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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-11There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held January 18, 201 1 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S. Worrell ' Council: Morgan P. Welker, H. M. Kidd, David L. Clark, Joel B. Burchett, Jr. (arrived at 5:10 p.m.), Robert A. Bopp, Joseph K. Goodman Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager R. D. Warburton, Town Attorney Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Bill Webb, Fire Chief John White, Economic Development Director Elizabeth Chitwood, Economic Development Assistant Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Barbara Tate, Community Relations Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Robert Gray Edd Riggins Greg DeHart Josh Cook Brandon Saunders Gary Dunford Justin Riggins Terry Henley Michael Leon Smith ' Mark Bentley Robin Kirby Chris Phillips Others: Shawn Utt Jody Umberger Melinda Williams, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell announced the death of Chamber of Commerce employee Claudia Cervantes. He asked for a moment of silence for Ms. Cervantes. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the minutes of the December 7, 2010 Council meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was Employee of the Month. Mayor Worrell advised that January's Employee of the Month was actually a department. He asked the employees of the Department of Public Works Street Department to come to the front. He congratulated the employees, and read a Press Release aloud. He advised that they would receive an additional paid day off from the Town and be eligible for the Employee of the Year Award at the end of the year. The following were honored: Greg DeHart, Superintendent of the Street Department; Jack Taylor, Mark Bentley, Robin Kirby, Robert Gray, Edd Riggins, Justin Riggins, Terry Heney, Brandon Saunders, Chris Phillips, Josh Cook and Michael Smith. The next item on the agenda was the Pulaski Area Transit 1 1 /12 Budget request. Mr. Hawley reviewed the budget request from Pulaski Area Transit that had been included in the packet. January 18, 2011/Page 1 of 4 Gary HeinlineYeviewed the dilfzen"'survey TYiaf hdd ~beeh included in-the pdckel` He advised ~ffidl the majonfy of the comments received from the public regarding the cost and reliability were positive. He commented that the budget request reflected a two percent increase. Councilmen Welker commented that with the challenges that the Town was going to face with the budget, he felt that it would be best to level fund for the next budget year. , Councilman Burchett agreed with Councilman Welker. Mr. Heinline commented that the main increase in the budget was the cost of gas. He added that the state felt that gas could go up to $4.00 per gallon. Mr. Hawley advised that whatever is funded is matched by the state. He suggested funding the entire amount requested by Mr. Heinline so that he could submit his paperwork to the state. When Council discussed the budget, the amount in the budget line item could still be level funded if necessary. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Pulaski Area Transit budget as requested with the understanding that the amount could be level funded if necessary during the Council budget work. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker - No H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was Train Station furniture. Joel B. Burchett, Jr. - No Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Mr. Hawley encouraged Council to schedule a tour with Mr. Pedigo to view the Train Station. He advised that staff had begun looking at furniture for the Train Station. Some possible layouts had been included in the packet. He commented that early in the discussion, Council had expressed an interest in using period type furniture for the Train Station. After consideration, staff felt that period furniture would look nice, however, would not allow the flexibility that would be needed in amulti-purpose room. Staff contacted Wytheville Office Supply to provide some examples of the type of tables and chairs that would allow flexibility. Once the type of table and chairs is selected, staff will go out to bid for the furniture. Barbara Tate introduced Jody Umberger of Wytheville Office Supply, who had brought some samples for Council to review. Mr. Umberger provided details about the tables and chairs that he had delivered to the Council Chambers for Council to review. He advised that he would leave the tables and chairs in the Council Chambers for Council to review after the meeting. Additionally, he provided a catalog to Council with a variety of different chairs and tables for Council to review. Following extensive discussion, it was decided that Council would meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Train Station prior to the next Council meeting to review the room. Mr. Umberger agreed to deliver the furniture to the Train Station for Council to review the furniture in the Train Station. Mayor Worrell moved on to Calfee scoreboard. Mr. Hawley advised that an email from Dave Hart regarding problems with the scoreboard at Calfee Park had been included in the packet. Staff made efforts last year to repair the problem, to no avail. Mr. Hart advised that when the scoreboard malfunctioned, it was during a game and staff could not take a ladder and work on it. When staff was aUle to work on the scoreboard, they had been unable to duplicate the' problem. He reviewed the options available to the Town, which included trying to repair the current system and purchasing a new system. January 18, 2011/Page 2 of 4 The nexj~tgrngn,th~ os~~.'d~~~l~&S'1S4`e.'iR3i P~`.CGJi3s` iar Bran ro sena me module to The company and ask them to repair it. If the company was unable to repair the module, then staff could schedule the technician to come to Calfee to look at it. The next item on the agenda was Museum Process. Mr. Hawley provided an update on the status of the museum work. A time line had been included in the packet and he reviewed that information. He advised that a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for conserving the artifacts had been advertised. Mr. White advised that no response had been received to the RFQ. He suggested since there was no response, that staff contact Oppenheimer Arts to see if they would be interested in doing the work on the photographs. This company was involved in the insurance assessment. Mr. Hawley suggested that if the photographs could be restored, that they could hang in the Train Station as well as the Museum. As long as Council had no objection, Mr. White would contact Oppenheimer Arts. Mr. Hawley advised of a meeting to be held with other local museums to discuss typical operating costs to help staff determine a budget. Mayor Worrell moved on to Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sewer loan. Mr. Hawley advised that DEQ approved a loan to the Town for sewer work. He advised that the loan amount was $1,284,290 at zero percent interest for twenty years. He added that the Finance Director recommended that this cost, since it was a capital cost, be assigned to the fixed charge portion of the water bill. This would result in an increase for most water customers of $1.37 per month. Extensive discussion ensued regarding where to charge this cost, with more discussion to be held at a later date. Councilman Welker moved to accept the DEQ Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan fund program in the amount of $1,284,290 at zero percent interest for twenty years. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye At 6:37 p.m., Councilman Welker moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code: 2.2-371 1(A-7), Consultation with legal counsel regarding possible litigation -two items; 15.2-2907D, Actions for annexation, immunity, establishment of city, investigation, and reports by commissions, negotiation 2.2-371 1 (A-5), Discussion of prospective business. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye At 7:35 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye January 18, 2011/Page 3 of 4 Morgan P. Welker -Aye Joel B. BurcheTT, Jr. -Aye ... ,. Councilman Clark moved to move the February 1 ~~, Y'ITfI -Couric"l meering ro J~uary ~ ~ , w ~ ~ . ~w~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~ Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Mayor Worrell advised that there would be a Called Council meeting on Saturday, February 5, 201 1 at the Eure building at 9 am. He added that this would be a mini retreat to review the strategic plan and hold some preliminary budget discussion. At 7:38 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on voice vote. Approved: L January 18, 2011 /Page 4 of 4