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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-13Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor: Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Heather L. Steele, Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, Joseph K. Goodman, James A. Ratcliffe Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Dave Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Captain Anthony Meredith Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Pam. Witten, Finance Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Kim Caudill, Administrative Manager Others: Clark Payne Janet Golden Janet Jonas Shawn Utt Craig Wilson Ryan Kiel Shannon Watkins, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Kidd led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Goodman gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting. He advised that the first item for discussion was the Public Comment period. Clark Payne addressed Council regarding the Calfee Park Visitor's/Umpire Clubhouse. He asked Council to look closely at this project. He advised that in the eight years he had lived in the Town, over $150,000 had been spent for additions and upgrades at Calfee Park with a yearly income of $16,000 to $20,000. He wondered if competitive bids could be taken to host the team or to staff it or to redo the contract so that the Town benefited more? The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the minutes of the September 3`a 4tn Stn and 6tn, 2013 Town Council meetings. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Project Updates. The first item for discussion was Dora Highway CDBG. Mr. Hawley reported that the final rehab for this project had been completed. He added that the September 30 closure time line had been met and that staff and the consultant were working on the final drawdown request. He noted that Community Planning Partners, in conjunction with the management team, had submitted this neighborhood revitalization for consideration of an award at the Governor's Annual Housing Conference in November. October 1, 2013/Page 1 of 5 The ^~xt update was in regard to the tornado additional planning grant. Mr. Hawley summarized the progress on the tornado grant. He advised of the possibility of continuing the rehab work with additional CDBG funding. He added that a letter of intent had been submitted to DHCD. He noted that this did not commit the Town to any funding at this time. Moving on to Gatewood water system, Mr. Hawley advised that staff had been reviewing the Virginia Department of Health requirements. He noted that presently, an operator was not required for the Gatewood water system. If Council wished to upgrade the system, any changes to the system involving treatment would require a construction permit being submitted and approved prior to work progressing. He noted that the operator requirements depended on the type of treatment used. Mr. Pedigo added that the Chief Operator at the Filter Plant was working with the Health Department on defiriitfons for Gatewood and trying to see if Gatewood could drop out of their inspection. Councilman Kidd asked why the Town would want to drop out of the Health Department inspections. Mr. Pedigo replied that in certain situations, the Health Department did not require inspections. He added that staff was trying to determine all the rules in order to make a decision on how best to proceed. Councilman East confirmed that any type of water softener being added to Gatewood would require an Operator and that was how this topic originated. Mr. Pedigo responded in the affirmative, added that the Health Department had said that if the water was treated in any way, a licensed operator would have to monitor it. The next item on the agenda was Iron Bridge Trail. Mr. Hawley advised that the engineering department was almost finished with the complete set of drawings for DHR and VDOT to review. He added that after DHR approval was obtained, the Town would be able to complete the requirements for the environmental categorical exclusion. He noted that VDOT would review all submissions for completeness and then would request authorization from the Federal Highway Administration to go to bid and purchase materials. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. The first item was land use agreement -Department of Military Affairs. Mr. Hawley advised that the military chain of command of the personnel at the Armory did not adopt the Land Use Agreement the Town submitted in the fall of 2011 for the Town owned land surrounding the Armory. He added that since more than a year had passed, per the Army's requirement, staff had completed another agreement form with updated information and needed Council's approval to submit it. Councilman Clark moved to authorize Town staff to sign and forward the Land Use Agreement and submit it to the Army for their approval. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to property on Maury Avenue. October 1, 2013/Page 2 of 5 Mr. Hawley advised that Dr. John McElroy owned adjacent property on 10~' Street extension to Town property on Maury Avenue. He added that Dr. McElroy wished to purchase a portion of the land not being used by the Town and had a survey completed. Mr. Warburton advised that Dr. McElroy was his landlord. However, he did not think that would affect his decision making ability. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to schedule a Public Hearing for property on Maury Avenue. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye The next item for consideration was Stormwater management program. Mr. Hawley advised that the Planning District Commission had provided information regarding items that needed to be completed to stay on track with the DEQ timeline mandated by the state to implement a Stormwater management program. He added that a draft Ordinance had to be completed by December 15, 2013, the final Ordinance by April 2014 and implementation by July 1, 2014. He noted that the Planning District Commission had provided a fourteen page checklist of items/sections that needed to be included in the draft Ordinance. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. The first item was Special Events -Addition of Festival. Mayor Worrell advised that Terri Fitzwater-Palmore had inquired into creating a spring festival to be held in conjunction with the Color Me Cameron Run in April. Mr. Hawley advised that the run was scheduled for the first Saturday in April. He noted that the date was close to the date of the Easter Egg hunt, which would have staff working two weekends in a row. He added that the weather was always questionable that time of year. He advised that currently, staff worked nineteen events in a calendar year. Following discussion, the consensus was that Council needed more information from Mrs. Fitzwater-Palmore before they could make a decision. Councilman East commented that he would like to have a future discussion regarding the Town moving away from the event business and begin having the events handled by the private sector. He felt that the Town involvement could then be limited to Police and Public Works. Mayor Worrell commented that he would like to see that happen, however, the key would be getting the private sector on board. Councilman Goodman commented that some of the events were handed to the Town to handle from private organizations. He expressed concern that many private organizations did not have the volunteer base to handle these events. Councilman East responded that he was suggesting that perhaps the Town could reverse the trend over a period of time. The next item on the agenda was Calfee Visitors' Clubhouse. October 1, 2013/Page 3 of 5 Mayor VVorrell advised of the receipt of some correspondence from the Appalachian League on this topic since the last Council meeting. He noted that the Town was contractually obligated to maintain Calfee Park to the major league professional baseball standards in order to have minor league baseball in the Town. He added that the visitors' clubhouse had fallen short of those standards and improvement need to be made made. He advised that it was not known what the upgrades would cost at this time. He added that he, Mr. Hawley and Mr. Hart had discussed having Council tour the facilities and suggested Thursday afternoon. Councilman Goodman advised that he had an opportunity to speak with the president of minor league baseball and was advised that the Town had received waivers for a long time to meet the requirements for the visitors' clubhouse and that the opportunity for those waivers would end soon. He added that Council had a decision to make: either upgrade the building or no longer have minor league baseball. He noted that if the Town was actively planning upgrades, the Appalachian League would probably give the Town some leeway. Councilman Radcliffe inquired whether the baseball park itself was owned by the Town? Dave Hart responded in the affirmative. Councilman Radcliffe confirmed that the Mariners team was owned by the Mariners professional baseball team. He then asked what role Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Compton played? Dave Hart replied that they were members of Pulaski Baseball Incorporated. He added that the Town had an agreement with Pulaski Baseball Incorporated to operate a facility there. He noted that Pulaski Baseball Incorporated also had an agreement with the Seattle Mariners to bring their minor league team to the Town. He added that the Town's contract with Pulaski Baseball spelled out everything that each side was responsible for. Councilman Radcliffe inquired whether the Mariners would contribute any money back if the Town upgraded the facility? Mr. Hart responded that was the Town's responsibility. Mayor Worrell interjected that when the Town replaced the scoreboard several years ago, Pulaski Baseball contributed money to the project. Mr. Hawley added that Pulaski Baseball also contributed money to the batting tunnel and also helped with fund raising for the batting facility. Councilman East inquired whether it was known how much Pulaski Baseball gave back to the Town in past years? Mr. Hawley advised that 2012 and 2013 financial reports from Pulaski Baseball were included in the additional information packets at Council's desk. Following more discussion, the consensus of Council was for those interested to take a tour of the facility in preparation for more discussion. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Works Pickup. Bill Pedigo addressed Council advising that one of the trucks in the Public Works department had to be pulled from service due to safety issues. He added that the department had no replacement vehicles and asked Council to fund another vehicle under the circumstances. October 1, 2013/Page 4 of 5 Councilman Radcliffe commented that the Public Works department needed some new vehicles. He added that funds for new vehicles for the Public Works department and for the Fire department needed to be looked at in the new budget discussion. Following discussion, the consensus of Council was for staff to try to find $15,000 in the budget for a vehicle for the department. At 8:15 p.m., Councilman Goodman moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), Discussion, consideration, or interviews for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries for the Town Manager. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye At 8:38 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Goodman, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mayor Worrell advised that there would not be a quorum for the October 15 Council meeting. He suggested moving that meeting to October 22. Council agreed to the suggestion. At 8:40 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Goodman and so carried. Approved: ey S. Worrell, Mayor 1 October 1, 2013/Page 5 of 5