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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-01-11Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held November 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW, Pulaski, Virginia. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Morgan P. Welker, H. M. Kidd, David L. Clark, Robert A. Bopp, Joseph K. Goodman, Greg C. East Absent: H. M. Kidd Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney David N. Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Gary Roche, Police Chief Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Others: Tina Lawson Bonnie Westpfahl Charles Davis Craig Whitt Sheila Nelson Lori Kroll Randall Hancock Mike Branscome Brandon Lindsey Shawn Utt 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. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell advised that Councilman Kidd was absent from the meeting due to a last minute conflict with his work schedule. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Hearings. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the Ruritan Club had applied for a special exception to establish a facility for private membership at 403 North Jefferson Avenue. The facility was proposed for both meetings and recreational uses by the Ruritan Club. Mr. Quesenberry noted that after review, the Planning Commission recommended that the special exception be approved without any additional conditions. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Welker moved to grant the special exception for Ruritan Club at 403 North Jefferson Avenue according to the recommendations of the Planning Commission. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Absent David L. Clark -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Greg C. East -Aye The next item on the agenda was the adoption of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Council minutes of October 4, 2011 as written. Councilman Welker seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Updates. November 1, 2011/Page 1 of 4 Mr. Hawley provided an update on the Dora Highway project. He noted that Meade Contracting had started work on the street improvements and had been working on the First Street cul-de-sac; clearing had begun on the Jackson Avenue cul-de-sac and the six new infill houses were nearing completion. He noted that it was hoped to have an open house on one of the infill homes by early to mid-December. He added that there was currently one substantial rehab and three standard rehabilitations under construction and more funds available for additional houses. The next item on the agenda was tornado recovery CDBG. Mr. Hawley advised that both the Town and County had received approval of the authorization of pre-contract expenses for SERCAP and Community Planning Partners for Rehab Specialist and grant administration costs. He added that Town and County staff along with SERCAP, were developing a list of potential applicants based on the original submission plus replacement units for the ones already complete or under construction that were part of the original application. It is hoped to have the paperwork complete by November 7 to the Department of Housing and Community Development for their review. Mayor Worrell inquired if staff was fairly certain they had reached everyone in the tornado area in need of help? Mr. Hawley advised that staff thought they had reached everyone, but were still searching to be more certain. He added that if anyone else came forward, they would be considered. Regarding the Route 99 upgrade, Mr. Hawley advised that Town staff met with the VDOT consultant to review some design issues. Some discussion was held concerning design issues, one of which was extending the way finding signage along Route 11 and Route 611 since these are also main entrances to Town. Street lighting and landscaping were also discussed, with the VDOT representative indicating there would be a method to allow the Town to maintain landscaping beyond what VDOT would usually perform. The next item on the agenda was Ratcliffe Museum update. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had met with the contractor, Price Construction, regarding this job. It was decided to award the contract for the base and alternates at a total of $499,800. The VDOT TEA-21 funds available for the project are $508,000. Mr. Hawley stated that the Town also had approximately $70,000 in other revenue sources for the project. He added that the total estimated construction period was one hundred eighty days, with an April completion date and a tentative dedication date of June 2, 2012. In the meantime, staff was planning to move forward with the installation of the garage door in the Brockmeyer basement by Thanksgiving if that was acceptable to the family. Councilman Goodman inquired whether staff had checked into natural gas back up heat pump system at the Museum, since the project seemed to be under budget? Mr. Hawley advised that staff would check into that. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. The first item was National Guard Training agreement. He advised that a draft agreement had been placed before Council. He added that he had met with the Town Attorney, the Town Manager and the Chief of Police regarding the document. He noted that representatives of the National Guard were on hand. Mr. Hawley introduced Captain Lindsey and Sgt. Branscome of the Virginia National Guard who were present to answer questions if needed. November 1, 2011/Page 2 of 4 Chief Roche advised that staff had worked with the Town Attorney to develop the draft agreement with the National Guard for use of Town owned land next to the Armory. He advised of a few changes that needed to be made to the draft document. Captain Lindsey reviewed the scheduled training periods for the year. Following discussion, staff was directed to provide to the National Guard the Town schedule of major activities such as Pulaskifest to avoid scheduling conflicts on those dates. Additionally, staff was directed to make the needed changes to the draft agreement for the November 15, 2011 Council Work Session. The next item on the agenda was Strategic Plan. Mr. Hawley advised that the action plan for each goal currently in the Strategic Plan had been forwarded to Council. The current status of those goals had been updated on the conveyor belt in the packet. He suggested that Council review the current action plan for discussion at a future meeting. Following discussion the consensus of Council was that a facilitator was not needed to discuss the Strategic Plan; that Council and staff could sit down and review the goals set last time and update them. Councilman East noted that there were approximately forty goals in the Plan. He opined that was too many goals and that Council should pare down the list. Staff was directed to provide an update of what had been accomplished since the Plan was last prepared to Council, along with the list of the Town's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Mayor Worrell moved on to Sewer Pump Station Design and Contract Administration Contract. Mr. Hawley advised that Draper Aden was in the process of completing the PER for the Pump Stations and would be moving into the design and contract administration portion of the project in the near future. He summarized a few changes, both negative and positive in the initial estimate, and added that he felt there would be no impact to the current budget or the next year's budget. He noted the debt service on the radio read meters would go off after November 1, 2013, which would allow some resources in the sewer budget. Randall Hancock of Draper Aden summarized some of the obstacles that resulted in the changes to the initial estimate. The next item on the agenda was the appointments to the Peppers Ferry Wastewater Treatment Authority. Mr. Hawley advised that Lane Penn had agreed to be reappointed to the Authority. Craig Quinn was to be appointed as the Alternate. Both four year terms would begin January 1, 2012 and end December 31, 2015. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2011-21, Appointing Lane Penn And Craig Quinn As Representatives To The Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority Board. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Absent Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Greg C. East -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. Mr. Hawley advised that a CDBG Tornado Management Team had been formed. He noted that the list currently had no elected officials, but any Council Member or Board of Supervisor could be added if there was a desire. He added that the Board of Supervisors had adopted the list. November 1, 2011/Page 3 of 4 Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to adopt the CDBG Housing Management Team included in the packet. Councilman Welker seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Absent David L. Clark -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Greg C. East -Aye i There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on voice vote. Approved: ~ ey S. Worrell, Mayor ~~ i November 1, 2011 /Page 4 of 4