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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-19-14Minutes of the Town Council meeting held August 19, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW, Pulaski, Virginia. Present were: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Council: Heather L. Steele, Gregory C. East, H. M. Kidd, Lane R. Penn, James A. Radcliffe Absent: David L. Clark Staff: Shawn Utt, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Warburton, Town Attorney David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Bill Webb, Fire Chief Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Pam Witten, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Others: Cheri Strenz Vickie Houk Cathy Hanks Clark Payne Rickie Buck Patricia Buck John Meriwether Joseph K. Goodman Calvin Pynn, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Councilman East moved to add item 7c Under Presentations, 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Opening of Pulaski County High School. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda consisting of the July 15, 2014 Council minutes. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the July 15, 2014 Council minutes as written. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Presentations. He announced that the Employee of the Month for August 2014 was Marion Wojcik. He read a Press Release aloud and presented it and the award to Mrs. Wojcik. He congratulated Mrs. Wojcik and noted that in addition to receiving the award, Marion would receive an additional paid day off from the Town and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award at the end of the year. The next item on the agenda was a Presentation from the Friends of Peak Creek regarding a Stormwater stenciling project. Cathy Hanks provided Council a summary of accomplishments that the Friends of Peak Creek had completed in the Town. She explained that the Friends wished to raise public awareness concerning the environmental aspect of Peak Creek. They proposed a storm drain stenciling project with a message next to street drains reminding people that what goes down the drain doesn't go to any kind of treatment facility but directly into the waterway. She noted that these stenciled images raise awareness about the connection between storm drains and receiving waters and could help deter littering, excess fertilizer use, dumping, and other practices that contributed to Stormwater pollution. August 19, 2014/Page 1 of 5 Following discussion, Councilman East moved to authorize the Friends of Peak Creek to stencil the storm drains with no dumping drains to Peak Creek logo. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Absent Lane R. Penn -Aye The final presentation was in regard to the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Opening of Pulaski County High School. David Quesenberry addressed Council advising that it had been forty years since Pulaski County High School opened its doors. He advised that Homecoming was scheduled for October 3`d, and apre-game meal was scheduled. He added that a commemoration and open house was scheduled at the school on October 4. He noted that the Town purchased a commemorative banner for the event. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was Calfee Park ownership transfer proposal. Mr. Utt advised that a Public meeting had been held regarding the Calfee Park ownership transfer. He felt it was a positive meeting with overall support from the community to move forward with the sale. He advised that a Public Hearing needed to be scheduled. Councilman East moved to schedule a public hearing regarding Calfee Park ownership transfer proposal for September 2, 2014 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 7 p.m. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Absent Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Senior Center study group. He advised that this item was added at the request of Vice-Mayor East. Mr. Utt advised that he and Mr. East had discussed the forming of a Committee to work toward improving the Senior Center programs and efficiencies etc. Vice-Mayor East added that he had the chance to visit the Senior Center and after looking around, he felt there was a lot of opportunity to improve the building maintenance and the appearance. He thought the proposed Committee could look at programming improvements and look for other sources of funds. He noted that the budget showed $103,000 for the Senior Center. He added that if you break out the events for the Senior Center, it came out around 2% being used for the Senior projects. The remainder was for salaries, supplies, maintenance etc. He felt the budget did not reflect the Senior Center programs. He wanted to put together a core group consisting of representatives from the New River Valley Agency on Aging, RSVP, the County, the Town, the Senior Center and anyone else the Town Manager felt could contribute, to come up with what would work best for the future of the Senior Center. He hoped to have a recommendation back from the core group prior to the next budget season. Councilman Radcliffe expressed interest in the idea and advised that he would like to serve on this Board. Mayor Worrell felt it was a good idea. He asked Vice-Mayor East whether he felt that some of the items in the Senior Center budget, should not show up in the Senior Center budget? August 19, 2014/Page 2 of 5 Vice-Mayor East felt that the way the Senior Center budget was presented might be misleading and felt that was unfair to the Senior Center. He wanted the budget to actually reflect the Center. Town Manager Utt agreed, advising that both Mrs. Tate and Mrs. Wojcik only spend half their time doing Senior Center related work and yet 100% of their salary showed up in the Senior Center budget. Following discussion, staff advised that they would bring back suggestions for a core group to study the Senior Center. Mayor Worrell moved on to Loving Field -options for property sale. Mr. Utt advised that two proposals had been received. He noted that aside-by-side comparison had been included in the packet for Council's review. He reviewed the differences in the two proposals and recommended the selection of Woltz and Associates, Inc. Following discussion, Council East moved to authorize the Town Manager to negotiate the contract with Woltz and Associates, Inc. for auctioneer services for Loving Field parcel for Council's consideration. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Finance and Personal Property tax due date. Mr. Utt advised that he asked staff for suggestions to improve the re-implementation of the annual decals on vehicles. The Finance Department recommended moving the due date of personal property taxes from April 1St to October 15th, which would coincide with the County's due date. This would make personal property taxes due in October, 1St half real estate taxes due in December, decals due in April and 2"d half real estate taxes due in June. He noted this would help the Town citizens as well as the Town with cash flow. Councilman Radcliffe advised that he hated to move the personal property taxes due in October as it was very close to the holiday season and he felt that would be a burden on the citizens. Following more discussion, Councilman East moved to allow staff to move the personal property tax due dafe to October 15, 2014 and every year thereafter and leave the decal fee due date as April 1St and each year thereafter. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe - No Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Legislative issues and Resolution 2014-20, NRV Commerce Park Participation Committee Appointment. Mr. Utt advised that earlier in the month, Council appointed representatives to the Virginia's First Regional Industrial Facilities Authority. He added that staff failed to include the appointment of the New River Valley Commerce Park Participation Committee Board Members. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Resolution 2014-30, Appointment of the Town's Representatives And Alternate to the New River Valley Commerce Park Participation Committee. Councilman Penn seconded the Motion and carried on the following recorded vote: August 19, 2014/Page 3 of 5 Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent The next item on the agenda was Public Utilities. The first item was Stormwater Ordinance Revisions. H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mr. Utt advised that after Council's June adoption of the Stormwater Management Ordinance, the paperwork was submitted to DEQ for their final review/sign-off. DEQ made some changes and the Ordinance was ready for adoption by Council. Mr. Warburton noted that the Ordinance number in the footer of each page was incorrect. Councilman East moved to adopt Ordinance 2014-20, Stormwater Management Ordinance For The Town Of Pulaski, Virginia with corrections to the entire document regarding the Ordinance number. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd - qye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item for consideration was Virginia Department Of Health Planning Grant application. Mr. Utt advised that the Town's CAD-based water model needed to be updated. The estimated cost for the updates was $25,000. He added that Anderson and Associates had offered to help the Town apply for a planning grant through the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to fund the work with the goal of no local match being required. He noted that Resolution 2014-29, Approving a Virginia Department of Health Planning Grant application for an amount of up to $24,920 had been included in the packet. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Resolution 2014-29, Approving a Virginia Department of Health Planning Grant Application For An Amount Up To $24,920. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was Safety and Unclaimed Property Disposition. Chief Roche advised that due to the large amount of unclaimed property in the Police Department's possession, he was requesting revisions to the Town Code. This would permit the disposal or retention of this unclaimed property for the Police Department's use. Councilman East moved to authorize staff to bring a proposed Ordinance amending the Town Code to Council for approval. Councilwoman Steele seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Round Table discussion. He commented that a planned blackout that covered most of the Town had occurred Sunday night. He commended the Police Chief and his department for their work during that time. He asked the Chief to pass on his comments to staff. August 19, 2014/Page 4 of 5 Councilwoman Steele also offered kudos to the Police Department. Councilman Kidd asked staff to look further into Mr. Dowdy's comments from the last Council meeting regarding Gatewood. Mayor Worrell agreed and requested that it be discussed at the next Work Session. Councilman Kidd also offered kudos to the Police Department for their work during the blackout. Councilman Radcliffe offered his thanks for a job well done during the black out. Additionally, he advised that he received a lot of complaints regarding unlicensed dilapidated cars. He asked that some efforts be made in this area. Councilman Penn asked the Police Chief how long citizens have to change their out-of-Town license plates when they live in the Town? Chief Roche advised that state law provided ten days assuming they have established residency. However, the Police Department gave thirty days. At 6:00 p.m., there being no further business, Councilman Penn moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Kidd and so carried. Approved: , e ey S. Worrell, Mayor August 19, 2014/Page 5 of 5