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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-05Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held January 19, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor Charles L. Wade Council Members: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Daniel Talbert, Jr., Bettye H. Steger, Lane R. Penn, John T. Bolen, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Randolph D. Eley, Jr., Town Attorney Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Webb, Fire Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities John White, Economic Development Director Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Others: Wayne Carpenter Bob Harman Cely Harman Nancy Riggins Mayor Wade called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Mayor Wade asked for a motion to adopt the minutes of the November 16, 2004 Council Work Session. Councilman Penn moved to adopt the minutes of the November 16, 2004 Council Work Session, seconded by Councilman Bolen and carried on voice vote. Councilwoman Steger moved to remove from the table the discussion regarding the New River Valley Development Corporation funding request, 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 Mr. Carpenter to address Council regarding the New River Valley Development Corporation funding request. Wayne Carpenter reviewed some of the history of the New River Valley Development Corporation’s formation and the need for the loan request. He advised that the Corporation was currently at 67%occupancy and that 85% occupancy was needed to be self sufficient. He explained that the Corporation was requesting a loan, not a grant and that the Corporation fully intended to pay the loan back. Discussion ensued regarding whether Council should approve the loan or pay for nine months rent at the New River Valley Development Corporation for Ground Vibrations. Following extensive discussion, Councilman Talbert moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare the documents for the Town to pay the rent at the New River Valley Development Corporation for Ground Vibrations for nine months and direct the Town Attorney to research whether UDAG money is available for the remaining time, 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 Adelphia Cable. Mr. Hawley discussed some of the options for working out the new agreement with Adelphia Cable. A suggestion was made to appoint a Committee of citizens from each side of the Town to work on the new agreement. Following discussion, the Town Manager was directed to bring a list to the next Council Work Session to include citizens from four different quadrants of Town and in varying age groups to recommend for the Committee. The next item on the agenda was the Pulaski Furniture request for the control of birds. Mr. Hawley advised that a letter had been received from Pulaski Furniture Corporation requesting the Town’s aid in an ongoing program to rid the Town of pigeons. Following discussion, Councilman Worrell moved to continue funding the program at the present rate to control birds, 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 Mayor Wade moved on to the Southwest Virginia Economic Development Committee Funding. John White advised that Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc. had requested that the Town contribute $1,000 to assist them with providing staff and to support multiple task forces and post meeting networking and pubic relations throughout the study region. He recommended that the funding request by approved. Following discussion, Councilwoman Steger moved to approve the request in the amount of $1,000 to Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc., 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 Promo Video. Mayor Wade advised that the Jamestown 2007 Committee had contacted several localities in the state to make a vocal or oral video for the website. The Town was one of the localities contacted. The video is to be two minutes long. He provided Council with a copy of his thoughts as to what should be included in the video and asked for comments. Following discussion, the suggestion was made to add minor league baseball and Calfee Park to the video. The next item discussed was Old Virginia Textiles. Mr. White advised that Mr. Harman of Old Virginia Textiles had requested a $50,000 forgivable UDAG loan for his Museum. Staff recommended approval when the following bench marks have been achieved: That the existing looms that Mr. Harman owns serve as collateral for the loan grant. That the Town receives a business plan that has been approved by the Town staff and Council. That the physical layout of the building he is to utilize, be approved by the Town staff and Council. That the Old Virginia Textiles Museum receive 501C-3 status. That the Old Virginia Textiles Museum open by July 2, 2005 and continues to operate until at least July 2, 2007. Additionally, Mr. White recommended that upon receiving a letter of intent from Old Virginia Textiles to move the operation into the Maple Shade Plaza, that the Town provide Mr. Harman with a cash advance of $2,500 against the UDAG loan. Mr. Harman addressed Council explaining his plans for the Museum and requesting that Council approve the UDAG loan. During the ensuing discussion, staff was asked to contact Sarah Walker in Senator Allen’s office to ask about the possibility of grants for the Museum. Councilwoman Steger moved to direct the Town Attorney to prepare the proper documentation for the UDAG loan, 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 VML bond issues. Mr. Hawley advised that Council has considered issuing bonds for some Town projects that need to be funded. VML VACO goes out for bonds twice a year and one deadline is nearing. Mr. Hawley inquired whether Council wanted staff to continue to research the matter? The consensus of the Council was for staff to continue research the possibility of a bond issue. The next item discussed was the Purchasing Policy for the Town. Mr. Hawley reviewed the Town’s current Purchasing Policy and advised of some of the limitations of this policy. Following discussion, Councilman Penn moved to increase the amount of a purchase that can be made by a Department Head without a Purchase Order from $1,000 to $5,000, seconded by Councilwoman Steger. Councilman Talbert amended the motion to direct the Town Manager to also adjust the remainder of the Procurement Policy requiring Purchase Orders ensuring that it meets the State legal requirements. This 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 Mayor Wade moved on to grants. Mr. Hawley advised of three grant opportunities that staff is working on. Mr. Pedigo advised that the FEMA grant was for the acquisition of three properties that were in the flood zone. The grant has been approved and a meeting scheduled with representatives of FEMA to begin work on the project. Mr. Hawley advised that the next grant was from the National Endowment For the Humanities (NEH). This grant, if awarded, would be for the construction of the Museum/Fine Arts Center at the Maple Shade Complex. The final grant was from Rural Development for a small emerging business or sustaining a small business. The Town’s intended use is for Pulaski Baseball, Inc. and Calfee Park. On voice vote, Council voted to support the application for the National Endowment for the Humanities and also the Rural Development grant for Calfee Park and Pulaski Baseball Corporation. Mayor Wade moved on to the Cemetery Trustees Report. Mr. Hawley advised that the Cemetery Trustees met and discussed some needed improvements at the cemeteries. Following discussion, the Trustees made the following recommendations to Council: Allocate $10,000 of the checking account to installing steps and reinvest the remainder of the interest in a short term CD to coincide with the principal CD dates. Investigate raising fees Provide more general fund allocation to the maintenance of the cemeteries. Councilwoman Steger moved to allocated $10,000 of the checking account to installing steps and reinvest the remainder of the interest in a short term CD to coincide with the principal CD dates, 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 inquired whether Council wished to raise the fees for the plots at the cemetery. Councilman Bolen moved to hold a Public Hearing regarding raising the fees for the plots at the cemetery by $50, 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 suggested that the recommendation to increase the staffing at the cemeteries be reviewed during the budget work sessions. He also suggested that staff review the documentation for the trust to ascertain whether it could be dissolved and rewritten according to today’s needs. The next item on the agenda was an appointment to Agency on Aging. Councilwoman Steger moved to appoint Pauline G. Mitchell to the Agency on Aging, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on voice vote. Mayor Wade moved on to Old Business. The first item was Resolution 2005-02, regarding the Flood Mitigation Plan. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt Resolution 2005-02, adopting the Town of Pulaski Flood Mitigation Plan, 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 Ordinance 2005-05 for Route 11 Speed Limit. Councilman Talbert moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-05, Lowering the speed limit on Route 11 from the eastern intersection of Pleasant Hill Drive to the Town corporate limits and designating a school zone, 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 adopting Ordinance 2005-06, closing the right of way of 16th Street extension. Councilman Bolen moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-06, closing a portion of an unnamed right of way south of 16th Street extension, 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 inquired into the status of the request for a mirror at an unnamed right of way at Wilson Avenue? Mr. Hawley advised that he reviewed the area and trimming the hemlocks is not an option. He felt that the best solution for the problem was to allow the owners to put a mirror up as an encroachment or for Council to direct staff to put up the mirror. Mayor Wade opined that the best option was for Council to direct staff to install the mirror. Councilman Penn and Councilman Bolen inquired why the trees weren’t being cut as they were on the Town right of way? Following extensive discussion, Councilwoman Steger moved to direct staff to install a mirror at an unnamed right of way at Wilson Avenue, seconded by Councilman Talbert and carried on the following recorded vote: Jeffrey S. Worrell - Aye Lane R. Penn - No Dan Talbert, Jr. - Aye John T. Bolen - No Bettye H. Steger - Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - No Mayor Wade - Aye At 6:50 p.m., Councilman Penn moved to enter into Closed Session under Va. Code 2.2-3711 (A-3), discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, and of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. 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 At 7:40 p.m., 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 Councilwoman Steger moved to adopt Ordinance 2005-07, permitting grading at the Town of 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 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. on motion by Councilwoman Steger, seconded by Councilman Penn and so carried.