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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-19-16Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held April 19, 2016, 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 Nichole Hair, Deputy Town Manager Dave Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Anthony Meredith, Captain Jill Neice, Acting Patrol Supervisor Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer John White, Economic Development Director Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Rebecca Reece, Acting Finance Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Michael Hurt, Engineering Tech I Others: Peggy White Clark Payne Terri Fitzwater Palmore Amy Lewis Mike Honaker Joseph Goodman Nick Glenn Spencer Rygas Peggy White Lynn Adams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Councilman Clark moved to modify the agenda with the addition of item 9a, contract to audit accounts and item 12a, update on Draper Mountain Fire and an additional Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), regarding Parks and Facilities staff. 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 Mayor Worrell called for consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Town Council minutes of the March 15, 2016 meeting as written. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell advised that the next scheduled Council meeting was May 3, 2016, which was also Election Day. He suggested moving the next scheduled Council meeting to May 10, 2016. Councilman Clark moved to hold the first May Council meeting on May 10, 2016 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 - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item for consideration was a Public Hearing on disposition of property in Pulaski Business Park. April 19, 2016/Page 1 of 4 Mr. Utt advised that the next step for the most recent James Hardie expansion was the proposed transfer of 19 acres in the Pulaski Business Park. He added this would give James Hardie more room to expand. He added that this was advertised as required by the Code of Virginia. Mayor Worrell advised that he had heard from an adjacent land owner who had questions. He added that he met with that person at the site and responded to the questions to the land owners satisfaction. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 5:04 p.m. There being no comments from the public, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary Ordinance to transfer the property to James Hardie for Council's consideration at the May 10 Council meeting. 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 - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was Presentations. Terri Fitzwater Palmore addressed Council regarding the Color Me Cameron run/walk. She reported that the run was a huge success with 902 participants. She noted that the event had raised $16,835 for the Cameron Fitzwater Memorial Scholarship Foundation. She provided additional details from the event and thanked Council and Town staff for their participation. Mayor Worrell thanked Mrs. Fitzwater-Palmore for her work on the event. Peggy White, with Pulaski on Main/Chamber of Commerce provided an update to Council on the Pulaski on Main public relations campaign. She asked that Council read the paperwork included in their Council packet where ideas to improve the Town had been supplied by businesses on Main Street. She asked that once Council had reviewed the ideas, they choose one of the ideas and then visit the Main Street businesses for further discussion. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had just received the paperwork and would need some time to read and consider her request and then return the paperwork to the Town Manager. The next item on the agenda was Public Operations. Mr. Utt advised that the first item for consideration was Wayfinding Signage concept. He asked Mr. Pedigo and Mr. Hurt for a report. Mr. Pedigo advised that Michael Hurt of the Engineering Department drew up a revised design for the wayfinding signs. Mr. Hurt explained his design. He noted that the proposed design allowed for the individual signs to be linked together and for the replacement of individual attractions without having to replace the entire sign. Mayor Worrell, and Councilmen Radcliffe, East and Kidd expressed their appreciation for the design. The consensus of Council was to move forward with creating the signs. The next item for discussion was Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) appointment. April 19, 2016/Page 2 of 4 Mr. Utt advised of a vacant seat on the PHRA board. He added that Janet Jonas had expressed interest in serving on the board and had submitted a volunteer application. He noted that her role with various housing projects over the past few years would help provide some unique knowledge to the group. Following discussion, Mr. Warburton advised that he would check to see if Mrs. Jonas could serve on the board since she should have no other entanglements with the Town. Mayor Worrell moved on to the contract to audit the accounts of the Town. Mr. Utt advised that a contract needed to be signed with Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates to audit the Town accounts. He continued that he needed approval of Council to sign the contract. Councilman East moved to direct the Town Manager to execute the audit contract with Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates. 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 on the agenda was Legislative and consideration of options for chickens in Town limits. Mayor Worrell advised this was a follow up from a citizen comment during a Council meeting. Mr. Utt asked Ms. Hair to provide an update for Council. Ms. Hair reviewed the summary included in the Council packet. She advised that Ms. O'Berry still had a rooster and other fowl on her property. She reviewed a locality comparison/summary table that had been included in the packet for Council's review. Mayor Worrell and Councilman East requested more information. Councilman Radcliffe urged staff to be cautious in moving forward as it was much more difficult to undo actions than to implement them. Councilman Clark suggested reviewing the current Ordinance at the next meeting. Mayor Worrell suggested that if Council moved forward with this, that they take care not to be too restrictive. Mayor Worrell moved on to Safety and an update on the fire on Draper Mountain. Robbie Kiser advised that the fire encompassed 20 acres and was under control, but not out completely. He described the amount of help that the Fire Department had with the fire. Councilman East asked whether the Fire Department needed to purchase a chipper for their department? Mr. Utt advised that he could research chippers and their cost. Mayor Worrell moved on to Human Resources and Resolution 2016-12, Appointing Jason Paljug as Property Maintenance Official. Mr. Utt advised that the Resolution completed action of Council. Councilman Clark moved -to adopt Resolution 2016-12, Appointing Jason Paljug as Property Maintenance Official. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: April 19, 2016/Page 3 of 4 Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item on the agenda was Round Table discussion. Councilwoman Steele expressed her appreciation for all the first responders involved with the Draper Mountain fire: Councilman Clark advised that he had been seeing a lot of positive comments on Facebook about the Town recently. He expressed hope that the Town was turning a corner on the perceived notion that Pulaski is such an awful place. He added that Pulaski was a great place to be and he hoped that the rest of the New River Valley would figure that out very soon. Mayor Worrell advised that he received a text to that same affect from someone who used to live in the Town and was passing through. Councilman Kidd expressed his appreciation for all the first responders involved with the Draper Mountain fire. Councilman Radcliffe advised that he went to a Council meeting in another Town and part of their discussion was how the Town of Pulaski was moving forward. He agreed that the Town was being talked about in a positive way. He also asked the Town Manager where the pay study was. Mr. Utt advised that he had copies to distribute to Council. At 5:45 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), discussion for consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of public officers, appointees or employees regarding the Town Attorney contract and (A-3), discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly held property regarding Ridge Avenue property and First Street Parking options. 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 6:25 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 - Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark and so carried. Approved: er y S. Worrell, Mayor April 19, 2016/Page 4 of 4