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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-07-15Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, July 7, 2015 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, Absent: Lane R. Penn Staff: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Pam Witten, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Anthony Meredith, Police Captain Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Robbie Kiser, Assistant Fire Chief Others: Mickey Seagle Betty Montgomery Jeff Bain Roger Stilwell Wally Brockmeyer Elizabeth Ann Meredith Sandy Payne Clark Payne Marty Dowdy Ann Dowdy Tye Kirkner Betty Lou Kirkner Marcie Worrell Joseph Goodman Calvin Pynn, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Clark led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman East gave the Invocation. The first item for consideration was the Public Comment period. Oliver Samples addressed Council regarding the need for two outdoor basketball courts. He suggested two locations in the downtown area and provided a drawing as an example, as well as cost estimates. Councilman East and Mayor Worrell thanked Mr. Samples for his presentation and advised that Council and staff needed to discuss the suggestion. Next, Tye Kirkner addressed Council regarding the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum. He declared that "today is the worst day of my life". He advised that he was speaking as a member of the Friends of the Ratcliffe as well as a citizen of Pulaski. He read a statement (included in the official minutes), advising of problems that he and his mother Betty Lou Kirkner were having related to the Museum. He enumerated some of those problems and advised that he and his mother, Betty Lou Kirkner, were resigning their positions with the Friends of the Ratcliffe at the next Board meeting. He suggested that Council exercise their 30 day option to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends and to pursue a revised Memorandum. He advised that this was the same motion that he would make to the Friends at the next Board meeting. He ended his comments by saying that he was extremely proud of the work that the Friends had accomplished to date. Mayor Worrell commended Mr. Kirkner and Mrs. Kirkner for their hard work over the years with the Museum. He added that the Town would continue to support and promote the Museum for years to come. He advised Page 1 of 5/July 7, 2015 that if he would leave a copy of his comments, he would see that every point raised by Mr. Kirkner was addressed regardless of his status with the Museum. He added that he was not aware of any new Memorandum of Understanding being drafted. Councilman Kidd, Radcliffe and Clark commended Mr. Kirkner and Mrs. Kirkner for all the hours, work and dedication put into the Museum. They asked for time to investigate his concerns before Mr. Kirkner stepped down. More discussion ensued with no action taken. Roger Stillwell addressed Council regarding the geese population at Gatewood Park. He distributed some information regarding geese damage management. He advised that in speaking with visitors while staying at Gatewood, the most common complaint he hears was the amount of geese feces at the Park. He opined that something needed to be done to control the geese population and the accompanying damage. Wally Brockmeyer addressed Council regarding the Ratcliffe Museum. He advised that if it wasn't for Tye and Betty Lou Kirkner, there would be no Museum as far as the train layout is concerned. He continued that after twenty years and promise after promise being broken and a tree falling through the house where the train layout was housed, he had decided to sell the house. Tye Kirkner spoke with the Mayor advising that the house was going to be sold and the train set lost to the Town. He continued that the Mayor and staff made arrangements to begin work to move the train. He noted that for eight months, Tye was at the house disassembling the train layout for the move. He added that Betty Lou Kirkner and her sister spent many weeks cleaning by hand every car, train, and building from the layout. He advised that his concern was that if the Kirkner's left the Board, there would be a large number of members and volunteers resign from the Museum as well. He opined that there was a certain small number of people that would like to see the Museum be the Louvre. He added it's not the Louvre. He continued that it is representative of Pulaski and one thing that he always enjoyed was seeing the visitors enjoying all of the Museum, not just the trains. He noted that the people of this area can relate to it. He added that they could care less about a Rembrandt on the wall. He advised that he has attended every Museum Board meeting except one and he had never heard anyone complain about anything from Council or from the outside. He expressed concern for what direction the Museum would take. He advised that it would be discussed at the next Board meeting and he was concerned that many would step down. Mayor Worrell responded that he and Mr. Brockmeyer had a number of conversations when it looked like the Museum was never going to happen and it did. He added that they would get through this and keep the Museum going. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent agenda consisting of the Minutes of the June 2, 2015 Town Council meeting. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Project Review Chart. Mr. Utt summarized the Project Review Chart including that the Water Treatment Plant upgrades were almost complete; staff was working to sell the greenhouse structures as surplus; that a contract had been signed for Town -wide paving. He advised that the conversion of utility and ledger files had been completed and were operational; and that the EPA had approved Phase One studies on 94 West Main and 85-89 West Main and environmental assessment began July 1. Lastly, he advised that the Loving Field auction resulted in total sales of $597,000 with a net result of just under $565,000 after commissions. He added that he wished to place the funds in the reserve funds. Councilman Radcliffe offered kudos to Mr. Utt for building up the reserve funds in the short time that he had worked for the Town. Page 2 of 5/July 7, 2015 Mayor Worrell commented that the auditors recommend that 15% of the annual budget be held in reserve funds. He noted this would put the Town at 25%. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. Mr. Utt advised that a draft Task Order between the Town of Pulaski and the New River Valley Regional Commission to develop an Interim Report and Master Plan for Gatewood Park had been included in the packet. He added that the Commission would match dollar for dollar the funds the Town expended, not to exceed $10,000 for the Town and $10,000 for the Commission. He recommended approval and authorization to execute the Task Order as provided. Councilman Clark moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the agreement with the New River Valley Regional Commission regarding the Task Order. 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 - Absent The next item on the agenda was Deputy Town Manager job description. 1 Mayor Worrell commented that this was a topic of discussion during the budget discussions and Council funded this position. He added that the Town Manager was ready to move forward on this project and the draft job description had been included in the packet for Council's consideration. Mr. Utt advised that he had researched the job description with several peers around the state to make sure it covered all the criteria requested. He added that Councilman East had suggested some additions and he was open for comments or concerns that the rest of Council might have. Councilman East advised that the only comment that he had was in regard to strategic development. He suggested wording "to develop and implement a systematic blight elimination strategy utilizing appropriate staff and legal resources" be added to the job description. Mayor Worrell agreed with Councilman East. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to direct staff to prepare an Ordinance creating the position of Deputy Town Manager at a grade 14 job classification. Councilman Clark 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 - Absent The next item for consideration was Resolution 2015-14. Mr. Utt advised that the Town of Pulaski is a Charter members of the New River Valley HOME Consortium. He added that every three years, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development requires member localities to reaffirm their intent to remain members of these consortiums. He noted that a Resolution had been included in the packet for Council's review and approval. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2015-14, Affirming the Town of Pulaski's Continued Participation in the New River Valley HOME Consortium. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Page 3 of 5/July 7, 2015 1 Heather L. Steele - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye David L. Clark - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye Lane R. Penn - Absent Mayor Worrell moved on to Fire Department scheduling. Mr. Utt advised that Fire Department staff had suggested changing the way the payroll is counted in their Department. He explained the current policy and the proposed new policy and asked for Council's approval of this change. Following discussion, Mr. Utt advised that staff would return with a modified Personnel policy for Council's action. The next item on the agenda was Ordinance 2015-14. Mr. Utt advised that with increased average attendance at the Pulaski Yankees baseball games, the need for added parking had become evident. He added that the owners of the team found that the distance of some parking was farther than some attendees could walk, so they began using golf carts to chauffeur those attendees from the parking areas to the baseball park. He noted that after discussion with the Police Chief, that practice had been placed on hold pending Council's consideration of the draft Ordinance included in the packet to allow golf carts on certain town streets. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-14, Authorizing the Operation of Golf Carts On Certain Designated Streets Within the Town as written. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - No Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Absent Mayor Worrell moved on to Planning Commission referral regarding necessary zoning amendments. Mr. Quesenberry advised that various zoning amendments were needed as a result of recent General Assembly actions that became effective July 1. He asked Council to refer these amendments to the Planning Commission for consideration. Councilman East moved to refer to the Planning Commission a zoning amendment updating those sections of the Zoning regulation (Sections 705, 706,707 and 708) dealing with the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Clark 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 - Absent The next item on the agenda was Community Business Launch Program request. Mr. Utt advised that Beans and Rice was applying to the Department of Housing and Community Development for $60,000 for their 2016 Community Business Launch Grant Program. He added that the fund would provide up to five communities in Virginia with grants up to $60,000 to hold a business plan competition. He noted that Beans and Rice was proposing to partner with the Chamber in the downtown effort along with the Town and County to put together a business plan competition. He added that first, second and third place winners would win varying amounts of money. He noted that they were requesting that Council provide waivers of Business License tax for the initial year of operation for the winning businesses. He added they were asking for Page 4 of 5/July 7, 2015 assistance with utilities such as free connections or reduced rates as incentives to locate in the downtown area. He proposed that Council approve waivers of Business License tax for the initial year of operation for the winning businesses and utility waivers for the initial year of operation, which would count toward the 25% match of the grant funds. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to authorize the Town Manager to enter into an economic development incentive program with the Community Business Launch Program in an amount not to exceed $1,500 conditioned on competition that's in place. Councilman Clark 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 - Absent At 8:25 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), discussion, consideration of employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officers, appointees or employees regarding Museum operations and two items Under (A-7), consultation with legal counsel, briefings by staff or discussions of specific legal matters and matters subject to probable litigation regarding old Draper Mountain land fill. Councilman Steele 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 - Absent At 8:53 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 - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye David L. Clark - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye Lane R. Penn - Absent There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman East, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Worrell, Page 5 of 5/July 7, 2015 1 1