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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-02-13Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: Mayor: Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, Joseph K. Goodman, James A. Ratcliffe Absent: Heather L. Steele Staff: John J. Hawley, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Dave Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Gary Roche, Police Chief Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Pam Litton, Finance Director Dana Bishop, Accounts Payable Clerk Others: Janet Golden Joseph Shaver Marquis Cox Juliana Cox Dan Grubb Allison Hunter Debra Maxwell Jon Fitzwater Larry Bandolin Faye Hanks Carl Hanks Dave Adkins Michael Quesenberry Betty Quesenberry Sharon Eifried Sandra Hillyer Shannon Watkins, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Radcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed everyone present and noted that there were several Boy Scouts in the audience. Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Hearings. He advised that the Public Hearing was a request for a Special Exception at 59-61 West Main Street. Mr. Quesenberry advised that the request from Michael E. Quesenberry was for a special exception for mixed use development at 59 and 61 West Main Street. He noted that the Planning Commission reviewed the request and recommended approval for a mixed use development under the condition that two apartments would be permitted on the second floor only. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m. There being no comments, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to follow the Planning Commission recommendation and approve the special exception at 59 and 61 W. Main Street. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Absent Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment Period. July 2, 2013/Page 1 of 4 Sandra Hillyer from the Town Center apartments in Pulaski addressed Council. She expressed dissatisfaction for the increase in water deposits. She commented that the high deposits are difficult for renters to come up with to turn their water on. She inquired whether Council would split the deposit into at least two payments. Mayor Worrell thanked Ms. Hillyer for her comments and then moved on to Project Updates. The first item was Dora Highway CDBG. Mr. Hawley summarized the progress made in the area. He noted staff had submitted a request to the Department of Housing and Community Development for an extension of the project deadline until September 30, 2013 to allow completion of the final steps of the project. Regarding the tornado CDBG, Mr. Hawley advised that construction was proceeding on one Town unit at 519 Pulaski Street. He added that footers had been started on the next unit at 1018 Melborn. He summarized other work being done in the area. The next update on the agenda was the dropsite. Mr. Pedigo advised that the County had contacted the owners of the Honeywell property and they were willing to review an option to allow the PSA to acquire the property north of the new drop site location. Additionally, he noted that the Mayor and Town Engineer had requested to be on the agenda at the next PSA meeting. The next update was in regard to Joint Dispatch study. Mr. Hawley reviewed the progress made since the last update. He noted that at the last meeting it was agreed that the total costs of the center would be divided among the three localities by each jurisdiction's percentage of the population if it operates as a joint board. He added that it was also determined that certain initial costs of establishing the center would be borne by the County or the Town and other costs related to a combined benefit to each locality would be shared. He continued that an Emergency Communications Director had been discussed and police personnel volunteered to obtain job descriptions for this position from different localities. He noted that this canvass for information was complete and had been sent to the County Administrator. Councilman Kidd commented that he would like to see the quotes for the shared agreement as well as the contract agreement. He noted that if the Town entered into contract services, then they had no say in anything that happened in Dispatch. If they entered into shared services, then all of the participants had an equal say. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business and the YMCA program. He advised that several discussions had been held on this topic. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had asked staff to review this topic and return to Council with a recommendation. He noted that the Tuesday Senior program had started and was being utilized by three or four citizens. He advised that staff met with YMCA staff to review the requested maintenance items for the YMCA. He noted that the majority of the work would be done by the Public Works Department and possibly the Parks and Facilities single full-time crew leader. It was decided that these additional tasks would take these employees away from their regularly scheduled duties and would probably cause delays in getting these tasks done. Staff suggested an alternate approach where the Town would pay the costs associated with offering the youth programming. Dan Grubb addressed Council introducing the new Director of the YMCA, Allison Hunter. He advised that the Board of the YMCA understood the Town's stance. He reminded Council of an earlier discussion where he had suggested forming a partnership with the Town to proactively fight obesity and nutritional issues and the lack of structured fitness programs for our elderly citizens and our youth. He advised that the YMCA would now strive to create a partnership opportunity with other area businesses, industries, government sources, non-profits and work together to write additional grants. He added that the YMCA would have to seek alternate July 2, 2013/Page 2 of 4 ways to fund required maintenance to repair the pool. He asked for the Town's financial support in sponsorship of programs and increasing the participation of the Town employees in the corporate membership program. He challenged the Town to become the first business partner in their new campaign. He added that opportunities existed for sponsors such as assistance in writing grants and expanding the Town's corporate member program that is offered to the Town employees. He highlighted the value of a healthy work force and the benefits to the employees as members of the YMCA. Councilman Clark commented that the YMCA was one of the most important things the Town had from a fitness standpoint and from an opportunity standpoint in Town. He noted that the opportunities were there for the Town to find other ways to be of help to them. He added that he would love to see some additional things come before Council to allow the Town to help as we can. Councilman Kidd agreed with Councilman Clarks comments. He added that he wished there was some way the Town could help more. Councilman Radcliffe inquired what the Town had done in the past to help the Y? Mr. Hawley advised that Council budgeted $5,000 in exchange for the citizens free use of the Y on certain days and times. He noted that there was a strong response in the beginning and then it tapered off. Councilman Radcliffe advised that he would rather the Town make a donation to the Y to help youth and senior programs. Councilman East advised that he would be more comfortable with a set contribution amount as well. Councilman Goodman reiterated what Councilman Clark said, but he thought the Y representatives were talking about something a little different than making a monetary donation to the Y. He added that the last time this came up, Council provided a set amount for a particular service in return. He noted that as a result, the Y was opened up to all the citizens as a whole and not just a set few. He felt they needed to hear more about what the Y has in mind. Mayor Worrell commented that there had been discussion about having Town staff doing routine or long term maintenance for the Y. He inquired how Council would feel about helping out one time with the pool at the Y? Councilman Goodman felt that was probably the most important item the Y was facing. He suggested that perhaps our staff could wait until a time where they were available and then schedule the work which might close the pool for a couple of days. He felt that would be a great opportunity to help the Y without worrying how it would impact staff. Councilman Radcliffe was concerned that staff would start the work on the pool and then be pulled off the project for another job. Councilman Kidd responded that volunteers could be called in to continue the work until the Town staff could return. He continued that once the pool was drained, the pool work and the ceiling work in the pool room could be done at the same time. Mayor Worrell commented that a construction schedule could be drawn up Councilman Goodman commented that he thought Councilman Kidd had brought up a novel idea. He continued, assuming insurance would allow it, perhaps volunteers could help the effort. He added instead of the Town doing the work, the Town could help by leading that work, but the community would be working to olve the problem. July 2, 2013/Page 3 of 4 Mr. Grubb responded that was a novel idea and he was sure that the Y and the Board would be willing to participate in making it a community endeavor. He noted that the Town had scaffolding and other equipment as well as the knowledge to do the job. They could lead the volunteers and help get the job completed. He noted that area contractors might donate materials and/or labor for the project as well. Councilman East asked whether the Y had a time estimate of what the job required? Mr. Grubb responded that he did not. He advised that the Y would work with the Town to get an estimate. Mr. Warburton suggested that the value of the work be estimated and then exchange that value for purchased service with the Y in return. Following more discussion, the consensus was for Mr. Pedigo to meet Mr. Grubb at the Y and ascertain whether the Town could take on the job, whether by providing equipment and direction to volunteers or by doing the work themselves. Mr. Hawley noted that staff could also help with grant writing if Council wished. Councilman Goodman agreed that perhaps the Town could entice the employees to become members of the Y. He suggested that perhaps the Town could pay for part of the employee membership. He felt it might offset an increase in health insurance in the future. From the public, Mr. Bandolin addressed Council advising that he had noticed a great improvement in management and organization at the Y since January. He asked Council to support the Y. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business and the 2014 Litter/ Recycling grant. Mr. Hawley advised of the receipt of the 2014 Litter/Recycling grant application. He noted that this grant helps with the cost associated with cleanup projects by the prison work crew in Town as well as other activities. Councilman Clark moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute the 2014 Litter/Recycling grant application. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Ms. Steele -Absent Mr. Kidd -Aye Mr. East -Aye Mr. Goodman -Aye Mr. Clark -Aye Mr. Radcliffe -Aye At 7:45 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on voice vote. Approved: ~f S. Worrell, Mayor July 2, 2013/Page 4 of 4