to Council. CONSIDERED The motion was seconded by Councilman Vaughan, and carried. Councilman House moved that the Recreation Committee consider REC.COMM. TO CONSIDER the possibility of getting a professional baseball club for Pulaski PROF .BALL TEAM next summer. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark, and carried. Town Attorney Moore reported the legal papers in the Jefferson .JEFF .MILLS Mills encroachment request had been forwarded to New York for signatures. .PAPERS Town Manager Marshall reported that an application had been received-from Clyde McMillian to establish a Trailer Park, containing eight spaces and a 30=f t. wide driveway on land located at the inter- section of Dora Highway and Springer Avenue. M`r. Marshall stated the Engineering Department has made an investigation and there appears to CLYDE MCMILLAN TO ESTAB. be no objection by property owners in that area of the proposed Trailer TRAILER PARK Park, and that the application will be approved after Mr. McMillian has submitted a final-plat showing' in detail the profile of the driveway, profiles of water and sewer 1•ayouts, and the final-method and location of the solid waste disposal system: The area is coned Industrial M-1. Town Manager Marshall'reported that House Bill ~~864, to bring all utility sales, eiectric, gas, telephone, etc. by private utility HOUSE BILL companies to governments under the-control regulation"and rate setting ~p864, RE: UTILITY of the State Corporation Commission, had been held up in the Senate RATES Committee at the request of-the Virginia Municipal League and the Association of Counties. He further stated a steering committee from these Associations had been formed, and it was the opinion of the Committee that Consultant assistance is necessary. Based on Virginia II local government populations, calculated at 3C per capita, Pulaski's 5~~~ September 17, 1974 proportionate share of the cost would be $312.00 to cover cost of Consultants„•Town Manager Marshall stated he felt the local govern- ments should have the authority to set tariff schedules for rates by which local governments would pay for electric power, rather than the State Corporation Commission, and recommended that the Town's share of costs be appropriated. There followed discussion after which Councilman Hickam moved that the matter be tabled until the first meeting in October; that it be referred to the Utilities Committee with the idea that the Committee members secure more inf ormation from members of the Virginia Municipal League at the League Con- vention to be held in Roanokd, and report to Council. The motion was seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried. Councilman Graham abstained from voting, or taking any part in the discussion. Town Manager Marshall reported ghat a petition from five property owners on Sunset Drive and Marshall Street, requesting REQ. FOR CURB & curb and gutter, had been received, and recommended that it be GUTTER REF . TO STREET COMM. FOR ref erred to..the Street Committee, Town Manager and Engineer for SUNSET ST. & MARSHALL ST. further evaluation and recommendation to t he Council. Councilman Hickam so moved, seconded by Councilman Meadows, and carried. Town .Manager Marshall presented to Council a letter of inquiry from Moose Lodge X2037 in Pulaski regarding the sale of TOWN ATTY. TO GIVE OPINION alcoholic beverages on Sundays. On motion of Councilman Vaughan, ON R EQ . OF MOOSE LODGE seconded by Councilman Graham, and carried, the letter of inquiry RESALE OF WINE & BEER ON SUNDAYwas ref erred to the Town Attorney for an opinion. The motion carried. On motion of Councilman Vaughan, seconded by Councilman Neblett, and carried, a trailer application presented by Town BOWYER TRAILER Manager Marshall in the name of Jerry Wayne Bowyer, should follow APPLICATION the usual procedure of such applications and a public hearing be held at the next Council meeting. The motion carried. There being no further business, at 10:20 P. M. Councilman Vaughan moved that Council adjourn. The motion was seconded by CouncilmQn'N~blett, and carried. APP VED: -~ V /i ATTEST: Mayor Ratclif ~) ~~~~-c~h/ ~C Clerk Council