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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-05Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, June 7 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., Bettye H. Steger, Lane R. Penn, John T. Bolen, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney John White, Economic Development Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Webb, Fire Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Debbie Bivens, Computer Tech Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Others: Oscar Seagle Mickey Seagle Bob Strasser Nancy Strasser Betty Quesenberry James Holliday Jeffrey Stout Kaye Hess John R. Phillips Debbie Linkous Harriet Anderson Carol Wade Jennifer White Anthony Akers Lee Wolfe Bryant Blankenship Boy Scout Troop #48: Emmett Bryant Curtis Giles Alice Gravely Derek Pittsenbarger Leland Harman Jeff East Paul Dellinger, Press Jack Martin, Press Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Bolen led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Worrell gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Councilman Penn moved to modify the agenda by adding a Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-7), Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff pertaining to probable litigation. 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 welcomed the visitors and Boy Scout Troop #48. The first item on the agenda was Resolution 2005-25, Honoring Anthony Akers. Mayor Wade advised that Mr. Akers was honored by the Virginia Junior Chamber of Commerce of the Virginia Jaycees with the 2005 Outstanding Young Virginian Award. The award is presented annually to young adults from ages 21 to 40 for making a positive impact on their communities. Mayor Wade read the Resolution aloud and presented it to Mr. Akers. Next, Mayor Wade advised that Paige Wigginton was honored by the Virginia Junior Chamber of Commerce of the Virginia Jaycees with a 2005 Outstanding Future Leader Award for making a positive impact in her community. The Mayor read the Resolution aloud and presented it to Ms. Wigginton. Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt Resolutions 2005-25, Honoring Anthony Akers and 2005-26, Honoring Paige Wigginton. The motion was seconded by Councilman Penn and carried on voice vote. Next, Mayor Wade presented the Employee of the Month Award for May 2005 to Police Detective J. W. “Jim” Gregory. The Mayor read a press release aloud, and congratulated Mr. Gregory. Mayor Wade moved on to a presentation by Harriett Anderson on behalf of Delegate Keister on the Wilderness Road. Ms. Anderson advised that Governor Warner announced an Arts and Crafts initiative to market arts and crafts artisans in the Appalachian region. In conjunction with this initiative, Delegate Keister decided that the Wilderness Road should be marketed. She gave a presentation and asked for Council’s support of the idea. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment Period. Debbie Linkous had signed up to speak. When called upon, she responded that she would prefer to speak after the Mayor’s update on Gatewood and his responses to questions that she had submitted regarding Gatewood. Mayor Wade directed the Clerk of Council to give his responses to Ms. Linkous to review. The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of May 3 and May 17, 2005. Since the minutes had just been distributed to Council during the Council meeting and had not been read by Council, the decision was made to consider the minutes at the next Council meeting. Mayor Wade moved on to the Projects Updates. Regarding Downtown revitalization, Mr. White presented design drawings for some of the storefront improvements. Nine drawings had been completed and were being reviewed by the building owners. He advised that the buildings would be unique, however they would be tied together with some common elements such as outdoor lights etc. Additionally, he advised that blight letters were being prepared to send to owners in the downtown area. Councilman Worrell commented that the size of the barricades in front of the Theatre on Main Street force pedestrians to walk in the street to go around them. He inquired if smaller barricades could be used for the storefront improvements. Mr. Hawley noted the request. The next item for discussion was the Museum/Fine Arts Center complex. Mr. Hawley advised that an architect and an structural engineer from Wiley and Wilson reviewed the old Wade’s building in the Maple Shade shopping center. They will develop a layout that will work inside the Maple Shade for the Museum/Fine Arts Center complex and provide some tentative pricing for the project. The intent would be to provide a line drawing and a phasing program to present to VDOT and try to get approval to proceed with the first demolition phase of the work. He added that the Town has received over one half million dollars in funds for the project. Mr. Hawley moved on to the Pulaski Area Transit (PAT) update. He advised that for the month of May, the transit averaged eighty riders per day. He thought that the fine tuning of the pick up schedule played a large part in the increase and advised that the schedule was still being tweaked. Mayor Wade moved on to Old Business. The first item was Ordinance 2005-22. Mr. Hawley advised that the Public Hearing for the request had been advertised and held as required by law. Planning Commission and Council had approved the request. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-22, Rezoning of Cook Property on Dora Highway, 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 The next item on the agenda was the Art Train. Mr. Hawley advised that staff had been directed to contact Artrain USA to see if they were available to appear in Pulaski for 2007 as part of the Jamestown Community festivities. Staff found that they were available. A $500 deposit was required and the remaining $12,500 would be due in 2007. Mr. Hawley commented that he hoped the $12,500 could be obtained through corporate and County sponsors, however, it was possible that the Town would have to pay the remainder. Following discussion, Councilman Penn moved to approve $500 for the deposit, 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 - No Bettye H. Steger - No Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye Mayor Wade moved on to New Business. The first item was NRV Development Corporation. Mr. Hawley advised that Mr. Bolen had notified the Town that he could no longer serve on the New River Valley Development Corporation. A new government representative needed to be appointed. Following discussion, Councilman Talbert moved to appoint Councilwoman Steger to the New River Valley Development Corporation, 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 - Abstain Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - Aye The next item was Resolution 2005-24, Wilderness Road. Mayor Wade commented that this Resolution was to support Delegate Keister’s initiative to get Wilderness Road recognized. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Resolution 2005-24, Declaring Support to Recognize Wilderness Road as a State Roadway as Proposed by Delegate W. B. “Benny” Keister. The motion was 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 The next item was a snow cone trailer. Mr. Hawley advised that a request had been received to allow a mobile snow cone trailer to park on Town property either at the Maple Shade parking lot or the Train Station parking lot during the summer. The trailer would be open every day during the summer from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Councilwoman Steger moved to approve the request to allow a mobile snow cone trailer to park on Town property either at the Maple Shade parking lot or the Train Station parking lot during the summer. The motion was 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 The next item was the Assign a Highway program. Mr. Hawley advised that the Fire Marshal had discovered the program and brought it to the Town Manager’s attention. He explained that after a citizen had committed a crime, the judge could put them on probation and assign a section of road for the citizen to clean up each week during the probation period. If the section of road is not cleaned, the probation would be revoked and the citizen would go to jail. Councilwoman Steger moved to direct staff and the Town Attorney to prepare the proper documents and proceed with the program. 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 asked Ms. Debbie Linkous if she had any questions or comments regarding the responses provided to her by the Mayor and staff? Ms. Linkous declined to comment, advising that she would like more time to research to topics. Councilman Penn moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1), Discussion and consideration of prospective appointees of the Town, (A-7), Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff pertaining to probable litigation and (A-1), Discussion of the assignment of the employees of the Town. 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 Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Talbert, 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 There being no further business, Councilwoman Steger moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote.