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Home My WebLink About01-18-22Service Award Presentation At 5:00 p.m. the Council assembled for the presentation of service awards recognizing employee's service to the Town. The following employees were recognized for their years of service and received their award from members of Council: Kim Caudill—Public Works ---30 years Elaine D. Newman ---Police Department ---20 years Dale W. Richardson ---Public Works ---15 years Gary W. Dunford---Public Works ---15 years Chance D. Sadler ---Public Works ---10 years Jamie R. Brown ---Police Department ---10 years Thomas P. Croteau--- Police Department ---5 years Michael W. Davis ---Filter Plant ---5 years Town Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Closed Session 1. Mayor Collins called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. and asked for a Roll Call. Lane R. Penn Present James A. Radcliffe Present Brooks R. Dawson Absent G. Tyler Clontz Present Gregory C. East Present Michael P. Reis Present Also present was Darlene Burcham, Town Manager. 2. Mayor Collins asked for a motion to go into Closed session for the following items: Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 1-(2 items) -discussion of a personnel matter. Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 3-(4 items)-acquisition/disposition of publicly owned property. Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 5-(1 item) - discussion of a prospective business or industry where no previous announcement has been made. Va. Code 2,2-3711 (A) 7-(2 items) -Briefing by staff members regarding actual or probable litigation. Motion was made by Mr. Reis to go into Closed Session; seconded by Mr. East and approved on the following Roll Call vote: Lane R. Penn -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -Aye Council entered Closed Session at 5:17 p.m. Public Session 3. Certification of Closed Session. Council returned from Closed Session at 6:35 p.m. Mayor Collins called for a certification motion, which was made by Mr. Reis and seconded by Mr. East, that only the following items were discussed: Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 1-(2 items) -discussion of a personnel matter. Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 3-(4 items)-acquisition/disposition of publicly owned property. Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A) 5-(1 item) -discussion of a prospective business or industry where Page 1 of 4/January 18, 2022 no previous announcement has been made. Va. Code 2,2-3711 (A) 7-(2 items) -Briefing by staff members regarding actual or probable litigation. The certification motion was approved by the following roll call vote: Lane R. Penn -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -Aye 4. Mr. Radcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. Mr. East gave the Invocation. 6. Modification of the Public Session. Mr. Reis moved that the agenda be modified to add, after item 12, the appointment of a board member to the Pepper's Ferry RWTA Board. Mr. Penn seconded the motion which was approved by a unanimous voice vote of all Council members. 7. Mayor Collins Welcomed Guests and Visitors. 8. Presentations: Budget Presentation from Pulaski Area Transit. Ms. Monica Musick, Transit Manager for Pulaski Area Transit made the presentation to Town Council. She reviewed the proposed establishment of "feeder routes" to assist riders in outlying areas and the combining of the two existing routes into one large route. Ms. Musick expressed the hope that these changes would increase ridership twenty-five percent. Council then asked about the level of ridership, which in its view had declined considerably, and asked if a ridership increase of 25% would bring the system to the desired level of participation. Concern was expressed by Mr. East over the rising cost per rider and that Town taxpayers were having to pay to fund routes into the County. Also discussed during the presentation was the question of federal funds being tied to ridership and would the funding be available if ridership improved, to which the answer was yes. The discussion also involved questions from Mr. Reis on how the route system was implemented in place of the demand service and if there were other ways to increase ridership (e.g. "flagging"). Mrs. Burcham mentioned that buses were still not coming to a stop at a particular location. Mr. Radcliffe expressed concerns over subsidizing a service and asked at what point did a service stop being an asset and became a burden. Mrs. Burcham noted that PAT was increasing their request from the current $70,000 to $87,000 for the next Federal fiscal year (FY 2023). Mr. Radcliffe said his concern was that the most Town citizens (95%) never used the service, but paid $70,000. While recognizing that some persons need the service, he asked what the value was to constituents who never used the service. Mrs. Burcham asked Ms. Musick if there was a way to defer a budgetary decision so Council could see what happens with the "feeder route" and whether or not ridership would increase between now and when the fiscal year budget went into effect. Ms. Musick responded that a commitment was needed by February 1 st to submit the grant request and that no ARPA or CARES Act funds would be available. Mrs. Burcham asked if it was possible to ask for the funds and potentially reduce the contribution for the Town's fiscal year to allow the Town to have funds that could be applied to the $87,000 request for the next year. Ms. Musick said it could. After a review of some operating statistics by Ms. Musick, Mr. Dawson said he felt discussions were needed as to the availability or appropriateness of funding if conditions did not change with respect to ridership. Mr. East asked what was driving the $17,000 increase. Ms. Musick said the Page 2 of 4/January 18, 2022 increase in wages and fuel. Considering the lateness of the request and fiscal priorities, Mr. East said he was comfortable level funding for the request while the issues with ridership and "feeder routes" were worked out. Then by next year there would be some indication of how the Town's taxpayer money was being spent. He supported level funding of the request. Ms. Musick said she would be available for "one on one" meetings and would be available to meet with Council as a whole when a meeting date was available. After a discussing a proposal for quarterly reports and getting information to the public, Mrs. Burcham suggested the reports would be more helpful if budget information on expenditures could be included. A motion to commit to fund no more than $70,000 to Pulaski Area Transit for their next fiscal year was made by Mr. Reis, seconded by Mr. Dawson and approved on the following roll call vote: Lane R. Penn -Nay James A. Radcliffe -Nay Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -Aye 9. Public Hearing: Rezoning Request for Rezoning of 1201 East Main Street from 1-1 to B-2: Mr. Deal reviewed the request of RAS Properties, L.L.C., owner, Marathon Realty Corp., Agent for a rezoning of 1201 East Main Street from 1-1 Light Industrial District to B-2 General Business District. The rezoning was sought as a condition of purchase of the property, which would be razed and replaced by a new structure. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the request. Mayor Collins opened the Public Hearing at 7:37 p.m. Mr. Stephen Spangler of Marathon Realty Corp, agent, said that the project was in the due diligence period and that it might be twelve months before construction began. There being no further comments, Mayor Collins closed the public hearing. Mr. Clontz made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2022-01, "Rezoning 1201 East Main Street from 1-1 Light Industrial District to B-2 General Business District", The motion was seconded by Mr. East and approved on the following roll call vote: Lane R. Penn -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Abstain G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -Aye 10. Resolution 2022-01, Appropriation Resolution: Mrs. Burcham informed Council that when the Town received funds it was necessary to appropriate them to the proper accounts. A motion to adopt Resolution 2022-01 was made by Mr. East, seconded by Mr. Dawson and approved on the following roll call vote: Lane R. Penn -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -Aye 11. Appointment to Pepper's Ferry RWTA: Mr. Reis moved that there be a resolution to appoint Bill Pedigo as the alternate for Jeff Worrell on the Pepper's Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority for a four-year term. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clontz and approved on the following roll call vote: Page 3 of 4/January 18, 2022 Lane R. Penn -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Michael P. Reis -aye 12. Public Comments: None 13. Council Comments: Mr. Penn had no comment. Mr. Dawson thanked the street crews for the snow removal saying they did a good job clearing the streets, which looked great. Mr. East also thanked the employees for their work on the streets and sidewalks. Mrs. Burcham mentioned that there should be a way to recognize those individuals in Public Works for doing this work. Mr. Radcliffe noted the outstanding job performed by the street crews and asked if there was a timeline for the demolition of Peak Creek Mercantile. Mrs. Burcham responded that if the Town could not get ownership of the structure, the cost of demolition would be $70,000. Efforts had been underway with the Town Attorney to get control of the property. Bids for demolition were being procured to also include a portion of 72 East Main Street. Mr. Clontz had no comment. Mr. Reis thanked the street crews and Mr. Pedigo, Town Engineer, for explaining how the streets were cleaned on Facebook. He added that vehicles should be parked off-street to help the crews. Mayor Collins thanked the Town for keeping the Jackson Park lights on to recognize health care workers during the current pandemic. 14. Manager Report: Mrs. Burcham complemented the dedication of Town employees who came in to clear the streets and kept the Town opening on time. She also noted that because of COVID some employees were continuing to be absent. She asked for a head count of Council members who planned to attend the Chamber event in Richmond on February 11 15. Reminder of Future Council Meetings and Adjournment: Mayor Collins reminded the Council of the next Council meeting on Thursday, February 3, 2022 with Closed Session starting at 5:30 p.m. and the Public Session at 7:00 pm.; and the Council Work Session on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 with Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. and the Public Session at 6:30 p.m. There being no further business, Mayor Collins adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Attest: avid N. Quesenberry Clerk of Council Page 4 of 4/January 18, 2022 Approved: C�� - '/� ZW. Shannon Collins Mayor 1