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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-11mere were present: nnayor ~errrey ~. worren MInUTeS or Tne l own l.OUnGII Meeting nelU J VI IC /, N I I Ui /.vv Nd ~ i. u i n is ~.~~i wu ~a ivi i wci ~ v~ a ,c ,v,.n n~,N.., Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: ' Staff: Morgan P. Welker, H. M. Kidd, David L. Clark, Robert A. Bopp, Joseph K. Goodman John J. Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney Gary Roche, Police Chief Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Elizabeth Chitwood, Administrative Secretary Others: Jennifer White Shirley Bandy Judith Pugh Henry Whitehurst Richard Repass Charles R. Bopp Ronald L. Boothe Daniel Talbert, Jr. Larry Clevinger, II Shawn Utt Mike Williams, Press Melinda Williams, Press and Boy Scout Troop #249 Members: Vincent D. Miller, Warren Crandall Jeremiah Finney, Henry Fink and Grey Quesenberry Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Welker led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Bopp gave the invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Clark moved to add Item 10a, May 3, 201 1 Council minutes and Item 13E, Resolution 201 1-08. Councilman Welker seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. ' Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting and noted the presence of Boy Scout Troop 249. The first item on the agenda was Presentations. Mayor Worrell advised of the receipt of a restored photograph from the Train Station fire. John White, Economic Development Director presented the framed photograph to Council. He passed out a copy of the picture before and after it had been restored. He advised that more restored photographs would be arriving soon. Mayor Worrell advised that he had a wonderful meeting with Ms. Naomi Carter-Tod of Blacksburg Middle School last week. Ms. Carter-Tod and her friend Carly Hannah held a series of bake sales and raised $235.00 for the Tornado Disaster Fund. Ms. Carter-Tod visited the Town and personally gave the funds to the Mayor for the fund. He expressed his appreciation for Ms. Carter-Tod and Ms. Hannah's hard work and generosity. The next item on the agenda was Public Hearings. The first Hearing was anon-exclusive franchise for Citizen's Telephone Communication services. Mr. Hawley advised that in order for Citizen's Telephone Communication to provide services to the Town, they must have a franchise agreement with the Town. This would be anon-exclusive agreement for the use of the streets and other public places of the Town for poles, wires, conduits, cables and telecommunications facilities for provision by Citizens Telephone of telecommunications service to the Town by fiber optic cable.. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare an agreement with Citizens Telephone Communication for review at the June 21, 2011 Council Work Session. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on The following recorded vote: June 7, 201 1 /Page 1 of 5 Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye The next Public Hearing was for the 2011-12 Capital Improvement Plan (CIPj. ' Mr. Hawley advised that this public hearing allows public comments for the Capital Improvement Plan before Council's consideration of adoption at the June 21, 201 1 meeting. Councilman Welker commented that there were several lines on the General Fund portion of the Plan that have already been completed or allocated and he felt the document needed to be cleaned up before Council adopted it. Mr. Hawley apologized for the slip up and advised it would be corrected. Councilman Goodman commented that he had sent an email to the Town Manager that had been included in the Council packet regarding possibly including reworking the zoning documentation for the Town in the CIP. He wished to hear Council's comments. Mayor Worrell inquired whether Council had any comments to make on the subject? Councilman Welker felt that this item did not need to be included in the CIP at this time. He felt other items took precedence. He added that if there were some specific issues That needed to be addressed, they could be handled with interim amendments. There being no further comments from Council, Mayor Wonell opened the Public Hearing for the CIP at 7:13 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. ' Mayor Worrell moved on to the Public Hearing for the 201 1-12 Budget. Mr. Hawley advised that this was an opportunity for public comment on the proposed 201 1-12 Budget. It was required that adoption be fourteen days or later after the public hearing. Therefore, Council would consider adopting the budget at the June 21, 201 1 meeting. Councilman Welker advised that he had made comments during the budget work sessions, but wished to repeat them for those attending the meeting who had not been present for those discussions. He reviewed problems with the budget that he had previously discussed with Council. He opined that the budget severely short changed the Nuisance Abatement line item. He felt that given the fact that the Town was recovering from a tornado, the amount needed to be increased not decreased. He proposed a two cent increase in real estate taxes to be used specifically for the nuisance abatement line item and some small capital projects such as signage and improvements to parks and infrastructure. He added that he did not wish to do so, but saw no other option. At 7:20 p.m., Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing. There being no comments from the public, Mayor Worrell closed the Public Hearing. Councilman Welker inquired whether the other Council members had any discussion regarding his comments regarding the budget? Councilman Goodman commented that he and Councilman Welker agree on blight elimination in the Town. He continued that the Town had other issues to address and we could raise taxes again and again. But at some point, the Town had to realize that we have to make do with what we have. We have to cut, not raise ' taxes. He advised that he had been willing to support Councilman Welker's suggestion to cut monies from the Senior Center budget and the Town citizens had packed the Council meeting and called the Clerk of Council in a telephone petition to keep the Center intact. He inquired of Councilman Welker what options he could June 7, 201 1 /Page 2 of 5 propose fiibl wets worth cujting from fhe 6udgeT' fhafwould pfovic3e Elie amount of Tunds Couhcilman Welker suggested for blight elimination without raising taxes? He continued "What programs do you want to cut. What employees do you want To lay off? What capital improvements do you not want us to do?" Mayor Worrell inquired whether any other Council member wished to comment? There being none, Mayor Worrell stated that Councilman Welker had had his say on a number of occasions. He added that Council was all familiar with his ideas. Councilman Welker interjected that he wanted to make sure that the public had an opportunity to hear the discussion that the Council members had, because a lot of people can't make it to all the budget work sessions and he felt iT was important. Mayor Worrell commented that this was simply a public hearing for the budget. Council would be meeting on the 21s~ of June to adopt the budget. There being no further comments, Mayor Worrell moved on To the Public Comment period. Ronald Booth of 1205 Peppers Ferry Road addressed Council regarding the limitations imposed by the Town Ordinances regarding unlicensed vehicles sitting on private property. He commented that the Code doesn't allow a citizen to keep a car that he's working on in his own yard. They have to be stored in a building. He felt that was a hardship for the citizen who wanted to restore or work on their vehicles. He asked Council To review the Ordinance. Mayor Worrell thanked Mr. Booth for his comments. He noted that there was a lot of debate when this Ordinance was adopted. He asked that Mr. Booth give Town staff time to review his case. He added that once the research had been completed, staff would contact him. Councilman Welker made a friendly suggestion for Mr. Booth To go to DMV and get an antique tag. This is a permanent tag and he felt that would meet the requirement of the Ordinance. ' There being no further comments from Council, Mayor Worrell moved on To Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved To adopt the minutes of the April 14 and 19, 201 1 Council meetings and the May 3, 201 1 Council meeting as written. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on To Dora Highway project update. Mr. Hawley summarized the project and advised that a ground breaking had been held for six new houses in the Dora Highway project area. He advised that they were located on Dora and Holly Street; 2 were on Stuart Avenue and Two were on the corner of Miller and Stuart Avenue. He added that these homes would also be available for someone who lost a home to damage from the recent tornado. The next item on the agenda was the Train Station rededication. Mr. Hawley reminded Council of the Train Station rededication scheduled for Saturday, 6-1 1-1 1. He reviewed the draft agenda for the day. He advised that the Norfolk Southern exhibit car would be open for tours during the day. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. He advised that there was currently a Council vacancy. He noted that the Town Charter stated that " a vacancy on the Council shall be filled within 45 days, for the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the remaining members. " He noted that the last time there was a vacancy on Council mid-term, resumes were accepted from interested parties and interviews held with Council in open session. He suggested that method be used again. ' Following discussion, the consensus was for the resumes to be due no later than June 17, 201 1 and a Special Council meeting be scheduled for June 23, 201 1 at 6:00 p.m. for the Interviews. The next item on the agenda was opting out of VRS for Line of Duty benefit. June 7, 2011/Page 3 of 5 out of VRS. Resolution 201 1-07 was available for Council's vote. Mr. Hawley advised that the state had mandated that the localities pick up the premiums for the line of duty death benefits for Police and Fire Departments. After receiving quotes, the staff recommendation was to opt out of VRS. Resolution 201 1-07 was available for Council's vote. Following discussion, Councilman Welker moved to adopt Resolution 201 1-07, To Self Fund Line Of Duty Act , Claims. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Agreement with VACo. Mr. Hawley advised that based on the quotes received, staff recommend going with VACo for the Line of Duty premiums for 201 1-12. Council needed to authorize the Town Manager to execute the agreement. Councilman Clark moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the agreement with VACo. The motion was seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye The next item on the agenda was discussion regarding the Farmer's Market. Mayor Worrell advised that the Farmer's Market was held for a number of years at the Train Station. After the fire, they moved to the shopping center across the street. Since the Train Station rededication was near, the Train Station was again available for the Farmer's Market. Mr. Hawley added that included in the packet was an email discussion regarding the Pulaski Farmer's Market. ' Additionally, he advised of the presence of Shirley Bandy, President of GPA, who had been taking care of the Farmer's Market and the Flea Market as well. Mrs. Bandy advised that all of her vendors wished to stay at the shopping center. They cited easier access from the parking lot and more participation from the public. Mayor Worrell opined that the Train Station was a great venue before the fire and felt it would be an even better venue now. He felt the greatly enhanced Train Station would bring more citizens in to the Farmer's Market. The majority of Council was in favor of the Farmer's Market being at the Train Station. The next item on the agenda was Resolution 201 1-08. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2011-08, A Resolution Of Congratulations On The 75r^ Anniversary Of Virginia State Parks and Claytor Lake State Park. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye At 7:57 p.m., Councilman Clark then moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-371 1: ' (A-7j, 2 items -Consultation with legal Counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigation posture of the public body; and consultation with legal Counsel June 7, 201 1 /Page 4 of 5 ~R i i, uiscuss on, consideration or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, S~SitS~~U'6P refainecl"fiy a publid -body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such Counsel. And ~I (A-1 ), Discussion, consideration or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officer appointees or employees of any public body. Councilman Welker seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye At 8:40 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on voice vote. i~ Approved: y S. Worrell, Mayor June 7, 2011 /Page S of 5