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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-09Minutes of the Town Council meeting held May 5, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: David L. Clark, Larry G. Clevinger, II, H. M. Kidd, Joel S. Burchett, Jr., Robert A. Bopp, Morgan P. Welker Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Barbara Tate, Public Relations Director Elaine D. Newman, Records Manager Ervin Barr, Lieutenant Support Services Others: Mickey Seagle Terri Fitzwater Palmore Clark Payne Ronald Hall William B. Saunders Bob Ledford Jim Aust Joseph Goodman Betty Lou Kirkner Shawn Utt Tye Kirkner Charles Wade Amy Lewis Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Clevinger led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Burchett gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell introduced the Employee of the Month for May 2009. He introduced Elaine D. Newman, Records Manager for the Police Department. He read a press release aloud and presented her with a plaque. He noted that Ms. Newman would receive an extra paid day off and be eligible for the Employee of the Year Award at the end of the year. The next item on the agenda was a presentation by the Industrial Development Authority. Ron Hall submitted three nominees for vacant positions on the I.D.A. for Council's consideration. Additionally, he advised that the I.D. A. has a good relationship with Town staff. He suggested that Council consider appointing a Council person as liaison to the I.D.A. Mayor Worrell commented that the idea of a Council liaison had merit and staff would work on that. Regarding the nominees for the vacant positions on the I.D.A., Council would review them along with other volunteers and nominees and discuss at the next Council Work Session. The next item on the agenda was Public Hearings. Mayor Worrell advised that the hearing was in regard to establishing tax rate based on real estate assessment. Mr. Hawley advised that the Town advertised the proposed tax rate and the neutral tax rate based on the data received from Pulaski County. The rate that Council authorized to be advertised is thirty cents per hundred. May 5, 2009/ Page 1 of 6 Councilman Burchett inquired whether all of the County appeals of the tax assessments had been completed? Shawn Utt, from the County, advised that the hearings had been completed, and they were compiling the report. Councilman Burchett commented that it was probably not going to affect the Town as much as the County. Mr. Hawley agreed with that assumption. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Public Comment Period. Clark Payne, Interim Chairman of the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority, advised of the resignation of David Edney from the Authority. A new member would have to be appointed by Council. Additionally, he presented a Status Report in response to a request from Council. He summarized what the Authority had been doing and how the Authority had spent the $5,000 the Town provided to them. Councilman Welker advised that he had been attending the Authority meetings and inquired whether the Town had property with tax liens that may be coming up soon, that could be passed on to the Authority for their use. Mr. Hawley advised that there were several properties that the Town was working on with the possibility of passing them to the Authority. Additionally, he advised of the receipt of a phone call with an offer to donate some vacant property. Once staff has researched this property, it was hoped to have the land donated to the Authority. Next, Terri Fitzwater Palmore also addressed Council on behalf of the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She advised that the Authority had already reviewed some of the properties with liens on them and were interested in several of them. She hoped that if these properties were donated to the Authority, that the Town would waive the taxes that were owed on it. Additionally, Ms. Palmore requested that Councilman Burchett attend their meetings since he is also a real estate agent. She felt he could provide some valuable insight to the Authority. She asked that Councilman Burchett attend in addition to Councilman Welker. Councilman Burchett advised that he would attempt to attend the meetings. The next speaker was William B. Sanders. Mr. Sanders complained of water bills varying greatly in amounts. He was aware the Town was installing new meters, but wondered when the bills would be correct? Staff was directed to check into Mr. Sanders complaint. The next item on the agenda was consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Burchett moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the April 7, 2009 Council minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Updates. The first item was Community Garden. May 5, 2009/ Page 2 of 6 First, Mr. Hawley explained the "conveyor belt" and drawing in the packet used to track the daily workload of the. Town. Next, Barbara Tate advised that all of the garden plots were full. There were 222 10x10 plots distributed between' 51 participants. Mayor Worrell moved on to Train Station rebuild. Mr. Hawley advised that following Mr. Gall's presentation at the last Council meeting, staff wished to meet with the insurance company and have them review the plans. Staff was scheduling an appointment. Mr. Hawley provided an update of the project to date and advised that he hoped to go out to bid by the first of July. He added that there had been no indication from the architect that he would not be able to finish the project in time for a dedication on June 11, 2010. The next item on the agenda was Museum building. Mr. Hawley advised that the site plan survey for the Museum was being completed by the Engineering department. The water line, sewer line and storm drain will have to be relocated at Town cost. VDOT will not cover the utility relocation costs. He advised that paperwork had been submitted to Department of Historic Resources and staff was waiting for a response. He hoped to go to bid on this project in July of this year. He hoped to be able to hold a ground breaking when relocation of the storm drain began. Mayor Worrell interjected that he thought it was a great idea and felt that a Saturday morning at the same time as the Farmer's Market would be a good time to schedule it. Mr. Hawley advised that he would contact VDOT and see if some representatives could attend on a Saturday morning. Mayor Worrell moved on to blight. Mr. Hawley advised that time lines for blight are being reviewed in order to move them up on the Action Plan and also involving the Town Attorney. Councilman Burchett inquired what started the time line for a complaint? He asked if staff was actively going out and looking for problems or just relying on citizen complaints? Mr. Hawley responded that he thought most of the responses were from citizen complaints. However, the thought was that if any staff, Councilman or public sees a problem, to report it to the Town. Councilman Burchett commented that it probably needed to be added to job descriptions and then a regular report being given to Council. Mr. Hawley advised that Engineering was already tracking the weed and grass complaints and could provide a report to Council. Councilman Burchett inquired whether staff had received a response on issues spotted during the Council "field trip"? Mr. Hawley advised that letters had gone out advising of the structures on the road coming into Town. No response had been received yet. The County has been helping with clean up on Route 99. May 5, 2009/ Page 3 of 6 Councilman Bopp passed on compliments that he had received regarding the work of Chip Hutchinson, the Fire Marshal, regarding nuisance abatement. The next item on the agenda was NEEMO. Mr. White advised that NEEMO stood for Nanomaterials for Energy, Environmental and Medical Operations. It is envisioned as a commercial/manufacturing park set in the middle of research and applied work. He summarized the idea behind NEEMO and advised that July 15 was the deadline to have a prospectus developed. Mayor Worrell moved on to boundary line adjustments. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had been working with Carson Bise on defining a potential change area along Route 11. Preliminary base maps were being developed. He added that Pulaski County was assisting the Town with the mapping. He emphasized that this was not a show of support for boundary line changes, but that they were willing to share their data with the Town. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had requested that staff provided a list of proposed grade adjustments for employees and they were included in the packet. Mayor Worrell advised that the consensus of Council at the last meeting was that the adjustments needed to be done. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the proposed grade adjustments included in the Council packet. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded votes: David L. Clark - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Robert A. Bopp - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Morgan P. Welker - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Ordinance 2009-08, Waiving Town License Fee For One Personal Vehicle For Paid Law Enforcement And Firefighting Personnel Residing Within The Town Limits. He advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman Kidd interjected that he would like to amend the wording in the Ordinance to include language waiving the license fee for personal vehicles for paid law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical service personnel within the Town limits of the Town of Pulaski. The Town Attorney advised that he needed to do some research in the state code. Mayor Worrell continued with the meeting while the Town Attorney researched. The next item was Cemetery trustee. Mr. Hawley advised that Ms. Janet Johnson's term had expired. She agreed to continue to serve if appointed. Mayor Worrell added that he was considering appointing an advisory board to the Cemetery Trustee Committee consisting of a representative from the four funeral homes located in the Town. He advised that he would speak with them and report back to Council. May 5, 2009/ Page 4 of 6 Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare a Resolution reappointing Janet Johnson to the Cemetery Committee, seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Robert A. Bopp - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Morgan P. Welker - Aye The next item was Ordinance 2009-11, Reconnection Fees. Mayor Worrell commented that this completed action of Council. Councilman Clevinger moved to adopt Ordinance 2009-11, Amending Section 86-4 c of the Town Code related to reconnection fees. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bopp and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Robert A. Bopp - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Morgan P. Welker - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. The first item was Ordinance 2009-09, Tax Relief Guidelines. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had discovered that the current code states that any guidelines adopted by Pulaski County will automatically be adopted by the Town of Pulaski, unless the Town passes an Ordinance not to do that. Therefore, the current code was sufficient and no action was needed. Mr. Warburton advised that he was prepared to go back to Ordinance 2009-08 regarding waiving decal license fees. He advised that Council was allowed to waive this fee for one vehicle per residence for the groups suggested by Councilman Kidd. Discussion ensued regarding how many individuals would be affected by this Ordinance and exactly whom they wanted to include for the exemption. Staff was directed to bring back a list of groups who were allowed by state code to be exempted for Council's review. Mayor Worrell moved onto Ordinance 2009-10, Adoption of Tax Rate. He advised that the report and the Public Hearing had been heard earlier in the meeting. Mr. Hawley advised that staff based revenues for the budget on thirty cents per hundred. He reminded Council that they could not set the rate higher than what had been advertised, but they could lower the rate if they wished. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2009-10, Setting the 2009 Rate of Taxation on Real Estate at Thirty Cents Per One Hundred Dollars of Assessed Value. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - Aye Robert A. Bopp - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Morgan P. Welker - Aye The next item on the agenda was moral obligation for debt for New River Valley Development Corporation. May 5, 2009/ Page 5 of 6 Mr. White advised that the New River Valley Development Corporation, which operates a business called The Competitiveness Center is seeking to refinance its debt. An offer had been received from Carter Bank and Trust. The bank wishes to have a moral obligation of support from at least two localities. Pulaski County has agreed to provide moral obligation for one half of the total amount. Carter Bank and Trust would like a moral obligation from others in the Corporation. Staff suggested that the Town agree to a moral obligation equal to 1/7 of the other 50% or $184,450.00. Mayor Worrell verified with Ms. Boyd, the Finance Director, that this would not affect the Town's bond rating. Councilman Burchett commented that the Town citizens are also County citizens. Because of that fact, he felt that the Town people were being asked to support this twice. He added that unless the business locates in the Town, the Town does not see any revenue from the business. He did not see any reason to support this moral obligation of support. Following more discussion, Councilman Clark moved.to direct staff to revise the draft Resolution for Council's consideration for the Town to agree to a moral obligation equal to one seventh (1/7) of the remaining 50% of refinanced debt to be obligated. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - No Larry G. Clevinger, 11 - Aye Robert A. Bopp - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Morgan P. Welker - Aye At 8:40 p.m., there being no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on voice vote. Approved: -AA4 /.Ow/ S. Worrel , Mayor May 5, 2009/ Page 6 of 6