Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-01-05Minutes of the Town Council meeting held March 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., Betty H. Steger, Lane R. Penn, John T. Bolen, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager John White, Economic Development Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Bill Webb, Fire Chief Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Melissa Looney, Police Department Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others: Jake Looney Summer DeQuino Bill Warden Carol Wade Jennifer White Anthony Thomas James Holliday Tim Hopkins Bob Harman Jeff Mitchell Jeffrey Stout Jack Martin, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Bolen led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Sternberg gave the invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Bolen moved to add item 13g, After Prom Party request and 14c, Closed Session under Va. Code, 2.2-3711 (A-5) to the agenda. 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to the Planning Commission Annual Report. Dave Quesenberry presented the report, advising that the Commission addressed eighteen matters and conducted hearings on seventeen. He summarized the nature of the cases and advised that some matters would come before Council in April to complete the 2004 Planning Commission case load. Mayor Wade commended the Planning Commission for a job well done and moved on to the presentation of the February 2005 Employee of the Month award. The Mayor read a press release announcing that Melissa Looney was the Employee of the Month for February 2005. He presented Mrs. Looney a framed Certificate and advised that she would also receive an additional paid day off and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award in December. Mayor Wade moved on to the New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan. Mr. Shawn Utt addressed Council explaining that local governments are required to adopt Natural Hazard Mitigation plans in order to receive certain federal assistance. The New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Work Group, consisting of representatives of fourteen localities of the New River Valley Planning District, convened to study the regions’ risks from and vulnerability to natural hazards and to make recommendations on mitigating the effects of such hazards on the region. The efforts of the New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Work group and the New River Valley Planning District have resulted in the development of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Mayor Wade opened the Public Hearing. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt Resolution 2005-05, adopting the New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Town of Pulaski, seconded by Councilwoman Steger 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on the Resolution 2005-08. Mr. Hawley advised that during the last Cemetery Trustees meeting, the need for improvements at the cemeteries was discussed. Following discussion, the Trustees suggested increasing the fees by $50 for each cemetery space. Following research, staff agreed that the Town cemetery rates are low and could be increased by $50 per space. Mayor Wade opened the Public Hearing at 7:16 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilwoman Steger moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare an Ordinance increasing the cemetery rates by $50 per space, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Under the Public Comment Period, Mayor Wade read from a letter from the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The letter commended some Town Police officers for their professionalism, law enforcement expertise and investigative excellence in working on an armed drug traffic organization investigation. The officers named were: Captain E. T. Montgomery, Lieutenant John Leeper, Sergeant Michael Hudson, Investigator Jill Neice and Investigator Lori Meredith. Mayor Wade and Council commended the officers as well. Mayor Wade moved on to the Consent Agenda. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of February 1, 8, and 23, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Project Updates. John White gave an update on the Downtown Revitalization project advising of the progress to date: That Anderson and Associates had been surveying to define some boundaries for engineering work and possible property acquisition and easement. Properties in the project were being appraised for possible acquisition. Hill Studio was working with eight storefront owners in possible designs for Downtown buildings. These designs were soon to be shared with the owners. There will be other storefronts included in the project, but the designs will probably not be completed until the next phase of the project. A pre-bid meeting was held with contractors possibly interested in bidding on upper floor housing units. The bids have been returned and will be the subject for Management Team and Housing/Storefront committee meetings. Work was continuing on the development of business within the boundaries of the project or in areas nearby. Progress was continuing at the Pulaski Theatre, most recently this week with a $37,500 appropriation from the Legislature. The Town Attorney had been reviewing templates for DHCD contracts. David Jones from DHCD will attend the next Management Team meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to the update on the Maple Shade. Mr. Hawley advised that the Maple Shade had been shown to several potential businesses in the last few weeks. He added that work is progressing on the building that Old Virginia Textiles planned to move into. Staff hoped to have that work completed in approximately 30 days. Mayor Wade asked when the façade work would be scheduled? Mr. Hawley answered that he had waited to find out whether the one developer that had shown an interest in the Maple Shade was still interested before he started work on the façade. Dave Hart gave an update on the Skate Park, distributed a drawing of the proposed park, discussed the color scheme and advised that he hoped to open the Park in mid-April. Mr. Hart moved on to the Gatewood Park update. He advised that grading had begun on the camper parking sites; the electrical components had been ordered and will be installed; the water department was working on a plan for installing water and sewer; and the bath house had been gutted and will be totally upgraded. He added that a web site is being created for the park and that he hoped it would be available soon. Mayor Wade moved on to the New River Trail update. Bill Pedigo gave an update advising that staff had heard from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission regarding the application for the low water bridge and had answered two questions that the Commission had. The next requirement is a scheduled public comment period. As soon as the public comment period has expired, the Town should receive approval for the bridge. He added that staff had answered several questions from the Department of Environmental Quality. He hoped that the project would be finished sometime in September or October or 2005. Mayor Wade moved on to the Bob Harman UDAG/Lease. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had prepared a draft UDAG agreement. Mr. White presented a schematic of the plan for the Harman building and a copy of draft Resolution 2005-08. Additionally, Mr. White advised that Mr. Harman had fulfilled all of the prerequisites required by Council before the Town would advance Mr. Harman $2,500 of the requested UDAG loan. He summarized the prerequisites for Council. Mr. Eley, the Town Attorney, summarized the draft Resolution for Council and advised that the amortization schedule had been determined. At Mayor Wade’s behest, Mr. Eley also summarized the draft contracts with Mr. Harman. Following discussion, Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Resolution 2005-08, authorizing a loan in urban development action grant repayment funds to assist Old Virginia Textiles Museum in the remodeling of the Pulaski Plaza building and to expand the commercial rental space in said buildings. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Steger 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Ordinance 2005-10. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-10, increasing fees for bad checks received by the Town, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item under Old Business was Ordinance 2005-08. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-08, amendment to Pulaski Town Code, administration, division (2) purchasing, seconded by Councilwoman Steger 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to New Business. The first item was street naming request as referred from Planning Commission. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the Code of Virginia authorizes Town Council to name any streets, roads or alleys in the Town as long as they are not a primary highway as designated by VDOT. He advised that J&D Builders had submitted names for the new streets in English Forest Village to the Planning Commission. Kensington and Wilshire are the requested names. The Planning Commission reviewed the request and recommended approval of the two names. The two affected existing property owners were contacted regarding the change and neither voiced any objection. Mayor Wade inquired whether it was necessary for street names to come before the Council? Mr. Hawley advised that the Planning Commission has the authority to name streets, however, it has been the tradition in the past for Council to authorize the Planning Commission decision. Following discussion, the consensus of the Council was to allow the Planning Commission to name the streets. Mayor Wade moved on to Resolution 2005-09. Mr. Hawley advised that VDOT requires a Resolution with requests for Industrial Access Funds. Pulaski County adopted a Resolution for the portion of the road that will be in the County. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Resolution 2005-09, requesting Industrial Access funds from the Commonwealth Transportation Board for the Pulaski Business Park, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item on the agenda was a request from J&D Builders of NRV, Inc. concerning a water line loop. Mr. Hawley advised the J& D Builders of NRV, Inc. was requesting that the Town waive all utility hook up fees to cover the cost of looping the water line in the English Forest Estates from Wilshire to the Roark water meter. Following extensive discussion, the consensus of Council was that the Town would provide the six inch pipe for the contractor to put in and the contractor would pay the $880 connection fees. Mr. Hawley stated that he would write a letter informing the builder of Council’s consensus. Mayor Wade moved on to the Pulaski Redevelopment & Housing Authority vacancy. Mr. Hawley advised that Vickie L. Houk had resigned as Chair and member of the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. He asked Council to consider who they’d like to appoint to this Authority and nominations would be considered at the March 15, 2005 meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to the potential Maple Shade lease for outfitters. Mayor Wade advised that staff has met with a potential business who was interested in expanding its business into Town. He asked Council to direct staff to work out a leasing arrangement for the outfitters to move into Town. Councilwoman Steger moved to direct staff to work out a leasing arrangement for the outfitters to move into Town, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was an Administrative Assistant for Economic Development, Senior Center and Town Manager. Mr. Hawley advised that he would like to add a temporary part-time Administrative Assistant to the staff, due to the work load generated by the CDBG grant and the Revitalization Project and the work at the Pulaski Business Park and the work at the Maple Shade, the SPARC program and other ongoing projects. He added that his original intent had been to utilize this person in the Economic Development and Town Manager’s office. After further thought, he would like this person to work under the Economic Development office. If any extra time is available, the Assistant could help in the Town Manager’s office. Councilwoman Steger stated that she thought this Assistant should only work for the Economic Development and the Town Manager’s office. She felt that adding the Senior Center into the plan would spread the Assistant too thin. Mr. Hawley advised that the intent now was to utilize the person primarily in the Economic Development department. Councilwoman Steger moved to allow staff to hire a temporary part-time Administrative Assistant for the Economic Development department. Councilman Bolen inquired what the pay would be and was the money in the budget? Mr. Hawley responded that the intent was to pay $7 an hour. However he added, depending upon qualifications, the pay could be increased. The money ($4,000) would be transferred from the Police Department salaries to the Part-time line item under the Town Manager’s office. 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to Ordinance 2005-11. Mr. Hawley advised that it was necessary for the Town to take a second position to a first lien by First National Bank for $175,000 to Ground Vibration Consultants, Inc. so that they can move forward with their work at the Pulaski Business Park. Councilman Penn moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-11, subordinating agreement with Ground Vibration Consultants, Inc. to a lien by First National Bank, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item was a request for the After Prom Party. Mayor Wade advised of the receipt of a request from the After Prom Party committee at Pulaski County High School for a donation to the party. During discussion, Councilman Bolen commented that he received a request at home and perhaps Council should donate individually. Mayor Wade responded that he would suggest that Council make a donation individually and as a municipality. Councilman Worrell commented that he thought it was a worthy cause, however, the problem he had with it was taking the citizens tax dollars and deciding which worthy cause to fund. Councilman Talbert moved to donate $250 to the After Prom Party, seconded by Councilman Burchett and failed on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - No Lane R. Penn - Abstain Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - No Bettye H. Steger - No Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye At 8:15 p.m., Councilwoman Steger moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Coded 2.2-3711 (A-7) Consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by counsel and two items under (A-5), discussion of the expansion of an existing business and an existing industry where no announcement has been made for expansion and (A-5), prospective business where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ interest in locating in the community. 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilwoman Steger, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Councilman Penn moved to direct staff to proceed with a UDAG loan in the amount of $60,000 for Claytor Lake Properties, LLC, 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 - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye At 9:15 p.m., There being no further business, Councilman Penn moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote.