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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-15Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held October 20, 2015, 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, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, James A. Radcliffe Lane R. Penn Staff: Shawn Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Dave Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Craig Quinn, Project Engineer Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Rebecca Reece, Acting Finance Director Dana Bishop, Accounts Payable Clerk Debbie Bivens, IT Manager Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Manager Others: Clark Payne Joseph Goodman Blaine Keesee Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The first item on the agenda was consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilman East moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the September 15, 2015 Council Work Session. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell advised that the next item on the agenda was a downtown master plan presentation by Blaine Keesee of Draper Aden and Associates. Mr. Utt advised that as a result of a Council request, staff had contacted Draper Aden regarding a detailed master plan for the downtown area. He introduced Blaine Keesee. Mr. Keesee explained that he had been asked to provide a draft plan for the downtown area. He provided an overview of some constraints and opportunities in the downtown area. Some of the ideas included in the presentation were to improve facades, walkway enhancements, greening of alleys, pocket parks and public art murals. Councilman East asked whether the schematic drawings would indicate the type of plants proposed. Mr. Keesee advised that they would put together a plant list of trees that they felt would work well in downtown areas and then decide which plants to use. Mayor Worrell asked how the Town would engage the property owners. Mr. Utt responded that when staff got closer to the schematic side and more options in play, they would pull ,together a forum of downtown property owners to address the issue. Mr. Keesee advised that they had been engaged to get the ball rolling with some ideas. He added that the forthcoming grant money would help engage the owners. October 20, 2015/Page 1 of 4 Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was taxi operator license code amendments. Mr. Utt advised that he and the Mayor had received complaints regarding the rather strict taxi operator's ordinance currently in place. He noted that since the Taxi Ordinance was enforced by the Police Department, he asked the Chief to review the Ordinance and come up with proposed amendments. He added that a copy of the current Ordinance had been placed at Council's dais prior to the meeting. Chief Roche summarized the proposed changes to the Ordinance. He added that he had learned that the very last item of the memo had already been deleted via an Ordinance passed in 2003. Mr. Warburton pointed out that the Town did not have to have a Taxi Ordinance if they did not want. They could rely on the State Code. Following discussion, it was agreed to discuss this item at a future meeting. The next item on the agenda was Noise Ordinance options. Mr. Utt advised that in follow-up to concerns expressed at the October 6th Council meeting by the pastor of the "Taking it to the Streets" program, he had asked Mr. Quesenberry to provide a summary of the Town's noise ordinance in comparison to some of our peer localities in the region. He added that a report had been included in the Council packet. Mr. Quesenberry summarized his report. Following discussion, no action was taken. Mayor Worrell moved on to Human Resources. The first item was Public Works Laborer position request. Mr. Utt advised that the new Water/Sewer Superintendent had taken a genuine interest in the Town's water and sewer systems and their overall operation in an effort to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. He continued that one area he identified as needing improvement was the lack of preventative maintenance because staff had fallen into a reactionary mode and were dealing with water and sewer breaks as they happened. Mr. Utt added that the Water/Sewer Superintendent wished to hire one additional Operator position, allowing the creation of two crews of three (an operator and two laborers). He continued that this would allow the creation of a line repair crew and a preventative maintenance crew. He noted that with the current budgets, the Sewer Fund had room to provide for the anticipated base salary. Following discussion, Councilman East moved to authorize staff to hire an additional Operator position for the Water/Sewer Department. 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 - Aye The next item for consideration was the review of the Town Organizational Chart. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had decided not to discuss this issue at the present time. He added that Councilman East wished to make a comment. October 20, 2015/Page 2 of 4 1 Councilman East advised that he felt there was some misunderstanding as to the intention of this proposed conversation that he wished to clarify for Council and staff. He explained that the Town Organizational chart included in the packet was a three year old proposed draft. He noted that it was included in the packet for purposes of discussion. He continued that the intent of the conversation was to have a discussion among Council regarding where the Town would be in three years, and where the Town would be from an organizational stand point in five years to make sure that what the Town does moving forward was very deliberate. He felt that as a Council, they had a responsibility to have long term plans. He added that once the Deputy Town Manager was on staff, he wished that Council would review the Code Enforcement structure. Mayor Worrell added that there were a few positions that were in the process of being filled. He advised that once these positions were filled, Council could discuss the Code Enforcement issue. Mr. Utt commented that he felt he would be remiss if he did not try and review our own efficiencies any time there were openings, whether Department Heads or staff in each department. Mayor Worrell moved on to Round Table discussion. Councilman East commented that he had inquired of staff whether a motion had been made in 2012 regarding the Allen lot and how to move forward. He advised that a motion had not been made. He moved to direct Town Staff and the Town Attorney to perform all acts necessary to bring the issues regarding the vacant lot, located at 55 West Main Street Pulaski, to a timely close. Councilman Penn seconded the motion. Councilman Clark commented that after seeing the presentation from Draper Aden earlier in the meeting, he concurred with the motion. Mayor Worrell agreed. The motion then 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 Councilman East asked whether there were any updates regarding the expansion of the Christmas lights in Jackson Park? Mr. Utt advised that his goal this year was with the new street lights that would be going in, he wished to plant trees on the south side of the sidewalk in the park. He continued that each tree would have a plug in so that each tree could be lit. He proposed going from the railroad down Washington, down First Street and back up Jefferson to the railroad, having a line of trees forming a U that could be lit. Councilman Clark commented that it did his heart good to actually be adding positions to departments rather than taking them away. He felt the Town was going in a good direction. Additionally, he advised that he had some contact with some people from New York City in relation to his job, and a conversation regarding Pulaski and what it had to offer began. He advised that he subsequently learned that they had actually come to Pulaski twice during their stay based on what he told them. Councilman Kidd inquired where staff was on Code Enforcement? Mr. Pedigo advised that he and the Building Inspector had taken a class that day on property maintenance and would be certified. October 20, 2015/Page 3 of 4 Councilman Kidd commented that he had filed several complaints regarding weeds and grass. He asked whether staff was going to be able to get back on track with those complaints? Mr. Pedigo replied in the affirmative. Councilman Radcliffe advised of weeds and grass and a dead tree that needed to be addressed at Route 11 and Memorial Drive. He asked that the area be addressed by staff when convenient. Councilman Radcliffe also asked that the Volkswagon lot be checked. He advised that there were trees growing through some of the vehicles. Mayor Worrell commented that he thought it was a Zoning issue. Councilman East advised that the problem was covered by Virginia Code 33-2.804. Mr. Utt advised that he would put together a summary report for Council. At 6:04 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (Al) discussion for consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of public officers, appointees or employees regarding the Town Manager's evaluation and (A-3) discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly held property regarding Linwood Street property. Councilman Kidd 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 At 6:35 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark 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 Following discussion, Mayor Worrell advised that the next scheduled Council meeting would be held on November 4, 2015 since the election was November 3rd There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Approved:. Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor October 20, 2015/Page 4 of 4 1 1