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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-28-99Minutes of the Town Council meeting held December 28, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. At roll call, there were present: John A. Johnston, Mayor Council Members: Lane R. Penn, Jeffrey S. Worrell, Bettye H. Steger, W. Edgar Hale, Pauline G. Mitchell, Charles W. Stewart, Jr. Absent: James M. Neblett, Joseph L. Weddle Staff: John J. Hawley, Acting Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Town Attorney David N. Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Pendergrast, Clerk Herb Cooley, Police Chief Lieutenant Barr Jeff Hall, Fire Chief Robert Dye Also Present: Herman Largen Joe W. White Lee Carter, Press Paul Dellinger, Press Following roll call, Councilman Penn led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Agenda was modified by the addition to Finance Committee report of item c, Police Department update on leasing police vehicles. Mayor Johnston advised that first item on agenda was a Public Hearing for a request for taxi-cab price increase. Hearing was opened to public at 5:03 p.m. There being no comments from the public, hearing was closed. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the Blue and White Cab Company is requesting a 25 cent increase in their present rates. This increase is on top of a 75 cent flat rate increase permitted by Ordinance 97-1. Mr. Quesenberry advised that there was some confusion at the last Council meeting regarding the meaning of Ordinance 97-1 and the implementation of Ordinance 97-1 by the cab company. Further research revealed that the Ordinance set a schedule of fees for each zone and stipulated that a flat rate of up to 75 cents could be added to the total trip charge of the schedule. The Ordinance stipulated that increases could be made in 5 cent increments up to the maximum of 75 cents, after giving a months notification to the Finance Department. It appears that the cab company interpreted the Ordinance to say that the 5 cent increments had already been used up and they could increase their rates by 25 cents. This interpretation increased the zone 1 fee to $2.75. Mr. White, General Manager of Blue and White Cabs, addressed Council. He advised that the income from November, 1998 to November, 1999 has drastically decreased, while expenses for that same period of time have drastically increased. He advised that insurance, gasoline and parts have increased substantially, and the company has no control over those prices. He advised Council that he would prefer to come to Council when a price increase is needed rather than implement the 5 cent increases as stipulated in Ordinance 97-1. Councilman Weddle arrived at the Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Councilman Penn inquired whether the price increase would improve service? He advised that he has received complaints regarding service. Mr. White responded that he thought that most complaints were related to the waiting time involved in getting a cab. He advised that the company is limited by the number of people willing to work for the company and drive a cab. The company has advertised repeatedly for drivers and to date, has not filled the need for drivers. He advised that until the employment pool is greater, this will continue to be a problem. Mr. Hawley, Acting Town Manager, advised that the zoning rates that were set in 1997 were actually less than the rates set in 1994 with the flat rate increase. The cumulative rates in 1994 for zone 1 was about $2.30. The zoning rates approved in 1997 made the rate for zone 1 about $2.00. Because of this fact, Blue and White Cab Company thought that the 5 cent increments referred to in Ordinance 97-1 had already been included in the zoning rate, and therefore the Cab Company could immediately increase the rates by up to 75 cents. They chose to increase the rates by 50 cents. Mr. Largen, owner of Blue and White Cabs, advised that he attended the Council meeting held December, 1996. He stated that the fare was $2.50 in zone 1 going into the Council meeting held in December 1996. He understood that Council approved a 25 cent increase, which would have made a zone 1 charge be $2.75 in January, 1997. Mr. Hawley, stated that that is not what Ordinance 97-1, as adopted by Council, says. Mr. Largen replied that the Ordinance must not have been written correctly. He reiterated that Council approved a 25 cent increase at the December 1996 meeting and authorized proceeding with an additional 75 cents in 5 cent increments, if needed. He stated that he did not utilize those increments. Mr. Hawley repeated that Ordinance 97-1, as approved by Council, reduced the zone 1 fare from $2.50 to $2.00, with the stipulation that they could increase the fare by 75 cents in 5 cent increments with 30 day notification to the Finance Department. Councilman Stewart commented that it didn’t make sense to reduce the zone 1 fee from $2.50 in December, 1996 to $2.00 in January, 1997 with the stipulation that they could increase up to 75 cents in 5 cent increments. Mr. Hawley agreed, but reiterated that that is how Ordinance 97-1, as adopted, is written. After extensive discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion to direct the Town Attorney to draw up a new Ordinance granting a 25 cent increase to Blue and White Cab company as follows: Embarkation Point Within: Destination Point Within: Rate: Zone 1 Zone 1 $3.00 Zone 1 or 2 Zone 2 $3.10 Zone 1,2 or 3 Zone 3 $3.25 Zone 1,2,3, or 4 Zone 4 $3.55 Zone 2 Zone 1 $3.10 Zone 3 Zone 2 or 1 $3.25 Zone 4 Zone 3,2, or 1 $3.55 seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Abstain Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next, Councilman Worrell made a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of the minutes of the Council meetings held December 7, 14 and 16, 1999, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Absent W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Abstain Councilman Neblett arrived at 5:45 pm. Next item on agenda was Finance Committee Business report. First item was a fire department request for use of funds. Fire Chief Jeff Hall advised Council that all but $187.81 of the 1999 Fire Prevention parade and activities expenses were covered by area business and individual donations. The remaining $187.81 was covered by the department. He advised that since 1972, the Fire Department has provided for a small life insurance policy for all of its members. The $1600 yearly premium has been paid on a quarterly basis from the fire department treasury. The treasury is funded with donations and fire extinguisher sales and service. With donations down and fire extinguisher sales and service declining, he requested that the $2,000 appropriated by Council in September, 1999 for the Fire Prevention parade be re-designated to a budget line item to include payments for the life insurance and any additional expense for fire prevention. He also requested that all town employees, living within town limits, receive a free vehicle decal. After discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion to refer this request to the Safety Committee for recommendation, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Abstain Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next item on agenda was a building permit fees survey. Mr. Hawley advised that in the past, Council questioned how the Town’s building permit fees compared to other communities. A building permit fees survey is included in Council’s packet. According to the report, the Town’s fees appear to be slightly below the average for a normal, new construction house. This information was provided in case Council wanted to raise the rates. The consensus was to revisit this topic at budget time. Next, Police Chief Cooley addressed Council regarding leasing vehicles as opposed to purchasing them. He provided Council with a projected vehicle replacement schedule. He reiterated that the Town mechanic has listed several vehicles in the Patrol fleet that need to be replaced immediately. The current budget allows for the purchase of one vehicle. If the same amount of money is applied to a lease, 3 or 4 vehicles can be replaced. Acting Town Manager opined that police vehicles should be a line item in the budget not a capital item. They must have a vehicle to operate. After discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion to approve leasing up to 4 vehicles, staying within the available funds, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Abstain Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next, Public Operations Chairman Penn advised that before Council was Resolution 99-42, supporting keeping the public library within the Town limits of Pulaski. Staff has fielded phone calls and comments from the public requesting that the library remain in Town limits. After discussion, Councilwoman Steger made a motion to adopt Resolution 99-42, supporting keeping the public library within the Town limits of Pulaski, seconded by Councilman Stewart and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Next, Councilman Stewart gave a Planning Commission report to Council. He advised that Commission: 1. Approved a four lot subdivision from property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Turner to be used for construction of single-family homes. 2. Recommended that a list of revisions concerning goals and objectives be returned to Council for consideration and approved consolidation of educational goals under one general objective. Public hearing to be scheduled for January 18, 2000. 3. Returned a list of zoning regulations with some amendments for the drop site with public hearing scheduled for January 18, 2000 Council meeting. No action was necessary by Commission regarding zoning regulations in light of passage by the General Assembly removing conditional uses from residences allowed by right. Council will have to withdraw the request to the Planning Commission for action concerning this case by roll call vote so this case may be closed. Councilman Stewart made a motion to withdraw the zoning request changes from the Planning Commission, seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Abstain Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Under Human Resources Business report, Councilman Hale recognized Ellen Garren for the Student of the Year award she received from the Virginia Institute for Economic Development. Chairman Hale also advised that there are several vacancies on the Parking Authority. He advised that Rebecca English, Eddie Hale and Wayne Ondich have consented to serve on the Authority. He further advised that Pam Jones, current member of the Authority has consented to serve as Chairman. Councilman Worrell made a motion to appoint Rebecca English, Eddie Hale, and Wayne Ondich to the Parking Authority for a 5 year term, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye W. Edgar Hale - Abstain Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Aye Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye Mr. Hawley advised that effective January 1, 2000, the parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Main will be a free public lot. Mayor Johnston recognized W. Edgar Hale for the time he has devoted to the Town and thanked him for his contributions. A more formal recognition will be conducted at a later date. Councilman Hale is resigning to become a member of the Board of Supervisors. Mayor Johnston advised Council that the Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day is scheduled for February 10, 2000. Forms need to be returned to the Clerk by mid-January. Town Attorney Eley advised that the Charter amendment changes have been delivered to Delegate Baker by incoming Town Manager, Gary Elander for legislative drafting and gave a projects update to Council. Councilman Steger recognized and thanked Kyle Glass of Pulaski Furniture for the donation of the curio cabinet to the Town. The cabinet is located in the upstairs hall. There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman Weddle and so carried.