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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-09 Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held September 15, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: David L. Clark, Larry G. Clevinger, II, H. M. Kidd (arrived at 5:40 p.m.), Joel B. Burchett, Jr. (arrived at 5:43 p.m.), Robert A. Bopp, Morgan P. Welker Staff: William D. Pedigo, Acting Town Manager Dave Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Webb, Fire Chief John White, Economic Development Director Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Rebecca Reece, Assistant to the Finance Director Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director Others: Betty T. Quesenberry Judy Ison Debbie Brown Betty Lou Kirkner Andy McCready Mike Williams, Press Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilman Welker moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the July 21, 2009 and August 18, 2009 Council meetings. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Presentations. Mayor Worrell introduced the Employee of the Month for September 2009, Rebecca Reece. Mrs. Reece is the Assistant to the Finance Director. He read a press release aloud and presented Rebecca with the award. He noted that in addition to this award, Mrs. Reece would receive an extra paid day off and be eligible for the Employee of the Year Award at the end of the year. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was Train Station bids. Bill Pedigo advised that the low bid for the project was South End Construction from Roanoke, Virginia. He explained the bid summary sheet. He advised that staff had delivered some more information to the insurance company and were waiting for a response Mayor Worrell added that a meeting was held with the architect last week that included discussion regarding his role once the project gets started. Councilman Bopp inquired whether the architect would take part in the construction administration? Mayor Worrell responded that the architect said he would be involved as little or as much as the Town wished and were willing to pay for. Mr. Pedigo commented that under the contract, the architect would preliminarily be on site approximately once a month. The next item on the agenda was PMS Micro Society. September 15, 2009/Page 1 of 6 Mr. White advised that Beans and Rice received a grant to put together a 21st Century Learning Center focusing on miero societies. Pulaski Middle School students can participate in the program and learn about citizenship, business and entrepreneurship, and other things that build a society. Sponsorships and volunteers were needed to help with the project. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to investigate options for the Town's participation in the Pulaski Middle School Micro Society program. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Absent Larry G. Clevinger, II -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Absent Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to GO21 Freight Incentive. He advised of a meeting with himself, Town staff and a representative from the GO21 organization. They are requesting that the Town support reasonable regulations for the operation of railroads that do not limit their capability to compete and a Federal tax incentive for business that would use rails for freight. Staff felt this would be an economic development tool for the Town since it has a long history with the railroad. Following extensive discussion, Councilman Welker moved to direct staff to contact our legislators and encourage participation in the GO21 freight incentive. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Absent Larry G. Clevinger, II -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Absent Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was mountain bike trail update. Mr. Pedigo advised that the volunteer group, in conjunction with the Department of Forestry Board has been working on a mountain biking trail at the land fill tract. He advised that they have made great progress and reviewed a map of the area. He noted that except for the loaning of tools and equipment, the Town had not been involved in the project. He opined that it would be a good addition to the Town's recreational facilities once it is completed. Mayor Worrell commented that this was an exciting project and has great potential. He encouraged Council to review the map in greater detail after the meeting. He complimented Don Singleton, who was coordinating the project with the volunteers. The next item on the agenda was boundary adjustment. Mayor Worrell advised that information had been provided in the packet from Tischler Bise providing the property involved, the acreage and whether it was developable. He emphasized that the information was very preliminary. No decision had been made whether to go forward with the project or do a portion of the project or do nothing at this time. He wanted Council to let him know whether, after reviewing the maps, they were comfortable allowing Tischler Bise to continue to gather additional information. Mr. White opined that the concept drawings were too conservative in industrial development. He encouraged more research in that area. Councilman Clark commented that staff should move forward and investigate some industrial sites as well. Following discussion, staff was asked to make an overlay map of the County with the current County zoning, for Council's further review. September 15, 2009/Page 2 of 6 a Mayor Worrell moved on to alternate locations for the drop site. He advised that the current location of the drop site was inadequate for several reasons: it's not large enough; located right next to the Trail; and an eyesore from the Trail and from the entry into Town. Staff had been researching some options for an alternate location. The option that he liked best was on property at the end of Walnut and Lafayette Street, owned by Honeywell. He suggested that he contact Honeywell to see if the land might be available. Mr. Pedigo added that he spoke with the Director of the New River Resource Authority and with the Public Service Authority and visited two potential sites for the drop site. He described the pros and cons of both sites. Mr. Quesenberry noted that Town zoning require that drop sites in the Town have to be in a drop site zone. Following extensive discussion, the consensus of Council was for the Mayor to contact Honeywell regarding the property and report back to Council. The next item on the agenda was Museum Operating Committee. Mayor Worrell advised that a collections policy needed to be developed for future donations to the Museum and what to do with the existing inventory. He proposed a Museum Operating Committee to propose the policies and Council would then make these decisions. He wished to open the Committee to the public and asked that any citizen willing to serve on the Committee to contact the Town offices. At 5:40 p.m., Councilman Kidd arrived at the meeting. Mayor Worrell moved on to Legislative. The first item was Ordinance 2009-14, Repealing a Certain Code Section and Establishing a new Code Section Regarding Inoperable Vehicles. Councilman Burchett arrived at 5:43 p.m. Mayor Worrell summarized that Council had directed the Town Attorney to prepare a new Ordinance regarding Inoperable Vehicles and provided him with the pertinent criteria. A draft Ordinance had been included in the Council packet. He added that subsequently, some email dialogue between staff and Council had occurred. Mr. Warburton commented that he drew up a draft Ordinance regarding Inoperable Vehicles based on the consensus of Council. He received comments from Councilman Welker and from the Police Chief. He reviewed the issues presented by staff and Councilman Welker for Council. Mayor Worrell liked the draft Ordinance as written, and felt it was what Council had directed Councilman Welker summarized his concerns with the Ordinance. He wished to change paragraph (b), sub-paragraph (i) to the following (in caps): A commercial entity or person, possessing a current business license issued by the town, REGULARLY ENGAGED TN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES PRIOR TO OR ON JUNE 26TH, 1970. Councilman Burchett agreed with Councilman Welker. Councilman Bopp had issues with trailers being included. Some of the existing businesses use them and he felt it would be a hardship on those businesses to make them stop. He did not mind prohibiting them for future businesses. Police Chief Roche summarized his problems with the draft ordinance. He suggested changing the Business zones to Commercial zones to fit the Ordinance and to substitute the word and for or at the end of section (c) - i. September 15, 2009/Page 3 of 6 Following more extensive discussion, Councilman Welker moved to repeal the current Ordinance and adopt the draft Ordinance written by staff with the following changes: Change paragraph (b), sub-paragraph (i) to read: A commercial entity or person, possessing a current business license issued by the town, regularly engaged in an oche following businesses prior to or on June 26`h 1970: a. Automobile sales or service b. Salvage or scrap processing; or c. Motor vehicle repair, automobile body work, restoration, or painting. And change paragraph (c) sub-paragraph (i) to read: Current and valid license plate or plates issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles or the corresponding authority of another State, unless such vehicle is exempted from the requirement to bear license plates by the Code of Vir ig nia. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burchett and failed on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II - No Robert A. Bopp - No H. M. Kidd - No Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell - No Councilman Clevinger moved to adopt Ordinance 2009-14, Repealing a Certain Code Section and Establishing A New Code Section Regarding Inoperable Vehicles with the correction of the spelling of Councilman Clevinger's name. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II -Aye Robert A. Bopp - No H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker - No Mayor Worrell moved on to Ordinance 2009-16, Rezoning Property At 1009 Hill Street From R-1 to R-4. He advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman Burchett moved to adopt Ordinance 2009-16, Rezoning Property at 1009 Hill Street From R-1 to R-4. 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 - No Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was zoning amendments for Board of Zoning Appeals. Mr. Quesenberry advised that this was to bring the Board of Zoning Appeals regulations in line with the changes made by the 2009 General Assembly which changed the state law concerning the number of members required for a decision and relaxed the standards for a variance. Additionally, to update the regulations to allow for alternates (which had already been authorized), clarify when the Board will meet, and add the authority to interpret maps, a power that is permitted by the state code, but not contained in the zoning regulations. Councilman Clark moved to refer the zoning amendments to the Planning Commission for review. 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 September 15, 2009/Page 4 of 6 Mayor Worrell moved on to Finance. The first item was salary range for Grade 14. Ms. Boyd advised that at the June 2, 2009 Council meeting several employee positions were changed from grade 13 to grade 14. No salary adjustments were required by this grade change. Upon review of the compensation schedule, it was determined that a salary range was needed for grade 14. A copy of the proposed salary range had been included in the Council packet for Council's review. Councilman Clark moved to authorize a salary range of grade 14 be added to the compensation plan. Councilman Clevinger seconded the motion and so 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 a funding request from the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley. Mayor Worrell advised that the Fine Arts Center was applying for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to rehabilitate and to develop the former Rutherford building. They were requesting an appropriate match from the Town and the County. Mr. White summarized the issues before the Fine Arts Center and commented that the Town would have to decide whether to support the request, the amount of the funding if the request was approved and where the funds would come from in the Town budget. He commented that normally, these funds would be taken from UDAG funds. He asked Ms. Boyd to provide a summary of the UDAG funds. Ms. Boyd advised that the UDAG fund cash balance as of August was $227,000. She reviewed the other appropriate budgetary items for Council. Judy Icon, Executive Director of the Fine Arts Center, summarized the status of the project. Debbie Brown, Director of the Capital Campaign for the Rutherford Building renewal, added that support from the local government and public was key to receiving the grant. Mayor Worrell thanked them for their report and suggested that staff explore the options available to assist with the project. Mrs. Ison explained that the deadline for the grant was October 5. The next scheduled Council meeting was October 6, 2009. Following extensive discussion, Ms. Boyd recommended that any additional funds received in the general fund be applied to the UDAG fund to augment the fund. This would enable the Town to make a commitment to the Fine Arts Center as well as attain the goal of rebuilding the UDAG fund. Councilmen Welker, Burchett and Clark spoke in favor of awarding the funds to the Fine Arts Center. Councilman Bopp advised that he would abstain because his company was providing the architectural services to the Fine Arts Center. Councilman Welker moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary paperwork for a Resolution awarding the Fine Arts Center a loan of $25,000 from the UDAG fund. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burchett and carried on the following recorded vote: September 15, 2009/Page 5 of 6 i David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Larry G. Clevinger, II -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Abstain H. M. Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was Round Table discussion. Councilman Burchett commented that he felt it was time for the Town to consider a vacant building inspection program. He referred to the Jefferson School building and the fact that the entire western wall was caving in. He opined that if an inspection program had been in place, this could have been prevented. Following discussion, staff was directed to look into available options and report back to Council at the next Work Session. At 6:48 p.m., there being no further business, Councilman Clark moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Clevinger and so carried. Approved: i r' J f ey S. Worrell, Mayor September 15, 2009/Page 6 of 6