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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-14Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, August 5, 2014 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, James A. Radcliffe Lane R. Penn Staff: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Dave Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Gary Roche, Police Chief John White, Economic Development Director Pam Witten, Finance Director Others: Clark Payne Betty Quesenberry Thom Rutledge Marshal Dowdy Ann Dowdy Joseph Goodman Mike Williams, Press Calvin Pynn, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Kidd led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting. He then moved to Presentations. He introduced Kevin Byrd, Executive Director for the New River Valley Planning District Commission regarding the New River Valley Livability Initiative report. Mr. Byrd advised that the purpose of the presentation was two-fold. One was to provide an update of Planning District Commission activities underway and the other was to review the Livability Initiative for Council. He noted that Council had received a copy of the booklet previously. Following the presentation, he responded to questions. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Hearings. The first Hearing was in regard to FY 2014-2015 Budget Amendment. Mr. Utt advised that as required by state code, the Capital Improvement Projects that were not finished during the last fiscal year as well as other incidental items needed to be officially transferred to the current fiscal year. He added that the state code required that any transfers from one fiscal year to the next that exceeded 1.0% of the total locality budget, necessitated a public hearing. He noted that the proposed budget transfers would be $258,433.69 for the General Fund, $400,000 for the Water Fund and $36,000 for the Sewer Fund. He added that a summary of the transfers were enclosed in the packet along with a summary of the revised budget totals. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:15 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. The next Public Hearing was in regard to Pulaski Land Company property donation. Mr. Utt advised that the Pulaski Land Company wished to end their corporation, but could not do so with the corporation owning assets. He noted that the corporation currently owned lots along Fayette Street, Clark Street, Howard Street, Highland Terrace and Chestnut Street. He added that the corporation proposed donating the properties to the Towri's Redevelopment and Housing Authority for future use. Page 1 of 4/August 5, 2014 Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:18 p.m. There being no comments, the hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff and the Town Attorney to develop and execute the necessary agreements with the Pulaski Land Company Corporation to transfer the above mentioned lots to the Town's Redevelopment and Housing Authority for future use. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Marshall Dowdy addressed Council regarding the status of Gatewood Park. He opined that the area was a jewel in the crown of Pulaski. He noted that there had been little progress at the Park in twenty years. He suggested installing some permanent camp sites and perhaps some cabins. He felt that grants could be obtained for the work. He suggested allowing swimming at your own risk. He recommended more advertising noting that a lot of people in our area did not know that Gatewood existed. Mayor Worrell thanked Mr. Dowdy for his comments. He advised that Council had discussions from time to time regarding how to enhance Gatewood including several of the items that Mr. Dowdy brought up. Mr. Dowdy responded that the only real improvement he had seen in twenty years was the on-site sewer and that was a fantastic improvement. He noted that the bathhouse had not changed very much in that same twenty years. Councilwoman Steele left the meeting at 7:25 p.m. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda including the July 8, 2014 Council meeting minutes. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the minutes of the July 8, 2014 Council meeting as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Updates. The first item was Key Activity Timetable. Mr. Utt advised that a draft version of a Key Activity Timetable had been included in the packet for Council's review. He noted that the intention of the timetable was to help Council and staff keep up with the progress on various projects that were being worked on. He added that the timetable would be updated at least once a month and he hoped that it would eliminate the need for an update at Council meetings on projects. He asked for input from Council. Councilman East approved of the format. Mayor Worrell agreed. He added that it was easy to lose track of the progress of all of the projects. The next item on the agenda was New Business. i~ Mayor Worrell advised that the first item was Resolution 2014-27, Appointments to Virginia's First Regional Industrial Facilities Authority. He noted that the Resolution did not include a citizen representative. It had the Town Manager and John B. White as an Alternate. He added that Joseph K. Goodman had volunteered to serve another term. Page 2 of 4/August 5, 2014 Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2014 -27, as amended to include Joseph K. Goodman as a representative. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was Resolution 2014-28, Budget amendment for FY 2014-2015. Mr. Utt advised that he had failed to announce at the Public Hearing, under A, part 1, the Water Fund Revenues had a typographical error. He added that it did not change the total. Councilman East moved to adopt Resolution 2014-28, Amending The Budget For The Town Of Pulaski For The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2014 and Ending June 30, 2015 with revision to attachment A, part 1, Water Fund revenues. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to West Main Development UDAG loan. Mr. Utt advised that as had been discussed previously, the West Main Development UDAG loan request in the amount of $54,000 was recommended for approval. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to formally approve the West Main Development UDAG loan request in the amount of $54,000 and authorize the Mayor and staff to execute all of the necessary documents and agreements pending the Town Attorney's review. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item for consideration was ATV prohibition on Town property. Mr. Utt advised that complaints had been received regarding individuals using ATV's on the Draper Mountain Bike Trails over the last few months. Following research, it was discovered that the Town Code did not have any restrictions to motorized vehicles on those types of trails. Some proposed revisions to Section 54-2 of the Town Code had been included in the packet. The intent of the revisions was to protect and preserve certain properties owned by the Town which are used for recreational purposes. Following discussion, staff advised they would bring the Ordinance back with a few amendments for Council approval at the September 2, 2014 meeting. Mayor Worrell moved on to Town-County Joint Agreement for Governor's Opportunity Funds. Mr. Utt advised that. a draft agreement had been included in the packet for Council's consideration to memorialize the commitments-from both the County Board of Supervisors and Town Council related to the recent industrial expansions at Falls Stamping and James Hardie Building Products. He added that both expansions were awarded grants from the Governor's Opportunity Fund (GOF), which required adollar-for- dollar match. He continued that the Falls Stamping Project was awarded a $175,000 GOF grant while the James Hardie project was awarded a $250,000 grant. He noted that this agreement provided for the County to Page 3 of 4/August 5, 2014 dully match the Falls Stamping GOF with $175,000 cash while the Town would be responsible for the James Hardie GOF match by using the adjacent 19 acres of property in the Town's Business Park. He advised that in the past, these GOF grants had been matched 1/3 by the Town, and 2/3 by the County. He added that by using the land to match the James Hardie GOF, the Town would have the benefit of both projects with relatively no out of pocket expenses, while at the same time helping the County save roughly $105,000 cash. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to formally approve the agreement and authorize the Town Manager to execute the document. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 7:53 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session for two items under Virginia Code 2.2- 3711, A-7, consultation with legal counsels and briefing by staff for discussion of specific legal matters and matters subject to probable litigation. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 9:10 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: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Councilman East moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary paperwork to subordinate the Town's RBEG loan for Virginia Stone and Brick to Virginia Community Capital to a second lien position. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell announced that a Community meeting regarding future needs of Calfee Park, would be held on Tuesday, August 12 at 6 pm at a time and place to be announced. There being no further business the motion adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on voice vote. Approved: rey S. Worrell, Mayor Page 4 of 4/August 5, 2014