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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-11Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held July 5, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Morgan P. Welker, H. M. Kidd, David L. Clark, Robert A. Bopp, Joseph K. Goodman Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Others: Dan Talbert, Jr. Jamie Radcliff Lane R. Penn Charles R. Bopp Larry Clevinger, II Charles Winn A. J. Smith, Jr. Patricia Aust Weeks Betty Quesenberry James Wampler Jennifer White Shawn Utt Clark Payne Roger Dawson James Rich Misty Rich Melinda Williams, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Councilman Welker led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Bopp gave the invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting. The first item on the agenda was the Employee of the Month for June, 2011. Mayor Worrell announced that the Employee of the Month for June 201 1 was Mark Bentley. He read a press release aloud and presented Mark with the award. He announced that in addition to receiving the Employee of the Month Award for June, 201 1, Mark would receive an extra paid day off and be eligible for the Employee of the Year Award at the end of the year. Next, Mayor Worrell advised that Delegate Crockett-Stark could not attend the meeting, so the Proclamation from her would be addressed at a future meeting. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Mr. White addressed Council and presented a Town seal to affix to the front of the podium created and donated for the Train Station by Councilman Welker earlier in the year. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the June 23 and June 28, 2011 Council meetings as written. The motion was seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Updates. The first item was tornado uninhabitable structures list. Mr. Hawley reviewed the most recent list of uninhabitable structures from the tornado. He advised that some of the lots that would be potentially available to build new housing on have back taxes or liens against them. Council needed to consider how to handle the offer of donation of lots with liens or back taxes etc. against July 5, 2011 /Page 1 of 5 them. Additionally, Mr. Hawley advised that staff needed direction from Council regarding what to do about situations where the citizens do not respond to the letters and contacts made. Mayor Worrell opined that staff should proceed as we normally would and abate the structure and place a lien on the 4 structures where we have had no response from the owners. He added that as far as those who wish to donate their property and owe back taxes, he would have no objection to waiving the fees in order to move forward. Councilman Welker advised that he agreed with the Mayor, however, he wished to know the amounts being discussed to waive. He inquired whether any of them were more than $5,000? Mr. Hawley responded that the three that staff had reviewed to date were in the $1,000 range and he thought the fourth one was no more than $1,200. Councilman Clark agreed that staff should proceed with abating and placing liens on the properties. Mr. Hawley advised that staff would draw up a list of properties and the taxes owed for Council's review and approval. Councilman Goodman requested that the list be available for the next Council meeting. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to waive the demolition costs and back taxes at the lot at the southwest corner of Maple Street and Prospect Street. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion 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 tornado CDBG Housing. Mr. Hawley advised that the Housing specialist and staff were compiling data to determine the amount of funds to request in the application. He added that the environmental review process had been started and that it was anticipated that the application can be submitted by July 15th to DHCD for their review. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business and tornado area fees. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had waived contractor's licenses, building permit fees, utility bill late fees and reconnect fees through July 8, 2011 in the tornado section of Town. Staff needed Council's decision as to whether to continue with the waivers and if so, for how long. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to extend the waiver of fees for contractor's licenses, building permit fees, utility bill late fees and reconnect fees for 90 days past July 8, 2011. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd 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 New Business and the transfer of FY 2010-201 1 funds. Mr. Hawley advised that due to the revision in the Dora Housing Rehab Program caused by the SAFE Act, and some other issues, it was necessary to move funds to offset the total cost in the 2010/1 1 Budget. Following discussion, Councilman Welker moved to authorize the transfer of $1,900 from the Engineering Technical Assistance line item and $2,000 from the Contributions- Housing Authority line item to the Dora July 5, 2011 /Page 2 of 5 Highway Program Administration line item. 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 At 6:28 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-371 1 (A-1), Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker - No H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-371 1 (A-3), Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion 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 At 7:03 p.m., Council returned from the Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution for Virginia Code 2.2-371 1 (A-1 ), Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body on motion by Councilman Clark. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker 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 Councilman Clark then moved to adopt the Certification Resolution for Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2- 371 1 (A-3), Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Councilman Welker seconded the motion 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 Public Hearings. The first Hearing was a request from Citizens Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Mr. Hawley advised that the request was for an encroachment on the Town's right of way to install fiber optic cable both underground and on poles through the Town right of way to connect schools and government offices in the Town. This would establish a basic primary data line where firms in the Town could access the fiber July 5, 2011 /Page 3 of 5 optic cable for higher data transmission and reception speeds and capacity along specific streets and roadways in the Town of Pulaski. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Welker moved to direct staff to prepare encroachment documents for Citizens Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion 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 Public Hearing was in regard to an alley closing request. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the request was for closure of an undeveloped portion of State Street Alley right of way that extends from the southernmost curve of State Street Alley south to the former Martin Avenue right of way. He added that the citizen had requested the closure to assist in gaining access to the rear of their property for their vehicles. He advised that he had received no comments on the issue prior to this meeting. Councilman Welker inquired whether the entire portion of the Martin Avenue right of way between State Street and Cliff Street been closed and vacated? Mr. Quesenberry advised that was closed in 1994. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the paperwork to close an undeveloped portion of State Street alley right of way that extends from the southernmost curve of State Street alley south to the former Martin Avenue right of way. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd. Mr. Warburton advised that the word vacate needed to be included in the motion. Councilman Clark withdrew his motion and moved to direct staff to prepare the paperwork to vacate that portion of the alley as requested. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion 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 Council appointments. He noted that there was a vacancy on Town Council. He noted that there had been a number of applicants, all of which interviewed well and all of which were eminently qualified. He added that Council could choose one of those candidates or choose someone else. Mr. Warburton advised that action regarding the Council member had to be taken by July 14, 2011. He confirmed that the selection could be made from the interviewed candidates or Council could choose someone else that was legally qualified to take the position. He advised that procedurally, the vote required a nomination without a second by any member of Council and required a majority of Council vote. Councilman Welker moved to appoint Gregory C. East to complete the term of Joel B. Burchett, Jr. ending June 30, 2012. The motion 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 July 5, 2011 /Page 4 of 5 Mayor Worrell advised that Mr. East would be sworn in before the next Council meeting. He thanked all of the other applicants for their time and willingness to serve their community. He reminded them that there was a Council election in ten months and he hoped they were as interested then as they were now. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on voice vote. Approved: S. Worrell, Mayor 1 i~l July 5, 201 1 /Page 5 of 5