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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-01-05Minutes of the regular Town Council meeting held February 1, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Charles L. Wade, Mayor Council: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Dan Talbert, Jr., Lane R. Penn, John T. Bolen, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. Absent/Excused: Bettye H. Steger Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Webb, Fire Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer John White, Economic Development Director Others: Tim Kuntz Carol Wade Betty Quesenberry J. D. Roark Lynn Loftus James Holliday Bob Harman Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Burchett led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Worrell gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Wade moved on to the Board of Zoning Appeals annual report. Tim Kuntz presented the report advising that the Board received four cases. One case was withdrawn, and the Board reviewed the other three cases and approved them. Councilman Penn moved to accept the Board of Zoning Appeals annual report, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was the Architectural Review Board annual report. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the Architectural Review Board did not have a meeting last year. However, included in the report were three Certificates of Appropriateness, which were approved by staff. Councilman Penn moved to accept the Architectural Review Board annual report, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on voice vote. Next, Mayor Wade introduced Jennifer White of the Friends of the Pulaski Theatre. Mrs. White summarized the progress that the Theatre group had accomplished since May, 2003 and noted some of the proposed uses for the facility. She advised that their goal is to open the Theatre in 2005. Mayor Wade asked Councilman Bolen for a report on the Competitiveness Center meeting. Councilman Bolen advised that the Board received a financial review and discussed some financial problems. He encouraged Council to approve the loan of approximately $3,000 a month to the Center. Mayor Wade moved on to the Public Comment Period. Mr. J. D. Roark addressed Council and publicly apologized to Lynn Loftus for some comments that he made at the last Council meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt the Consent Agenda, consisting of the Council minutes of January 4, 2005, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item on the agenda was Project Updates. Mr. Hawley presented some pictures of the ongoing work at the Maple Shade Plaza and summarized the progress made. Mr. Hawley moved on to the Gatewood update advising that due to recent snows, the grading had not begun. He advised that the work on the bathhouse had begun and that the camping spaces had been staked for grading. He also advised that the plan is to open on April 2, 2005. Next, Mr. Hawley advised that the low level bridge for the Trail had been redesigned and had been submitted to Virginia Marine Resources. To date, no response had been received. He added that once the approval has been received, it can be submitted to VDOT for approval to go to bid. Mayor Wade inquired whether staff still planned to landscape around the Dora Highway Drop Site? He commented that it runs very close to the Trail. Mr. Hawley advised that staff will look at the plans and commented that perhaps staff could work on that while waiting for the remaining approvals for the Trail. Regarding MacGill Skate Park, Mr. Hawley advised that staff had received two bids for the Skate Park facilities and hoped to award the contract for the equipment the next day. Additionally, he advised that due to the work load, staff had postponed work on the site plan for the shelter for approximately two weeks. Mr. Hawley moved on to Street improvements advising that pursuant to comments that arose during the Public Hearing for English Forest, staff had researched the number of streets in Town that are substandard in width in Town. They discovered six streets. Traffic counts will be taken and the information reported back to Council. And finally, Mr. Hawley advised that staff had an update on the purchasing policy for the Town. Ms. Boyd summarized the current Town purchasing policy and presented proposed changes to the policy. Following discussion, Councilman Worrell moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare an Ordinance changing the Town Purchasing Policy and Procedures to include the following: Allow the Town Manager to authorize Department Heads to make purchases up to $5,000 without requiring Purchase Orders or quotations from suppliers. Purchases of $5,001 to $15,000 require Purchase Orders with at least 2 quotations from suppliers; phone quotations may be accepted. Purchases of $15,001 to $30,000 require Purchase Orders and at least 3 written quotations from suppliers. The motion was seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to the Citizens Advisory Committee for Adelphia franchise. Mr. Hawley advised that the Southwest Times newspaper had agreed to print an article or community calendar item asking for volunteers for the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Adelphia franchise renewal. Additionally, the Roanoke Times had agreed to print the request in the calendar of the Current. Mayor Wade asked staff to note that Nick Glenn had volunteered for the Committee. The first item under New Business was Resolution 2005-03, authorizing the application for state aid to public transportation. Mr. Hawley advised that the New River Valley Agency on Aging/Senior Services, Inc. was applying for a grant of financial assistance in the amount of $210,434 to defray the costs borne for public transportation purposes. The Town’s match would be $32,411. A Resolution was required from Council. Mayor Wade inquired whether enough data had been received to warrant discussion of changing the schedules to encourage more passenger participation? Mr. Hawley advised that the topic had arisen, but to his knowledge, no decision had been made. Councilman Worrell inquired whether the bus service had been promoted adequately? Mr. Hawley responded that he felt that with the arrival of the new buses, it needed to be promoted again. He advised that he would ask the Town representatives to present the suggestion at the next meeting. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Resolution 2005-03, authorizing the application for state aid to public transportation in the amount of $32,411, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Resolution 2005-04, authorizing the appropriation of Community Development Block grant funds. Mr. Hawley advised that the Resolution was required from Council. Councilman Worrell moved to adopt Resolution 2005-04, authorizing the appropriation of Community Development block grant funds, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to the Board of Zoning Appeals nominee. Mr. Hawley advised that the Board of Zoning Appeals needed an alternate appointed. Mr. David Edney, nephew in law to the Town Manager, had expressed his desire to serve as an alternate to the Board. The Town Attorney had determined that there would be no conflict of interest in appointing Mr. Edney. Councilman Penn moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare an order for submission to the Circuit Court appointing Mr. David Edney to the Board of Zoning Appeals, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Councilman Penn moved to excuse the absence of Councilwoman Steger at the Council meeting due to illness, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. At 7:37 p.m., Councilman Talbert moved to enter into Closed Session under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-1) Assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officers, appointees or employees of any public body, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye At 8:00 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Talbert, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Absent Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. on motion by Councilman Bolen, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote.