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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-00Minutes of the Town Council meeting held May 16, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. There were present: John A. Johnston, Mayor Council Members: James M. Neblett, Lane R. Penn, Jeffrey S. Worrell Bettye H. Steger, Daniel Talbert, Jr., Joseph L. Weddle Pauline G. Mitchell, Charles W. Stewart, Jr. Staff: Gary Elander, Town Manager Dave Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Randy Eley, Town Attorney Sherry Boyd, Finance Director John Hawley, Town Engineer Mike Jenkins, Director of Public Works Patricia Pendergrast, Clerk Others Present: Betty Ratcliffe Kirkner Beverly Ratcliffe Holtz F. B. Stevenson Kenneth Fleenor E. G. Black, Jr. Michael Dowell Rebecca English Vera Carter Spencer Rygas Marc Fitzwater Carrie Hodge Erin Howell Courtney Mabry Melinda Bosye Emil Pohlig Samantha Cole Lauren Le Barre Harrison Hart Kate Miller Paul Dellinger, Press Lee Carter, Press Tina Ratliff, Press Mayor Johnston called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Councilman Penn led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilwoman Steger gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Johnston added a Closed Session to the agenda. At 5:02, Council entered into Closed Session on 2.1-344 (A-7), consultation with legal counsel on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. At 5:16 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Weddle, seconded by Councilwoman Mitchell and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 Mayor Johnston advised that Rebecca English had requested to address Council. Mrs. English, on behalf of Downtown Pulaski Incorporated, thanked Mike Jenkins, Public Works Director, for his department’s assistance and cooperation with Downtown Pulaski, Inc. She advised that D.P.I. will be presenting awards all week to various businesses and governmental departments that have helped D.P.I meet their goals. Tom McCrea, President of D.P.I., presented Mike Jenkins, Public Works Director with a plaque for Superior Government Supporter. Next, Fred Armstrong, Ron Driscoll and Proctor Harvey of Wiley and Wilson presented their proposal for the Museum Expansion. They supplied 4 versions of the plans and recommended Plan C, which entails destroying the existing structure and building a 35,700 sq. ft. structure at a cost of approximately $3,638,000. Michael Dowell, Fine Arts Center Director addressed Council and advised that the Museum Committee and the Fine Arts Center Board support Wiley & Wilson’s recommendation of Plan C. After discussion, Councilman Neblett made a motion to accept the concept for the Museum and that Council would come back with a recommendation at a future Council meeting, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 At 6:08 p.m., Mayor Johnston called a five minute recess. At 6:13 p.m., Mayor Johnston reconvened the meeting. Next item on the agenda was consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Worrell made a motion to adopt the consent agenda consisting of the minutes of the May 2, 2000 Council meeting, seconded by Councilman Talbert. Mr. Elander advised that there was an error on page 2 of the draft minutes in the packet, regarding the Sewer Bond Resolution. The date should read December 3, 1998, not 1999. Councilman Worrell amended his motion to include the change in the date, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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, Chairman Weddle advised that he, the Town Manager and the Finance Director met on several occasions and reviewed the banking service proposals. After due consideration, he recommends that the Community National Bank bid for banking service be accepted. Mr. Weddle inquired as to the length of the contract. Ms. Boyd advised that the contract is for 3 years. After further discussion, Councilman Weddle made a motion to accept Community National Bank’s bid for banking service, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 Chairman Weddle advised that Ms. Boyd was prepared to deliver a report to Council. Ms. Boyd advised that business license collections are excellent, and vehicle decals are above expected budget levels. She also advised that property taxes have not been mailed due to computer problems. She hopes to get them in the mail this Friday and will extend the due date deadline to June 15 and send out a press release. Additionally, she advised that she has transferred general funds into an investment pool and plans to invest some UDAG funds as well. Chairman Neblett advised that he had no Utilities Committee report. Mr. Hawley advised that approval has been received from the Health Department on the Thorn Springs sanitary sewer lines, and will go to bid as soon as some easements are obtained. Progress is being made on the Case Knife Road site. Next, Public Operations Committee Chairman Penn advised that Council had been provided with a preliminary sketch of a plaque for the Veterans Memorial bridge. Staff was asked to schedule a meeting with the Veterans groups to discuss the plans. Chairwoman Steger advised that an Ordinance Committee meeting will be scheduled in the near future to discuss some changes that have been made in the state law affecting meals tax, utilities franchise licenses and consumer utility tax, as well as codification. Councilman Penn inquired whether there is an ordinance in effect limiting the number of dogs allowed in an area? Mr. Eley advised that currently there is no dog ordinance in effect. Councilman Penn inquired whether a kennel license is allowed within town limits? Mr. Hawley advised that zoning laws restrict commercial kennels in a residential district. Commercial kennels may be located in B-1 or B-2 districts. Councilman Stewart advised that Planning Commission met May 8 for a work session and focused on proposed regulations for residential districts. Committee will have another work session followed by a public hearing on June 12, 2000. Next item on agenda was Ordinance 2000-05, adopting the Comprehensive Plan update. Town Manager Elander recommended that Council take an additional 30 days to study the Comprehensive Plan update before acting on it. Councilman Stewart made a motion to table Ordinance 2000-05, adopting the Comprehensive Plan update, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. Next, Councilman Stewart made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2000-06, approving a conditional use at 800 S. Washington Ave to allow construction of a water booster pump station, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 Councilman Stewart then made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2000-07, approving a conditional use at 1400 Case Knife Road to allow construction of a water booster pump station, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 Public Safety Committee Chairman Worrell advised that committee met with the Police Department and discussed the possibility of relocating the Detective division in the Maple Shade Plaza. Staff will investigate this possibility and will report back to Safety Committee in the near future. Committee will then report back to Council with a recommendation. Town Attorney Eley gave a projects update including that progress is being made in collection of delinquent taxes and in the formation of a citizens committee. Councilman Stewart inquired into the status of the Macgill Road project? Mr. Eley advised that the survey and a working drawing is complete, and more research is being conducted to complete the project. The Town Manager gave a projects update including: 1. Two of three checks have been received from the General Assembly for grant applications previously approved. 2. The Series in the Park band schedule has been established. 3. The Engineering department has completed right of way work on Valley Road with regard to a rock outcropping. Attempts will be made to remove the outcropping. 4. The Police Department promoted E. T. Montgomery to Captain and J. F. Leeper to Lieutenant. 5. Vacancies are coming up on the Economic Development Board and will be addressed in the near future. 6. On July 27th, the VML Policy committee will meet prior to the October conference. Town Manager has nominated every member of Council and the Mayor-elect to various committees. 7. Requested a Special Council meeting and public hearing on the 25th of May at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the budget. Councilman Neblett made a motion to schedule a Special Council meeting and public hearing to discuss the budget on May 25, 2000 at 5:00 p.m., seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. Mr. Elander advised that a workshop for newly elected officials will be held July 12 through 14 in Charlottesville. Next, Mr. Elander advised that before Council was Resolution 2000-16, naming the walking trail at Dora Highway the “Tad Steger Walking Trail”. Councilman Penn made a motion to adopt Resolution 2000-16, naming the walking trail at Dora Highway the “Tad Steger Walking Trail”, seconded by Councilman Neblett and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Joseph L. Weddle - Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Pauline G. Mitchell - Aye Bettye H. Steger - Abstain Charles W. Stewart, Jr. - Aye There being no further reports, at 6:53 p.m., Councilwoman Steger made a motion to enter into Closed Session under 2.1-344 (A-3 and A-7), seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 At 7:21 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Penn, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: James M. Neblett - Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. - 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 There being no further business, meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Neblett, seconded by Councilman Weddle and carried on voice vote.