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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-03-18D J 1 Minutes of the Pulaski Town Council meeting held at 7:00 p.m., January 3, 2018 in the Council Chambers of the Town Municipal Building at 42 First Street, N.W. In attendance were: Mayor: Robert N. Glenn, presiding Councilmen Present: David L. Clark; Gregory C. East; Joseph K. Goodman; H.M. Kidd; Lane R. Penn; James A. Radcliffe Administration: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager Nichole L. Hair, Deputy Town Manager Legal Counsel: Spencer A. Rygas, Town Attorney Press: Mike Williams, Pulaski County Patriot Staff Chief Robbie Kiser, P.F.D Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer David Quesenberry, Clerk of Council Chief Gary Roche, P.P.D. Others Present: Clark Payne Mayor Glenn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Radcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance and Vice -Mayor East gave the Invocation. Next item on the agenda was Election of the Vice -Mayor. (Item 5). Mayor Glenn noted that Council had indicated that there was a need to get back on a proper schedule for the two year election of Vice -Mayor. He then opened the floor for discussion and nominations. Mr. Radcliffe moved that Mr. East be nominated for Vice -Mayor. Mr. Penn seconded the motion. There being no further nominations, Mayor Glenn closed the nominations and called for a vote of the Council. Mr. Radcliffe's motion nominating Mr. East for Vice - Mayor, seconded by Mr. Penn, was approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. East -Abstain Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Mayor Glenn asked Mr. Utt if any further discussions were needed for getting the Charter amended to get the Vice -Mayor's term back on schedule. Mr. Utt replied if Council wished Page 1 of 7/January 3, 2018 to do that as a clarification to the Charter, he felt that he and Mr. Rygas could do some research on the action that would need to be taken. He said that the matter needed to go to the General Assembly but that it was too late to do it this session. Mr. Goodman felt there was still time to get the matter to the Assembly and that it was something that should be pushed since he felt it was inappropriate that a new Council in July did not have a chance to give their input. He felt the original intent was to have the Vice -Mayor appointed in July. Mr. Utt agreed stating it was just a matter of getting the clarification in the charter. Mr. Goodman encouraged that more research be done before asking for a charter amendment. He explained that the General Assembly had been "playing games" with charters such as forcing towns to move their elections to November as well as making other unwanted changes to town charters. If there was a way to clarify the matter of the Vice - Mayor without asking for a charter amendment, he felt that would be a more appropriate action. Mr. Utt responded that the Council rules and regulations were last amended in 2004 and that updating those rules would be easier. That approach he added could be researched as well. Mayor Glenn agreed with the idea unless it were challenged. He did not see where it would be an issue to appoint the Vice -Mayor at the time of the seating of the new Council. If the process were challenged, then the Town could go to the General Assembly. Next for Council's consideration was modifications to the agenda (Item 6). Mayor Glenn asked for the addition of Item 14d "Message from the Mayor". Mr. Goodman made the motion which was seconded by Mr. Radcliffe and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Mayor Glenn then welcomed guests and visitors to the meeting. There being no business under "Presentations", "Public Hearings" or the "Public Comment Period, Council then considered the "Consent Agenda" (Item 11a.) of the minutes from the Council meeting of December 5, 2017. Upon a call from Mayor Glenn for approval, Mr. Clark moved to approve the minutes from the December 5, 2017 meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Mr. East and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Kidd -Abstain Mr. Penn -Aye Next item on the agenda was the "Project Review Chart" (Item 12a.) Mr. Utt noted that the update was abbreviated due to the holidays and that he proposed to move on to the Department Update (30/60/90) unless Council had any questions. Page 2 of 7/January 3, 2018 Mr. Goodman asked about the vulture issue since the chart indicated the Town was still working on the kill permit and asked when it would be available. Chief Roche responded that all the paperwork had been sent in. Mr. Utt added that the Town had one kill permit that was exceeded. Chief Roche explained that if a request for continuance was made before the paperwork was filed, which the Town did, the Town was still considered to have a valid permit. Mr. Goodman assumed that the process was continuing at the Fire Department and at the other areas the vultures were located. Mr. Utt replied that it was. Chief Roche said that USDA personnel had been working on it. Mr. Utt added that approximately 95%-98% of the work had been done by the USDA group. Mr. East asked about the status of the wayfinding signage at the "triangle". Mr. Utt replied that the sign had been delivered to Public Works and that all materials, except the rock for the posts was available. Mr. Pedigo added that Public Works had to build a frame because the sign was larger than expected. Mr. East asked about the rest of the signage. Ms. Hair informed him that those signs were under the CDBG grant and the VDOT funding as part of the larger project for the Downtown. Mr. Utt added if the signs were not funded by the grants, then the Town would have to work them into the upcoming budget. Mr. Goodman asked about the building at the "triangle" that had been painted various colors. Mr. Utt said the property owner had expressed a willingness in being part of the mural project which was a 15 month process. Mr. East asked if there would be future discussions on the mural project. Ms. Hair said yes, but that the group was currently in a holding pattern with the grant holder. The committee was working on that with the grant writer, she added and that Council would be advised on developments as their meetings continued. Mr. Utt then reviewed the Department Goals (30/60/90) for Council. The wayfinding signage deadline he noted, would not be met because VDOT had submitted documentation to engineering for review on the Rt. 99 landscape design. Mr. Pedigo said that the documentation had been approved, with planting to follow this spring according to the same concept with other plantings in the Town. Mr. East mentioned previous discussions on having a professional organization come in and look at what the Town had to make the landscaping more uniform. He asked if that had been done. Mr. Utt responded that Draper Aden had come in and worked with the VDOT group, but that he would follow up to see if an actual design had been done. He recalled that VDOT would do the design work first, then Draper Aden would do the review. Mr. Pedigo said the design for Rt. 99 was very low impact and low maintenance using native trees. Mr. East said he was referring to the flower beds and recalled talking about contracting out both design and planting. Mr. Clark said that it had been a waiting game with VDOT regarding what they were going to do and when they would start. He said he would Page 3 of 7/January 3, 2018 meet in February or March with the VDOT personnel involved in the project with the goal of keeping things more uniform and in-line with the color scenario. Mr. Goodman asked when the streetlights would be turned on at the improved sections of Rt. 99. Mr. Pedigo said there were no heads on the lights and he did not know why there was a delay. He reminded Council that Rt. 99 was a VDOT project in which the Town had little input. Mr. Utt said that he remembered the contract went through April. Mr. Pedigo said that VDOT was currently clearing brush back from the right of way which could be the reason for the delay. Everything was in place, he added except for the light fixtures themselves. Mr. Goodman said he had received complaints from people coming into town about backups at the Rt. 99/Bob White Intersection. He asked if VDOT or the owner of the adjacent property could be contacted about making the right hand lane longer to help some of the backup. Mr. Pedigo said he did not particularly like the design of the lanes. There was a dedicated left turn lane into Food Lion and a dedicated right turn lane, so the only straight thru lane was the center. He felt that 90% of the traffic coming into town was going straight. To change intersection now would be expensive, he added, but he could ask about the issue. There being no "Old Business" (Item 13), Council's next item was the Downtown CDBG update (Item 14a.). Mr. Utt said the Town was working through the pre -contract requirements for the CDBG funding for Downtown. As with other projects there were resolutions that the Town was required to adopt which were in the packet for Council's consideration. The first was an anti -displacement plan stating that the Town would not forcibly move persons from their residence to where they did not want to live. He noted that housing was not part of the Downtown project. The second resolution was a non-discrimination policy which would be posted downstairs once adopted. The third resolution was a small business and employment plan that required advertisement that projects were under consideration to encourage local businesses to be part of the bidding process. Mr. Utt requested, if Council chose, that each resolution be adopted separately. Mr. Goodman noted that Resolution 2018-03 did not list the Pulaski Patriot among the advertisers. For various reasons, he felt that it should be included. Mr. Utt said that the resolutions would be adopted by separate motions, with the motion for the third resolution to contain an amendment to include the Patriot in the list of advertisers. Mayor Glenn opened the floor to entertain consideration of the first resolution. Mr. Kidd moved that Council adopt Resolution 2018-01 as written. The motion was seconded by Mr. Radcliffe and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Page 4 of 7/January 3, 2018 1 I7 L Mr. Kidd then moved that Council adopt Resolution 2018-02 as written. The motion was seconded by Mr. Penn and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Mayor Glenn called for a motion on Resolution 2018-03 with an amendment to add the Patriot to the list of newspapers in the resolution. Mr. Kidd moved that Council adopt Resolution 2018-03 with the amendment to add the Patriot. The motion was seconded by Mr. Penn and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Next item considered was Resolution 2018-04 "Appointing Town Representatives to Various Boards". (Item 14b.) Referring to the draft resolution in the packet, Mr. Utt informed Council that Mr. Jeff Worrell had agreed to serve on the Friends of Calfee Park Board as a representative of the Town. In addition, he recommended that Mr. Michael Hurt of the Engineering Department be appointed to fill the portion of an unexpired term as an alternate for Mr. Penn on the Pepper's Ferry Board. Mr. Clark moved to approve Resolution 2018-04 as written. Mr. East seconded the motion which was approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Council then moved Item 14c.,"The Public -Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002." Mr. Utt said that there was a provision in the state code called "The Public -Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002. Originally used to construct schools in Northern Virginia during a high growth period, the law had been expanded to allow smaller localities to enter into similar partnerships with private entities. As an example, under this Act, he felt the state code would allow the Town to lease Gatewood in its entirety to a private company with no town involvement. Anything short of that might be questioned without this groundwork being in place. He felt, depending on proposals received for 67 and 69 West Main Street that it would help with an additional partnership for that project. While he referred to the state guidelines in the packet, Mr. Utt also reviewed copies from a county and town that adopted the policy guidelines that listed the requirements for public bids vs. unsolicited proposals. The guidelines provided structure for these practices, which could not be done without these policies being in place beforehand. He recommended that Page 5 of 7/January 3, 2018 staff be authorized to develop something that would work for the Town's present and future goals and partnerships. Mr. Goodman felt that this was a wise move for the Town since it codifies and sets correctly the things that Council wanted to do in addition to being an "insurance policy". He felt that the Council should adopt the act as necessary. Mr. East commented that regarding "qualifying projects" involving technology that were mentioned in the template, it appeared there might be opportunities to make existing fiber in the Town more accessible. Mr. Utt thought that this act or something similar, may have been involved in the Regional Wireless Authority through the County. Mr. Goodman said,. regarding municipal broadband, that the state did not favor town's operating utilities other than water and sewer. He thought that it might could be done by a public led partnership with a private entity but that the Town could not lead it on their own. Mr. Utt felt the act could be used as a facilitator to help that investment occur. Following a short discussion on the existing fiber network within the Town, Mr. Goodman asked Ms. Hair asked if there was funding sought for fiber projects in the past. She suggested that it might be done under the VDOT grant since sidewalk replacement would be the time to get conduit into the ground and entice providers to participate. Mr. East also noted provisions in the act for "improvements necessary and desirable to unimproved local or state owned real estate". He asked if the Town owned something, then could it partner with somebody. Mr. Utt agreed and felt a good example of a potential project would be the two buildings Downtown as well as other areas. After further discussion, Mr. Clark moved that staff be directed to develop a formal set of guidelines for this process for Council's consideration at the January 16th work session for the Public -Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002. The motion was seconded by Mr. Goodman and approved on the following roll call vote: Mr. Radcliffe -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Penn -Aye Regarding the next item of business, Item 14d "Message from the Mayor". Mayor Glenn read a statement to the Council as follows: The last year has been a time of reflection and decision making for me. Many things have occurred, both good and bad in 2017 and as a result I have looked towards making two major changes in my life. First and most importantly is my decision to retire from the Glenn Insurance Agency. I have been an active employee of the firm for over 55 years and it is time to look to other activities. So in effect February 6t", 2018, 1 will be stepping down as President and Treasurer of Glenn Insurance Agency and my more than capable daughter Meredith G. McGrady will become the third company president. while I will remain as CEO and Corporate Secretary. I will continue to work in sales and with specific commercial accounts in order to facilitate a smooth Page 6 of 7/January 3, 2018 transition. The agency has been in business under the current corporate name since February 1952, and this will be the second change in the corporate management. Glenn Insurance will continue to serve the insurance needs of the community and our many loyal customers. The second change concerns my involvement in community affairs and activities. In that regard I am officially notifying the Council and staff that 1 will not be seeking a second term as Mayor. Much like my 55 years in the private sector, I have served in one or more public positions for just over 50 years and like the agency, it is time to allow younger people to become involved and set a new course for the Town of Pulaski. The late Alabama Congressman Frank A. Clark said, "Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things. " In my years in both the private and public sectors, I have never accomplished a big thing, but I can easily lose count of all the small things. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, a few good friends, and a host of acquaintances, who have truly made my life worthwhile. My best wishes to the Council and staff as Pulaski moves forward towards a bright and successful future. " Following the reading of the statement, Mayor Glenn expressed his hope that there would be a lot of activity for both the office of Mayor and Council in the upcoming elections and challenged the community to get involved. After reviewing the future meeting dates of Council, Mayor Glenn asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Penn made the motion which was seconded by Mr. Kidd and approved by a unanimous voice vote of Council at 7:35 p.m. ATTEST: David N. Quesenberry Clerk of Council Approved: Page 7 of 7/January 3, 2018