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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-12Minutes of the Town Council meeting held May 15, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at the Train Station, 20 South Washington Street, Pulaski. Present were: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Council: David L. Clark, Morgan P. Welker; H. M. Kidd; Robert A. Bopp; Joseph K. Goodman, Gregory C. East Staff : John Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney John White, Economic Development Director Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Gary Roche, Police Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Bill Webb, Fire Chief Officer J. R. Brown Others: Sunshine Cope Heather Steele Jamie Radcliffe Julia Simpkins Clark Payne Sandy Payne Shawn Utt Nick Glenn Melinda Williams, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the minutes of the April 17, 2012 Council meeting as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Next, Mayor Worrell introduced Officer J. R. Brown as the May 2012 Employee of the Month. He read a Press Release aloud and presented Officer Brown with the award. He advised that in addition to receiving this award, J. R. would receive an extra paid day off from work 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 Short Term Goal -Pulaski Furniture. John White provided an overview of the status of the two current issues with this property: high grass and high water bill. Regarding the water bill, he advised that a leak had been detected and repaired and that staff had checked the water meter and determined that it was working properly. Regarding the grass, he noted that staff was enforcing the nuisance abatement at the property. Mr. White added that a property maintenance inspection had been made at 340 North Madison, with several violations found and that staff was pursuing these violations. The next item on the agenda was Short Term Goal -Route 11. Bill Pedigo advised that letters of interest for the Route 11 corridor had been mailed with approximately one third being returned as vacant properties or address problems. He noted that work was continuing on sign inventories and the intersection of Commerce and Washington Avenue and the Museum layout. The next Short Term Goal review was for Volunteers. May 15, 2012/Page 1 of 5 ~~-~•~ ....., y .., ~.:~~ .~ ~ .....~ .+~ r.yancvu~c yavc a Nicacinauuii uii oleo mau wus iui iianunny volunteersm. He added that staff would be contacting the staff in Wytheville to nhtain irlpas for nrnani~inn unh ~ntcorc inr fhc Mr. Hawley advised that staff and some Council members had attended a Virginia Municipal League Town Section meeting where the Town of Wytheville gave a presentation on their methods for handling volunteerism. He added that staff would be contacting the staff in Wytheville to obtain ideas for organizing volunteers for the Town Museum. Chief Webb advised that a volunteer email address/inbox had been established; a "Project Plan Overview" form or flow chart was being developed along with a Volunteer Committee organizational chart and a budget line item had been established for potential donations. Additionally, he added that some cleanup projects around Town had been conducted. Councilman East requested that staff invite a Wytheville representative to a Town Volunteer meeting Councilman Goodman added that the presentation stressed that strong staff oversight was recommended including an annual performance review. The next item on the agenda was discussion of the Allen property. Mayor Worrell reminded Council that by consensus, Mr. Richard Allen had been given until this meeting to respond to the Town's offer regarding his Main Street property. Mr. Hawley advised that there had been no response from Mr. Richard Allen. The Town Manager also advised that he had discussed the offer with Mr. Allen's brother who indicated he would relay the message to Richard. Mr. Hawley added that he had obtained another cell phone number for Mr. Allen that day, but had not had an opportunity to attempt to make contact. Following discussion with the Town Attorney, it was agreed to remove the offer from the table and that Mr. Warburton would file the complaint with the courts the next day. The next item on the agenda was Request For Proposals/Statement of Qualifications For Redevelopment , Plan. Mr. Hawley advised that a copy of an advertisement for Proposals/Statement of Qualifications for a redevelopment plan for a portion of 1 s` Street, NW had been included in the packet. He continued that Council had authorized funding for part of the study. Mr. White added that the purpose was to develop a plan for the area to take to potential investors. He noted that the area was bordered by Jefferson Avenue, the Norfolk Southern tracks, Peak Creek and the Iron Bridge. Councilman Goodman requested that the area of Dora Highway adjacent to the proposed area be added to the area included. Following discussion, Mr. Warburton asked that the minutes reflect that his business was adjacent to the proposed area. Mayor Worrell moved on to Finance. The first item was Resolution 2012-09, VRS Contribution Rates Ms. Boyd advised that Resolution 2012-09, VRS Contribution Rates, informs the Virginia Retirement System that the Town contribution rates effective July 1, 2012 would be 13.13%. ' Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2012-09, VRS Contribution Rates. The motion was seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on the following recorded vote: May 15, 2012lPage 2 of 5 Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Booo - AvP Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Ms. Boyd explained to Council that in accordance with mandates handed down by the Commonwealth of Virginia, effective July 1, 2012 all Town employees were to begin paying their 5% (five percent) share of the VRS formerly paid for by the Town of Pulaski. In addition, the Town was to increase the employee's salaries by 5% (five percent). Resolution 2012-10 is required in order to meet this mandate. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2012-10, VRS Member Rates. The motion was seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Mr. Hawley advised that staff planned to include in the June 5, 2012 Council meeting discussion of the current adopted classification and compensation plan. This plan needed to be increased by 5% to cover employees hired after July 1, 2012. The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2012-04, Setting the 2012 Rate Of Taxation On Real Estate. Mayor Worrell advised that a Public Hearing had been held regarding this potential new rate of taxation and Council had directed staff to set the rate at $.32 per $100.00. This Ordinance completed that action. Councilman Welker advised of a typographical error in the Ordinance which needed to be changed. He then moved to adopt Ordinance 2012-04, Setting the 2012 Rate of Taxation On Real Estate at $.32 per $100.00 with the spelling correction. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman - No Gregory C. East - No Mayor Worrell moved on to Ordinance 2012-06, Setting The Fee For Reconnection Of Water Service For Nonpayment Or Noncompliance. He noted that this had previously been discussed by Council and the Ordinance finalized the action. He noted that the reconnect fee during business hours would be $40.00 for ln- Town residents and $45.00 for Out- of-Town residents. Additionally, the reconnect fee after business hours would be $55.00 for In-Town residents and $65.00 for Out-Of-Town residents. Councilman Welker moved to adopt Ordinance 2012-06, Setting The Fee For Reconnection of Water Service For Nonpayment Or Noncompliance. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye The next item for consideration was Ordinance 2012-05 regarding the return of checks and other negotiable instruments for insufficient funds to the Town. May 15, 2012/Page 3 of 5 the maker of any negonaoie insuwncrn icw ~~~u .~ .~~~ ~•• _._~._ ____.._,, a,, n.a;.,,,,,.e rn~f nrrlinanra was included in the oacket and ready for adoption. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had discussed this item and the consensus of Council was to set the fee on the maker of any negotiable instrument returned to the Town by a banking institution as uncollectable and for staff to prepare the Ordinance. That Ordinance was included in the packet and ready for adoption. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2012-05, Setting The Fee For Negotiable Instruments Deemed ' Uncollectable. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to the budget review. Mr. Hawley advised that a schedule had been included in the packet for completing the budget process. He noted that the staff had not addressed longer term CIP items. He reviewed the items that staff had identified for 2012/2013 as capital or long term needs. Those needs included the purchase of (7) seven Defibtech Lifeline AED's; replacing the roof and painting the Jackson Park gazebo; and additional funding for replacing the Municipal Building and Fire Station roofs. He reviewed the time schedule for adopting the budget. Following extensive discussion, Council consensus was to purchase (7) seven Defibtech Lifeline AED's and to install one at Calfee Park; replace the roof at Jackson park gazebo and paint the structure; Add funds to the replacement of the roof of the Municipal Building and the Fire Station; and to include the Contract for Planning. It was suggested that the Town should add the GoEnforce program to the GoRequest software. After discussion, the consensus of Council was for staff to review the GoEnforce Program to assist with Code Enforcement. Councilman Welker moved to add the four items discussed to the budget. The motion was seconded by ' Councilman Clark. Councilman Goodman amended the motion to add one Defibtech Lifeline AED for Gatewood for a total of 8 (eight) AED's. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Mr. Hawley advised that staff had been discussing ways to increase revenue. One of the items suggested was to install cabins at Gatewood Park and possibly the top of Draper Mountain. The consensus of Council was for staff to develop a preliminary proposal to install cabins at Gatewood Park and possibly the top of Draper Mountain to serve the Trail for Council discussion. Mr. Hawley added that staff had been discussing how to better develop a relationship with our current businesses. The consensus of Council was for staff to meet with the Greater Pulaski Alliance group to see how staff could help improve the participation, and increase membership. 1 May 15, 2012/Page 4 of 5 i~ At 6:20 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on voice vote. A roved: ~ i2s9~f~ ' PP ff y S. Worrell, Mayor May 15, 2012/Page 5 of 5