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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-16-10 Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held March 16,2010 at 5:00 p.m.at the Senior Center. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: David L.Clark,Larry G.Clevinger,II,H.M.Kidd,Morgan P. Welker,Robert A.Bopp Absent: Joel B.Burchett,Jr.(arrived at 5:10 p.m.) Staff: John J.Hawley,Town Manager David N.Quesenberry,Asst.to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise,Clerk of Council Sherry Boyd,Finance Director Dave Hart,Parks and Facilities Director Bill Webb,Fire Chief John White,Economic Development Director Elizabeth Chitwood,Economic Development Gary Roche,Police Chief Bill Pedigo,Town Engineer Barbara Tate,Community Relations Director Brian Chinault,Pump Maintenance Technician Chip Hutchinson,Fire Marshal Others: Ron Hall Diane Collins Joseph Goodman Sybil Atkinson Sheila D.Nelson Clarke Wallcraft Earnest Chinault Cathy Hanks Sri.Nathella Lori Kroll Shawn Utt Melinda Williams,Press Mike Williams,Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call,Councilman Welker moved to modify the Agenda by replacing Item 8b HOME Consortium with a flood presentation. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and it carried on voice vote. Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-7), Consultation with legal counsel for legal advice. Mayor Worrell interjected that the consultation would be via web video conference as the Town Attorney was in Naples,Florida. Councilman Clevinger seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Absent Larry G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Councilman Burchett arrived at 5:10 p.m. • At 5:55 p.m.,Councilreturned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark,seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Aye Larry G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Council minutes of the February 16,2010 meeting. Councilman Welker seconded the motion and it carriedonthe following recorded.vote: March 16, 2010/Page 1 of 6 David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Aye Larry G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Next,Mayor Worrell introduced Brian Chinault,Employee of the Month for March 2010. He read a press releasealoud and presented.Mr.Chinault with an award. He advised that in addition to this award,Mr.Chinault would be given an additional paid day off from work and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award at the end of the year. The next item on the agenda was a flood update. Mayor Worrell reviewed a list of areas that were heavily damaged by the flood the previous weekend, including the NCw River Trail.extension,Heritage Park,the Cool Springs ball fields and most of the fencing at those fields. He advised that a building on Main Street had collapsed as well. He added that staff was trying to determine the damage,costs,how Much might be recovered from insurance and whether federal assistance would be available. He commended the Town creeks, staff,Fire Department,Police Department.and Water Department for their handling of the flood situation. Mr. Hawley also commended staff for their work during the flood. Mr.Hart and Mr.Quesenberry reviewed the damage to the parks and trails. Councilman Welker inquired whether replacing the trail with a chip and tar mixture would prevent damage to the Trail in the future? Mr.Hawley responded that staff would research the matter. Mr.Hutchinson reviewed the circumstances regarding the building on Main Street collapsing and more information regarding the flood. Fire Chief Webb and Police Chief Roche provided updates regarding problems that occurred during the flood that affected their departments and buildings as well the public. . • Mayor Worrell informed Council that more information- would be forthcoming and some decisions would have to be Made in the future. The next item on the agenda was Brownsfields Presentation. Mr.White introduced Lori Kroll,Community Resource Specialist with Draper Aden Associates. She introduced Sri Nathella,Project Manager of the Brownsfields project and Cathy Hanks,Marketing Coordinator with Draper Aden Associates and advised that all would be working on the Brownsfields Redevelopment program. Ms.Kroll summarized-the project background and its purpose,as well as some of the tasks involved in the.project. She- emphasized that strong community.involvement is necessary for future funding opportunities. She summarized the ultimate community benefits to the Town when the project is complete. The next item on the agenda was an Industrial Development Authority Budget Request. Ron Hall,IDA Chairman,advised that the IDA requested that the town designate a portion of the 2010-11 blight I remediation budget in the amount of$20,000,.specifically for properties in the West Loop Project. He explained that( - several property owners had indicated an interest in donating property or exchanging their property for a percentage Iownership in the total project property. as The IDA did not feel it was in a position to accept the donation of blighted property without knowing that they coulddemolish the structure and/or remediate the blight immediately upon accepting ownership. The IDA would look to the town to perform that demolition/remediation at cost to the town. Alternatively, • the town could remediate the blight.as.the property is currently owned and place a lien against the property to recover the March 16, 2010/Page 2 of 6 cost. The IDA would then ask the town to forgive the lien as a condition of having the property donated. Under either scenario,the town would be investing the cost of that demolition/remediation in the project and the IDA would have title to the property and the former owner may have either a tax benefit or percentage ownership in the project as compensation. Councilman Welker commented that if a lien had to be placed on the property,he hoped the property owner would not get any percentage ownership in the property. Mr.Hall explained that with this proposal,the property owner may get a tax credit in'the amount of the property value less the lien. Councilman Bopp inquired how much the town had spent this year for blight remediation. Mr.Hawley advised that the Town would spend approximately$74,500 by the end of this fiscal year. Mayor Worrell commented that Council had conveyed its support to the IDA for the West Loop project,but had never formally adopted or endorsed that project. He felt if Council was going to support it,they needed to endorse or adopt it. Additionally,they might also want to consider designating the west loop as a redevelopment'and conservation district. He felt that would give the IDA more tools to work with on this project. He noted thathe had no problem designating a portion of the blight remediation budget to the West Loop project, however,he could not promise$20,000 as the budget had not been discussed yet,nor finalized. Following discussion,Councilman Clarkmoved to endorse the West Loop project, seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Aye Larry.G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.-Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Councilman Welker moved to direct staff to prepare the paperwork designating the West Loop as a Redevelopment and Conservation district.. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: David L. Clark -.Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Aye Larry G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P.Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Finance. He introduced the Executive Director of the Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority,Clarke Wallcraft to discuss the Authority budget. Mr.Wallcraft reviewed the Authority's proposed fiscal year 2010-1011 budget. He noted that the total overall budget increase to the Town of Pulaski was$47,338. At 7:30 p.m.,Mayor Worrell called for a ten minute break. Council returned and reconvened the meeting at 7:40 p.m. The first item was Sewer Fund budget. Mr.Hawley reviewed the preliminary sewer fund budget included in the packet with Council. He noted that no capital projects were included in the sewer fund budget and emphasized that this needed to be included in future budgets. March 16,2010/Page 3 of 6 Councilman Welker commented that he would like to see a dollar cost in savings if water and sewer were billed every two months. He added that he knew staff had been reluctant to change the billing to every two months because of collectidns, however,he feltif the figures were looked at,it might be worth the change. IMr.Hawley advised that staff would research that item. The next item for consideration was After Prom Request. Mr.Hawley advised of the receipt of a request for a donation of funds or gifts for the After Prom Party. He noted that the Police Department provides security for the event at no charge. He advised that he would contact the committee to see if they would be interested in the Calfee Cat's Meow collectible and Gatewood boat or camp rentals. Mayor Worrell moved on to Community Garden. Mr.Hawley advised that 2009 was the second year of the Community Garden and it was a huge success. Costs to prepare the site, staff,maintenance,watering system and spraying for animal control=have increased. He asked whether Council wished to consider a$5 fee for each.plot. He noted that the proposed fee would not cover the total expected expenditires. Following discussion,the consensus of Council was not to charge a fee. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item for consideration was Train Station use. Mayor Worrell reminded Council that staff had been directed to explore locating the Senior Center,the Greater Pulaski Alliance(GPA),or a Chamber of Commerce Visitor's Center in the Train Station when it was complete. A memo frdm the Senior Center Director and the GPA-President had been included in the packet. Mr.Hawley advised that he had not yet spoken to the Chamber regarding a Visitor's Center at that location. Mr.Hawley added that some typical Senior Center calendars had been included in the packet as requested. Mayor Worrell commented that his personal preference was to put the Greater Pulaski Alliance into the building,but hot the Senior Center at this time. He added that he felt the kitchen should be enlarged to a full service kitchen to include an oven,range,and microwave oven. Discussion ensued regarding the installation of a dishwasher. Councilman Clark felt that the Health Department would require a dishwasher if it was used'as a meeting room. Mr.Hawley commented that staff would check with the Health Department to see whether a dishwasher was required and any other requirements the Health Department might have. Once that information was gathered, staff would approxithate the cost to add a full service kitchen to the Train Station for Council's review. • Councilman Welker felt the Senior Center should be located at the Train Station even if it meant cutting back on programs and activities. Discussion ensued regarding the space at the Train Station versus the space at the Senior Center;the feasibility of renting or selling the Senior Center building to someone,and the reality that senior functions would have to be cut back or eliminated. ICouncilmen Clark commented that the difference in the size of the Senior Center and the Train Station was tremendous. He noted that the senior functions would have to be drastically scaled back if moved to.the Train Station. He felt the Senior Center should remain where it is'currently located. March 16,2010/Page 4 of 6 1 Councilman Kidd also felt the Senior Center should stay where it is currently located. Following discussion,the consensus of Council was to enlarge the kitchen at the Train Station and to include a stove, oven,microwave,refrigerator,sink and dishwasher;additionally,to locate GPA in the small meeting room. Mayor Worrell movedonto Museum policy. Councilman Clevinger advised that the Committee had prepared a policy for accession and de-accession of items from the Museum for Council's review and approval. Additionally,he mentioned that at some point,Council needed to discuss funding a curator for the Museum. From the public, Sheila Nelson advised Council that several of the committee members were not satisfied with some of the language in the Museum policy. She specified that it should not say that everything must be made as a gift and then an exception could be made if necessary. Additionally,that it should not say that objects will not be accepted with restrictions. She noted that later in the policy it said that objects with restrictions may be accepted under the discretion of the Museum Collection's Committee. She emphasized that she was not in total disagreement with the policy,but felt that the language should be"cleaned up"before being adopted by Council. Following extensive discussion,Councilman Welker moved to adopt the Museum policy with the following change to the third sentence in item number four. Thesentenceshould begin"Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this paragraph,"and then complete the sentence with the wording in the policy—"any object with restrictions,conditions,or encumbrances may be accepted under the discretion of the Museum Collection's Committee". The motion was seconded by Councilman Clevinger and carried on the following recorded vote: David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -No Larry G.Clevinger,II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. He advised that there were openings on the Authority. Diane Collins and Charles L.Wade had asked to be appointed to the Authority. Councilman Burchett moved to direct staff topreparethe paperwork appointing Diane Collins and Charles L.Wade to the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: David L.Clark -Aye Joel B.Burchett,Jr. -Aye Larry G.Clevinger, II -Aye Robert A.Bopp -Aye H.M.Kidd -Aye Morgan P. Welker -Aye The next item on the agenda was Utilities. Mr.Hawley advised that due to the Health Department declaring that upgrades had to be made to the Water Treatment Plant,the Town advertised for Engineering Services. The proposals were reviewed and three firms invited to be interviewed. Following interviews, staff recommendation was that a contract be offered to Draper Aden Associates of Blacksburg. He advised that the contract would be brought back to Council for approval,along with the scope,time and costs for the work. The work would be phased with the immediate need of the rate of flow controllers-being handled first. Mayor Worrell moved on to Roundtable discussion. Councilman Kidd inquired when construction work would begin on the Museum? Mr.Hawley responded that staff was working on the site plan to be submitted to the Department of Historic Resources and to VDOT. Additionally, some pictures needed to be resubmitted to the Department of Historic Resources. Once that March 16,2010/Page 5 of 6 was done,he estimated it would be approximately thirty to forty five days to receive their approval and then work could begin. Councilman Welker inquired if we were facing a deadline? Mayor Worrell responded the deadline was for the summer of 2011. • Councilman Welker responded that he meant a deadline with VDOT. Mr.Hawley responded thathe met with VDOT and thought the Town was okay. He advised.that he would be speaking with VDOT again in the near future. At 8:35 p.m.,there being no further business,Councilman Welker moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. • Approved: •r./ ._,�` . Orrell,Mayor I March 16,2010/Page 6 of.6 •