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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-09 Minutes of the Town Council meeting held August 4, 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 B. Burchett, Jr., Robert A. Bopp, Morgan P. Welker Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager John White, Economic Development Director Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Others: Charles R. Bopp Jamie Radcliffe Pater Ash Valerie Goad Lucas Goad Sarah Dunbar Amy Lewis Charles Stewart Joseph K. Goodman Robbie Cecil Debbie Cecil Shawn Utt Betty Quesenberry Charles Hall Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Welker led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. A Following roll call, Mayor Worrell introduced the Employee of the Month for August 2009, Gary Dunford. He read a press release aloud and presented him with a plaque. He noted that Mr. Dunford would receive an additional 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 Public Hearing regarding a rezoning request. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the request was to rezone a lot at 1009 Hill Street from R-1, Residential District to R-4 Residential district. The R-4 district allows multi family use. The owners wished to subdivide their lot to permit one Iot to be sold as a building site for a detached single family home and the other to be the lot of record for an apartment building already on the premises. He advised that the Planning Commission reviewed the request and recommended to Town Council that the request for rezoning be approved. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clevinger expressed concern that after the lot was divided, the new lot would be very small in comparison to the others in the area and it would not be possible to build a house that was comparable in size to others in the area. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to table the issue until the September Legislative session so that Co~cil could review the lot. The motion passed 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 the Public Comment Period. August 4, 2009/Page 1 of 5 Charles Stewart addressed Council advising that as past Councilman and Mayor of Pulaski, he had worked on locating the trail terminus along Peak Creek. He stated that part of the dream involved in the location of the trail terminus was that from the Depot to Xaloy there would someday, be a single large parkway. He noted that the dream is close to completion. The Town has the Cool Springs Park and Heritage Park and owns two large areas between Bridge Street and Bentley Hollow Road, as well as the area occupied by the old sewage plant and the current large item disposal site and the "Garnet Moore cornfield". He added that the Town could obtain the large tract along Dora Highway that was formerly a state highway repair lot from the state. He wanted to remind Council of that dream and added that he brought this up because of the neighborhood revitalization project using Virginia Improvement Grant funds now under way. He suggested that the area around and including Jim's Steak House be added to this project to further the parkway project. Additionally, he encouraged Council not to forget the Galax and Pulaski marathons. Mayor Worrell thanked Mr. Stewart for his comments and noted that he had not forgotten about the marathons. Next, Charles Hall addressed Council with concerns regarding an odor in the Dora Highway area and inquiring whether the Town had determined the source and solution? Mayor Worrell apologized and advised that the Town was working with several companies to solve the problem. He hoped that the solution would be found quickly. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent agenda consisting of the Council minutes of July 7, 2009 as written. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Updates. The first item was Train Station. Mr. Hawley provided a summary of the most recent denial letter received from the insurance company in regard to funding the sprinkler system at the Train Station. Staff did not agree with the numbers used in the assessment. He added that an opinion had been requested from the State Fire Marshal's office and the email response was forwarded to the insurance company. Additionally, the State Fire Marshal had contacted the Town by phone offering to speak with the insurance company by phone if needed. His opinion was that the sprinklers should be paid for by the insurance company. Mr. Hawley added that the time line required that the job go out to bid in order for it to be under roof by winter. The architect, David Gall, was proceeding with a bid package with the sprinkler system as an alternate. A mandatory pre-bid conference had been set for August 19 at the Senior Center, with the bid opening on September 4, 2009 in the Council Chambers. This would allow more time for the decision on the payment for the sprinkler system. Mayor Worrell confirmed that at this time the debate with the insurance company was not holding the project up? Mr. Hawley advised that staff felt that if the bid process began now, the roof could be on the building by winter. Mayor Worrell commented that the issue needed to be resolved soon. Mr. Hawley agreed. Councilman Burchett inquired whether a sprinkler would be in the building regardless of who paid for it? Mr. Hawley responded that would be Council's decision. He noted that if there was no sprinkler system, the use of the building would be limited tremendously according to the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal also pointed out that it has to be a code upgrade, otherwise the Town would be taking a building that is less in value now than it was prior to the fire. August 4, 2009/Page 2 of 5 Councilman Burchett inquired whether a decision from Council to put in the sprinkler system regardless of who paid for it, would speed things up for beginning the renovation on the building? Mr. Hawley responded that he did not feel the time line was being affected. The architect would proceed with a bid package with the sprinkler system as an alternate. The goal was to go to bid by mid-August. Mayor Worrell moved on to mountain biking trail. Mr. Hawley advised that some volunteers had stepped forward to develop a potential layout for the mountain biking trails. Sources of labor and construction were being sought such as prisoners to clean trails, and possibly the Virginia Department of Fire for training for their wild land crews. Additionally, the County may submit a trails application to develop an access area from Valley Road at the old road entrance. The next item on the agenda was Museum and transfer of train set. Mr. Hawley advised that the Museum site plan was being revised and the easement map finalized for the Pulaski County IDA. He added that the ceremonial transfer of the train set from the Brockmeyer's to the Town as well as the groundbreaking on the utility line relocations will be held August 22 at the museum site. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. The first item was Ordinance 2009-13, Establishing Guidelines For Urban Archery Season. Mayor Worrell advised that this completed action requested by Council. He added that there were two versions of the Ordinance. One allowing the use of crossbows and one prohibiting the use of crossbows. He noted that the idea of someone using crossbows within the Town limits scared him and asked for Council comments. Councilmen Burchett and Kidd felt that crossbows were more accurate and easier for the disabled to use. Councilmen Welker and Clark wished to prohibit crossbows except for the disabled. Councilman Bopp wished to prohibit crossbows. Following extensive discussion, Councilman Welker moved to adopt the version of Ordinance 2009-13 with crossbows prohibited and with the addition of the words "or building" after any dwelling in subsection 4. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burchett 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 Resolution 2009-17, Appointments to the New River Valley Agency on Aging. Mayor Worrell advised that this Resolution reappoints Betty Quesenberry as Representative on the Committee and Pauline G. Mitchell as Alternate. He added that both terms are to expire September 20, 1010. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2009-17, Appointing Representatives to the Agency on Aging, 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 August 4, 2009/Page 3 of 5 i Mayor Worrell moved on to Strategic Plan and Vision. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had been provided a printout from the Town's website for the Strategic Plan and Vision. He noted that a power point presentation was being developed for Council and staff to share with various groups in the area. Additionally, that the plan and vision had been presented to the Town's Board of Economic Development, featured in the Pulaski Pride section of the Southwest Times on July 28, 2009, placed on the Town website and copied to all Town employees. Department Heads would be scheduling meetings for each department to review. Mayor Worrell suggested that Council consider viewing the power point presentation at a Special Council meeting. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Strategic Plan and Vision, 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 on the agenda was fire services contract. Mr. Hawley advised that during the spring budget meetings, the County had requested that the 2% annual increase in the fire services contract not be included for the 2009/10 budget. Council discussed the request and felt the increase should be required. Although the Town and County agreed to the new 5 year contract in 2008, it was never signed by either party. The County was now requesting that the contract be modified to say the yearly increase to the Town would be the same as to the County Volunteer Fire Departments. Therefore, for 09/10, there would be no increase. The Town budget for 09/10 was passed with the 2% increased cost as a revenue. He added that for 08/09, the Town fire department responded to 59 calls in the County. Council discussed the issue and took no action. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business The first item was Committee/Authority appointments. Mr. Hawley advised that some Committee terms had expired and needed to be filled. He advised that Charles Wade had agreed to serve on the Cemetery Trustee Committee. Ron Hall had agreed to continue on the Industrial Development Authority. Clark Payne had agreed to continue on the Housing Authority. He added that he had not been able to contact Bob Strenz regarding continuing on the Housing Authority. Councilman Clark moved to appoint Charles Wade to the Cemetery Trustee Committee and reappoint Ron Hall to the Industrial Development Authority and Clark Payne to the Housing Authority and direct staff to draw up the proper paperwork. 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 At 7:57 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (A-7), three items under specific legal advice and A-7, one item under potential litigation. 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 August 4, 2009/Page 4 of 5 At 9:16 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clevinger, seconded by Councilman Clark 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 There being no further business, Councilman Clevinger moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Approved: ; Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor r~~ August 4, 2009/Page 5 of 5