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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-16Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, June 7, 2016 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 Nichole Hair, Deputy Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Kim Caudill, Administrative Manager John White, Economic Development Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Anthony Meredith, Captain Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Others: Marshall Dowdy Ann Dowdy Jerri Abdelaziz Nick Glenn Bob Stripling Joseph K. Goodman Andrew Chan Charles Wade Brooke Wood, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Radcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the public to the meeting. Councilman Clark moved to modify the agenda with the addition of item 13A, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Grant Program. 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 Mayor Worrell advised that Charlie Barbettini had been scheduled to address Council but had cancelled. The next item on the agenda was Public Hearings. Mr. Utt advised that Council had been approached several times by several different entities wishing to purchase the cellular tower leases the Town currently hold on Town property located on Ridge Avenue adjacent to the water tank. He continued that recently Unison Site Management made an offer for a 40 -year easement for the property where the cellular towers are currently located as well as an additional 200 square feet for future needs. He noted that the lump sum offer of $530,000 was the best lump sum offered received by the Town. He added that the company also proposed to provide a revenue sharing arrangement for additional carriers that may locate on the site in the future. He noted that a Public Hearing was required and had been appropriately advertised for the June 7 meeting. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m. Page 1 of 5/June 7, 2016 Police Chief Roche advised that the Police Department had repeaters at the site. He requested that if Council approved the contract, that language be included in the contract allowing service of that equipment. Mr. Utt advised that the language had already been included in the contract. Mr. White advised that once the contract was signed, the Town had a seven day period to gather documents needed by Unison Site Management. There being no further comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Kidd moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the contract with Unison Site Management. 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 Mayor Worrell moved on to the Public Comment period. Charles Wade addressed Council with a suggestion that Council institute Town hall meetings to be held three or four times a year. He felt this would improve communication between the Town and the citizens. He encouraged critical thinking which he defined as listen, analyze, and come up with a plan. Don't criticize. Additionally, he suggested that Council consider having an ombudsman. This person would not be associated with elected officials or with paid Town personnel and that person could be the interface with whoever brought up issues during the meetings. Mayor Worrell responded that he felt this Council would consider the suggestion. The next item for consideration was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Minutes of the May 10, 2016 Council meeting. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was the Project Review Chart. Mr. Utt reviewed some of the items in the Project Review Chart including that the drying bed greenhouses had been removed and staff was working on alternative uses for the site and cleaning up the area. Councilman East asked about the rest of the structure? Mr. Utt advised that the greenhouses were still being used as a drying area for the sludge from the water plant. He added that the building was 3'/2 stories down. Staff hoped to push it in on itself rather than trying to remove it. The plan was to do this work in the fall or winter. Mr. Utt continued with the review informing Council that the new Historic Downtown sign designs had been priced out and were less expensive than originally expected. It was hoped the signs would be in production in the next few weeks for installation this summer. He noted that staff had recently signed the final contract with SERCAP for the Kersey Bottom/CSBG grant. It was hoped that construction of houses would begin around the middle of August. Councilman East asked for an update on the Nanochemonics site. Mr. Utt responded that the DEQ was almost through with their portion of the structure review. Then the EPA would review the sites. Page 2 of 5/June 7, 2016 Mr. Utt continued that staff had signed a contract with DMV for delinquent tax collection and that the disposition/relocation of vultures appeared to be successful with no recent complaints. Mayor Worrell inquired whether the second entrance to Pinehurst Cemetery had been paved. Mr. Utt advised that all of the road loop in Pinehurst Cemetery had been paved. Mr. Utt continued that all paperwork had been turned in for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG). If approved, this revolving loan fund would be directed toward assisting with roof replacement in the downtown area. He advised that Shah Development had completed the purchase of the Dalton building and were in the process of purchasing property along First Street, NW for additional parking. He advised that the first phase of work on the Senior Center was complete. He added that the next project would be the upgrade of the Council Chambers and during that time, the Council meetings would be held at the Senior Center. He continued that three Planning Commission members were attending training to receive their Planning Commissioner certifications and that staff had signed a contract with the New River Regional Commission to review the Zoning Ordinance. Lastly he advised that staff had interviewed several architectural engineering firms for a feasibility study and design process in relation to the Public Safety facility and after ranking them, hoped to have a recommendation to Council at the first meeting in July, 2016. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. He advised that the first item for consideration was Ordinance 2016- 11, Approving a Meals Tax Increase and Amendment of Article VI, Section 78-242 of the Pulaski Town Code. He noted that this completed action of Council. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-11, Approving a Meals Tax Increase and Amendment of Article VI, Section 78-242 of the Pulaski Town Code. Councilman Clark 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 Ordinance 2016-12, Setting Volume Charges and Fixed Charges for Sewer Service. Mr. Utt advised that this was the third of five years that an increase in sewer service would be implemented as recommended by the Davenport Study. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-12, Setting Volume Charges and Fixed Charges for Sewer Service. Councilman Penn 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 Ordinance 2016-13, Setting Fixed Charges and Volume Charges for Water Service was the next item for consideration. This increase was the third of five years that an increase in fixed charges and volume charges for water service would be implemented as recommended by the Davenport Study. Councilman East moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-13, Setting Fixed Charges and Volume Charges for Water Service. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Page 3 of 5/June 7, 2016 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 moved on to Resolution 2016-14, Adopting a Budget Establishing Appropriations for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2016 and Ending June 30, 2017. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Resolution 2016-14, Adopting a Budget Establishing Appropriations for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2016 and Ending June 30, 2017 as written. Councilman East seconded he 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 Resolution 2016-15, Approving the Five Year Capital Improvements Program for the Town of Pulaski. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2016-15, Approving the Five Year Capital Improvements Program for the Town of Pulaski as written. 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 Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business regarding The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Mr. Utt advised that a memo and a draft Resolution had been placed at Council's dais for their review. He added that there was a grant program that Ms. Van Noy had been working on regarding an assistance grant. It was hoped to apply for this grant program and if approved, use it for a potential trail to connect the Town to Gatewood. He noted there were several other options for the grant program if the potential trail did not work out. He continued that the grant would be one year or two years of free technical services from a variety of consultant firms. Councilman East moved to adopt Resolution 2016-16, Authorizing an Application to The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program as written. 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 At 7:35 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A3), two items for discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly held property regarding Washington Avenue property and Pulaski Fire Station; (A-5), Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry, or the expansion of an existing business and industry, where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community regarding Project TT and Project Plank 2; and (A-7), consultation with legal counsels and briefing by staff for discussion of specific legal matters and matters subject to probable litigation regarding Council oversight of certain department head positions. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Page 4 of 5/June 7, 2016 1 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 8:23 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion from Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and so carried. There being no business, Council adjourned on motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Clark and so carried. Approved: ' '�,' A "I", ""'Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Page 5 of 5/June 7, 2016