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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-13Minutes of the Town Council meeting held September 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW, Pulaski, Virginia. Present were: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Council: Heather L. Steele, Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd (arrived at 5:15 p.m.), Joseph K. Goodman, James A. Radcliffe Staff: David Quesenberry, ActingTown Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Pam Witten, Finance Director John White, Economic Development Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Bill Webb, Fire Chief Gary Martin, Parks and Facilities Others: Janet Golden Rick Mansell Wayne Carpenter Ryan Kiel Amy Lewis Janet Jonas Lane Penn Charles Wade Shannon Watkins, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and welcomed the visitors to the meeting. The first item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the August 20, 2013 Council minutes as written. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Employee of the Month presentation. He introduced Gary W. Martin from the Parks and Facilities department as the September 2013 Employee of the Month. He read a press release aloud commending Mr. Martin and advised that in addition to receiving the Employee of the Month award, he would also receive an additional paid day off from the Town and be eligible for the Employee of the Year aVvard at the end of the year. The next item on the agenda was presentation of Resolution 2013-09, Honoring 2013 Pulaski Mariners. Mayor Worrell read the Resolution aloud. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2013-09, Honoring 2013 Pulaski Mariners as written. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Mayor Worrell presented the Resolution to Rick Mansell, Wayne Carpenter and Ryan Kiel, representatives of the Pulaski Mariners. The Mayor then stated for the record that David Quesenberry was Acting Town Manager in Mr. Hawley's absence. The next item on the agenda was Public Operations. September 17, 2013/Page 1 of 5 Regarding the Joint Dispatch update, Mr. Quesenberry advised that at the last meeting personnel costs were worked on and the annual reserve dollar amount for replacement of equipment based on its expected life was determined. He noted that currently, neither the Town or County budget any reserve for replacement of equipment. Councilman Radcliffe advised that he wanted to see a price for contract service as well. Police Chief Roche advised that he brought that up at every meeting. He noted that the only comment he had received was that since that would entail having to plan for retooling in the future, it would actually cost more money. He added that as far as he knew, those numbers had not been generated. Mayor Worrell moved on to Governor's Day To Serve. He advised that this was the second year for this event. He added that the time period for this was September 15-29. He noted that Council might wish to designate a Day To Serve in this period and hold an event. He suggested that a food drive might be held at the upcoming Pulaskifest. Council was agreeable to this suggestion. The next item on the agenda was business recruitment. Mr. White advised that he had reviewed the material provided by Councilman East regarding business recruitment. He noted that he had also met with Bill O'Connor, of the O'Connor Group, who made suggestions about the importance of marketing and establishing the Town's image including updating the Town website. He stressed that the budget needed to be increased to update the marketing and establish the Town's image. Councilman Kidd arrived at 5:15 p.m. Discussion ensued regarding how often a website should be updated and the approximate cost for an advertising campaign that should be budgeted. Mayor Worrell inquired whether GPA had been asked to provide feedback on advertising and the website? Mr. White responded that he understood that Mr. Hawley shared Councilman Easts' information with GPA and asked how they wished to be marketed. Councilman Goodman suggested that with several colleges in the area, perhaps a class would develop a plan for the Town as a school project. Discussion ensued regarding the information that needed to be gathered in order to develop any plan for advertising, brochures and web site, etc. Mayor Worrell moved on to East Main/Route 99 Retail Feasibility. Mr. Quesenberry advised that information developed by the New River Valley Planning District Commission for potential impacts from development on the East Main/Route 99 corridor had been included in the packet. Mayor Worrell added that Council had met with state and federal officials to discuss improvements that could be made to exit 94. The information in the packet, once reviewed, would be provided to those representatives. Following discussion, the consensus of Council was to put the information into a different format and forward it to our state and federal officials. The next item on the agenda was IRF grant. r---, 1 L September 17, 2013/Page 2 of 5 Mr. White advised that staff had been working with a potential developer of the Dalton building and wished to apply for a grant for the project. Council's authorization was needed in order to submit the grant. Following discussion, Councilman Goodman moved to adopt Resolution 2013-10, Authorizing Submission Of An Application To The Governor's Industrial Revitalization Fund. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Legislative items. The first item was alternate to New River Valley Agency on Aging. Mayor Worrell advised that Mark Nichols was interested in serving as an alternate board member on the New River Valley Agency on Aging. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2013-11 appointing Mark Nichols as alternate to the New River Valley Agency on Aging. Councilman Goodman seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye The next item on the agenda was voting delegate/alternate to VML Annual meeting. Mr. Quesenberry advised that under the By-Laws of VML, the Mayor was automatically the voting delegate for the VML business session. Since the Mayor was not attending, an alternate needed to be appointed by Council. Councilman Clark moved to appoint Vice Mayor Goodman as voting delegate and Councilman Kidd as alternate for the VML business session. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Abstain Joseph K. Goodman -Abstain James A. Radcliffe -Aye The next item for discussion was procedure to fill boards and committees. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had discussed reviewing the Boards and Committees. He noted that the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority had several vacancies and had some issues that needed to be addressed by the Authority. He asked how Council wished to move forward making the necessary appointments. Following discussion, Councilman Goodman moved to direct staff to create a Resolution appointing Harold Lambert, Roger Leonard and Linda Davis to the Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye September 17, 2013/Page 3 of 5 Councilman Goodman suggested that staff ask surrounding areas how they appoint members to boards and commissions. Mayor Worrell asked that staff contact surrounding areas. The next item for discussion was Fire Department job description revision. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had discussed this issue previously. At that time, there was a question about insurance. Mr. Quesenberry advised that VACo had responded to the Town's inquiry that the current liability policy covers the change in the job descriptions at no extra cost. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the revised job descriptions for Fire Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and Fire fighter. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye David L. Clark -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Utilities and Longview Court Water Connection. He advised that Town staff had secured a side lot line easement to construct a water line from Henry Avenue to Longview Court to provide a looped water system. He added that materials had been ordered and that construction was to begin immediately. The next item was Round Table discussion. Councilman East advised that he understood some changes were to have been made to the Route 99 study regarding lighting etc. He inquired whether the revised plan had been received. Mr. Quesenberry advised that he would check with the Engineering department and include the response in the next Council packet. Councilman Clark commented that he wanted to reiterate what a great job the Pulaski Mariners did this year. Councilman Kidd agreed with Mr. Clark. Additionally, he asked that staff contact the County and inquire into the Town of Pulaski and the County of Pulaski combining into a consortium of insurance to make it more affordable for the employees and their families. Councilman Goodman reiterated Councilmen Clark and Kidd's comments regarding the Pulaski Mariners. He added that Council needed to have a discussion soon regarding the visitor's clubhouse at Calfee to determine how best to improve the building to fulfill the requirements of the contract. Mayor Worrell agreed with Councilman Goodman. He noted that the building was not up to professional baseball standards. He added that the President of the Appalachian League mentions it several times each time he visits Pulaski. Councilman Radcliffe asked if Council could meet with Mr. Hart and view the visitor's clubhouse and see what changes needed to be made. Additionally, he asked if Council could visit the Dalton Building with Dr. White. Both Mr. Hart and Mr. White agreed to meet with Council at their convenience. September 17, 2013/Page 4 of 5 At 5:55 p.m., there being no further business, Councilman Clark moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmen Goodman and carried on voice vote. 1 Approved: f S. Worrell, Mayor September 17, 2013/Page 5 of 5